It fascinated young minds with its ideas of freedom of thought and speech. Pakistan's founding fathers aligned their country with America because its leadership evoked confidence. Sentimental Pakistanis took America to be a friend in literal sense.

But if one was to ask people in the streets of Pakistan today, 7 out of 10 will blame America for all of Pakistan's ills. They will cite a pattern of deceit, exploitation and misuse of trust by America over five decades.

They perceive America to be an arrogant, war mongering superpower which, propelled solely by its global agenda and imperial hubris, foments trouble, attacks and destroys people and countries.