Meengla
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Exactly same thing I said in many threads. In democracy if government don't care public sentiment , public can force the govt to listen. (Through opposition, Rallies and protests). That's why America love authoritarian government for its allies.
If today a pshyco general topple your govt, America will immediately suport it..
Now that we know that the issue of the supplies-through-Pakistan is resolved--at least between the governments--you bring up an important point: The role of a duly-elected democratic govt. ostensibly making decisions. I think you and @Raptor are on right track here. But, too bad, a lot Pakistanis in this forum discount the power of perception that Pakistan is a democratic country. The perception carries a lot weight internationally. Even Americans--who wouldn't mind, as you imply, hugging a dictator in Pakistan (AND America has formed very strong alliances with all three long-lasting Pakistani dictators-Ayub, Zia, Musharraf) would be easier for Americans. But there are certain trappings of rhetoric which can hold you back. After all, if you preach, 'freedom and democracy' round the clock, often hypocritically, yet still some of it can get rubbed up on you.
And so Americans had to grudingly accept the Turkish Parliament's refusal to allow the use of Turkish territory to invade Iraq in 2003--to perhaps a significant financial and military cost. And so today, despite all the bad press and the role of ISI etc, not many people are calling Pakistan a 'dictatorship'.
A fig-leaf is better than being fully naked. And 'perception' is often more powerful than 'reality'. For the latter, look at something no fresher than the so-called American 'apology' about the Salala incident. This was not a real 'apology' but has become because of perception of an apology.
If only my fellow Pakistanis were not so idealistic...