Showing flexibility: Islamabad may allow expelled US trainers back
Pakistan and the United States are negotiating a fresh arrangement for allowing American military trainers back into the country, a development that may break a months-old deadlock in the relationship between the two ostensible allies.
The new agreement, if finalised, will allow a smaller number of American military trainers in Pakistan compared to their pre-May 2 strength. While neither side has revealed publicly how many US troops were in Pakistan, some reports have suggested that the number was around 200.
Pakistan kicked out about 90% of the US military personnel stationed in the country as a reaction to the May 2 Abbottabad raid by US forces.
That decision (along with the fact that Osama Bin Laden was found living in Pakistan) had caused a further strain in the ties between the two key allies in the war on terror. In a tit for tat move, the US withheld $800 million assistance in military, much of which, it said, was meant to fund the presence of the US trainers in Pakistan.
The issue of military trainers is believed to be one of the main stumbling blocks in normalising relations between the two countries. However, Washington has offered to restore the aid if Pakistan reverses its decision on the US military trainers. At least two senior military officials told The Express Tribune that both sides are now discussing ways to resolve the issue.
“We had initially told them to pull out all US military personnel but now we have shown flexibility in our position,” said a military official, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
However, the official insisted that the number of US military personnel will be very limited and ‘they will be here only for specific projects.’
“The agreement is yet to be finalised as the US is not willing to agree on the minimum essential number we are ready to approve,” said another official.
He did not say how many of the US soldiers Pakistan Army is willing to allow. “The two sides will have to eventually find the way out,” he added.
A US military spokesperson in Pakistan when approached refused to confirm or deny the development.
“We had a broad range of discussions with Pakistan on several issues. We shared common objectives in many areas. But I cannot go into specifics about what is being discussed between the two sides,” said Colonel Michael Shavers.
US Congressional delegation
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani told an eight-member US congressional delegation led by Senator Robert Casey that a common strategy needs to be devised that covers the relationship between the two countries beyond 2014, when US troops are scheduled to leave Afghanistan.
The US delegation also met Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and visited at the ‘Memorial to the Martyred’ in General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.
“We place this wreath in memory of all members of the Pakistan Armed Forces who have given their lives in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. These brave soldiers defended Pakistan with their lives, and the American people wish to honour their sacrifice and the sacrifice of their families,” a US embassy statement quoted Senator Casey as saying.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 27th, 2011.
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Pakistani Arm forces need 'American High Energy and Boost' to get them out of their lethargy and fatigue, as evident from the sad state of affairs in Pakistan with civillian and non civillian population dying each and every day in a bloodbath in great numbers. They need to learn from the Americans!
Assalam-o-Allaikum Warahmatullah.What the beggars,slaves and corrupt leaders including COAS can do except allowing their worldly master USA's military trainers to enter Pakistan and in this condition when US military trainers have been necessary for training then Pakistan Army should give back the reward Pakistan Army got as the strongest army of the world.
It seems Pakistani military needs help from American trainers as the country is going to dogs and the brave American trainers will training them to be swift and decisive. They will also teach them to specialize in modern day wars. Pakistanis should welcome the Americans whole heartedly, as Pakistani forces for some reason have not been able to secure its own public from daily carnege and dangers and from proxy wars (be it from India or Afghanistan) spreading all over the country.
@John: At this moment pakistan have American pupet Government. This pupet government can't do anything and just do things when strings are pulled by the American officals.
At this moment Imran Khan does not have any power. He can only protest against wrong things happening in Pakistan. He is mobilising the youth of Pakistan who are real assets. You will see soon Imran Khan will be Pakistan's Prime Minister and all these things will changed.
American's are bullies and this bully thing is actually sinking them. I am not saying this. You can see all over world know about this. When a big power have this type of behaviour then they destroy themselves with their own actions. You can see now they are deep in debts. Their credit rating has been downgraded first time in history.
According to American's own experts China will be ahead of America in 2016 economically. Beleive me America will never be the same again even if we beleive that they will have economical recovery.
