Tazeen Akhtar / Islamabad
When whole Pakistan was discussing in fear and apprehensions about what Trump 2 will bring for Pakistan and most of the opinion makers were sure that US will not spare us, the President astonished all by appreciating Pakistan for arrest of ISKP’s (Islamic State branch in Afghanistan and Pakistan) top tier operational commander and Afghan national Shareefullah involved in massacre of Americans at Kabul Airport in Afghanistan.
According to statements of the concerned officials , the monster (what Trump called him) was arrested in Balochistan by Pakistani forces. Donald Trump thanked Pakistan “for helping arrest this monster” but gave no details of the suspect or the arrest operation.
Sharif is allegedly responsible for a deadly 2021 suicide bombing outside Kabul airport during the chaotic US military withdrawal. The bomber detonated a device among packed crowds as they tried to flee Afghanistan on August 26, 2021. The blast killed some 170 Afghans and 13 US troops.
Years ago, we watched a tv series ” Because You Asked for It.” We chose the same with a little change only with the memories of the same tv series. In Pakistan, it is commonly known and said that when USA asks something, Pakistan makes it done in any way.
Our conformity to this public opinion is not necessary But some questions, I should raise for not provocation of the powerful but for thought provocation only;
1- Why such high profile terrorists are mostly found on our lands?
2- Why the Pakistanis came to know about this high profile operation , not from the mouth of our government but from the mouth of US President?
3- Since when this operation was in process? How long it took our forces, remain engaged in this special operation and they could not heed to the other terrorist activities going on in Balochistan?
4- As our forces arrested another high profile wanted Zubair of Balochistan Liberation Army only a few days ago, and it was publicly announced as a big success, why Sharif Operation was not shared with Pakistani media?
5- What is the detail of the deal , through which , the Monster has been arrested and handed over to USA?
6- In which court of law, the process of extradition has been followed?
7- Why he has not been trialed first in Pakistan for violation of international border and living here illegally?
8- What is the status of Afghanistan government in all this story, where the crime committed actually?
9- Prime Minister Pakistan , President US mentioned 13 US soldiers only and not 170 Afghans – Why? with this number the Monster is the culprit of Afghans more than USA.
10- Why the statement from PM Pakistan came after President USA announced it? What is this arrangement? It was arrangement or something else ? like when Usama was killed in Abbotabad (A claim by US).
Pakistan was sleeping when stealth were doing what they were ordered from Washington. President Obama made it public first. It was only then , that Pakistani government including the incumbent President Zardari who was the President that time as well, abruptly and in haste , made a statement, ” Our forces conducted the operation” later it was altered and said , ” We were in picture and the operation was conducted with our approval”
It looks every time USA asks Pakistan ” You do but We announce”. By the way , Why our Prime Minister is expressing thankfulness to President Trump? You have done a great job for him. You should take credit only and exploit this moment in favor of Pakistan.
Only the US should be grateful in all these secret missions conducted by Pakistani forces to secure the interests of USA.
The background as shared by Pakistani side is , “President Trump, in his first address to Congress since returning to the White House for a second term, revealed that the person responsible for killing 13 US service members during the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 had been arrested with the help of Pakistan and was now on his way to the United States to face justice.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz (We are omitting Sharif here to avoid any misunderstanding as the Monster’s name is the same) said in a statement only after President Trump’s announcement, ” The acknowledgment by US President Trump came in the context of Pakistan security forces’ recent apprehension of ISKP’s top tier operational commander and Afghan national Shareefullah. The wanted terrorist was apprehended in a successful operation conducted in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region.
In April 2023, the White House announced that an Islamic State official involved in plotting the attack had been killed in an operation by Afghanistan’s new Taliban government. On Tuesday, 04 March in his first address to Congress since returning to the White House for a second term, Trump announced that Pakistan had assisted in the arrest of “the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity. And he is right now on his way here to face the swift sword of American justice.”
As far as, Afia Siddiqui’s release from US prison and return to Pakistan is concerned, as most of patriot and emotional Pakistanis are asking for it, there is no hope of reciprocation of that type from American side. Pakistanis should understand, your government , the then Musharraf regime , itself, handed over Afia as a killer and terrorist, to USA. How and what right, you have left with, to ask for Afia now?
