In a rare show of solidarity, leaders of about 40 political and religious parties attended an All Parties Conference. They passed a resolution September 16 expressing profound grief and sorrow at the tragic incidents in New York and Washington on September 11. The resolution read:

Suddenly the powerful U.S. media has catapulted Pakistan onto the world stage in order to avenge the American atrocities on its neighboring Afghanistan. Strong-arm tactics such as "if you are not with us, you are against us" have been used to exert pressure and the regime of Musharraf lacking legitimacy has buckled under it, agreeing to provide all possible help.

Pakistan is a unique country. No country of that name existed before 1947. Because this country is faced with a litany of problems, voices have been raised recently casting doubt on its original raison d'tre. It is being suggested that it must change these parameters, lest it becomes a failed state. In the process, its very basicfoundation is challenged by leading secularists. It is important, therefore, to set the record straight and discuss its ideological basis along with the reasons for its failures.

Musharraf came into power through force, toppling a government that was corrupt to the extreme. As such, the Pakistani public hailed him and the Pakistan Supreme Court granted him three years under the law of necessity. But recently he forced out the existing president and took over his title and office. The All Parties Conference was called primarily to nip Musharraf's plans to give himself additional powers. They warned against any unilateral amendment to the constitution by his regime and vowed to resist such moves with full force.

Their joint communiqu read in part as follows:

"In view of the fact that the present government remained a complete failure to achieve its objectives despite the lapse of two years, the country is in the grip of an overwhelming atmosphere of mistrust, chaos, and maladministration due to lack of checks and balances on the government, suspension of state institutions and ban on political activities."

The sudden overtures of the U.S. administration are rather odd in view of its fast developing strategic partnership with India and according it regional hegemony, while distancing itself from Pakistan and belittling it. Apparently, the U.S. administration after enacting all other options over the years and their failure to topple the Taliban, feels that the only viable option is to force Pakistan into doing this undoable job.

While the U.S. administration has gone on drumming support from its people for its global geopolitical designs, it is short-changing the Pakistani people. If American public opinion matters, then doesn't Pakistan public opinion count for as much? They are overwhelmingly against any adversity against Afghanistan from their territory.

Reading the previous history, Pakistanis are very weary of their involvement with the U.S. During the cold war era, they were closely allied with it as members of Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) and South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO). When Gary Powers' U2 spy plane flew from a U.S. base in Peshawar, Pakistan and was shot down over Russia, it infuriated Khruschev so much that he remarked that they will retaliate for it against Pakistan. Pakistan was also instrumental in thawing the cold war freeze with China by providing initial contacts for Henry Kissinger during the Nixon administration.

Again, it was Pakistan that provided training to Afghan mujahideen against Soviet invasion and repulsion. The U.S. then supplied material for fighting Russians. When Pakistan developed nuclear capability resulting in suspension of the U.S. aid, it was President Reagan who set it aside for Pakistan. But after the defeat of the USSR, the US abandoned both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Rather, it encouraged much of the infighting in Afghanistan before and after the Taliban took over.

Afghanistan is Pakistan's strategic ally. It has made great efforts to develop this relationship because it needs Afghanistan in close partnership for its survival and security. Besides being a sister Muslim state, its people, especially in the west and northwest, are related historically, linguistically and ethnically tied. For Pakistan, the momentary lifting of restrictions and advancing of loans to further increase their debt burden is of no consequence in view of these vital geopolitical considerations.

By playing a second fiddle to the US and taking part in any punitive measures against the Taliban, Pakistan is turning the brave and proud Afghans from friends into its enemies. The people of the two countries have said as much. After accomplishing its objective of invading and humiliating Afghanis, the US will leave as usual but Pakistanis, weakened and undependable by this endeavor, will have to live with its consequences for good.

It would be wiser for the U.S. to utilize the good offices of Pakistan to coax the Taliban into agreeing to extradite the suspected culprit, Osama bin Laden. Here,tofore, they have been asking to provide evidence so tha,t he could be tried in an Afghan court. But now with the fast changing course of events, they have offered a number of other options. These options need to be considered by the U.S. administration with much cooler heads.

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Dr. Siraj Mufti currently serves as an Islamic consultant for the Correctional Corporation of America in Arizona. Previously he worked as a research professor at the University of Arizona and a chaplain with the U.S. Department of Justice.