Sending a message: Biden to persuade army to launch offensive in N Waziristan
US vice president will hold talks with top political, military leadership.
ISLAMABAD:
US Vice President Joe Biden is arriving in the capital this week on a visit that apparently seeks to shore up the beleaguered civilian government and persuade the military to launch an offensive in North Waziristan, said diplomatic and official sources.
Biden will hold detailed discussions with Pakistan’s top political and military leadership on a wide-range of issues including efforts to seek an end to the nine-year old war in Afghanistan.
“Biden is expected to arrive in Islamabad on Tuesday evening,” said a Foreign Office official.
“The US vice president will meet President Zardari, Prime Minister Gilani and the Army chief Gen Kayani,” added the official. Another source said Biden is coming to Pakistan in a bid to send a clear message to certain quarters in the country that the Obama administration supports the political and democratic process.
“The Obama administration was certainly concerned about the political uncertainty in Pakistan,” remarked an American diplomat, adding that internal political wrangling could divert attention from the war on terror.
“The government has now won back the majority after briefly losing it and I am sure the vice president will be discussing all these issues with the Pakistani leadership,” said the diplomat, who requested not to be named.
The operation against the Haqqani Network, believed to be based in North Waziristan, will also come up for discussions.
Diplomatic sources say Biden will convince Pakistan to conduct if not full-fledged then a limited or surgical operation in North Waziristan.
In return, the source added, the US will announce additional economic and military assistance for Pakistan.
Despite intense US pressure, Pakistan has made clear that it will alone decide the timing of the military offensive. “The US understands that we cannot open too many fronts at this stage,” said a security official.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 11th, 2011.
US Vice President Joe Biden is arriving in the capital this week on a visit that apparently seeks to shore up the beleaguered civilian government and persuade the military to launch an offensive in North Waziristan, said diplomatic and official sources.
Biden will hold detailed discussions with Pakistan’s top political and military leadership on a wide-range of issues including efforts to seek an end to the nine-year old war in Afghanistan.
“Biden is expected to arrive in Islamabad on Tuesday evening,” said a Foreign Office official.
“The US vice president will meet President Zardari, Prime Minister Gilani and the Army chief Gen Kayani,” added the official. Another source said Biden is coming to Pakistan in a bid to send a clear message to certain quarters in the country that the Obama administration supports the political and democratic process.
“The Obama administration was certainly concerned about the political uncertainty in Pakistan,” remarked an American diplomat, adding that internal political wrangling could divert attention from the war on terror.
“The government has now won back the majority after briefly losing it and I am sure the vice president will be discussing all these issues with the Pakistani leadership,” said the diplomat, who requested not to be named.
The operation against the Haqqani Network, believed to be based in North Waziristan, will also come up for discussions.
Diplomatic sources say Biden will convince Pakistan to conduct if not full-fledged then a limited or surgical operation in North Waziristan.
In return, the source added, the US will announce additional economic and military assistance for Pakistan.
Despite intense US pressure, Pakistan has made clear that it will alone decide the timing of the military offensive. “The US understands that we cannot open too many fronts at this stage,” said a security official.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 11th, 2011.