The voice of the people

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

British Prime Minister David Cameron's statement alleging Pakistan's patronage of Islamic militancy and double-dealing in the war against terror was nothing new. Britain has an impressive record of deceitful and shameless diplomacy, where stabbing an ally in the back is as commonplace as taking a walk in Hyde Park.
First, it was the Scots, that great race of warriors, so like our own Pathans, who fell prey to English intrigues and then it was the turn of the freedom loving Irish. The pale skinned men from the small island in the North Sea established an Empire through intrigue, subterfuge, exploitation of local turncoats and a policy of divide and rule, till such time the 'natives' turned wise and the sun finally set on the British Empire. Continuing with the legacy, Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy took upon himself to short-change the new State of Pakistan in a grand show of British principles.
Mr Cameron, who like the Viceroy before him, was perhaps a captive of the 'saffron nymph's' magic and therefore danced willingly to the tunes of India's favourite propaganda theme on Indian soil. Eager to please his hosts, the respected Prime Minister conveniently chose to ignore the sacrifices that the Pakistani nation, its military and law enforcement personnel have given in the fight against extremism and terror as an ally.
It would have been in the fitness of things if our leaders would have responded to the British Prime Minister through a calculated diplomatic snub i.e. the cancellation of all forthcoming official visits to Britain. Regretfully and in total disregard of overwhelming public sentiment, the Highest Office in the State proceeded on his tour of UK. What is even more painful is the fact that government ministers and advisors, who claim to be the voice of the masses, failed to hear these voices. On the contrary, they began justifying the visit through arguments that were at best immature and petulant.