Dirty game against Pakistan

It is nothing but powerful psychological operations against the institutions and leadership in Pakistan. The Abbottabad incident in which it has been claimed by the same CIA operatives who confirmed weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and Afghanistan that Osama Bin Laden has been killed in an operation. No one is going to believe them as even back in Washington there are serious doubts about the success story. Despite the fact that it is an attempt to materialize withdrawal of US and coalition forces from Afghanistan without much disgrace, things are not in the hand of those who are running the show.

 

It was a one point agenda “the Abbottabad incident in which Osama Bin Laden was killed by US forces”. There was detailed discussion about incident and its implications and on military to military relations with the United States. Although its shortcomings in developing intelligence on the presence of Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan was admitted but the achievements of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) were also highlighted which spoke the other side of the story. However, the Army authorities have ordered an investigation to look into the circumstances that led to the situation. COAS made it very clear that any similar action, violating the sovereignty of Pakistan, will warrant a review on the level of military / intelligence cooperation with the United States. We should not forget that a similar warning was issued to Washington but without any result. 

It is important to mention here that in the backdrop of unofficial warnings regarding the possibility of similar hostile action against our strategic assets, the COAS made it clear that Pakistan’s strategic assets are well protected and an elaborate defensive mechanism is in place. One wonders Pakistani nuclear arsenal is comparatively much safer than that of US or any other country. We had excellent example of US security when its highly secure Pentagon was targeted without any knowledge of those behind the high technology radars and scanner as part of star war programme. Not only the Pentagon was hit as sitting duck but over three hundred US officers were killed in the attack. The defeat of US in Afghanistan despite the coalition of over 43 countries is rare example where handful of Mujahideen without any modern weapon and equipment forced the US to withdraw with humiliation. In fact, US claims to be a democratic country but it is nothing more than a beast adopting undemocratic, dictatorial and inhuman laws.

We have the example how they disrespected the dead bodies of those who oppose them claiming that their crime was holding extremist views. No doubt countries like US have not only caused tremendous loss to the world peace but have set even worst example than fascists and Zionists. The mass graves in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq are not hidden from satellite thermal images.

No doubt, the enemies of Pakistan are quite successful in throwing mud on our respected institutions. CIA Director Leon Panetta in a statement before US lawmakers said that Washington was trying to get to the bottom of Pakistan’s “troubling” role in their professed ignorance about the whereabouts of the Al Qaeda Chief. He said, “either they were involved or incompetent. Neither place is a good place to be”. Honestly, speaking the statement goes true with those who claim to be US Intelligence agents. Various statement from Pakistani authorities are being published in print and electronic media in an attempt to try to defuse the impression that US helicopters’ undetected flight into Pakistan was also facilitated by the mountainous terrain, efficacious use of latest technology and “nap of the earth” flying techniques. Whatever that is claimed by US and is supported by the channels and print media on the inputs received from Washington, it is neither the technology nor the superiority of the US forces that led the US helicopters to come near Pakistan’s Military Academy or civilian houses in Abbottabad but the fact remains that US is partner of Pakistan in the war on terrorism and they are often considered as friends. The episode has remarkable resemblance with the attack on US military Headquarters “Pentagon” and Intelligence hub “Twin Towers” during September 11 “9/1’. Our forces are alert and are capable enough to defend every inch of their motherland. Let no one be mistaken that despite an ugly attempt by the enemies of Pakistan to defame Pakistan Armed Forces, every loyal Pakistani loves them and is sure that the past leader who acted foolishly was in fact agents of enemies and adversaries is responsible for this difficult time. One remains confident that Pakistan armed forces along with every patriotic Pakistani is capable to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan.

