Blacklisted.

It would seem as though Pakistan has, once again, been dragged into the tussle between global leaders; namely, the US, Russia and China. Just recently, a number of Pakistani companies were added to the US' trade blacklist for their alleged involvement in missile and nuclear activities. The superpower further stated that it has a responsibility to stand against such evils so that world peace can be maintained. Given that specific information or proof has not been divulged, perplexing questions like what exact involvement we have in this, how and why have risen up.

The US' decision to put companies on the trade black list seems to stem from its own anxieties about the position it retains globally. Within the statement issued following the blacklisting, fears about data collection, monitoring, surveillance, illegal detainment and human rights suppression in Russia and particularly China were expressed. The ultimate conclusion was that the US could not stand for all of this, and only values peaceful trade tied with countries that do not partake in 'military aggression'. The irony of this whole spiel is apparently lost on the US itself.

For years, the country has been criticised for implementing thorough surveillance programmes that not only gather sensitive information about its own citizens but those abroad as well. The acceptability of this act is endorsed...