Friend and Ally Alert: “Minister blasts pro-US foreign policy,” from Dawn (thanks to South Asian):
ISLAMABAD, Aug 21: Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Sher Afgan Niazi on Tuesday stunned both the treasury and opposition senators when he roundly criticised the foreign policy, describing it as one of appeasement at the cost of national interests, sovereignty and honour.
He also condemned recently-passed US legislation and the derogatory statements about Pakistan made by some American presidential candidates.
Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal’s Prof Khurshid Ahmed immediately stood up to endorse most of the views expressed by the minister, and welcomed the “change of heart,” describing it as part of the change that had taken place in the wake of the July 20 landmark Supreme Court judgment….
Dr Niazi said in his speech that the key role Pakistan played in bringing about the downfall of the former Soviet Union was a blunder. It resulted in the emergence of a unipolar world and gave the US a licence to attack any country it wished, he said.
He said that American presidential candidates” statements threatening Pakistan’s internal security were a reflection of the jaundiced thinking of US leaders who had forgotten lessons of history and the glorious past of Muslims.
Lashing out at the recent US law attaching strings to financial assistance to Pakistan, Dr Niazi described it as insulting and demanded that “we must return and refuse to accept such assistance”.
Hey, that’s a good idea, Dr. Niazi.
He said the country should learn to stand on its own feet by rejecting all foreign assistance as a proud Muslim nation….
The minister said that events which followed the 9/11 incident proved that it was the brainchild of Jews. He said that according to holy Quran, Jews and Christians could never be friends of Muslims….
If Dr. Niazi said that on an American radio show in the presence of someone like Ibrahim Hooper or Salam Al-Marayati, he would be roundly denounced as a racist Islamophobe. Do you even know Arabic, Dr. Niazi? Where did you get your degree in Islamic studies? Well?
But if Dr. Niazi were on his toes, he might be ready with these Qur’an passages:
“Never will the Jews or the Christians be satisfied with thee unless thou follow their form of religion.” (2:120)
“O ye who believe! take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: They are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily Allah guideth not a people unjust.” (5:51)