PAKISTAN - Why United States Must Not Attack Balochistan?

By Sikander Hayat


The day started with the news that US is thinking about expanding the area where it use drone attacks from FATA to Balochistan. My first thought as a person who thinks of America as a force for good was that it was a very bad move. It is a bad move because by increasing the number of attacks it will only quicken the pace at which in addition to Afghanistan, Pakistan will also be at war with the US.


I do not say it very lightly because I am aware of the grave consequences that Pakistan might face as a result of any such episode but gauging from what we have seen so far ( Long March & all), any such American move will make the government in Pakistan very unpopular and might lead to its downfall. By losing a friendly government in Pakistan, America’s job in the region will become near impossible because without a fully cooperative Pakistan, it cannot win the war in Afghanistan.

What the hardliners in Pakistan are waiting for is such a mistake by America which will help them make a final push towards a complete uprooting of current system in Pakistan and we might have to face an Iran ( revolution) like situation. For the last two years, people of Pakistan have given ample proof of their dislike of surrender by their government to foreign masters. They did that by defying a dictator in case of Musharraf and they defied again a civilian dictator in the form of Asif Ali Zardari when first phase of their struggle resulted in the restoration of judiciary which was sacked by Pervez Musharraf.


When Pakistan was rejoicing after the successful completion of Long March and the restoration of 2nd November Judiciary, Western and Indian media was talking about imminent collapse of Pakistan which shows in vivid colours the arrogance & ignorance of the West in assuming a lazy stance without getting to grips with the complexity of life in Pakistan.



They must understand that today’s Pakistan is anything but failed, it has an extremely educated civil society and extremely independent media, add to that a judiciary which will hold to account every wrong doing and you have a country which is brimming with confidence and vigour to overcome all before it.

In my view, people who call Pakistan a failed state on drop of a hat whenever a protest of any kind happens in Pakistan are actually saying that Pakistan which does not comply with Western demands and chart its own way forward is a failed state. Failed not for Pakistanis but the outsiders who have their own interests to cater for.

When America decides about expanding its operations in Pakistan, it must take into account the new realities of Pakistan because not doing that will only result in complete defeat of America in this region.