FM avoids adverse comments on US strikes

[pkpatriotic]

FM avoids adverse comments on US strikes -DAWN - Top Stories; July 12, 2008
By Anwar Iqbal
WASHINGON, July 11: Fo-reign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Friday that it’s harsh to describe US strikes on targets inside Fata as unfriendly acts.

After a 45-minute meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Mr Qureshi told the media that he had “frank, candid, honest and realistic” talks with his American counterpart.

Asked if US attacks on targets inside Fata were not unfriendly acts, Mr Qureshi said: “It is a harsh statement.”

Mr Qureshi counted the food crisis, Fata, security and the prime minister’s forthcoming visit among the subjects that dominated the meeting.

The economic dialogue starting on Aug 11, US-Pakistan strategic talks in September, the holding of a jirga with Afghanistan and regional cooperation were other subjects he said he discussed with Ms Rice.

His meeting with Afghan Foreign Minister Rangeen Dadfar Spanta in New York earlier this week also came up for discussion, so did his recent visit to New Delhi.

A senior diplomat, when asked to interpret Mr Qureshi’s description of his meeting with Ms Rice as “candid and realistic,” said “apparently there’s no meeting of minds.”

Talking to a group of journalists after the meeting, Mr Qureshi said Pakistan was doing “whatever is possible to do” to deal with terrorism in Fata.

The government of Pakistan, he said, has its own strategy for Fata, which includes “political engagement, talks with tribal elders and with saner elements.”

After the recent military actions in the Khyber Agency, Pakistan was talking to the militants from a position of strength, he added.

Mr Qureshi dispelled the impression that Pakistan was stirring troubles in Afghanistan. “We want a stable Afghanistan. Normalcy and peace in Afghanistan is in our interest.”

Pakistan, he said, should not be blamed for the internal problems of Afghanistan as well.

“It is easier to pass the buck,” said the foreign minister when asked why Kabul was blaming Islamabad for its troubles.

 

[muse]

The clear danger in the tribal areas



Sunday, July 13, 2008
Khalid Aziz

Events in FATA are rapidly moving towards the final act of the war on terror. The escalation in the war began with the attack by the US and Afghan forces on a check post of the Frontier Corps in Mohmand Agency some weeks ago in which an officer and ten soldiers were killed.

Shifts in strategy in this war occur gradually, preceded by messages through the media. For instance, the introduction of targeted assassination by predator pilotless planes in the tribal areas was preceded by a US media campaign that these areas were infested with terrorists. This was followed by the Predator attack, which led to the escalation of the war when these deaths increased.

Now for the last couple of months the US media has been selling another product; this time it relates to creating a demand in the public mind for undertaking operations inside Pakistani tribal areas by US troops. Was this what President Karzai referred to when he said some weeks ago that Pakistan should stop militant attacks from the tribal areas or Afghan forces would enter to remove their safe havens? We all know what the capacity of the Afghan military is – it was a message from the alliance forces.

On the other hand, the militants are giving their messages. Their messages lie in the pattern of their attacks. These are meant to create a rift between the governments of the region. A few weeks ago there was a Taliban suicide attack on the central jail in Kandahar which killed more than 100 people and freed 1,400 prisoners. President Karzai blamed Pakistan for this attack. On July 6 there was a suicide attack on the police in Islamabad which killed 19 persons, most of them policemen. This attack took place on the anniversary of the Lal Masjid assault by the Pakistani army. This attack showed the existence of a third hand since the bombing by an Islamist on an occasion where sympathisers of the Lal Masjid martyrs were present was unthinkable.

On July 7 there was a huge suicide bombing targeting the Indian Embassy in Kabul, which killed two high-level Indian diplomats, including the defence attaché, Brig. Ravi Dutt Mehta, and the political counsellor; 56 persons died. The attacker aimed at the Indian military – it was a pointed message to stay away. The Taliban denied the attack. The Indian media accused Pakistan in a kneejerk reaction. On July 8, an IED was discovered on a bus carrying Indian workers to a road making project in Nimroz province. Apparently the attacks are meant to highlight the Taliban dislike for the growing Indian involvement in Afghanistan and also to prevent India and Pakistan from moving forward on Kashmir.

Incidentally, the cooperation between the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban and Kashmiri Mujahideen has become visible in various fights in Waziristan, Kohat and Swat. On Jun 24 an Afghan Taliban commander Khan Agha and five others was killed in Swat. On another front the government has lost control of the region lying between Hangu and Sadda in Kurram agency. Strong militant groups have entrenched themselves in Zargari and Doaba in Hangu district. They have been eroding the government's security structure by kidnapping police, government officials and Shias on their way to Parachinar in Kurram.