Within one year of its occupation of Afghanistan, the US instead of stabilizing the occupied country started nudging Pakistan to do more against foreign militants and those sheltering them in South Waziristan (SW). It then started accusing Pakistan of providing safe sanctuaries to anti-US militants and allowing cross border terrorism. To divide the premier institutions, the US charged that some elements within the Army and ISI were linked with Taliban. Whom the US had not formed an alliance to fight war on terror. It forgot that Russia having suffered humiliation in Afghanistan because of US support wanted Afghanistan to become a graveyard for USA. Unlike Pakistan which is a coalition partner, Iran is hostile towards USA and desires its crushing defeat at the hands of Taliban. Pro-Taliban Islamic movement is raging in Uzbekistan and large numbers of Uzbeks are part of Taliban Army.

The main reason for overlooking all other players and singling out Pakistan is the secret plans hatched by USA in collaboration with India, Israel and Britain. Pakistan has been meekly enduring the snubs and illegal demands of Washington because of subservience of weak and corrupt rulers. Pakistan is stuck up in huge foreign debts, its economy is in ruins and oxygen is provided by US controlled IMF and World Bank to keep the country afloat. Pakistan’s economy has been deliberately enfeebled to force its weak-willed leaders to tamely hand over the keys of its nuclear arsenal to Washington.

Obama’s purpose of first troop surge in mid 2009 was to stabilize Afghanistan, gain effective control over all major urban centres as well as agricultural and poppy growing areas, dominate main supply routes, minimize civilian casualties, weed out corruption, improve governance, win over moderate elements within militants and convince them to surrender arms in return for jobs and financial assistance, expand and upgrade proficiency levels of ANA and police to be able to operate independently, build capacity of Pak Army to enhance its capability of tackling militants in FATA. 

When the stated objectives couldn’t be achieved, Obama sanctioned second troop surge in December 2009. Purpose was to break the momentum of Taliban resurgence by recapturing critical spaces in southern and eastern Afghanistan, and to militarily weaken it to the extent that it is forced to come to the negotiating table on US terms. When no worthwhile objectives could be achieved after upgrading total strength of ISAF to 152000, the US started blaming Pakistan for its failures and made excuses that the chief reason for not being able to defeat the militants was the continued cross border terrorism from North Waziristan (NW) which in its view was the hub centre of terrorism, where main sanctuaries of militants were located and where Al-Qaeda leadership was based. 2010 saw upsurge of drone attacks in NW.         

Pakistan is under intense pressure since the dawn of 2010 to launch a military operation in NW. All visitors coming from Washington have been pressing our leaders not to delay the operation since in their view it will have a direct bearing on the outcome of overall security situation in Afghanistan. While ignoring dozens of small and large scale military operations in seven tribal agencies of FATA and several parts of Khyber Pakhunkhwa in last nine years, the US is now stuck with NW and is trying to give an impression that Pak Army is reluctant to undertake action against militant’s sanctuaries or is incapable of fighting them in their stronghold. They forget that within NW, over 30,000 regular troops are stationed since 2005 and have conducted several operations. It was owing to successes achieved that Gul Bahadur was forced to sign an agreement in 2008.

A full-fledged operation on the scale of Swat and SW cannot be undertaken at present since troops are outstretched and extra deployment is at the cost of weakening critical eastern front. Very little rehabilitation work has been done in Mehsud belt of SW since majority of displaced persons living in camps of Jandola, Tank and Dera Ismail Khan have still not returned. Severe weather which will persist till end March was another constraining factor; so is lack of resources particularly helicopters and close support fund from USA.

To say that issue of terrorism will get settled after a successful operation in NW and that it will have a salutary impact on dwindling fortunes of US-NATO in Afghanistan will be naïve and far-fetched. It must be understood very clearly that small numbered Haqqani network and other militant groups in NW are not making any material difference on the outcome of war raging between Afghan Taliban and occupation forces in conjunction with unpopular Afghan National Army (ANA). Forays if any are too few and insignificant. These can be easily blocked if ISAF establishes border check posts at known crossing sites and mine/fence them. Bulk of resistance forces of Mullah Omar and Gulbadin Hikmatyar are residing in provinces of southern and eastern Afghanistan and are operating all over the country from there. With 80% of territory under their sway they hardly need any sanctuaries across the border.

