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‘Strategic assets’: ISI must disengage from proxies: Mullen - 21 Sep 2011
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Pakistan says US should act in Afghanistan - 21 Sep 2011
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US makes 'all' Pakistan assistance subject to action against Haqqani Network
The bill makes available $161.4 million for State Department operations in Pakistan, but does not specify amounts.
Senate Appropriations Committee bill strengthens restriction by conditioning $1.164 billion in assistance to Pakistan.. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
NEW YORK: Ratcheting up pressure on Pakistan, the US Senate Appropriations Committee passed a bill that makes ‘all’ US financial assistance to the Government of Pakistan privy to conditions of cooperation against the Hqqani network and other terror groups associated with al Qaeda.
According to a press release issued by the committee, the Senate passed the Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations bill for the fiscal year 2012 by a 28-2 vote in favour.
The bill makes available $161.4 million for State Department operations in Pakistan, but “does not specify amounts for assistance for Pakistan.” The committee also voted to provide one billion dollars for the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund.
The press release stated that “the bill includes strengthened restrictions on assistance for Pakistan by conditioning all funds to the Government of Pakistan on cooperation against the Haqqani network, al Qaeda, and other terrorist organisations, with a waiver, and funding based on achieving benchmarks.”
The conditions on aid imposed by the Senate Appropriations Committee comes after months of pressure on Pakistan to act against terrorist organisations, especially in wake of the Abbottabad raid in May this year that led to the death of al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden.
In recent weeks, the US government has upped the ante on Pakistan to take action against the Haqqani network, whom it blames attacking on the US Embassy and NATO Headquarters in Kabul on September 13, and the attacks on US soldiers in Wardak on September 11.
On September 20, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen called on the ISI to stop supporting proxies as part of its strategy. The same day, ISI chief General Ahmed Shuja Pasha met his CIA counterpart David Petraeus and senior White House officials during a one-day visit to Washington, where the Haqqani network remained the main focus of talks. This follows a series of high level meetings between Mullen and Chief of Army Staff General Parvez Kayani and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar.
Pakistan and US have also agreed to reduce the footprint of US troops in Pakistan from 300 to between 100 and 150 on the request of the Pakistani government.
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Reader Comments (55)
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All our political parties and all politicians should now open their eyes as it looks like we we might be their next target. Still we might have the option to get rid of USA and dig out new friends instead of still relying on the friend who would never be a friend in need.
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Its time that Pakistan elites decides between they want Pakistan or Afghanistan !
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When will the Pakistanis wake up and realize that the War to be won is Economic. I love and respect all the political and military leaders of Pakistan but ladies and gentlemen, you guys are agitating and spending on all the wrong things:
We dont need to spend additional on defense. We have nuclear bombs and if someone makes the mistake of attacking us, God help them.
We dont need to spend additional on providing subsidies to failing ventures mired by corruption
We NEED TO SPEND ON REHABILITATING AND STRENGTHENING OUR ECONOMY. This means spending on capital goods such as machinery such that our capacity to produce more will grow. To run all these machines we need trained and skilled workforce. Therefore we need to spend on education.
When will both the Generals and the Landlords realize the real war (and game) we need to win is an economic, not political, not territorial, not terrorists related… but one for a strong economy.
Then we too will have the power to bully, stop ourselves from being bullied… and then match the West in terms of sophisticated arms.
Please realize that the US is the World’s strongest country not because it has the most bombs, the most sophisticated airforce, navy and the strongest army. It is precisely because they are economically so strong that they can afford these things. They got the economy right first, they made the money first and then they developed its military might.
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The US aid is nothing but a blackmail tool. After Haqqani they will tag it to some other organisation, Pakistan will be better off not accepting the aid as the requirement from US is just like jumping in to fire. The backlash from Talibans might be uncontrolable.
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After OBL fiasco, whatelse do u expect from US. Wait till Mulla omer is found inside Pakistan. Then you can fasten your seat belts and the Light and Sound show will begin.
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Uncle Sam, Give your money to India, which deserves more than Pakistan. India will send her troops to Afghanistan where Taliban will welcome them with suicide bombers. India is the regional poodle for US and wags its tail every time the master beckons :-)
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Back to with us or against us
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“Pakistan and US have also agreed to reduce the footprint of US troops in Pakistan from 300 to between 100 and 150 on the request of the Pakistani government.”
