Pakistan defends military policy in northwest

[Omar1984]

Pakistan defends military policy in northwest


ISLAMABAD — Pakistan on Saturday defended its military policy in the lawless northwest of the country, a hotbed of Taliban and Al-Qaeda insurgency, amid tensions in its relationship with the United States.

In a statement issued by the foreign ministry, Islamabad declared that there was no "lack of Pakistani resolve to fight terrorism".

The comments come as a wave of US drone strikes in the area continues, having killed more than 150 people and raising tensions between Washington and Islamabad, which condemns the operations as a violation of its sovereignty.

A leaked White House report to Congress earlier this month also accused Pakistani forces of avoiding "direct conflict" in North Waziristan, while ground operations in South Waziristan were only progressing "slowly".

Militants fighting against more than 150,000 US and NATO troops of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan are believed to be holed up in the tribal region, as are operatives at war with Pakistani security forces.

Under US pressure to crack down on Islamist havens, Pakistan last year sent 30,000 troops into South Waziristan to destroy Taliban strongholds in the area, but no similar offensive has been mounted in North Waziristan.

But the foreign ministry said in a statement: "While we understand ISAF concerns, any question relating to when, how and what is to be done in North Waziristan is based on judgment, keeping in mind our capacities, priorities and overall national interest.

"This in no way should be interpreted as lack of Pakistani resolve to fight terrorism," it said.

Part of the tribal belt on the Afghan border, North Waziristan is home to 350,000 people but considered a stronghold for the most dangerous militants in the world and largely impenetrable.

Washington has branded the rugged area, which lies outside Pakistani government control, a global headquarters of Al-Qaeda and the most dangerous place on Earth.

Pakistani commanders have not ruled out an offensive in North Waziristan, but argue that gains in South Waziristan and the northwestern district of Swat need to be consolidated to prevent their troops from being stretched too thin.

The ministry said that the Pakistani army had conducted "calibrated operations" against terrorist and extremist forces to establish the writ of the state and disrupt Al-Qaeda and its affiliates.

"Recently North Waziristan has been under sharp focus. Despite battling with the worst floods in 100 years, (the) Pakistan army continues to maintain a presence of over 34,000 troops in North Waziristan," the ministry said.

"Constant pressure and squeeze, without going in for a large scale ground operations, has been applied on the terrorists, with success, gaining better control of the area," it added.



AFP: Pakistan defends military policy in northwest

 

[Omar1984]

American pressure


North Waziristan Agency continues to be a hotbed of militancy. The Haqqani network and its allied al Qaeda affiliates have been using Mir Ali and its adjoining areas in the tribal agency to plan and execute terrorist operations in Afghanistan and beyond.

To that extent, America’s anxiety is understandable. What is not is the way it is handling matters, particularly in the context of its public outbursts against Pakistan at regular intervals. America must realise that the pressure it exerts on Pakistan to take action in North Waziristan makes things that much more difficult for Islamabad. Such pressure is counter-productive and adds to the existing US-Pakistan trust deficit on an issue where there is basic agreement in terms of the final aim, even if there is a difference in approach. The prime minister did well to make it clear that, one, army chief Gen Kayani gave no assurance to the US military that Pakistan would launch an operation in North Waziristan, and, two, if at all Pakistan were to undertake this task it would be Islamabad that would decide on its timing and scale.

While the US does at times demonstrate its realisation of Pakistan’s problems in North Waziristan, there is often an inexplicable demonstration of impatience on its part, meant really for domestic consumption. In his latest statement, Defence Secretary Robert Gates appeared aware that a number of army personnel were involved in flood relief operations But a military strike in North Waziristan, a Haqqani bastion and with the largest concentration of foreign militants, involves more than troop availability. Considerations such as the talk of negotiations and the planned start of US withdrawal next July must be factored in.

Moreover, there are contradictions in US policy. While it urges Pakistan to take up the North Waziristan task, America has gone public with its approval of President Hamid Karzai’s peace initiative. Pakistan has vital stakes in a post-America Afghanistan. For that reason it cannot afford to be reckless. A military operation in North Waziristan at this stage also risks public alienation because the government would be accused of surrendering to America’s wishes.



DAWN.COM | Editorial | American pressure

 

[BATMAN]

Pakistan wish to win this war not loose like US and USSR.
It is our country and Pak army has won us wars in past and we trust it is doing every thing right.
US rely on hired contractors and double agents and call its shots.