pkpatriotic
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A recent report saying, Washington USA wants to place a permanent official at the U.S. embassy in Islamabad who would have direct access to the National Command Authority secretariat.
The request has not been received well in Pakistan (what has?). Senior defense analyst and retired general Talat Masood, who is generally favorable to the U.S., tells The News:
This is outright interference in Pakistans affairs. On what basis does the US want direct access to the NCA? Does the US have any particular fears or apprehensions? The US laws do not allow any transfer of nuclear technology or assets to Pakistan, so why should there be any such officer in the US embassy in Islamabad? There would be very grave implications if such a proposal is given serious thought by our government.
Senior Bush administration officials have repeatedly expressed their confidence in Pakistans command and control system. That is clearly not the issue. Washingtons problem is not with the system, but the future of its leadership. It apparently has little faith in a president or prime minister other than Musharraf with ultimate control over Pakistans nuclear weapons. Rather than cultivating a relationship with a broad spectrum of Pakistans civilian elites, Washington all too often skirts those it dislikes and could very well be antagonizing a future master of Pakistans nukes. This NCA liaison position is the Bush administrations lazy way of getting around the more time consuming challenge of pro-actively engaging Pakistans politicians.
The request has not been received well in Pakistan (what has?). Senior defense analyst and retired general Talat Masood, who is generally favorable to the U.S., tells The News:
This is outright interference in Pakistans affairs. On what basis does the US want direct access to the NCA? Does the US have any particular fears or apprehensions? The US laws do not allow any transfer of nuclear technology or assets to Pakistan, so why should there be any such officer in the US embassy in Islamabad? There would be very grave implications if such a proposal is given serious thought by our government.
Senior Bush administration officials have repeatedly expressed their confidence in Pakistans command and control system. That is clearly not the issue. Washingtons problem is not with the system, but the future of its leadership. It apparently has little faith in a president or prime minister other than Musharraf with ultimate control over Pakistans nuclear weapons. Rather than cultivating a relationship with a broad spectrum of Pakistans civilian elites, Washington all too often skirts those it dislikes and could very well be antagonizing a future master of Pakistans nukes. This NCA liaison position is the Bush administrations lazy way of getting around the more time consuming challenge of pro-actively engaging Pakistans politicians.
