ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Army has decided not to reverse its decision to expel US military trainers and scale back the activities of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operatives in the country despite Washington’s punitive move to withhold $800 million worth of assistance.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the corps commanders chaired by Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Tuesday to discuss the fallout of the US step, said a military official. “We are not going to reconsider some of the decisions we have taken with regards to the activities of CIA in Pakistan,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
The security establishment, which was irked by the unilateral US raid that killed al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in May, launched a crackdown against the ‘CIA network’ to limit its activities.
Meanwhile, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff General Khalid Shameem Wynne told a top visiting US commander that Pakistan would not accept conditional aid and regretted the lack of acknowledgement by Washington for Pakistan’s “sacrifices in the battle against militancy.”
General James N Mattis, Commander US Central Command (Centcom), was on an announced trip to Pakistan to discuss regional security in the wake of recent developments. However, there was no official word if the top US general met General Kayani.
It is believed that in recent months General Kayani has made deliberate efforts not to publicise his engagements with US officials after being perceived to be too close to the Americans in the wake of the Bin Laden debacle.
A statement issued by the ISPR after the corps commanders meeting appeared to play down the US decision to suspend military assistance. “The forum reiterated the resolve to fight the menace of terrorism in our own national interest using our own resources,” the statement read.
However, it did not reveal if thousands of Pakistani troops would be pulled out from the Pak-Afghan border region if relations with the US deteriorated.
The somewhat mild reaction was attributed to the fact that the military hopes to settle the issue of withholding of aid through dialogue with American authorities, said military sources.
However, sources say, the corps commanders expressed their concern over the US decision, noting that it would not help the anti-terrorism campaign and will also cast a negative impact on the Pak-US bilateral cooperation in the fight against terrorism.
The top brass was also irked by the many strings attached to the US assistance. “No country has done more than Pakistan to eliminate al Qaeda and its affiliate groups,” said a senior military official. “Yet we remain in the eye of the storm, which is unfair.”
The official added that military commanders assert that the US must keep in mind the sacrifices of the Pakistani armed forces before making such harsh decisions.
According to an ISPR spokesman, the army chief appreciated the conduct of the ongoing operations. Referring to Mohmand Agency, he instructed that all efforts must be utilised in coordination with the civil administration for safe repatriation of the IDPs.
He said that the aim of the operation in Kurram Agency was to clear the area of miscreants involved in terrorism, kidnapping, killing of locals and blocking of roads connecting lower and upper Kurram.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 13th, 2011.
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@Shafique: i think u should know that army has no authority to issue visas ....... for heavens sake talk some sense ........its always GOVT of pakistan ministry of foreign affairs which allows any such thing
@buttjee: When the whole world has been singing with one tune, you seem to still doubt as to your Army's duplicity over past two decades as to what they have really been up to in regards to training, funding and harbouring some of these terror outfits, for their own agenda !!! Well keep it up and see where this very Institution will lead you in next couple of years !!!
@ Anis Aqeel
Anis Aqeel my friend these are your views and I agree many Pakistanis have similar views but these views are far from the reality. Please do not be carried away by the CIA sponsored propaganda. There are no rogue elements in the Army. Pakistan Army is already stretched up to its capacity and cannot get involved in other sectors in FATA. I can tell you this the trap being laid for Pakistan. TTP is an organisation which is being funded by RAW and harboured by Afghan Intelligence Agency. They are now attacking our border posts from Afghanistan and after the attacks go back to their safe heavens across the border. Pakistan is not in a position to involve itself with every Taliban group otherwise all these groups will start getting help from RAW to fight Pakistan Army. USA is trying hard to get out of Afghanistan. They are negotiating with Taliban but they are pushing Pakistan fight every group of Taliban. The US will go away and we will keep on fighting the Indian and Afghan supported Taliban groups. The prudence demands that we should fight this war according to our national priorities.Taliban are a reality which US has recognised after ten years of fierce fighting. In spite of financial resources, technology and the best available weapons the US has not been able to defeat Taliban but wants the much inferior Pakistan Army to do their job. I can tell you they need some one to be the escape goat, may be Pakistan if it fails to play its cards well.
