Expert Zone
Straight from the Specialists
Pakistan overplays its hand
(The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not represent those of Reuters)
Pakistan is reportedly calling for a reduction in U.S. drone missile strikes against terrorists sheltering in its tribal border areas, greater transparency from the CIA regarding its counterterrorism activities inside Pakistan, and a reduction in U.S. military trainers in the country.
Following a meeting in Washington between the director of Pakistan’s intelligence service, Shuja Pasha, and CIA Director Panetta on Monday, a Pakistani official told The Washington Post that the CIA must share more information about what it “wants and is doing” inside Pakistan, adding, “They have to stop mistrusting [Pakistani intelligence] so much.”
The problem is that Pakistan’s handling of recent terrorism cases and its dealings with the Afghan Taliban have done little to inspire the trust Pakistani officials seek. Pakistan maintains links with the Afghan Taliban as well as deadly militant groups, such as the Haqqani network, that are responsible for some of the fiercest attacks against coalition soldiers and civilians in Afghanistan.
Moreover, Pakistan has failed to take substantive action against the Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) terrorist group responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed nearly 166, including six Americans. Pakistan has dragged its feet on trying and prosecuting seven LeT members who are widely believed to be behind the Mumbai carnage that it took into custody over two years ago. In fact, one of the alleged ringleaders of the attacks, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, had been instructing LeT operatives while in Pakistani custody, raising questions over whether the Pakistanis were “protecting” rather than “prosecuting” him. In congressional testimony, U.S. Pacific Commander Admiral Robert Willard expressed concern about the expanding international reach of the LeT.
Pakistani intelligence officials are seeking to take advantage of the Ray Davis episode to gain leverage in their dealings with the U.S. But the Obama Administration must remain committed to U.S. counterterrorism goals in the region and continue to pursue policies in Pakistan that prioritize protecting the U.S. homeland from additional terrorist strikes. Rather than seeking to change U.S. counterterrorism objectives in the region, Pakistan should propose strategies for jointly tackling the threat.
Growing religious intolerance in Pakistan spells demise of democracy
(The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not represent those of Reuters)
Today’s murder of Pakistani Minority Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti by religious extremists establishes a pattern of growing religious intolerance. It is undermining Pakistan’s struggling democracy by shutting down free speech and political expression in the name of a ruthless ideology disguised as religion.
The murderers left pamphlets at the scene of the crime, explaining that they killed Bhatti because of his opposition to controversial blasphemy laws, which are often misused against Pakistan’s religious minorities. Some Pakistani officials had sought to argue that the murder of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer at the hands of his own security guard in January was an anomaly and unreflective of broader societal trends. They were wrong.
I was in Lahore, Pakistan, two weeks ago, and it’s clear that the thin layer of liberal thinkers in Pakistan is getting thinner by the day. Academics and moderate politicians express fear about the current situation in the country and a sense of not knowing what’s coming next.
The case of Raymond Davis, the American embassy officer who is accused of killing two Pakistanis in late January, has energised the religious political parties in the country. They carry out regular protests shouting down America and are beginning to tie the issue of support for blasphemy laws with that of the jailed American. The rapidly developing political dynamics in Pakistan are a dangerous witch’s brew that could portend a significant shift in Pakistani politics to a regime that is more insular, less engaged with the international community, and more repressive toward its own people.
There are signs that the opposition Pakistan Muslim League/Nawaz (PML/N) Party may seek to exploit the Davis case to its political advantage. Last week, the party dismissed all Pakistan People’s Party leaders from the Punjab provincial cabinet, which it controls. This signals that the PML/N may be preparing to make a power grab for the center. Riding on the coattails of public anger over Davis would spell disaster for the future of U.S.–Pakistan relations.
Hello Lisa, Since gaining independence in 1947 Pakistan has always overplayed its hand because U.S was always supportive of its anti-status quo policies be it against Iran, Afghanistan or India.Despite its small footprint as a political,economical and geographical entity Pakistan always played a bigger role riding piggyback on U.S arms and other financial support.The difference now is that Cold war has ended and U.S finds itself weakening and its cold war ally is now working cross-purposes to U.S Policy in the region.
Historically Pakistan was part of the alleged khorasan region(Iran + Afghanistan + Pakistan) which has been of no productive value much before islam arrived in this area and since 1000 year ago after islam arrived here pushing the whole region into turmoil and devastation and since then this area has been unstable and a danger to the main indian mainland if i may call it only providing foot soldiers of tryanny and loot. The only exception being Iran which found oil as a commodity to run its economy.
There is no agricuture and industry and intellectual capacity developed since hundreds of years and they want that history be repeated and they are again bent upon creating disturbances and mayhem again in the sub-continent.The stimulus for that has been provided by the U.S with its sightless policy of supporting the afghan jihad which Pakistan now feels and thinks can be replicated worldwide under its Nuclear Umbrella .This is their world view and for which U.S must blame itself fully.The U.S may think that it is immune because of being far away but i think it will a mistake to think like that because to secure political power under banner of Islamic jihad the Jihadists will not take physical control of the Government but create condition of anarchy and chaos and enable the Military officers sympathetic to the jihad cause which have the same mindset.They are not going to come from outside but from inside as they are already in control.
Please note Islamic thought abhors economic and intellectual upliftment and this has been the history. You cannot fight a politico-military islamic movement with economics or appeasement. you have to defeat them first.I am sure that you have read the book the Koranic concept of war by Brig. S.K Malik whose foreword was written by Gen. Zia ul Haq.
cheers