US Election: Pakistani Americans Supporting Donald Trump

“Listen to me carefully, if Donald Trump does not win the presidential election, polarization will increase in America.” This is to say of Shahab Qarni, a US citizen of Pakistani origin.

Shahab is a retired banker whom I met in Baltimore, Maryland, about 40 miles from Washington.

He says, “If you, as an American citizen, listen to President Trump’s words, then you will like him. But if you talk about India or Pakistan in your mind, then you will feel bad about him and you will hate him. “

Shahab is associated with the Republican Party and believes that Trump will once again make America a great country.

In 1988, Shahab landed on the land of America. He started his life here.

It is believed that about one million Pakistani Americans live in America. Observers believe that they are in large numbers in Chicago, New York, Houston, Greater Washington and Los Angeles that could influence elections.

It is believed that most of the Pakistanis can support American Democratic Party candidates Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for the US presidential elections on the 3rd of November. But Trump is not impressed by these things.

He says, “I think like an American citizen. But if we think of India, Pakistan, Palestine, Kashmir, then separate issues will arise.”

Shahab believes that Trump has brought fresh air in the Republican Party. He says, “He is not like other traditional leaders of the Republican Party. He has good ideas about the economy and international relations.”

Locals say that it is difficult to find a Trump supporter in the Pakistani-American community in the election environment.

Critics of President Trump call him ‘racist’, ‘liar’ and ‘divisive’, who clearly supports the white-minded mentality (White Supremacist).

Many in the Muslim community do not support him because of his support for Israel, prohibiting the arrival of migrants from Muslim countries, and restrictions related to immigration.

Many people accuse Trump of failing to stop the corona virus epidemic. So far, 1.89 lakh people have died due to corona in America. His way of working and his way of using words are also not liked by many people.

Then why are people supporting Trump?

The reason for this is that those who support Trump in the Pakistani American community believe that they will prove to be better for America and Pakistan.

Kamala Harris’s relationship with India has also inspired many people to take the decision not to support Biden.

Professor Adil Najam, dean of the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, says that traditionally the Pakistani American community has been supportive of the Republican Party because they believed that Republicans were the right fit for Pakistan.

He liked his values ​​to improve taxes, promote family values ​​and reform the treasury and change in social conservatism.

Professor Najam says that after the 9/11 attacks, most people in this community gave up supporting the Republican Party and came into the ranks of the Democratic Party.

He says, “After this, his identity as a Muslim became important to him.”

‘Trump is not anti-Muslim’

In the year 2015, as a presidential candidate, Trump had asked for a complete ban on Muslims coming to America.

Two years later, as President, he banned people coming to America from six Muslim countries.

Trump said that such drastic steps were necessary to reduce the risk of terrorism.

But many families were separated due to this move and came to be called ‘anti-Muslim’.

But Fateh Shahzad, a doctor working as an internal medicine doctor in Danville, Kentucky, is a Trump supporter and does not agree with this.

Shahzad came from Pakistan and settled in America in 1994. He says, “Trump believed that people coming to America from some Muslim countries such as Syria can cause problems here. This has happened before when Muslim immigrants have increased the difficulties here.”

He says, “The ban was to allow refugees from outside to enter the US after a thorough investigation. But it created an image of them as if they were anti-Muslim, but in reality it was not.”

Shahab Qarni mentions Trump’s role in normalizing the relationship between the United Arab Emirates and Israel.

He says, “The United Arab Emirates is also a Muslim country. It is the same Muslim country that welcomed Modi ji a few months ago. The world is changing and you have to understand that President Trump is also changing.”

‘Trump is better for Pakistan’

Dr. Fateh Shahzad believes that Trump’s policies for Pakistan have been better so far. He says, “Due to Trump’s policies, the security situation in Pakistan has improved a lot.”

“In the last three years there has been a big improvement in the law and order situation in Pakistan. Bomb attacks have been stopped. Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan has become better and this is why Afghanistan is getting off the land There has also been a decrease in extremist activities. “

“The policy of Trump and the Republican Party has been to reduce the presence of troops there and to hand over power to the local people. Trump’s role in this has been positive.”