@Abdul Wahab NICL, PIA, Steel Mill, KPT, NHA -- who is running these departments except NICL, and I am sure in NICL some general would have some investment. NHA is being run by a general, and who has been incharge of steel mill - whom are you befooling?
@Buttjee AnisAqeel is right; military must take a U Turn from the policy that General Zia formulated to fight for America in the name of Islam.
@buttjee They are as loyal as you are it will be better to check the loyalties of policy makers of the military. Pakistan does not afford another Bangladesh and military is gambling to create one. Military must stop to provide escape heavens to terrorists as their assets, (that they are not) and adopt clear and honest policy and stop being a compulsive gambler. Our military is well organized but with rogue elements and compulsive gambler that does not change and lack moral courage to admit weaknesses. They are (unknowingly) destroying country and already have done so. They must make a U-Turn of there policy to save rest of Pakistan.
@ Zafarullah
Those Pakistanis who have cooperated with CIA for money, if they were loyal to their country, could have cooperated with their own intelligence agency which would have brought some good name to Pakistan. The people whose loyalties can be purchased by foreign intelligence agencies are traitors and should be punished under the law. Our Army is a professional and highly disciplined force which just obeys the command of its Chief and fights for the defense of the mother land. Army officers while in service never have their private connections with any group and also do not have their own private agenda for any operation.There is no evidence that any one in the Army knew about OBL's presence in Abbottabad. Had the Army any clue about Osama's presence in Abbottabad, I am sure they would have immediately arrested him otherwise they would have arranged some kind of defense for his protection, in case they did not want to turn him over to USA.
@Mirza: I am think u are the most ignorant person on pakistan's soil. if u dont watch TV then please contact any one whom u know in army to know how many officers have sacrificed their lives in this operation i am in army and i have seen plenty of officers and soldiers who embraced shadat in this operation even some of them were beheaded ruthlessly. and now people like you are asking about the contributions of the army towards the cause of fighting the plague of terrorism. there are people here who think its not our war ....... I ask them have they forgot the victims of hundreds of suicide attacks which are happening on daily basis ........ but i can say with surety that none of the close relative , a brother or father or friend would have died in such attacks other wise your responses would have been different. I fail to understand the fact that if this nation desires not its army to fight the people who have killed over 30 thought innocent persons than why it don't ask or pressurize the govt to stop the war on terror . If the nation can get the Judges restored then it is just a piece of cake but on the contrary why some bad thing happens then we change our opinion actually people here have failed to understand that now US is working hard for the exit strategy in which it require Pakistan to support it with out any question and all these are pressure tactics to subdue Pakistan some time they raise dr aq khan case or isi problem or indian mumbai attacks all liks of the same chain. at this time rather than posting stupid comments we must try to strengthen our institutions and we support them
Operation against the CIA operatives after the hunting down of Osama makes clear that military and the Taliban are in contact with each other. Instead of replying as to how Osama managed to live in the area mostly populated by military, the generals instructed the media to focus on national sovereignty being challenged by CIA. To my mind, some segments in the army are still against the war on terrorism and think that this war is of America and also under the influence of Hizb-ul-Tahir example of which has already come to fore.
@Shafique: GHQ never issued visa or even permission/grant. GHQ was kept in dark when hundreds of visas where issued by our American Ambassador in Pakistani Embassy in NY.
I bet none of you know what the total budget of army is??????????bcz u people hve always been listening it from ur parents that its 60% 70% 80%...............go GOOGLE it up guyzzzz..............
our taxes our taxes our taxes..............our taxes r also spent on beraucracy............our judiciary.........our innocent DEMOCRATIC president n prime minister elected by OUR votes............Does anyone of u know,army generates half its budget by its own resources invested in the private sector of the country so as not to be a burden on the national budget even though it is at war for last 11 years.............do u remeber the floods that made your lives hell.....do u still remembr the 2005 earthquake n many like it before.............none of u spoke a single word of praise...........armies r not meant for this,rather they r called as the last resort but it is Pakistan Army to whom everyone of us starts looking at first...............this is all "professional-jealousy" against army............the power after Allah which made u NUCLEAR POWER.......the power which destroyed USSR...........now US is going to beg us soon InshaAllah..........but such things which r hapening today is the ultimate fate when the people become thankless!