All money spent in Afghanistan war has been wasted. Ordinary American's left empty handed. In future this will be more worse than now. When there is no money for living then you know what happens? specail when rich countries people become penniless.
As I have said in this forum before, Pakistan would do the right thing after they have tried everything else. This statement is based upon the history of Pakistani establishment. Everybody knows money talks and BS walks. If one agrees to get paid why would they throw a temper tantrum? Why not take it with a simple thanks or gratitude? Is it so hard to do the right thing after accepting the money?
We need US trainers more desperately than ever before for mainly two reasons. First and foremost our people and military is not capable of handling terrorism that may destroy the whole country. Even if labeled CIA agents by some, these trainers are doing the dirty work of ISI and Pakistan's military at their own cost. Secondly our drama queen military desperately need 800 million help without loosing face.
And again there goes some sort of sovereignty .
They (US) are our wellwishers and should be welcomed back and Pakistan needs them especially in these times.
Pakistan should welcome them back with open arms.
Pakistan is quickly turning into Cambodia and Vietnam. The enemy is using multidimensional war tactics and is attacking from all angles. . . . All indicators point to India and its backers.
It appears that Pakistani ARMY.... does need more training...as it hurts to see young men ..killed every other day by these ..TALIBAN TERRORISTS..... and at times these Taliban terrorists prove smarter to be able to ambush and kill Jawans............so PAKISTAN ARMY needs to get more training to be A STEP AHEAD to them ............... I DON'T CARE HOW MANY OF THESE TALIBAN TERRORISTS get killed !!!!!!!!!!!! KHUSSS KUM JAHAN PAK !!!!!!!!!!! WORLD will be a better place with civilised people....
Why is US so keen on putting its military trainers back in Pakistan even at the cost of its relationship, suspending aid in the process? Persistence defies all logics; if Pak military does not want to get trained by yankees, why push it to the limits? There is lot more to the motives than meets the eye.........
This is sheer madness!!!
Everyone knows how the American military was monitoring from inside Pakistan during the Abbotabad attack. PAF was neautralized & it was a case of total control.
How can armed forces allow American military back in Pakistan....they are now coming for their next action item.....
when our army will learn to survive without Americans and their presence when we do not know clearly what their intentions are, except the fact highlighted by Iranian President twice that America wants to deprive Pakistan of Nuclear arms.
Money or honour? - Money please. Very pragmatic.
A very touching and compassionate statement by Senator Robert Casey on behalf of the American people. (How much was from the heart ALLMIGHTY ALLAH only knows). Frankly, if USD. 800 million is needed to finance the US trainers and then if they are not here then Pakistan does not lose any money. So if ten trainers come back then an amount proportionate to their stay will be sent to them. Pakistan still does not lose anything. If they are here for training. Training does not go on for twenty-four hours; day and night, so what do they do in their off-duty hours, bird watch in Waziristan and FATA??? Or do they go to Mozang in Lahore or Sohrab Goth, Katti Pahari in Karachi or some place else for studying the soil for agricultural purposes? The army knows it is a sham, spam and a farce right from 1958 when Francis Gary Powers' U2 spy recon aircraft was shot down over Russia (then Soviet Union) by a SAM missile and Nikita Krushchev pointed his nukes at Peshawar. Salams on mama terra firma.
I need some training too - can I be trained too - and I need some $800 mn in aid too....
say hello to more Raymond Davises !
i thnk that us trainers must not allow to work in pakistan bcz they r cia agents and their main purpose is to get infrmation abt pak nuclear assets and to spread terrorism in pak
I cannot forget the story line reported in ET during Raymond Davis saga. "RD was sprung to discredit the elected government"
Following which about 300 US personnel were expelled and then came the Abbattabad.
Now US personnel are back. What happened to the bravado of Kayani, Imran Khan, etc.,?
As always PAK establishment miscalculates the outcome of its strategy and as usual it back fires from Kashmir, Bangladesh, Taliban Afghansitan to US, which is the last straw.
PAK is still in hot waters in the US and a peaceful solution with Afghanistan might be a step in right direction. But I doubt if PAK will ever learn the world politics.