Israel and India have been convincing USA that roots of terrorism in Afghanistan lay in FATA and inciting it to push forward its special forces into FATA to destroy the roots. Idea of safe havens in Waziristan has been transplanted into the minds of US officials so firmly that they have got transfixed with the idea and are convinced that until and unless the sanctuaries are not destroyed either by Pak Army or NATO, no worthwhile results will ever be achieved by them in Afghanistan and will suffer a defeat.

Had Pakistan been peaceful as it was before 2002, and there had been puny fatalities taking place as a result of terrorism, the accusers could have some grounds to get suspicious and hurl unsubstantiated accusations that there appeared to be some kind of linkage between Pakistan’s security forces and militants? On ground, Pak Army and ISI have suffered heavy casualties at the hands of militants of different hues who have joined up against them. Series of terror attacks have taken place on ISI installations in Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Multan. GHQ was also struck by the terrorists. It is therefore highly unjust and immoral on part of USA to insinuate that Pakistan is backing the militants. The accusation is travesty of truth and speaks of mala fide intentions of USA.

Pakistan Army has suffered heavily since it has been fighting the foreign aided militants tenaciously without a break. Nearly 145000 troops are at war since 2002 and have been fighting under tremendous resource constraints. The US which had pushed it into the furnace of war has been releasing funds and counter insurgency equipment miserly. It has been withholding the critical support on account of Indian unfounded apprehension that the supplied equipment would be used against it. While the US is sympathetic towards Indian speculative security concerns, it is least bothered about genuine security concerns of Pakistan.

It is not Pakistan playing a double game and harming US interests as alleged but it is USA in league with its partners which is playing this dirty game against Pakistan. This fact has been amply proved after the arrest of Raymond Davis. Yet the US has the brashness to point fingers at Pakistan. It is still blowing hot and cold over Davis issue and threatening to sever ties if not released. Such callousness will neither bridge trust deficit nor help in building lasting friendly relations. The US has lost Afghanistan and is losing its protégés in the Arab world. It should bear in mind that Pakistan’s loss will be the severest of all.

 

US Planned Involvment in Balochistan

It was really alarming as a citizen of Pakistan and the regular reader of the newspapers to go through the news items pertaining to the first visit of US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter to Quetta and attending Pashtun tribal jirga in Quetta. Consul General William Martin also accompanied Ambassador Munter throughout his visit. Every one knows who is behind unrest in Balochistan. It is India supported by the United States. Munter very kindly announced that ?Balochistan is a proud province with a remarkable history, wonderful people, and strong traditions. I feel very fortunate to experience this firsthand by being included in this Pashtun tribal jirga.?

Munter must be aware of the remarks of the then US president Ronalad Regan who invited Afghan mujahideen?s leaders to white house.

A prominent academician and analyst Eqbal Ahmed has pointed out in one of his articles that ?in 1985, President Ronald Reagan actually called the Afghan Mujahideen (the future Taliban) ?the moral equivalent of America?s founding fathers.? At the time, they were battling the Evil Empire, so no degree of hyperbole in their praise could be considered excessive.

These ?moral equivalent of America?s founding fathers? are now, of course, terrorists.? The independence and the sovereignty of the same Afghans has been compromised since 2001. American forces are killing Afghan masses in the garb of WOT.

High-level talks between the United States, Afghanistan and Pakistan are going to be started on May 3, 2011. Earlier, the talks have been postponed due to the arrest of CIA?s Spy Raymond Davis in a murder case of two Pakistani in January this year. However, Raymond Davis case left two conspicuous impacts on U.S. Pakistan ties. Firstly, it has increased the strain in Pakistan and U.S. relationship and secondly also uncovered the CIA nefarious activities in Balochistan and FATA (Pakistan). The tension between two supreme intelligence agencies (ISI & CIA) further aggravated when American top political and military brass instead paying tribute to Pakistani security forces in Global War on Terror (GWOT) started maligning ISI for providing shelter to Haqqani Group of Taliban. In this regard Moassad and RAW?s financed Western and American media also launched a deliberate campaign against Pakistani security and Intelligence agencies. Pakistan has already condemned and rejected American political and military officials? statements regarding ISI and declared it a part of blame game against her security and Intelligence agencies.

