Unjustified criticism against Pakistan

The POST, Sun, November,5, 2006.

Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema

It appears that for some American media people it does not matter what measures Pakistan undertakes in its fight against terrorists, it would still be projected as insufficient. It is not too difficult to comprehend an incapable regime’s frequent application of tactics like those known as ‘shifting responsibility’, but when a research establishment also joins in the blame-game, it is time to subject their research findings to rigorous investigations with a view to ascertain the truth.

Recently released report of the Heritage Foundation, the author recommended to US government to review Pakistani efforts to deny terrorists safe haven and its overall policies towards Pakistan. While acknowledging the central role of Pakistan in international efforts to combat terrorism, the report reflected less than satisfactory attitude. Few aspects of the report deserve some comments.

To begin with it is imperative to know the credentials of the author of report. It has been reported in the newspaper that the author of the report Lisa Curtis has served as a US diplomat in Pakistan and now works as a senior research fellow at the above mentioned foundation. Since she has stayed in Pakistan for sometimes, it is possible that she may have acquired sufficient knowledge about the situation in the area and may have even conducted some interviews of involved personalities. But the question that invokes some intriguing question revolves around her stay in Pakistan as a sufficient qualification to pass the verdict that Talibans are using Pakistani territory as safe haven. Does she have concrete evidence or is it based on rumors or statements of those elements of American administration who want to weaken the existing linkages between the two governments?

It has become somewhat fashionable for both the Afghan government and its American supporters in Afghanistan to put the blame on Pakistan for all their own inabilities and inadequacies.  One does not have to repeat that Kabul regime’s writ does on effectively extend beyond Kabul whereas the ISAF/NATIO troops have not yet demonstrated any marked success in their pursuits either. Each time they experience a failure they tend to assert that Pakistan has to do more. What is even more ludicrous is that their failures of actions in areas which are far away from Pakistani borders are also almost regularly attributed to Pakistan’s inadequacies.

Frequently leveled charge against Pakistan is that Talibans are using Pakistani territory for launching attacks on ISAF/NATO forces. It cannot be denied that there may be some sympathizers of Taliban within Pakistani Pakhtoon belt. However the sympathies intensified when the Americans along an Afghan minority imposed the government in Afghanistan without giving due representations to the majority section of the Afghan society. Besides, the indiscriminate bombing causing lot of collateral damage further invokes strong sympathetic responses among the sympathizers.

The second aspect that should be seriously considered revolves around American half hearted efforts. Not only Afghanistan required substantive induction of funds as well as of the American forces but also the forces sent to Afghanistan was far less than the minimum required for maintaining law and order situation. If even the half of the number of forces that are currently stationed in Iraq had been sent to Afghanistan, the situation would been far more satisfactory than what is today.  Not only the number of NATO/ISAF forces is extremely insufficient for such a large country, the inflow of promised money has also been extremely slow which, in turn, make things rather difficult for the incumbent regime. Even the NATO Commander has recently acknowledged the need for more forces and also expressed his appreciations of Pakistani efforts.

Third area that needs some review is the efforts of Kabul regime. This is perhaps the first time that Kabul regime made a positive move by offering to talk to Mullah Omar and the Talibans. But the way the offer has been made reflects not a desire for peace but to prove point that Talibans are dependent upon support from Pakistan. Karazai said that he was prepared to talk to Mullah Omar if the Taliban leaders would shed his dependence upon foreigners. What Karazai did not anticipate that exactly the same rider could be easily applied to his own situation?  Mullah Omar’s dependence is hardly proven but whereas Karazai dependence upon outsiders is a well known and well established fact. Even Karazai himself is guarded and protected by foreigners. Some observer has referred to it as Karazai’s only guarantee of staying in power.

So far Kabul regime has utterly failed to maintain the minimum requisite level of security. Many Afghans who left Pakistan’s refugee camps have come back. The presence of large number of the Afghan refugees in Pakistan is by itself is a great source of concerns. One radical recipe that is currently gaining popularity is that Pakistan should closed down all camps and ask all the Afghan refugee to go back to Afghanistan or at least establish Afghan camps on the border but inside Afghanistan. But this is not acceptable to regime in Kabul-the regime that does not desist in leveling ludicrous charges against Pakistan but is not willing to accept its own inabilities and inadequacies or even the return of its own nationals. Many Afghans still cross the border which, according to some, is termed by Kabul regime as infiltrators. If you close down the camps then the Afghan regime would blame Pakistan for causing a massive disruption but if you continue to play host those refugees then the Afghan regime blames Pakistan for not controlling the infiltration.

Compared to Afghan and NATO efforts Pakistan has done much more not just to apprehend the miscreants but also to effectively control infiltrations. The recent action in Bajour agency is part of the continuing efforts of Pakistan to plug infiltration from Pakistani side and prevent the misuse of its territory for nefarious purposes. But what about the responsibility of Afghan and NATO forces to check the alleged infiltration on their side of the border. Not only Pakistan has stationed around 80,000 troops in the tribal areas for the sole purpose of preventing undesired activities (both illegal crossings and trainings of militants) but has also undertaken punitive actions against the miscreants. In addition it has considerably improved its checking systems at the border entry points.

Admittedly the NATO forces are under pressure both because of its limited numbers as well as increased activities of the Talibans. Undoubtedly the existing number of NATO forces is totally inadequate to cover the entire Afghanistan. While it is seriously considered that the number of NATO troops be increased, perhaps the more appropriate recipe is to activate the tripartite commission and the respective parties undertake missions on their respective sides.

It is not very clear from the reported summary of the Heritage Foundation’s report whether or not the author has taken into considerations the likely impact of down grading Pakistan-US relations at this juncture. Already there exist sizable opinions in Pakistan who oppose rather consistently the close association with the Americans. Being fully cognizant of the past American let downs at least four times, there is hardly any enthusiasm among the Pakistanis to carry on the American led war against terrorism. Despite these operative constraints Pakistan is playing its role in the ongoing war against terrorism primarily for its own reasons. Equally important fact is that the Americans are known to be completely sold out to Indian interpretations of freedom fighters in Kashmir. It would be a far wiser pursuit to make recommendations that are based on objective analysis of the hard facts and prevalent conditions than merely catering to the whims of the interested insiders as well as the outsiders. While it an acknowledged fact that Pakistan is playing its part honestly and diligently whereas the American role is giving birth to many awkward questions.

The writer works for Islamabad Policy research Institute.