Bajaur Attack: An Irresponsible Act

The POST, Sun, Jan,22, 2006.

Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema


On Jan.13, 2006 the US forces in Afghanistan launched an attack from Afghanistan killing 18 locals and injuring score of people in the Bajaur agency. Most of the victims of the air strike were women and children. The Pakistani foreign office called the American ambassador and lodged a strong protest against this incursion. Reported explanation of this undesired act was an intelligence report indicating information about the presence of important Al-Qaeda leaders including  Dr.Aymen al-Zawahiri. According to the reported explanation these leaders were invited to a feast in the village of Damadola, about 25 km to the northeast of Bajaur regional headquarters Khaar.  

Judged by any yardstick, the act is likely to be viewed as an extremely unwise and irresponsible act. To begin with it has invoked strong reactions not just among the tribesmen but also among the people of Pakistan. Not only the tribesmen protested in anger but they also ransacked offices of the NGOs and a government body. Demonstrations expressing anger against the act took place in almost all the major cities of Pakistan. Many leading political parties including the ruling party Pakistan Muslim League(PML-Q), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Jamaat-e-Islami(JI) condemned this act.

While the American Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice defended what she called tough US anti-terror tactics to eliminate Al-Qaeda militants on Pakistan-Afghanistan border, she did not comment on the impact of such a raid on Pakistan. Instead of acknowledging and apologizing for such an irresponsible act she merely stated that the Americans would continue to work with the Pakistanis and would try to address their concerns. On her way to Liberia to attend the inauguration of President elect Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, she recognized implicitly the difficulties created by this for the government of Pakistan. However her major emphasis was to highlight the threat pose by Al-Qaeda’s efforts to radicalize the country. Recognizing the difficult situation in the Fortier area she referred to the incumbent lawlessness in the region, she stressed that the Americans are trying to help the Pakistanis to take full control of the area.

Many Pakistanis are suspicious of the American intensions. These suspicions are the product of past policy pursuits of the Americans. Many people in Pakistan still remember how the Americans let them down in 1962, 1965, 1971 and 1990. In most recent times the invasion and consequent bombing of Afghanistan and Iraq continuously reinforce their suspicions. The latest nuclear agreement between US and India is also viewed within the context of existing reservoir of suspicions. In addition, ever since the Americans invaded Afghanistan, they have committed many irresponsible acts and issued undiplomatic statements periodically particularly by the former US ambassador in Afghanistan which, in turn, have been continuously contributing towards the existing arsenal of anti-American sentiments.  However thing began to improve in the wake of earthquake tragedy and the consequent aid offer and the role played by the Americans. In fact the contributions made by the Americans in the wake disastrous earthquake were not only well appreciated by the Pakistanis but it also began to improve the American image in Pakistan considerably.

Three aspects of this unfortunate and undesired attack on a village in Bajuar deserve to be commented upon; the difficult and embarrassing situation created for the government of Pakistan, faulty intelligence and lack of trust, and violation of sovereignty. Pakistan is not only an active member of the international coalition to combat terrorism but is playing complex and difficult role of a frontline state. Being partner, it is expected that American would not undertake any action which could place their partner in an embarrassing situation.
Undoubtedly Pakistan has contributed enormously in war against terrorism. It has captured more than 700 militants/terrorists. In order to do its part effectively and plug the Pak-Afghan border, it has stationed more than 70,000 soldiers in the tribal areas of NWFP. However it needs to be mentioned here that Pakistan has suffered a lot and experienced many acts of terrorism on its soil. Apart from experiencing bomb blasts inside the country, the incursions from outside made the situation rather complex for the Pakistanis. More specifically incursions from Afghanistan by the remnants of Taliban and Al Qaeda have already made the task of the Pakistani government rather difficult.

To make things worse and even more complex, the American and Afghan forces are undertaking periodic incursions without taking the Pakistani government into full confidence. Such incursions not only create embarrassing situations for a partner whose contributions in the ongoing war against terrorism surpasses all other members of the coalition but also considerably weaken the coalition.. The Americans did not even acknowledge that they have done some thing wrong which in many ways reflects certain amount of arrogance on the part of the partner on one hand and further increases the existing level of anger among many in Pakistan on the other.

Both American and Afghans need to do more to avoid any future incident of this kind. This is the second time within a month that the US troops have launched attack on Pakistani territory. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz’s response was not just timely because of his US visit but was also very appropriate with a specific stress that such acts cannot be condoned. He also highlighted the need for better coordination between Pakistan and US administrations. The past is studded with examples when the American inabilities to handle the situation in Afghanistan effectively led them to assertions like that Pakistan has to do more. Now is the time to stress that the Americans need to be more careful and scrupulously refrain from firing on the Pakistani territory.

Linked with the issue of creating embarrassing situations for a partner is the question of violating our sovereignty. No country is going to easily swallow the repeated violations of its sovereignty. Repeated violations of Pakistan’s sovereignty could radically influence the sympathetic streaks within Pakistan. Already there are many voices in Pakistan who stressing that Pakistan is no longer independent in true sense. Given the existing nature of interdependence, it would not be too far fetched to assume that no country enjoys what is called absolute sovereignty. However there are visible cantors of sovereignty which each country protects rather jealously and need to be respected by all concerned.

Another aspect of this unfortunate incident that deserves comments revolves around faulty intelligence and lack of sharing intelligence between the partners.  It appears that there exists some form of trust deficit. The most appropriate mode of action would have been to share the intelligence with the Pakistani authorities and asked them to undertake the appropriate action rather than embarking upon it by themselves. It is not too far fetched to assume that such actions not only further strengthen the edifice of distrust but also put a partner in an extremely difficult and embarrassing situation. The American unilateral act is indeed condemnable and is likely to have adverse impact on ongoing partnership.
 

The writer works for Islamabad Policy Research Institute.