There is also a feeling that the trump of Kashmir did what they could.

Says Dr. Shahzad, “Trump expressed a willingness to mediate on this issue, but this could only happen if both India and Pakistan agreed to it. But India refused. So there is a lot for him to do was not.”

Professor Adal Najam says that Trump is also close to Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and Indian Prime Minister Modi. However, he says, “Howdy Modi program and his visit to India has given the message that Modi and Trump’s equations are at a different level”.

Proponents of Trump understand that America will always need India to pressure China.

‘Trump’s criticism of immigration is meaningless’

Trump’s policies regarding immigration have been severely criticized.

During the Corona epidemic, his policies on immigration were severely criticized, but those who were in favor of stopping immigration during this difficult period supported him.

Trump, a Trump supporter, says that “immigration does not mean opening its borders completely.”

He says, “When we talked about the wall, this wall was not for the Muslims of India and Pakistan. Are the boundaries between India and Pakistan open and can anyone enter? A protocol to check people Should be. That’s what they were talking about. “

‘Trump’s hands were tied in Corona’s case’

In the case of Corona virus infection, America is the most affected country in the world and there is no hope of improving the situation here. But Trump supporters say that Trump alone cannot be held responsible for this situation.

Retinal surgeon doctor Gauhar Salam says, “There was no sure way to control the danger that Kovid-19 had.”

Gauhar, who came to America from Karachi in 1992, practices in Indiana. He says, “We needed to put a lockdown, close all offices and shops and ask the guys to wear facemask. It seems they paid no attention to the Kovid-19, but their hands were tied Were.”

He says, “All states have their own rules and laws and the governor is empowered to enforce them. Like China, the President does not have the power to enforce lockdowns here. It is not fair to blame Trump for everything.” . “

“People have not followed the rules related to Corona and relaxed. Many people are not liking wearing masks. Many people who come to me say that even if they get the vaccine, they will not apply. If Trump publicly If wearing a mask, it would have a positive effect. They should wear a facemask in public. “

How many kamala harris likes

Kamala Harris’s mother was born in India and this is the main reason for many Pakistani Americans not supporting her.

Doctor Gauhar Salam says, “If Biden is elected, at the age of 78, he will be the oldest President of the country. In this case, Kamala Harris is young and she will become a more powerful vice president.”

It is being feared that Kamla Harris’s position in a powerful position will affect the US policy on Kashmir and Pakistan.

Dr. Rao Kamran Kamala Harris, a doctor of the Pakistani American Political Action Committee, looked like a vice presidential contender.

He says, “We will vote in favor of Biden but there is no denying that Trump has done many good things.”

Trump supporters say they are not racist and people in the Pakistani-American community should not close their eyes and support Democratic leaders.

One supporter says, “You should not keep all your opportunities aside.”

He says he is surprised at the riots and looting in some cities and the Democratic Party’s reaction to it. They raise questions about who is giving financial assistance to these protesters.

“There are many forces that want to polarize people,” says Karni.

Dr. Salam says, “It is a good thing to talk about socialism but we have examples of socialist countries that are now staggering. It is good for everyone to talk about Medicare and to give stipend but people are not thinking Where will the resources come from? And the resources will come only when the economy performs well. “

Dr. Qarni says, “Where there are Democratic Party governments in cities, the situation is bad and governments are not responsible.”

Trump supporters often face criticism in their own community about their political choices.

Doctor Shahzad says that he too is taunted many times for this. He says, “People say your mind has gone bad, you have changed, you are not thinking about Pakistan.”

Professor Adil Najam says, “Number of Pakistanis who voted for Trump

There is more than the number of Pakistanis talking about voting for. “

Doctor Shahzad says, “I tell critics to give me better options to choose. Trump’s policies are good for Pakistan. There is peace there. He has not imposed any kind of restriction on Pakistan. There is financial and military coordination.” Farmers of Pakistan by giving economic and technical support through US Embassy USAID Is helping. “

“Students are being given scholarships for further studies. Thousands of students from Pakistan are studying in American universities. Their policies are really good for Pakistanis living in America.”