Thursday, 18 September 2008 11:28 Pakistan Daily: Breaking News, Pakistan, World, Politics, Business & Sports News
The entire CIA backed coup against Musharraf was for this very purpose. He had always resisted this U.S. desire despite his dangerously close and lopsided relationship with U.S. Zardari has been made President for a purpose. Now the U.S. is not going to back down from their ultimate desire to destabilize Pakistani State and to create a justification to overrun Pakistani nukes. From allies to a threat, U.S. and its President have already downgraded Pakistans rating. Pakistan is now the next theatre of operations for U.S. forces after Iraq and Afghanistan. The meetings have begun at the highest levels to counter this threat from Pakistan army! Things are moving fast here and their pace is breathtaking. While the military commanders were fairly blunt and open in their rejection of US threats of cross border incursions, the political leadership was caught with red faces and even responded with deafening silence. The PM reluctantly gave a weak statement of support to the stance of the army but the CIA appointed President decided to stay silent, in fact was fuming with anger and decided to go to U.K. and U.S., canceling his visit to China!
Pakistan is now on a war path with U.S., at least the battle lines are being drawn. We shall start with U.S. missile attacks and ground incursions inside Pakistan. Last week we had done the following analysis on the developing situation which has the potential of getting out of hand for both U.S. and Pakistan.
We had written:
While the army was busy in fighting the insurgencies on various fronts, it is now confronted with a new threat and this time it is from United States. Taking advantage of the chaos in Islamabad, U.S. finds it most appropriate time to take the matters into its own hands. The government would only protest as an eye wash and the army would be under tremendous pressure to hold its horses.
It is interesting to note that U.S. is only targeting those regions where pro-Pakistan militants live. Those who are waging a war against the State of Pakistan like Baitullah Mehsud, are not touched by the U.S. despite repeated intelligence and information passed on to the U.S. military. U.S. is playing with fire here by pushing the army in a tight corner and testing the governments will against local sentiments. In unprecedented moves, U.S. ground forces have now started to enter and attack local villagers inside Pakistan. So far they have only killed women and children. It is obvious that in the coming days, more such raids will be carried out by the U.S. The political government will have to do something just to maintain its image of authority or dignity. But in reality, it remains spineless and even collaborative in these acts. For the army, this is additional pressure when it is already fighting multiple low and medium intensity wars within its own borders. For the army, it would be difficult to stay out of political decision making if U.S. continues to carry out raids which in turn cast serious doubts on the role of army itself. The mood within the armed forces and within the nation is different from what is in Islamabad. We shall see in a few days.
As expected for us but highly unexpected for U.S. as well as for PPP government, Pakistans military chief lashed out at U.S. for their incursions. First clear signs that battle lines are now being drawn between GHQ and Washington. Not just that the army Chief gave some stern warnings, he even flexed his muscles. This was totally stunning development and even caught the U.S. by surprise.
But U.S. has made its point clear. It is going to continue to make raids into Pakistan. The entire CIA backed coup against Musharraf was for this very purpose. He had always resisted this U.S. desire despite his dangerously close and lopsided relationship with U.S. Zardari has been made President for a purpose. Now the U.S. is not going to back down from their ultimate desire to destabilize Pakistani State and to create a justification to overrun Pakistani nukes. From allies to a threat, U.S. and its President have already downgraded Pakistans rating. Pakistan is now the next theatre of operations for U.S. forces after Iraq and Afghanistan. The meetings have begun at the highest levels to counter this threat from Pakistan army! Things are moving fast here and their pace is breathtaking!
While the military commanders were fairly blunt and open in their rejection of US threats of cross border incursions, the political leadership was caught with red faces and even responded with deafening silence. The PM reluctantly gave a weak statement of support to the stance of the army but the CIA appointed President decided to stay silent, in fact was fuming with anger and decided to go to U.K. and U.S., canceling his visit to China!
To add further punch to the message for the U.S. and NATO forces, Pakistan briefly stopped the fuel supplies for NATO operations in Afghanistan. The message was heard loud and clear immediately. While NATO heard, U.S. again pretended to feign ignorance.
Nato not to take part in US raids inside Pakistan
BRUSSELS: Nato will not take part in a proposed US strategy of conducting raids into Pakistan from Afghanistan against Taliban and Al Qaeda militants, a spokesman said on Thursday. The Nato policy, that is our mandate, ends at the border, James Appathurai told a regular news briefing.
But the international game is on big time to increase pressure on Pakistan to use more indiscriminate, ruthless and brutal force against local tribals. International pressure is now frustrating Pakistani Foreign Office, especially when Mr. Karzai also decides to chip in his lot.
U.S. raids so far have killed dozens of women and children and have created such a charged environment in the country that even the PPP government officials are forced to show some concern. Media is already taking the line which does not suit U.S. at all. Opposition leaders have fully backed the army and have demanded a firm stance against U.S. Now it is a national cause and for the first time army seems to have gained serious sympathy and support even from its arch critics.
But on the larger axis, the pressure on Pakistan is not just on the issue of terrorism but also on the explosive issue of nuclear proliferation. After imposing this President and Prime Minister on us, the case is now being re-opened by the U.S. to increase pressure on Pakistan and the objective of this prong is to create a case to eliminate Pakistans nuke program the ultimate prize for the U.S. and Israel / India axis. Pakistan was not amused.
A lot of water has flowed under the bridge.