@Shafique: and you are witness to it? haaan :)
People can be so funny at times...
And it should be fought with the resources of Pakistani Nation and for Pakistan's interest.
@hedgefunder
My friend you are sadly mistaken. Your statement that Pakistan had ever charged US for services not provided, is absolutely wrong. I do not known your country of origin but if you would have known the American mentality you would have never written such remark. For your information let me tell you that American thinking even in the matters of human suffering revolves around dollars. It is their hard luck that their outlook about the human values is gradually becoming materialistic. Pakistan has suffered huge losses of human lives in this American initiated aggression against the sovereign state of Afghanistan but instead of uttering a word of sympathy they have always talked about their dollars. Till this day they have never paid even the actual expenditure incurred by Pakistan on the deployment of troops in support of American forces in Afghanistan. They have invariably been slashing the actual bills. Even these drastically reduced bills were never paid in time. The $ 800 million dollars which they have withheld pertains to year 2009. Then they have number of clever measures in place to take back their money back to USA. All the service charges, audit charges, expenditure on visits of aid related officials and pay and allowances to the US trainers in Pakistan are paid by Pakistan out of the aid. According to well informed sources almost 30% aid is funneled back to USA, in one way or the other. Pakistan Army has never received any direct payment in its accounts from US. According to the laid down procedure all the payments from US are received in Ministry of Finance and then utilized by the Government of Pakistan in whatever manner they deem it appropriate. As for as the stoppage of US aid to Army is concerned, it will not have any effect, what so ever, on their operations against terrorists because they were never using the American money for this purpose. People of Pakistan are very happy about the stoppage of US military aid because they always wanted their Army to be out of excessive US influence. People of Pakistan are now very hopeful that the Pakistan Army, instead of fighting the war according to US dictates will be able to fight the war according to its own national priorities.
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui
your observation is obvious if you are sitting in the US and viewing the situation. Americans have hated Pakistan and muslims in general even when they were supporting them against the Soviets. They simply chose the "lesser evil" by supporting the mujahadin. After the mujahadin destroyed the Soviets the Americans destroyed the mujahadin.
Well done Pakistan Army. We wish to see this spirit even in future. Long live Pakistan and our Army. We should live like an honorable nation and not like beggars.
Most ppl here are talking abt army plundering the country. Have u guys read the recent transparency Internationals report. 3000 billions rupees corruption has been done in the past 3 years. That doesnt include any of the mega scandals (NICL, PIA, Steel Mill, KPT, NHA and others). U still think army is plundering. Wake up plz. All those who are worried that there taxes aint been utilized in the right way i think wod know where they are going now. Our bigger enemy is the failed govt.
Thumbs up to Sajjad, I totally agree to Sajjad whatever he recommended to General sahab.. I would say to you as well,For God sake say No to America,say No to drone attacks. Sir, all the Nation is behind you.. Please take a first plunge, we shall not disappoint you. but have a faith in Allah, and then your Army. Please step forward against America and stop shedding blood of your own people and don't let these brutal to shed blood of our innocent masses. Ammad Qureshi. Rawalpindi.
@ Tight Dhoti, If u keep a watchman or a security guard at ur premises, dun u pay him from your own pocket. Plz be positive. Still a war going on in Momend and Kurrum and here ur misleading the masses. I think Pak army is moving in the right direction. Less aid means lesser influence therefore Gen Kiyani is playing it right.
And stop trusting the media. I dun know y US thought it needed to give $50m to the media as aid. Why they are earning good money already.
@TightDhoti: Your statement would hold if we, you & me included, were really paying taxes.
Send the ISI Chief to US to.........? and pose brave in the conference for the consumption of people. well done .