Many of the arrested Shias have later been found slaughtered. The result is that the Shias now travel to Peshawar from Parachinar through Afghan territory where they feel more secure. A few days ago a busload of Shias travelling to Parachinar through Khost in Afghanistan were attacked and kidnapped. The Afghan forces reacted and within a few hours not only recovered the victims but also killed the kidnappers. It showed a high degree of professionalism by the Afghans.

In the last few months there have been numerous articles in the US media and comments by members of think tanks regarding a threat to the US and world security from the tribal areas – many of them have recommended US intervention. They are a harbinger of US action on the ground in the tribal areas soon. Such an action would be a colossal mistake, with dangerous results for Pakistan and the region. It will break the compact against terrorism. It will strengthen the militants who would welcome such a move. The publication of such reports coincides with the US presidential elections in November.

This election year is particularly dangerous for Pakistan. President Bush will be leaving office in January and therefore any possible adverse rating has no impact on him. On the other hand, Mr Bush would like to end his term by leaving a positive legacy. An average US citizen would applaud President Bush's action of ordering the US military go into the tribal areas after the militants, particularly in Waziristan. This strategy permits Mr Bush to leave office with applause. Who really cares what the long-term impact of such a move is?

Recent reports from North Waziristan and Kurram indicate the movement of joint NATO, US and Afghan military units to the Pakistani border. Kurram and North Waziristan villages report disruption of cell phone communications, which is a precursor of military operations. Alliance aircraft also bombed Pakistani border posts on the South Waziristan border, injuring nine Pakistani soldiers.

There is also a report, although unconfirmed, that the Shia tribes in Kurram have petitioned NATO forces for protection against the Taliban who have made their lives miserable. Around 130 years ago the Shias made a similar petition to the British, who then annexed Kurram. Is history repeating itself?

If this report proves true then it is a huge condemnation of the government and its weak policies. The Shias may have been approached to present such a petition as a justification for intervention. It also suggests that the government is not able to protect the lives of its own people. In this context, arguments about sovereignty do not hold water.

It has been said that the duality in Pakistan's security policies, which deal with the Taliban and Kashmiri Mujahideen with kid gloves, has now rebounded on the country. Pakistani government and media have been critical of violation of its airspace by allied forces. However, alliance forces have disregarded such protests. It is likely that air attacks on Fata will escalate, forcing Pakistani forces to withdraw from the border to prevent the embarrassment of fighting its supposed allies. This will likely be followed by simultaneous aerial reconnaissance and raids to pick up villagers for intelligence gathering. The last phase will predictably be attacks on militant camps in Waziristan. It is important to note that alliance forces have advanced to the border to block the funnelling out of the militants into Afghanistan. This deployment will initially cause problems for the Taliban. However, after a few weeks the novelty of the move will lose its value as the Taliban discover how to deal with it. One of the lessons of frontier warfare is that the moment you become predictable you are in serious trouble.

It is now obvious that the period of the phony peace in FATA and the NWFP is over. It also shows that the weakening of institutions can lead to very serious consequences. If the allies intervene in FATA it will generate a situation which would have very serious consequences for national solidarity. Regrettably, Pakistan lacks a cohesive leadership to get on top of this crisis. She is also isolated and friendless.

The writer is a former chief secretary of NWFP and heads the Regional Institute of Policy Research. Email: azizkhalid **********

 

[fatman17]

^^^i really think it is out of our hands. the US has thru Admiral Mullen probably given the army their final warning about future actions of US and NATO in the FATA border areas. a full battle group has entered the arabian sea off the pakistan coast-line for this impending action.
the PA is now helpless and will convey the same message to the civilian govt.

 

[Vinod2070]

^^^i really think it is out of our hands. the US has thru Admiral Mullen probably given the army their final warning about future actions of US and NATO in the FATA border areas. a full battle group has entered the arabian sea off the pakistan coast-line for this impending action.
the PA is now helpless and will convey the same message to the civilian govt.

Seems a bit astonishing.

I know a CBG carries a big punch and Pakistan is in no position to take on the USA but to say that the 600,000 strong PA is helpless in front of a battle group is still bewildering!

 

[JK!]

To be honest I can't see this government acting.

The likes of Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari are more proccupied with personal agendas and their foolish pride will result in the US forces getting the green light to go in.

 

[maqsad]

What exactly is going on, did the PPP make some backroom deal to hand over FATA to be anexxed into Afghanistan? None of this makes any sense, not like anything ever does when you read the press reports but this situation is more puzzling than the other stories that have come out.

 

[JK!]

What exactly is going on, did the PPP make some backroom deal to hand over FATA to be anexxed into Afghanistan? None of this makes any sense, not like anything ever does when you read the press reports but this situation is more puzzling than the other stories that have come out.

Well the pressure has definitely been upped but will the government act with a sense of urgency and decisiveness?

Seems that Mercenary101s 2009 war is coming early.