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As they say if it walks like a duck and quakes like a duck it is a duck. The whole world fails to understand the concept of good terrorist groups. These groups may be the biggest asset and export of Pakistan but to the world they are religious extremists and terrorists. Pakistan does not care about the daily massacres of its citizens particularly minority sects but the world cannot continue to finance the establishment and its strategic assets.
It is about time we should learn that the more we deny the facts the more upset the world is going to get. The choice is ours, it is still time to come clean. Is it asking too much to tell the truth about terrorists? Recommend
@Abdul Lateef: But you will not take action against your strategic asset.
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The screws tighten!
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Its so amusing to read and listen to comments on finding other friends such as china, russia etc. We seem to live in a dillusional world where we feel that others are waiting with open arms to embrace pakistan as a friend while ditching the USA. These countries will not bat an eye in loosing thier huge economic interests to help pakistans cause of talibanization. All I can say is wake up and grow up. Face reality.
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The only thing is that they want us to fight for them. Remember in Burhan Uddin Rabbani’s assasination that he was introduced to the killers by the “Advisor of Afghan President”. I believe that this makes him the prime suspect.
US cannot fight their war and is trying desparately to engage Pakistan instead. The best option for Pakistan is to reject the Aid and distance himself from this war.
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@syed imran:
If its blackmail ! Try living without their Aid, and see where you end up !
These conditions should have been placed a long time ago as this is hard earned US Taxpayers money.
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Bravo ISI!!! Tell them don’t dictate us any more. You are responsible for defense of our homeland. Don’t let them out of their nightmare.
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Tie your seatbelts, we are going down.
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US is pakistan’s largest trading partner. Our loans and extensions with the IMF, World Bank, etc depend upon us getting along with USA and the West. I hope ” strategic Depth” is worth making the west our enemy.
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Ghaznavi :Whatever you have described, Doesnt it apply to Pakistan right from the time of her independence? Why is this sudden love for your eastern neighbour?
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Thanks to USA for leaving us alone…from now on we can focus accordingly…..Recommend
Completely agree with Clifton. Pakistan and its people have to look themselves in the mirror and decide who they are are, what they want to do with their lives and how they fit into the overall scheme of things in this world.
We should realize that the world has moved beyond the rhetoric of militancy. Turkey has found its lost respect not because of its military, but because of the economic turnaround in the last one decade.
We may be rightly thinking that we are in a rut, facing unprecedented levels of ethic and religious hatred levels, but on the other hand nations have fought with their demons and conquered them. But for this they have taken the first step of deciding their direction – we have to, if we want to change this picture of disappointment and gore, that is in the next 10-12 years.
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@ Abdul – Pakistan should be focused on getting rid of the terrorists.
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fools haqqanis is not in pak
after osama death any idiot will be in pak
haqqanis in afhanistan
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Jeez. They are getting desperate aren’t they? What is with Haqqanis and US? US is just acting like someone who is standing in dark and trying to fight anyone from any direction. Things are not going to improve after Haqaanis are vacated from Pakistan. Remember all of these were in Afghanistan and came to tribal areas of Pakistan when US invaded Afghanistan. Recommend
Why our bigwigs dont remind Clinton her remarks that this time round USA will not leave Pakistan alone.Uncle sam does not realise that their efforts to blame Pakistan for their defeat in Afghanistan are baseless.British were defeated ,then russians and now NATO led by USA have miserably failed.They cannot win even till 2024.Why dont they realise that they are destroying themselves economically.They are crying for 3000 lives they lost in 9/11
episode.Thousand of muslims including pakistanis have laid their lives as a fall out of US intervention after russian invasion and after 9/11.Their was no terrorism in Pakistan before these intervention.Every one knows who is responsible for all these miseries to our homeland.Recommend
We really have no option but to swallow the bitter medicine being given. Having made wrong choices in the past and not having the vision or the courage to correct this, we are where we are today and that is a really dark place.
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To be an enemy of America can be dangerous, but to be a friend is fatal – Henry Kissinger
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One more threat from our friend, the USA. Recommend
A true wake-up for our elected leaders.
If our top leaders bring their assests back to Pakistan, we really do not need anyone’s alms..
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@Abdul Lateef: Are you looking for friends in need or black deeds. Please think once again.
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All help except evidence.
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@Ghaznavi: What are you going to eat and from where salaries to beloved generals will be paid
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@ HedgeFunder
Tell me why have the US not been able to control situation in Afghanistan despite all the resources. Do you think Pakistan has the resources to fight your dirty wars putting at stake its very existance. We have lost more than 50000 lives,our economy is in tatters and we are living in perpetual insecurity. Still you want us to carry on with your dirty wars.
