The curse of dependency.

Byline: TARIQ MEHMOOD KHALID-Sargodha.

Pakistan's National Security Advisor Dr Moeed Yusuf has expressed his resentment over the fact that the US President has not yet spoken to Prime Minister Imran Khan ever since he came into office. His desperation was absolutely pitiful. Mr Yusuf warned the US leadership in an 'intimidating' manner that his leadership does have 'other options' if the Biden administration continues to give a cold shoulder. He looked to remind the US leadership that they were ought to be Pakistan's friends, not masters.

In a major setback, Pakistan's request to join the UN Security Council meeting, which was held to discuss the future of Afghanistan posts US withdrawal, was turned down inspite of the fact that Pakistan is a major stakeholder in Afghanistan. Even the US didn't help owing to Islamabad's refusal to clear up the mess that they have left behind in Afghanistan.

Despite having exhausted all its energies and compromising its self-integrity to fulfil the US objectives since the cold war era to date, Pakistan has never been able to create a relationship with the US-based on mutual trust and respect. The US has always scapegoated Pakistan with a never-ending demand to 'do more.'

The parasitic behaviour against Pakistan by the US is one reason for the never-ending trust deficit between the two countries. Pakistan's continued dependency on the US for economic and strategic interests is another. Pakistan has never utilized the 'other options' for the said purposes in the true sense of the term.

The political instability and incompetent regimes have also damaged the national integrity to the core. Pakistan could not shape its foreign policy to a level of global acceptance. Instead of adopting a balanced approach, Pakistan chose to stand on...