ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan on Friday warned the United States against adopting a “pick-and-choose” policy to deal with Afghan insurgents, saying the move will not bode well for long-term peace and stability in the war-torn region.
The word of caution was conveyed to US special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, Marc Grossman in the first leg of his meetings with senior government and military officials during a two-day visit to Pakistan, a senior official told The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity.
Grossman arrived in Islamabad on Friday and held separate meetings with Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
The official said discussions between Obama’s point-man for the region and Pakistani authorities will revolve around making the Afghan reconciliation process result-oriented. “We are more than willing to facilitate peace efforts, but the US has to come clean on some of the issues.”
He added the US administration was sending mixed signals. “On the one hand, they (Americans) want to negotiate [with insurgents], but at the same time are blacklisting certain Afghan groups,” he said referring to the recent US move to declare the Haqqani network a terrorist outfit.
However, Islamabad is wary of further accusations linking the country’s establishment to militants and is said to have voiced no reservations regarding the decision.
“That’s why we tried to distance ourselves … had we suggested anything to the US, it would have been said that we are trying to protect certain groups.”
The official stressed the reconciliation process would only succeed if all stakeholders – be it the Haqqanis, Hikmatyars or Mullah Omar – are part of the peace process.
Pakistani authorities believe US is trying to strike a delicate balance between its domestic compulsions and the ground realities in Afghanistan. While the Haqqanis might be dubbed as terrorists, some American interlocutors have not ruled out the possibility of engaging the group in negotiations.
Grossman is due to meet President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Ashraf today.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 15th, 2012.
COMMENTS (16)
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How can I live in a country which there isn't any justices? Where nobody is secure? But I wan't to support those people how are fighting for secure system.
Nothing is running in Afghanistan. The mujrimin, Criminals, Mafia, TTP, Taliban, are destroying everything. Wallai I don't like to live in a muslim country because of these people. I'm feeling so sorry for innocent muslims around the world. O my brother and sisters wait insha'allah soon you will be spareed of this crab system created byt these criminals insha'allah the Capliphate wil raise.
Wow, Pakistan has refined the art of "picking and choosing" INSIDE PAKISTAN for years now by deciding which of IT'S "Strategic Assets" are good militants or bad militants!
The US is not going away but it must have Pakistan as part of the solution. Selective Choosing of warlords is a failed strategy.
Pakistan complaints are going to fall on deaf ears - America no longer believes you have the the influence to bring peace and arguably considers you part of the problem rather than part of the solution. The USA exit strategy is designed around an Afghanistan that remains a split and violent country - that's why they are leaving a small but lethal military footprint to deter militants in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Afghanistan is going to fall off the radar of the World and the USA taxpayers -- but Pakistan has figured out that the militants and the USA military aren't going to vanish after 2014 and both maybe bigger problems than they are today.
Wang Yu "...Perhaps we wait and see how long it takes for the US to make Afghanistan its final grave like ussr....." I agree with you dear all-weather comrade!
" “On the one hand, they (Americans) want to negotiate [with insurgents], but at the same time are blacklisting certain Afghan groups,”" Look for Haqqani group to turn on its patron Pakistan now, exactly as TTP did. Pakistani is getting brickbats from both sides. Only right! Double-crossing always results in double whammy, especially for those who strut around as if they are the only game in town!
The day Pakistan refuses to take aid (civil and military) is the day the Americans will leave Afghanistan.
Perhaps we wait and see how long it takes for the US to make Afghanistan its final grave like ussr. Instead of spending money to solve their own internal problems, the its apparently pours money into war. Whatever does it for them I suppose. Those who live by the bomb must die by the bomb.
In plain English US is not towing Pakistani line or policy. Chances are US is not trusting the Pakistani information as it is not verifiable from other independent sources.Do not forget the official line from Pakistan was OBL is somewhere in the caves of Torra Bora and not in the caves of Abbottabad. Also US is not picking target identified by Pakistan. End of the day it is American soldiers are getting killed and they have to be sure what they are not doing.
It's high time US gets out of Afghanistan,They get a lot of problems back home..
Pot calling the kettle black. . And how come there are so many unidentified official sources in Pakistan? Is it not too far fetched to believe that these stories are planted?
"“We are more than willing to facilitate peace efforts, but the US has to come clean on some of the issues.” +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++' But first US has to 'pick and choose' Pakistan as a partner in the end game!
Pot , meet kettle.