America is no God to sustain us on the contrary its own downfall has started due to its imperialism. We will be much better off without your assistance.
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..but the estalishment still has got blinkers on……how long before they float the story —-Haqqanis are actually RAW agents!!
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Vienna,22-09-2011
With so many wise guys around what else Pakistan needs?
No funds work without wisdom. Neither assets,may be
strategic assets can work by themselves without external
wisdom. In this case the wisdom comes from Washington D.C.
Full stop.
Taravadu taranga Trust for Media Monitoring TTTMM India
–Kulamarva Balakrishna
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So that sucide bombing and other terror activities are increased further….providing US to justify its unilateral actions.
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Now is the time to say NO to these popous Americans who think that we are some underlings to them and would do anything to get the green in our pockets. Someone should tell our politicians that for once think about Pakistan Recommend
@Indian Kashmir- According to my point of view,trade & use of resources is the best solution for pak to get rid from loans,aid & in particular from U.S.Pak should learn trade policies from their all weather friend,china & from india.If your economy is strong,U.S. will beg infront of you,as they are now begging infront of india.As somebody has rightly said above,pak has to won not only ECONOMIC WAR but also CORRUPTION WAR.Instead of fighting with each other,think how your country will rise & think what you are giving to your country… pakistan should drag their 75% foot from U.S. & rapidly enhance bilateral ties with russia,central asian states,latin america,africa in paticular for trade & investment.so that pakistan will became future superpower in economic sector….ThanksRecommend
Whatever it is , we must not take go against the Haqqanis. We’ve paid enough price. We cant afford violence in the name of retaliation any more. Better to stay under-developed than to get your children killed on daily basis.
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@Abdul Lateef:
“Still we might have the option to get rid of USA and dig out new friends instead of still relying on the friend who would never be a friend in need.”
How can those who had been put into the ground help you even if you “dig out” those friends. Dead men, even friends, are not of much help. Besides no one wants to be friends with some one who is in a state of perpetual need!
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@Kulamarva Balakrishna: Wisdom imported with money has led us to this state of affairs.
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@Ghaznavi:
“India is the regional poodle for US and wags its tail every time the master beckons”
Just some fact:
1) Who signed SEATO and CENTO? Not India.
2) Who trained and sent Mujahideen to Afghanistan in the 1980s thereby allowing their country to get weopnoized and get an entrenched drug mafia? Not India.
3) Who ccepted $20 billion of arms aid in return for allowing their country to be the route for NATO logistics? Not India.
4) Whose army chief and intelligence bureau chief are constantly rushing to US> Not India’s.
5) Who published an advertisement in Wall Street journal on the 10th eve of 9/11 about the sacrifices their country has made in the War on Terror? Not India
6) Who allows US drones to pound their own civilians? Not India.
In fact the Us had recently complained about the lack of ‘alignment’ from India because India has only agreed with US on 20% of the votes in the UN. India also has a very independent stance in the WTO. India continues to buy crude from Iran and has not made its energy needs hostage to US foreign policy. However much you hate India certain facts cannot change.
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@Mirza:
I totally agree with you. The day we realise and accept that these strategic assets (aka terrorists) have harmed us the most rather than other people, we will become a better nation. We have to start focusing on our economy and democratic institutions–so we can become a country that is respected.
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Nobody has analyzed how suddenly US got the courage to do this. Very sad.
1) We heard the US was shifting its supplies to the Northern Distribution Network(NDN), away from Pakistan. I guess that it has been completed or near completion or a large percentage has been shifted to that network. That is why we dont hear the Taliban blowing up NATO tankers anymore. There are none or so few of them now.
2) US feels the time is running out. They will have a major presence in Afghanistan only for 2 to 3 more years and the time to go after the Haqqanis is running out fast.
3) US realizes this is the only way left to encourage Pakistan to go after the Haqqanis. They have tried to talk to the Army and the Civilian leaders for the past 4 to 5 years with no improvement. Since, the NDN is up, Pakistan doesn’t have the leverage over the US anymore, but the US has unlimited leverage over Pakistan, owing to the Aid it gives to Pakistan and the fact that Pakistan has a terribly mismanaged Economy which depends on the dole outs from WB and IMF. US has complete control over these institutions.
I had predicted this will happen. Now, it has. I will predict this: Either Pakistan goes after the Haqqanis or wait for the fireworks to begin after 2014. I cant find any reason why the US will NOT sanction Pakistan after 2014, even bomb it with drones(stealth).Recommend
@Ghaznavi:
I am a pure Pakistani, however, what you are professing to India is exactly what Pakistan is doing. Indian history, after partition, shows just the opposite it is not a poodle to any body and will never be at least in the near future.
