Guys despite a lot of the members specifically pointing out our engagement with Israelis in the past (Which has been extremely fruitful from both angles and led us to develop critical components of our long term project), we tend to take this in an "All or nothing" paradigm.
As rightly pointed by one of the members, none of the Arabs states has ever censured India on the Kashmir issue. In fact the Gulf States have preferred to hire Indian human resource over Pakistanis.
Look at Iran, it has a strategic relationship with India which undermines Pakistan in this region. It routinely conducts cross border raids in the name of "Hot pursuit" of smugglers and kills Pakistani citizens and border guards. It swallowed at least 500 M48 tanks sent to Iran for refurbishment -- never gave them back. Reminds you of another incident that is still a sore point and is quoted everywhere when discussing our relationship with another country. The espionage network of Iranian Intelligence in Pakistan is very well known. They even fund subversive activities in Baluchistan and other parts of the country in the name of religion.
If all of this is not enough, they were extremely eager to point the fingers at us in front of the IAEA inspectors. So much for helping our Iranian brothers.
They have charged an exorbitantly high price for their gas versus the Turkmen option. But than they are our brothers -- let them rob us blind. But we are eager to do business with them despite all that. Are we thinking of Pakistan here or the so called Islamic Ummah only. It seems that our strategic and foreign policy is being dictated and debated in a cave set high in the mountains of North Waziristan.
Let us take a look at our Saudi brothers -- recently, instead of supporting Pakistan and its public in its hour of need, decides to take sides based upon who is in power. So much for Islamic brotherhood. To top it all, it is a Saudi citizen who is causing so much pain and grief to all in Pakistan. They have funded extremism inside Pakistan that has destroyed the very fabric of a very tolerant Pakistani society. So much damage has been done by Saudi influence that our generations to come, will pay the price.
But then we go to them, whenever we need to change a government and get their acquiescence when we have to send someone abroad or import someone. Reminds us of another "Gate" scandal. Their Intelligence Chief is there negotiating with our tribal’s as if they are Saudi Citizens and FATA, sometimes in the 80', was sold to the Saudis.
The Chinese, well they are busy maintaining a road that is unmaintainable in the long run -- yes the KKH. However, sarcastic remarks aside, China is someone we can and should do business with. We can share technology, do business and at the same time remain safe from their cultural invasion.
The concept of doing business globally can best be explained when shopping for items in a Bazaar -- we buy goods from a shop, we do not go to the shop to have family relations with owner!! The same is the case of Israel, they are eager for money, they need it, we are eager for sensitive technology and access to top of the line western tech that is not accessible to us as we go forward. Both can benefit from each other. A bonus in establishing relationships would be the ramp down of anti-Pakistan lobby in the west and neutralization of the Indian lobby to some extent.
The bottom line PAKISTAN COMES FIRST. WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IS GOOD FOR PAKISTAN AND NOT WHAT IS GOOD FOR PALESTINE ETC.