The failed job of US troops in Afghanistan is over so they dont feel like spending on this war anymore. They have done so with Pakistan before - ditching them and they would surely do it this time as well. Pakistan did not start war in Afghanistan, its because of US there has been such situation and bloodshed just everywhere in Afghanistan/Pakistan. Pakistan's economy suffered lot due to this war, Pakistani Army and citizens suffered, lost their lives in big numbers. The US/NATO did not do any favor by providing military aid and coalition support fund to Pakistan, in fact Pakistan paid more than 10 times the aid/support fund. Now since the US wants to flee Afghanistan, they would do anything to malign Pakistan. Result of this war? ZERO, result after this war? bloodshed just everywhere, tens of thousands homeless, Millions killed, Pakistans economy trashed. Is there peace now in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan? I leave it to sensible readers!
Pak military establishment needs to re-assess the threat perception from India which at present time is almost nil since India is focusing on its economy and armaments being purchased by this country is China centric and replacement of outdated and obselete equipment. Therefore, it will be a self-defeating exercise to remain India centric and spend billions to match India's military capability with its failing economy which may not be able to sustain more than ten days full fledged war with India which has atleast three months potential and even more. India is least interested in going to war with its two neighbours and jeopardise its economy and moreover the country is competing with China to surpass it on economic front.
The Pak military top brass must review its strategy and take measures in the interest of the country by reducing military expenditure which can be used in education, health and improving economy of the state. Such steps would redeem the stature of this number one institution whose name has been tarnished for exporting terrorism and using strong arm tactics at home.
Good job Army, keep those back stabbing US out of our country. Arm the civillians if there is a invasion.
The relationship between Pakistan and America is deteriorating everyday. They need to sort out their problem as soon as possible or else the militants just might take advantage of the current situation.
If we don't care about the aid;
Why our Spy Master is visiting them for one day.
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: Your "Second Line of Defense" is now eliminating the very people it is supposed to be defending! What do you say to that? It is attitude like this that has led to terrorism being rampant in Pakistan. What use were these elements in times of war? They'll be the first to run and hide.
@sashayub: who said its 80 % ? get your figures right first. its below 30 %
Respected Generals of the Army, your last statemenet mostly aimed at the poor people of Pakistan you defiantly stated (perhaps mistakenly) that "drone attacks are unacceptable under any circumstances." Paksitan has been attacked 4 times since then by these gangster predators.
If you cannot hold true to your word, no one will take you seriously. This is a simple management rule. This is an istitutional failure that it unable to perform and do what it is supposed to do-defend the country.
Pick up some courage and tell the Americans that next time there is sa drone attack on our territory we will attack the carrier force in the Arabin Sea or any of the US bases in the region. What will they do. US is a paranoid power. Anyone who stands up to them they chicken out. They can only snipe now and cannot give lives.
Our hero ZA Bhuto said, "pressure is at the same time a worm and a moster, if you succumb it is a monster and it you resisit, it is only a worm."
Please break the tradition of surrender that reached its zenith in 1971 and 1999 and continues unashamedly. Please ???
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: "Once US has eliminated Pakistan’s second line of defense then US will eliminate Pakistan Army as well as ISI. "..........never thought I'd say this as a Pakistani whose father was part of the 1947 movement, but today I am not sure that that would be such a bad idea. Army in its current manifestation is the biggest burden on Pakistan's economy, internal security, external security, and international image.
Who is asking you to fight this war.Stop it immediately in Baluchistan also
Pakistan is a $200 Billion economy with a $55 Billion in debt, i.e., it owes the World that money, a little more than 1/4th of its GDP for one year.
If it is actually fighting the war with its own resources then why accept American money to the tune of $20 Billion since 9/11? Or, why haven't they or cant they shoot down an American Drone?
@Linga0123: What? Only five mineral water bottles at the meeting? Due to austerity measures, some generals don't drink.
The easiest solution is to launch a full-blown offensive into extremist areas with logistics and air superiority backup provided by NATO and or the US. Fight the terrorists head on and show the world that we are not a state that supports terrorists.