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No problem, best friend China will help Pakistan out
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@BruteForce:
My prediction is that the sanction will happen in 2012, by which time, it will dawn on US powers that Pak has to be reined in. There is also a distinct possibility that US will brazenly arm Balochi separatists to weaken Pakistan.
The point is, a poor man should make peace with his donor. And if he deliberately goes looking for a showdown against a mighty friend, he will only have himself to be blamed. I expect Pak to go the way of North Korea in the days to come.
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@malik:
Sanctions is a real possibility, but not until US gets out of the region. But, it might do something drastic to scare Pakistan into going after the Haqqanis. But, not sanctions. Maybe US will stop Aid to Pakistan for a few months and make sure Pakistan doesn’t get a single penny from IMF or WB.
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@Clifton:
No,my dearest Clifton,
you are wrong. USA’s economy was in shambles after the WWII,but they started building as trong and powerful army already during the WWI,independent of the bad economy.
Some countries leave their citizens starving to death JUST because their rich and powerful want an Army,which can conquire the whole world.
This was the case with Great Britain.It was ruling almost the whole world;it was a mighty Empire,but the common people in England were living in very poor conditions.
You are right,saying the economy is MOSTLY important.
What I found out after roaming the world is,that WHO has the most sohisticated weapons,HE has saying on this Planet!
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@vasan:
Pakistan has nuclear weapons…do NOT forget it! you may get them in your back yard!
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@Hedgefunder:
You better continue to HEDGE your funds(if you have them at all!),beacuse the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ is going down the drain!
Do you believe this “rubbish”,which FOX or CNN or ABC or other US propaganda broadcasters are barking on their channels”!
NOT the US taxpayers are giving “aid”…speak LOANS+interest rates to Pakistan,but US banks…actually I believe International Monetary Fund gave loans to Pakistan.
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@BruteForce:
How sad! You are fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuull of hatred and you are miserable! I hater of the human race!
Excuse me,how can be so sure,that Pkistan will not get ANY cent from IMF and the World Bank?
There are OTHER decision takers in IMF …not just USA.
As for the World Bank I think USA does not have any influence at all!
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@Rosie Deus-von Homeyer:
I cannot help your naivety nor your ignorance of how things work.
NATO has a major presence in IMF and WB and can block giving of loans anytime. After all IMF and WB use their funds to do give loans. Money doesn’t appear magically to these organizations.
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US had in fact never given any aid to Pakistan even a single penny. These are just tactics and the money goes in the pockets of the US senators and other people who claim that that will will use this amount to achieve US targets. World knows you O’ US people. that how much damage your friends get when they try to be your friends. a time will come when you will be exposed and you will find nothing to hide behind
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say goodbye to usa aid forever and then ask them to leave pakland.ALMIGHTY ALLAH will create circumstances for this pakland to stand on own feet as the foundation of this land was laid on KALMA e TAYYABA.Where There is WILL There is a WAY.
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Its a shame as to how the funds were used by Pakistan. Not a penny was used on the upliftment of the poor and needy, starving people of pakistan. A look at the economic data will show that Billions of dollors of US and other foreign aid have been used for nothing but arms purchases. Another point to be pondered over is the vast cach of nuclear weapons in Pakistan. The sort of jingoistic comments that I see, show that a vast majority of Pakistanis still dont understand that the 100 or so nukes are nothing but a bundle of worries. You spent billions in building them now you will have to spend even more to keep them safe and secure. In a few years they will be nothing but a major radioactive contamination issue. The facilities required for their safe keeping and disposal of the Radioactive waste will eat away billions more which could be otherwise utilised to feed many a hungry mouths.
Then again, no one in Pakiustan has ever worried about the hunger, the starvation, the illetracy, the deaths, the lost childhood, the non existent educational system, the lack of basic facilities, the incompetant medical services, the lack of electricity, the lack of basic human rights, the absolute absence of women rights, the shambles of a railway system and over all a failed economy. All that Pakistan as a country, has ever thought is Military, F 16s, Nuclear bombs and the hatred of all that is progress.
No one has to blame USA, India, but the average pakistani, for bieng fooled into believing that the world revolves around a couple of nuclear weapons which were made by feeding grass to the hungry for decades and now will feed grass to the starved for a generation to come.
Bon Apitite…..Recommend