Pakistan, latest victim of U.S. meddling.

 PAKISTAN ON VERGE OF CIVIL WAR

ARREST OF POPULAR CANDIDATE LEADS TO MASSIVE UNREST

The saga of Imran Kahn began in April of 2022, when he publicly voiced his belief that small countries should have the right to stay neutral in geopolitical conflicts between large nations. I watched several interviews with this man and also speeches over his term as president of Pakistan. He very much reminded me of the late Anwar Sadat of Egypt who was instrumental in negotiating peace between Israel and Egypt. He was assassinated by the military shortly thereafter.

It was not long after Kahn made his voice clear in not going all in on sanctions and condemnation of Russia in the Ukraine conflict that his troubles began. In April of 2022, while being a very popular president of Pakistan since 2018 he received a no confidence vote from the parliament and was removed as president. His replacement was chosen by the military and the U.S. and Uk backed opposition party. In August of that year he was charged as a terrorist because he made accusations of abuse by the police and military.  In November of 2022 he was wounded in an assassination attempt while campaigning for the next election. Then on May 9. 2023 he was arrested and charged with a long list of corruption charges. The responses was immediate rioting and destruction of property by the supporters of Kahn who are viewed as the majority in the country. On May 11, the supreme court demanded his release, but it seems he is still in limited police custody, until sometime today.

While, of course, there are denials of U.S. involvement, it is generally understood that Kahn's violation of U.S. wishes was behind this continuing saga. If the country descends into anarchy and chaos, so much the better, it will be just another example for others who may consider a neutral ot independent policy in global affairs. The U.S. policy of you are either an ally or an enemy is still intact and being enforced on any country that should feel it should stay neutral rather get embroiled in big power politics. 

We are presently seeing similar pressure being used in the politics of Turkey, Hungary and India. These are neighbors of Russia and would like to stay out of political power struggles between Russia and the U.S. They will no doubt be a loser no matter who they side with.