Washington Visits Are Preludes to More Betrayal

Pakistan’s army chief visited the United States on a five-day visit starting from the 10th of December. Such visits have become a regular event for chiefs of the powerful nuclear-armed Muslim army. Even though these chiefs have command over brave, well-trained, well-equipped troops that have a high aspiration for martyrdom, supported by a strong defense industry, these visits have become a competition from one army chief to the other. Each one tries to outdo his predecessor in betrayal and treachery. Each army chief prepares a list of deliverables for the United States policymakers and decision-makers. He presents these concessions at strategic forums. Then the success of a visit is gauged by how well a chief is received by the power corridors of US foreign policy. The greater the treachery is, the higher the treason is, the stronger is the reception.

This visit by General Asim Munir is no different from those of his predecessors. An army chief of a powerful nuclear-armed state should be expected to have an independent course of action, that would secure the interest of Muslims of the region in this world and the Hereafter. The main decision maker of a powerful nuclear-armed state demonstrated a lack of any ingenuity. He parroted the same failed narratives that the previous army chief namely General Qamar Javed Bajwa had been trying to set in the six years of his tenure. The current army chief as well was found repeating the old mantras of geo-economics and connectivity, the disdain of block politics, and regional stability and security. Truly, this was unbefitting of a person who commands one of the most powerful armies in the world.

In the statement announced by the military’s media affairs wing, the army chief is found complaining of not being heard as if he was reporting back to a superior. Thus, he is reported to have underscored the importance of understanding each other’s perspectives on regional security issues and developments affecting strategic stability in South Asia. His interactions were also described by such expressions that generally represent disagreement, or a lack of substance like, “the leaders reiterated the intent to increase interaction and explore ways to expand the scope of mutually beneficial engagements.” Another similar statement is that the chief “highlighted the importance of resolving the Kashmir issue.” Yet another statement is, “Both sides agreed to continue engagement for exploring potential avenues of bilateral collaboration in pursuit of shared interests”.

This visit has “do-more” written all over it. Since the removal of General Musharraf, the Pakistan army chief visits have become something similar to private visits that are absent of any sovereign state visit requirements. All meetings are closer to courtesy calls than what would be required when the representatives of two or more states meet officially. Such visits by the Pakistani army chiefs have become attempts to bribe. They are in reality photo-op sessions to confirm the passing of the baton to the new chief. The expected results are the subduing of all factional infighting.

There is a feeling of desperation in the Pakistani power corridors when a contender is not afforded the photo-op opportunity. An example is when Prime Minister Imran Khan wanted earnestly to meet or talk with President Biden. Such is the depth of debasement of the honor and prestige of the Muslims of this region. The people and state are surrendered to the US to achieve its regional goals and safeguard its interests. Compare the reciprocal visits between India and the US with what takes place in these sham visits. In the last Indian Prime Minister’s visit to the US, 53 mutual agreements and frameworks were announced for mutual collaboration and assistance covering almost all fields of life. One will find that the most powerful person in Pakistan has only a list of names to show for success.

The Pakistani ruling elite looks at such visits and meetings as a stamp of approval and confirmation. Regrettably, not only do these visits become an opportunity for the US to blackmail and denigrate, they also make these traitorous rulers feel obligated to deliver more than what was demanded and to consider it a condition to remain in office. This is even though Allah (swt) has ordered us to reject the Taghoot kufr authority,

[أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمْ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ يُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَحَاكَمُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلطَّـٰغُوتِ وَقَدْ أُمِرُوٓا۟ أَن يَكْفُرُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَيُرِيدُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ أَن يُضِلَّهُمْ ضَلَـٰلًۢا بَعِيدًۭا]

“Have you not seen those who claim that they believe in the revelations that have come to you and to those before you? Their wish is to resort together for judgment in their disputes to Taghoot, even though they were ordered to reject it. However, Satan’s wish is to lead them astray far away from the truth.” [TMQ Surah an-Nisaa 4:60].

The talk of fighting terror on the Western border is about dividing the people of the Af-Pak region through hate and mistrust. The current drive to force out the Afghan refugees is part of the plan besides the tighter border control and border fencing. Whereas, on the Eastern border it has a completely different connotation, which is to help India crush the honorable and valiant resistance to the occupation by the Kuffar, by the Muslims of Kashmir. The regional security is a euphemism for the US plan in the region to contain China, by bringing Pakistan under India’s regional dominance. This will permit India to divert resources from its Western border to the Chinese border.

The statements released after the Pakistani army chief’s engagement with US officials confirms that there is no change in the direction and scope of Pakistan’s role in the region, even if they register their distaste.

The rulers of the Muslims drive strength and legitimacy from visits to the colonial power capitals such as Washington, London, and Paris rather than from the strength of the Ummah. This is the fundamental and sole reason for such feeble, below-stature, and scandalous behavior of these imposed rulers. Such pseudo-state-visits to the capitals of the colonialist states, the visits by their officials to our lands, and the permission for fortress-like embassies must be seen as a betrayal of trust. Allah (swt) has ordered us not to take the Jews and the Christian as allies or trusted advisors. Allah (swt) said,

[يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَتَّخِذُوا۟ ٱلْيَهُودَ وَٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ ۘ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍۢ ۚ وَممَن يَتَوَلَّهُم مِّنكُمْ فَإِنَّهُۥ مِنْهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ]

“O you who believe! Take not Jews and the Christians as your allies. They are only allies to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them in alliance is of them. Verily Allah does not guide oppressors.” [TMQ Surah Al-Maida 5:51].

It will be the Khilafah Rashidah (rightly guided Caliphate) on the Method of Prophethood that will restore the honor and place of this Noble Ummah once again.  Allah (swt) said,

[وَلِلَّهِ ٱلْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِۦ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ]

“But honor belongs to Allah and His Messenger, and to the Believers; but the Hypocrites know not.” [TMQ Surah Al-Munafiqoon 63:8]. The Khilafah will draw its strength from the Ummah and the resoluteness of Iman in Allah (swt). Its rulers will know that the Al-Mighty and Al-Knowing will hold all accountable on the day of Reckoning. That will make the rulers fear Allah (swt) alone more than any of His creations. It will be the Khilafah that will rescue humanity and restore to it the dignity that Allah (swt) had bestowed upon it when He (swt) created Adam (swt).

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Engineer Mohammad Akmal - Wilayah Pakistan