Above all, CIA?s activities in Balochistan have become now quite intolerable which also put a big question mark over U.S. growing interest in this region. In fact, Creation of ?Greater Balochistan? is the top most agenda of U.S., India and Israel collaboration. Their obvious objectives are: (1) weakening Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan, (2) establishing strong hold in Central Asian Region even after culmination of war on terror, (3) denting Chinese economic interests in African and Middle East while creating impediment in full scale operation of Gawader Port and the last is looking after Indian and Israeli interests in the region. Therefore, the American establishment has started supporting pro Independent Balochistan Movement, and anti Pakistan elements in Balochistan. In this connection, CIA supported elements are using America, UK, India and Afghanistan as their platforms for organizing, planning and operational bases for execution of the plan of Independent Balochistan. Moreover, some militarily supported political lobbies of America and Uk are facilitating anti Pakistan elements (so called liberators) to carryout nefarious activities against Pakistan. On April 28, 2011 US Ambassador Cameron Munter, visited first time Balochistan and attended a Pashtun tribal Jirga in Quetta. He went there on the invitation of convener of Pakhtun Ulas Qaumi Jirga Nawab Ayaz Jogezai. The jirga brought together 16 Pashtun tribal elders from Balochistan who discussed issues of mutual interest, including economic development in the province and matters pertaining to security. American interest can be very easily judged from her ambassador statement in which he mentioned that ?Balochistan is a proud province with a rich history, wonderful people, who have strong traditions. I feel very fortunate to experience this firsthand by being included in this Pashtun tribal jirga,? He further added that by meeting face to face interaction can address the difficult issues facing Balochistan , in a spirit of open communication and collaboration,?. U.S. Ambassador meeting with Pakhtune leaders in Balochistan should not be taken as simple interaction and need to be monitored persistently since such type of meetings might create rift between three segments (Pakhtune, Balochis, and Punjabi).

In the last week of April 2011 Carnegie Endowment for Intl Peace has rented its space to the Balochistan Society, of North America (BSO - NA) to hold conference on Balochistan. Alongside this development, United States Institute of Peace (USIP) has also held an event ?Turmoil in Balochistan. The participants of meeting were (1) jaz Haider (a journalist from Pak),(2) Shazadi Beg (member of Department of Justice UK),(3)Selig Harrison (a contentious journalist known for his critical views on Pak),94) Marvin Weinbaum (Middle East Institute). The speakers fomented venom against Pakistan very openly as directed by their masters.

On learning about first event, our Ambassador to USA Mr Haqqani has already written an unequivocal letter to the President of the Carnegie essentially arguing that Carnegie?s renting of its space to the BSO ? NA could potentially damage Pak ? US relations; legitimise the activities of the BSO ? NA who is an adjunct of a terrorist organisation BLA banned in Pak and urged the Carnegie Endowment to revoke its decision of renting space to the BSO ? NA. Response has not yet been rendered by Carnegie Endowment and the meeting have been conducted in the manners as desired by CIA. The government of Pakistan is extremely concerned over USIP holding of an event ?Turmoil in Balochistan? on an integral part of Pak, Balochistan. Since USIP is a congressionally funded body, one would presume that the event is being held under the patronage of Congress. Its implications on Pak ? U.S. relations will be extremely negative. American leadership should think that it is not just academic freedom or analysis that is important, what the USIP must assess is also the impact on our bilateral relations of holding this event. It is time to help consolidate the democratically elected Government of Pakistan. It is obvious that arranging such events, which are ideologically or politically motivated, serve to undermine Pak?s solidarity and its elected govt and defiantly causes hatter against U.S. character in Pakistani masses too. American supported political leadership tried to inflame public opinion in Pakistan and Balochistan.

