WHILE Pakistan does not get enough credit for its extraordinary achievement in the war against extremists, the US officials and its subservient media is eagerly criticizing Pakistan for “not doing enough”.
The Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen has termed the achievements of the Pakistan Army in Swat, Bunner, Dir and Waziristan as “remarkable”. Nonetheless, a report released by the American Forces Press Service, noted that Admiral Mike Mullen ‘advises patience and humility’ in dealing with Pakistan - a view not shared by some leading Republicans in Congress. The Pentagon, has for the first time admitted, that all is not well between the United States and Pakistan, saying there are issues between both the countries which are "festering from the past". The US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Pakistan and Afghanistan, David Sedney termed the US-Pak relationship as 'complex'. The relationship between Washington and Islamabad hit an all time low in recent days when US officials accused the Pakistani authorities of running a deliberate campaign to harass them. Let us see some of the irritants from Pakistan perspective which have cropped up from the past; (a) U.S. suspension of military assistance during the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war, and then in 1990 under the Pressler Amendment. (b) Abandoning Pakistan after driving soviets from Afghanistan in 1989. (c) US alleged that Pakistan’s leaders are continuing to see the Taliban as an ally and long-term proxy to limit India’s influence in Afghanistan. (d) Intensification of drone attacks in the tribal areas, causing widespread resentment against the Americans because it kill hundreds of innocent civilians along with few militants. (e) US initiative to bring India (especially when solid proofs of Indian involvement in Balochistan has been established) into the loop to fight against the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan has caused resentment. (f) US officials are increasing pressure by expanding CIA drone strikes beyond Pakistan's border regions and into Quetta city. (g) US prodding that Pakistan isn't doing enough to go after sanctuaries in Quetta. (h) US AfPak strategy that depends on military means only. (j) US meddling in the Pakistani politics. (k) US inkling and hinting for another military-run government in Pakistan. (l) US distrust in the Government regarding the transparency of spending US aid. (m) The conditionalities associated with 7.5 billion dollars Kerry-Lugar Bill. (n) Delaying the release of F-16 fighter jets. (p) The US pressure to expand its current military campaign in South Waziristan to include tribal areas controlled by Haqqani, Bahadur and their militant allies. (q) The attitude problem of US officials visiting Pakistan is also responsible for a widening rift. Americans consider themselves as omnipotent and are found violating the law of the land, involved in manhandling Pakistani security agencies by refusing to get check their car of any weapons US often label Pakistan “as not doing more” to help control extremism on its soil especially in the tribal areas along the Afghan frontier. In the aftermath of the successful victory and recapture of the Bunner, Lower Dir, Shangla and entire Swat valley, the Pakistan Army launched a massive offensive in South Waziristan to eliminate a heavily entrenched force of 6,000–7,000 militants, including Taliban-allied Mehsud tribesmen as well as Uzbek and Arab foreign fighters affiliated with Al Qaeda. The Army intends to destroy TTP to the point where it no longer has the capability to regain control in FATA region. By Nov 17 the Pakistani Army took control of most of the towns in South Waziristan such as Kaniguram, Sararogha. According to UN estimate, 270,000 people have fled South Waziristan to seek safety in two neighbouring districts (camps in Tank District and Dera Ismail Khan District) after the intensification of military operation in Waziristan from October 17, 2009. In 2009, 2,780 citizens and 880 security officials have been killed in the country, while the number of the terrorists claimed to have been killed in counter-terrorism operations has crossed 6,500 mark. Pakistan is both victim and protagonist of the conflict in Afghanistan, its western and northern fringes devastated by a US-driven counter-insurgency campaign, its heartlands wracked by growing violence and deepening poverty. Pakistan is confronted with the phenomenon of Talibanization which is a very alarming development. It is the Afghan’s gift to Pakistan. But efforts are on to resolve issues with Pakistan. US President Barack Obama has offered Pakistan an expanded strategic partnership, including additional military and economic cooperation. The “Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009” states that Pakistan is a critical friend and ally to the United States, both in times of strife and in times of peace, and the two countries share many common goals, including combating terrorism and violent radicalism, solidifying democracy and rule of law in Pakistan, and promoting the social and economic development of Pakistan. The Administration is in full agreement with this principle and intends to use U.S. civilian assistance to supplement Pakistan’s efforts in building a stable, secure and prosperous Pakistan. The American must exempt all the outstanding loans of Pakistan and give easier access to Pakistani businessmen. The Pakistani government estimates that it needs 8-10 billion dollars over a 10-year period to bring about real change in the tribal belts. The National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones, clarified US policy by saying that "We can't succeed without Pakistan, there is nobody who is under any illusions about this”. The most practical way to retain that cooperation is to reduce average Pakistanis’ distrust of America. That can be done by providing US aid for infrastructure and schools, reduced tariffs on Pakistani textiles and, above all, an end to meddling in Pakistani politics. That is the real alternative to terrorist extremism - defeating al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan and to prevent the group from threatening America and its allies. The Americans should woo its strategic partner who has sacrificed every thing to clean the mess from the scourge of terrorism. US offer must feature more public praise and less public criticism of Pakistan. The proposed visit of President Barack Obama to Pakistan will definitely allay some of the apprehensions of Pakistani leadership and the public with the United States. The writer is retired Commander from Pakistan Navy.
The Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen has termed the achievements of the Pakistan Army in Swat, Bunner, Dir and Waziristan as “remarkable”. Nonetheless, a report released by the American Forces Press Service, noted that Admiral Mike Mullen ‘advises patience and humility’ in dealing with Pakistan - a view not shared by some leading Republicans in Congress. The Pentagon, has for the first time admitted, that all is not well between the United States and Pakistan, saying there are issues between both the countries which are "festering from the past". The US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Pakistan and Afghanistan, David Sedney termed the US-Pak relationship as 'complex'. The relationship between Washington and Islamabad hit an all time low in recent days when US officials accused the Pakistani authorities of running a deliberate campaign to harass them. Let us see some of the irritants from Pakistan perspective which have cropped up from the past; (a) U.S. suspension of military assistance during the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war, and then in 1990 under the Pressler Amendment. (b) Abandoning Pakistan after driving soviets from Afghanistan in 1989. (c) US alleged that Pakistan’s leaders are continuing to see the Taliban as an ally and long-term proxy to limit India’s influence in Afghanistan. (d) Intensification of drone attacks in the tribal areas, causing widespread resentment against the Americans because it kill hundreds of innocent civilians along with few militants. (e) US initiative to bring India (especially when solid proofs of Indian involvement in Balochistan has been established) into the loop to fight against the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan has caused resentment. (f) US officials are increasing pressure by expanding CIA drone strikes beyond Pakistan's border regions and into Quetta city. (g) US prodding that Pakistan isn't doing enough to go after sanctuaries in Quetta. (h) US AfPak strategy that depends on military means only. (j) US meddling in the Pakistani politics. (k) US inkling and hinting for another military-run government in Pakistan. (l) US distrust in the Government regarding the transparency of spending US aid. (m) The conditionalities associated with 7.5 billion dollars Kerry-Lugar Bill. (n) Delaying the release of F-16 fighter jets. (p) The US pressure to expand its current military campaign in South Waziristan to include tribal areas controlled by Haqqani, Bahadur and their militant allies. (q) The attitude problem of US officials visiting Pakistan is also responsible for a widening rift. Americans consider themselves as omnipotent and are found violating the law of the land, involved in manhandling Pakistani security agencies by refusing to get check their car of any weapons US often label Pakistan “as not doing more” to help control extremism on its soil especially in the tribal areas along the Afghan frontier. In the aftermath of the successful victory and recapture of the Bunner, Lower Dir, Shangla and entire Swat valley, the Pakistan Army launched a massive offensive in South Waziristan to eliminate a heavily entrenched force of 6,000–7,000 militants, including Taliban-allied Mehsud tribesmen as well as Uzbek and Arab foreign fighters affiliated with Al Qaeda. The Army intends to destroy TTP to the point where it no longer has the capability to regain control in FATA region. By Nov 17 the Pakistani Army took control of most of the towns in South Waziristan such as Kaniguram, Sararogha. According to UN estimate, 270,000 people have fled South Waziristan to seek safety in two neighbouring districts (camps in Tank District and Dera Ismail Khan District) after the intensification of military operation in Waziristan from October 17, 2009. In 2009, 2,780 citizens and 880 security officials have been killed in the country, while the number of the terrorists claimed to have been killed in counter-terrorism operations has crossed 6,500 mark. Pakistan is both victim and protagonist of the conflict in Afghanistan, its western and northern fringes devastated by a US-driven counter-insurgency campaign, its heartlands wracked by growing violence and deepening poverty. Pakistan is confronted with the phenomenon of Talibanization which is a very alarming development. It is the Afghan’s gift to Pakistan. But efforts are on to resolve issues with Pakistan. US President Barack Obama has offered Pakistan an expanded strategic partnership, including additional military and economic cooperation. The “Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009” states that Pakistan is a critical friend and ally to the United States, both in times of strife and in times of peace, and the two countries share many common goals, including combating terrorism and violent radicalism, solidifying democracy and rule of law in Pakistan, and promoting the social and economic development of Pakistan. The Administration is in full agreement with this principle and intends to use U.S. civilian assistance to supplement Pakistan’s efforts in building a stable, secure and prosperous Pakistan. The American must exempt all the outstanding loans of Pakistan and give easier access to Pakistani businessmen. The Pakistani government estimates that it needs 8-10 billion dollars over a 10-year period to bring about real change in the tribal belts. The National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones, clarified US policy by saying that "We can't succeed without Pakistan, there is nobody who is under any illusions about this”. The most practical way to retain that cooperation is to reduce average Pakistanis’ distrust of America. That can be done by providing US aid for infrastructure and schools, reduced tariffs on Pakistani textiles and, above all, an end to meddling in Pakistani politics. That is the real alternative to terrorist extremism - defeating al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan and to prevent the group from threatening America and its allies. The Americans should woo its strategic partner who has sacrificed every thing to clean the mess from the scourge of terrorism. US offer must feature more public praise and less public criticism of Pakistan. The proposed visit of President Barack Obama to Pakistan will definitely allay some of the apprehensions of Pakistani leadership and the public with the United States. The writer is retired Commander from Pakistan Navy.
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