However, this is only a logical solution and our leaders have proven time and time again that they do not follow logic...
Pakistani resources are a lot of hot air.
Confrontation with the ONLY super power will only lead us to isolation e.g. North Korea or Iran. Ask their populace how they're suffering and all of you will realize that fighting terrorism while collaborating with the US is in our long-term interests.
Well done Kiyani & co. Can you pls shot down one drone and trust me you will be remembered as HERO in the world history!
I love the title of this article.
We DON'T have our own resources!
We can print rupees of course and give it to the army to buy the foreign exchange from the central bank. This will deplete the central bank's reserves and/or place downward pressure on the rupee, most likely both. It will also lead to an increase in domestic demand and/or imports, a weaker external trade and current account and faster inflation.
I am sure no one has the guts to explain this to the army. If they do understand the implications they should stop putting out inane statements.
When will the people of Pakistan wakeup. This entire feud between American and the masters of Pakistan (Army) is all a smoke screen. Just wait for a few days/week and the aid will start flowing. The sovereign sellers will tell their masters that they have obeyed their commend and will pursuit to hunt/kill terrorists. The Army will claim that they stood against the super power and Americans bowed down. Pakistanis are happy now. Business as usual.
Lets see, what they do to this opportunity. Hope for some thing good this time!
For God’s sake don’t repeat the US words again and again that fighting war on terror is in the interest of Pakistan.
Why don’t you people admit the fact that first US is eliminating Pakistan’s second line of defense and at the same time maligning Pakistan Army and ISI.
Once US has eliminated Pakistan’s second line of defense then US will eliminate Pakistan Army as well as ISI.
@TightDhoti why'd you correct your thoughts? Because you said this: No general saab, you are figthing the War on Terror with the people of Pakistan’s resources not you “own” resources!"
General never said that they were fighting with their own resources (why would they?). He said Pakistan was fighting the war on terror with its own resources. its own resources right?
Its not like that your tax money goes straight into army's pockets, its your "elected" people who allocate money to them. And General saab is not doing 'as he pleases'. According to PM and the President, "its our own war".
What? Only five mineral water bottles at the meeting? Pictures of earlier meeting used to show more of them. Is the cut in US military aid beginning to show?
lolzzzzzzzzzz.... the above piece is not more than a joke of the day... bagger can not be chooser
@TightDhoti: I agree with you bro. Pakistanis have lost tens of thousands of civilians, policemen, and foot soldiers, all victims of terrorists. How many army officers have given their lives or their elite lifestyle? The banks, cereal, housing societies, and other military industrial complex are flourishing while civilians are being crushed under the heavy weight of more than half a million army.
And Yes We r Proud of Our Army!! Pakistan Zindabad..
General sahab there are still 2 or 3 schools, hospitals and power plants operating in Pakistan. Clearly, the army budget still has room to grow.
Why they call it the war that is being fought "for Pakistan's own interests" There is no interest for Pakistan and for Pakistani nation.
Gen Sahab, Please forgive us and our country. You have not just ruined the country but the army itself. If you some little shame (which I know you dont) please resign and some of TOP generals along with you should do the same. because of Generals like you the whole army is feeling ashamed and facing criticism and anger of Pakistanis. Just LEAVE the PAK ARMY, and run DHA, Askari bank, CSD and many many more. Can anybody name any single army who is running companies as well.
A VERY well wisher of Pakistan Army, who started dreaming to be Army Man but unfortunately could not because failed in Medical test :(
But now I thank to ALLAH Almighty that I was not selected otherwise I had to work under YOU.
PAKISTAN ZINDABAD
What a country we have become? Terrorism is the only pakistani topic discussed, nationally & internationally! & we also talk of who sponsors our terror fight! Just like 'this program is sponsored by surf'. I hope express TV does not come up ads sponsers like "this bombblast is brought to you by Ariel'
May be army takes over again to master all the resources exclusively for the war on terror. This would be more what they are getting currently from Americans.
