Pakistan and the farce of Ummah: When betrayal becomes a habit

As the United States and Israel reportedly strategize a potential ground assault on Iran through covert operations and regional partnerships, one name resurfaces—Pakistan.

- SIDDHARTHA DAVE

The recent lunch hosted by former U.S. President Donald Trump for Pakistan's Army Chief General Asim Munir has sparked questions across diplomatic and strategic circles. Is Pakistan once again becoming a staging ground for foreign operations in the Muslim world? And more importantly, can Pakistan ever be trusted—even by the so-called Islamic Ummah it pretends to lead?

This question acquires urgency in light of Bharat's ongoing Operation Sindoor, a bold and self-defined military-diplomatic offensive reshaping South Asia's strategic posture. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted in his 35-minute call with Trump, India shall not tolerate terrorism as proxy war anymore—it will treat it as war itself. No space for ambiguity. And no space for so-called third-party mediation—a direct rebuke to any whispers of American "peace initiatives" involving Pakistan.

THE TRUMP-MUNIR LUNCH: A TELLTALE SIGNAL

In diplomacy, symbolism often speaks louder than statecraft. So when Trump—a former President with enduring clout—invites General Asim Munir to a private lunch, it sends a loud signal. Munir, heading a military that has presided over multiple coups, nuclear proliferation, and terrorism sponsorship, was being accorded legitimacy. Was this an informal message that Pakistan could still act as Washington's foot soldier in future Middle Eastern scenarios?

For seasoned observers, the signs are familiar. And the precedent is chilling. If indeed Pakistan becomes a player in a Western-backed offensive against Iran or any part of the Islamic world, it will be far from the first time Islamabad has sacrificed Muslim lives and solidarity at the altar of self-interest.

PAKISTAN'S PATTERN OF BETRAYAL: HISTORIC AND SYSTEMIC

Let us consider the long and bloodied record of Pakistan's betrayal of the Ummah:

Operation Black September (Jordan, 1970): Pakistan vs Palestinians