The response of the Indian government to the highhandedness of the US police is commendable. The United States thinks it can bully any country and get away with it. First of all, I would like to clarify that I am from Pakistan.

My country has been bullied by the US for decades. Although I cannot put the blame entirely on the US, it is mainly due to our spineless leaders that our country is currently in a mess. The US must offer an unconditional apology for the treatment meted out to the Indian diplomat in New York.

It is so nice to see all Indian political forces getting united over this issue. I wish our leaders could also display a similar show of unity over the issue of US drone attacks.

I strongly believe that national prestige should never be compromised and that the US or for that matter any power cannot fight a united nation. The US and its western allies have been able to wreak havoc in countries already divided on sectarian or ethnic lines.

The size of a country and its material riches do not really determine the outcome of any conflict or war. It is the determination and unity that counts at the end of the day and these are the main factors that have an impact on the outcome of any conflict.

As long as we Pakistanis continue acting as an unruly crowd, we can never gain any importance among the comity of nations. Our leaders are more concerned about their political positions, and to them national interests are less important than their political ambitions.

That is why we are being bullied by everyone, particularly the United States. Our leaders must learn from India. That is the way to protect one’s rights in this ruthless world.

We must join hands against the US drone attacks and tell the US in its face that such attacks are in breach of our national sovereignty and will not be tolerated. We must try to forge strategic alliances with other countries.

India and Pakistan should also join hands to make South Asia a force to reckon with. We have all the required potential. What is needed is a direction. — Nadeem Khan, Jubail