Also army has always been uncomfortable with civilian governments. Whole nation must be vigilant, as army has always been cooking some pretexts to rule and plunder the country. The perks, privileges and the plunder in previous direct military rules are enough temptations to impose another military rule.
Logically,
a) Pakistan has its own resources = Pakistan is going to fight terror b) Pakistan has zero resources = Pakistan is idle/indifferent c) Pakistan has negative resources(say like sinking in a quicksand of debts) = Pakistan is promoting terror
So, what is the correct option?
@AMir: Why whoud I "correct" my thoughts? I dont pay taxes so that general saab can do as he pleases, with no transparecy or accountability.
Shame on these Generals, they are playing with common Pakistanis
In most countries, this would not make news: that a country's army is doing the right thing without outside inducements. Sadly, our military has not acted in the best interest of its own people and is finally beginning to do so. I hope this is more than cosmetic.
I know people are mad at some decisions of our Generals or Politicians. But I must say that if they happen to commit a mistake, please don't judge them too quickly. Just see why Americans stopped Aiding Pakistani Army??? Because they are not allowing dirty American jerks to come to Pakistan. Army barred them to come over and they have blocked their aid thingy.
Our Army is making right decisions NOW (Although there might be some mistakes), but mistakes doesn't mean they are all wrong.
If a child at our home do something really nasty we don't throw him out of our home, we tend to tell him to do the right thing. And we don't do this once or twice, we do this every time that kid happen to commit a mistake.
So please Lovely People of Pakistan, try to understand that there are some forces that want people to go against their army and politicians and this is simply not in the interest of Pakistan.
Weather good or bad, weather we get what we want from our politicians and army or not, I believe we must stand for them and never let OUR ENEMIES know that we are against our own people(army & politicians). We must find new was to tell them that they did something wrong and if we tell them in a good manner, they surely will understand and try to eliminate the error.
Just love Pakistan and every Pakistani.
If Pakistan army is fighting the war on terror with its own resources, then who's been chugging down billions of dollars in aid that USA has been giving since 2001?
One thing I would advise is that the military stops issuing photographs like the above. These are the photographs that will be shown on Fox News and CNN when Pakistan is attacked. Remember Saddam boy's meetings with his staff, and how those photographs were transmitted 24X7 before the war to build the case?
Instead, it will be better to show pictures of the assembly and parliaments. No matter how crook and chore kee aulaads they are, Fox will have difficulty showing pictures of a democratic assembly to justify an attack. PR my friends, PR!
"General Kayani also added that the war on terror is being fought in Pakistan’s national interest."
General has been totally brainwashed by master Mullen. General sahib please read the news..you masters are negotiating with the so called extremists, so please do us a favor, talk to them and make peace. This is the only way out. This war cannot be won.
Let the floods decide if its people or Army's own resources
What resources are you talking about??? The very one's that were hoarded from US by fictious billings for services not rendered over last decade ???? Its time that this outfit learns to be transparent and starts by disclosing facts as to the state of affairs in the Nation, because if they don't, they will be held responsible for the demise of the Nation !!! Not that a single one of them care, as i would bet that each and everyone of these lot have overseas assets in Disproportion to their respective Salaries !!! So much for their Ghairat !!!! Wake up Pakistan!!
General sahb !!! y we are fighting this war??
US President Black Obama is acting like a celebrity same as britney spears..:P
@TightDhoti: He used words 'Pakistan's own resources' . Correct your thoughts
...general, up to 80% of our budget is siphoned off for greasing your palms and guns....its the taxpayers money, not your resources...furthermore, this is in addition to all the loss of lives of pakistani civilians, just because of your army's and ISI's pro-jihadi islamis policy.
My suggestion to Gen. Kiyani to open up a Bank Account in the name of Pakistan Army and ensure the transparency of funds. Inshallah the support will be much more than the so called US aid.
Until now you have been talking with foreign high profile officials only. This is the time give a chance to your people (specialy overseas Pakistanis). They will never let our Army down.
No general saab, you are figthing the War on Terror with the people of Pakistan's resources not you "own" resources!