The think tanks in U.S. are independent and completely autonomous in their policies. Despite the efforts made by our embassy at Washington, it is less likely that USIP will change its stance. In spite of the liberty accorded to think tanks, there always remains influence of state institutions. Therefore, the possibility of U.S. state authorities? involvement in this case cannot be ruled out. After analysing events of last decade and especially of last two years, we can conveniently derive that: - FATA has been focus of US attention for last few years in relation to GWOT. US always insist that Taliban are being provided sanctuaries / safe havens by Pak in FATA. Therefore, all the drone strikes and border violations have been taking place in this area. But mainly due to faulty U.S. policy, a worthwhile success is still not in sight in GWOT. When Gwadar Port started emerging as key project which could boost the economic activities of Pakistan, China and including Central Asia, many stake holders emerged on the scene incl Iran (Chah Bahar), UAE (Dubai) and India.

At the same time terrorist activities sped up in Balochistan and Nooristan (Iran). Nationalist elements in Balochistan have started voicing their concerns on Human Rights Violations and so called atrocities committed by Pakistani LEAs and demand for Independent Balochistan. Indian involvement in Balochistan is a major concern for Pakistan. There have been concrete evidences of Indian involvement in providing funds and weapons to dissident elements in Balochistan. The dissident Baloch leaders living in exile (Harbyar Marri in UK & Brahmdagh Bugti in Switzerland) were incited to raise their voice for Independence of Balochistan. Seeing the ripe situation, India with the connivance of CIA joined the cadres to destabilise Balochistan and ultimately Pakistan. Moreover, killing two birds with one stone, the Chinese interest in Balochistan is automatically countered if this province remains mired in unrest.

Due to convergence of interests, India and USA are pursuing this agenda jointly. To exert pressure on Pakistan to succumb to U.S. demands (for undertaking ops in North Waziristan against Hqqani and against Quetta Shura in Balochistan), the US is hosting activities of dissident Balochs in USA and Canada. Although the event (Rally ?Save Balochistan Campaign? at Vancouver at Summary) could not attract a big number but remains a source of concern for Pak.

Anyhow, the trilateral talks have been rescheduled to review the progress on already set agenda of removing extremism and its related matters. The issue must be taken up in coming trilateral engagements with USA and bilateral talk with India. Thus it is suggested that Pakistan should make the American authorities realize that Balochistan is an integral part of Pakistan and discussion on an integral part of a sovereign country and is abrogation of international norms. The government should also exposed Indian involvement in Balochistan and it must be addressed in bilateral engagements at Sectary level talks b/w India and Pakistan. Government should also highlight the issue of harbouring Baloch dissidents in Pak?U.S.?Afghanistan Trilateral meeting, similarly Afghanistan should be asked to stop Indian to use her territory since, the Baloch youth is being trained and supplied with arms and ammo by Indians on Afghan soil. Afghanistan needs to provide assurance of closing these training camps and not to undertake such steps which could harm bilateral relations as well as destabilise Pakistan.American should also be asked to redefine drone attack policy and provide drone technology to Pakistan. At the same time The ?Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan? package announced by Pakistan Government must be implemented in letter and in spirit to address the deprivations of Baloch people.

Today Americans are praising the masses of the Balochistan province. Pakistan authorities must keep check on the movements of Americans specially its ambassador and they not be allowed to visit each and every place they want to visit. Munter?s movement has to be confined to Islamabad as American interference will soon turn the situation beyond Pakistan?s control. So Pakistan has to keep proper check on American diplomats. This nation doesn?t afford too many Raymonds. We have to solve our internal problems at our own level.

The visiting Americans also showed their resolve to address the difficult issues facing Balochistan province but didn?t apprise the participants who is supporting the elements, who are creating unrest in the province. American ambassador is not Viceroy of Pakistan he is simply an ambassador and has to confine to his official duties.

Can we allow Indian ambassador to visit Quatta tomorrow and meet Indian assets hiding in Balochistan? We have to keep the US-Indian nexus in mind which is behind Pakistan?s instability.