McChrystalisation of national policy

KARACHI: This is with reference to Syed Talat Hussain’s article, “McChrystalisation of national policy” (June 28). The process of the writer’s perceived McChrystalisation is based on false assumptions. It is naïve of Mr Hussain to assume that meetings between General Kayani and General McChrystal were a matter of quid pro quo. And his arguments to support his view are flawed.  He points to Pakistan’s backing President Hamid Karzai.  However, the government has no choice but to support Karzai as long as he’s in office. Secondly, Mr Hussain refers to the army’s agreeing to a troop surge in Afghanistan. But why would President Obama ask Pakistan’s army for approval before ordering American troops to surge into Afghanistan? It is important to remember that our army never publicly endorsed McChrystal’s war strategy. Let the nation be assured that the defence of this country is not based on a weak national security policy which according to Mr Hussain would mean that the “dismissal of one American general will leave our long-term policies hanging in the air”. On the contrary, our political and military strategy is evident to all stakeholders

Published in The Express Tribune, June 30^th, 2010.