Whose War is it, anyway?
October 31, 2009 | At one hand bribed and acquired Pakistani Media keep harping that war against terrorism is Pakistan’s own war and at the other, American officials never depict any shyness in spelling out their demands on Pakistan Army to crush AlQaeda and their allies, namely the Taliban. US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton has emphasized during her recent visit to Pakistan, the need to take on AlQaeda which is in fact an enemy of America and not Pakistan, ripping apart the publicity that war against terror is Paksitan’s own war. Daily Dawn :Saturday, 31 Oct, 2009: ” Despite appreciation from many people, Clinton’s ‘people to people’ diplomacy has been characterised by sharp disagreements and deep distrust which is a potentially worrying sign for officials in Washington hoping to reverse anti-US sentiment in the increasingly fragile nuclear Pakistan. – File photo World I didn’t come only for happy talk: Hillary I didn’t come only for happy talk: Hillary ISLAMABAD: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday jacked up pressure on Pakistan to take on Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups beyond South Waziristan for a lasting solution to terrorism. ‘With initial campaign in Swat and now in South Waziristan finished, I think the Pakistani military would have to go on to root out other terrorist groups or else they could come back to threaten Pakistan,’ Ms Clinton said at a town hall-style meeting of Pakistani professional women on the last day of her three-day charm offensive. The secretary of state had stirred controversy when she said at a meeting with journalists on Thursday that Pakistan lacked seriousness in pursuing Al Qaeda. ‘I find it hard to believe that nobody in your government knows where they are and could not get them if they really wanted to.’ However, Ms Clinton, who for most part of her trip consciously stayed away from saying anything that could undermine the purpose of the trip, did not relent after the statement and in numerous media interviews tried to impress on the Pakistani leadership that Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups were as big a threat to Pakistan as were the local Taliban. ‘Our best information is that Al Qaeda leadership is somewhere in Pakistan. It is in the interest of Pakistan as well as our own interest that we capture or kill Al Qaeda leadership because that will give a very serious blow to terrorists everywhere. Let us work in that direction. ‘I understand priority for Pakistan will be focussing on those that are attacking you. That has to be your priority. But Al Qaeda is in league with those attacking Pakistan.’ Highlighting the nexus between Al Qaeda, Pakistani Taliban and other terror groups, she said: ‘The extremist and terrorist groups are part of syndicate of terror and Al Qaeda is head of that syndicate.’ Ms Clinton placed a lot of emphasis on this issue during her three-hour meeting with Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and ISI Director General Lt-Gen Shuja Pasha on Thursday night. There are apprehensions in Washington that the Pakistan military is going after only those who threaten its own security while ignoring those who launch attacks in Afghanistan. Denials about the alleged existence of entities like Quetta Shura in Pakistani territory have also displeased UD officials. As a means for resolving such contentious issues, towards the end of her trip on Friday, Ms Clinton proposed creation of ‘more open relationship between governments and people of America and Pakistan’ and underlined the need for ‘honesty in relationship’ between Washington and Islamabad. Nuclear fear The secretary, who left for Abu Dhabi in the evening, during her meetings with government officials discussed her fears about nuclear proliferation given that terrorist groups had been making relentless efforts to acquire fissile material. She cautioned that there was always a possibility of nuclear material falling into the hands of terrorists. However, she insisted that she had full confidence in the security of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal. She urged Pakistan to work with other countries against proliferation. Pakistan-India relations Ms Clinton made it clear that her government wouldn’t be playing an active role in helping Pakistan achieve peace with India. ‘It is clearly in India’s and Pakistan’s interest to try to resolve the concerns they have. It is not for us to dictate solutions because that will last a minute, but it is up to us to encourage both sides to get back to the composite dialogue … We love to see good and peaceful relations between the two countries.’ Justifying American reluctance to play a peace broker’s role, she said both the countries had very strong feelings and the US couldn’t impose a solution despite its leading position in the world as the sole super power. However, she promised to help Pakistan in resolving its water dispute with India. ‘Water will be part of the strategic dialogue between Pakistan and the US and we will try to address international issues,’ she said at the town hall meeting. Blackwater controversy Ms Clinton compounded the confusion over the presence of the US private security firm Blackwater/Xe Services in Pakistan by saying that some of their personnel might be having diplomatic immunity, but most of them didn’t. ‘I understand the sensitivity of the issue, but I want to be clear why we have any contractors, well because we get dozens and dozens of threats every month directed towards our diplomats and public officials who are here for diplomatic activity. Our diplomats don’t carry arms, but on the other hand if they have to get out they need security.’ She said the US was working with Pakistan to chalk out a mechanism for providing security to diplomats and officials assigned to Pakistan. The issue of private security contractors echoed at her meeting with lawmakers in parliament, where former information minister Sherry Rehman warned her that if the issue was not resolved, it could compromise the very democracy the US was seeking to support. Ms Clinton clarified that the security company was not above the law of land and asked Ambassador Patterson to look into the issue and address concerns. Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan called for an increase in trade and economic ties. During her meeting with leaders from the NWFP and Fata, the secretary of state underscored American support for humanitarian and livelihood assistance, education, media and communications for people living in areas of conflict. The secretary of state also visited the Police Line Headquarters to pay tribute to the personnel of Islamabad police who had sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. She expressed the resolve to stand with Pakistan in rooting out the menace of terrorism and secure future of the country. According to a press release issued by the ICT police, she said: ‘It is a war against an enemy who tried to destroy the morale and life of police officers. It is the enemy that threatens the way of life and future of the people of Pakistan. It is a common enemy and common threat and we show solidarity with you.’ She said that US supported Pakistan police through training and increasing capacity and this cooperation would continue. ” Now all American aid, civil or military is aimed at cornerning and alienating our brothers in FATA, NWFP, Balochistan and now southern Panjab. Specific clauses in the notorious Kary Lugar Bill expose the real motivation of American aid to Pakistan. Only a foolish or a sold out brain will now believe that war against Taleban is our war and America is helping us only as a courtesy. Muhammad Javed Iqbal |
