ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will not take military action against the Haqqani network, despite intense US pressure over the past few days. The decision was taken at a special meeting of top commanders on Sunday and is likely to chip away at the deteriorating relationship between the two countries.
The commanders vowed to resist US demands for an offensive in North Waziristan but also discussed the possible implications of unilateral action by the US on Pakistani territory, said a military official. “We have already conveyed to the US that Pakistan cannot go beyond what it has already done,” the official told The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity.
A public acknowledgement by the military’s chief spokesman about Pakistan having contact with the Haqqanis also appears to confirm that the security establishment has no intention to go after one of the most feared Afghan insurgent groups. “Any intelligence agency would like to maintain contact with whatever opposition group, whatever terrorist organisation ... for some positive outcome,” Major General Athar Abbas told CNN in a telephone interview.
However, those contacts do not mean that the ISI supports or endorses the organisation, he added. “If someone is blaming us [as] the only country maintaining contacts with the Haqqanis, there are others, too,” Abbas said. There is a huge difference between maintaining contacts with such a group to facilitate peace and supporting it against an ally, he said. Sunday’s extraordinary meeting of the corps commanders, chaired by Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, came after top civil and military US officials launched a series of scathing attacks against the Pakistan Army for its role in the ‘global battle against terrorism.’
(Read: If at first you don’t succeed, blame Haqqani)
Though the media wing of the army did issue a public statement about the special meeting, it opted not to say anything after a six-hour long sitting at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.
“The situation is extraordinary and that was why the meeting was called an emergency,” said another official, who would not provide further details. Some sources say that the army decided not to issue any public statement after whispers from the US aimed at avoiding the situation getting out of control.
In a change of tone, US Centcom Chief General James N. Mattis, in a meeting with Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Khalid Shameem Wynne, struck a reconciliatory note after weeks of stinging US claims.
A statement issued by the US Embassy said that General Mattis had “candid” discussions with General Kayani and General Wynne about the current challenges in the US-Pakistan relationship.
“However, Gen. Mattis also emphasised the vital role the Pakistan military plays in international security efforts to protect the Pakistani and Afghan people and the need for persistent engagement among the militaries of the US, Pakistan and other states in the region,” it added. General Wynne voiced his concern about the negative statements emanating from US, according to the Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR). He also stressed the need to address the issues which have divided the two countries, which are “a result of an extremely complex situation.”
Responding to the possibility of US strikes in North Waziristan, General Abbas said that any unilateral military action would fuel anti-US sentiment in Pakistan. It “would have grave consequences ... and would put the government and the military’s backs to the wall,” he said.
(Read: Pakistan, America & the Haqqani network)
Abbas added that Pakistan had closed cell-phone towers in the area to prevent terrorists from communicating and coordinating their activities within Waziristan. “We closed all the mobile towers on this side of the border, but unfortunately across the border in Afghanistan mobile towers are working,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 26th, 2011.
COMMENTS (80)
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@Jehangir: I agree with you regarding China.It is a big question that will China risk its growing trade with America of triions of dollars.Presently China is moving with great force to become a world leader in economy. Secondly what ever we say destruction of Islamic terror is also in China's interest.
@Ndeem Ahmed: who told you that waziristan is not part of pakistan
So, let us see: We will not allow our sovereignty to be violated by US, but will continue to tolerate the complete usurping of our territory by fanatics as long as they dont point their guns at us? It is a matter of time, as we have learnt in myriads cases before (TTP, TTP Swat, Lal Masjid, SSP, LeJ, LeT ....). The longer we wait and let this Emirate to exist within our borders, the more friends and allies we will continue to loose. We came close to losing China as a friend as well last month when they for the first named Pakistan directly as the place where their extremists are training. This sanctuary is NOT in Pakistan's interest - why don't our leaders get it? The Core Commanders need to do their job and liberate this Pakistani territory and restore state's control there instead of provoking a super power, and using innocent people as possible canon fodder,
Amaricans having a taste of their own medicine... feels nice. Commoners around here are already living in misery. Death in the name of Dangi or target killing or suiside attacks so makes little difference in case of a US/ Nato invasion
@Arindom: The people of Pakistan are fully backing the Armed forces of Pakistan. If US wants to attach us let it try. They cant even beat the insurgents of Afghanistan how can they fight a country who got 6 lack trained army, Who possesses all kind of conventional and non conventional long and short range missiles, who have one of the most advance Air force. America should stop dreaming and try to minimize the beating they getting from Taliban in Afghanistan. They have clearly lost the battle there and now trying to make Pakistan their escape-goat.
@Sao Lao: Pakistan's calculation of bleeding India after putting Americans to the wall by using its assets in Afghanistan could be another blunder committed by it. Pakistan having armed conflict with India is totally a different wall game.
If these are pro-Pakistan tribes, Pakistan army should not attack them.
Wazaris/ Haqqanis are not like Mehsuds or Afridis (they don't have proxies that fight Pakistan). They are the most pro-Pakistan tribe around.
@Gul Khan Taliban killed a lot of Afghans and ruined what was left of Afghanistan. They also causes some bruises on NATO, what is this great victory of Taliban that you speak of ?
@Ndeem Ahmed: if you have an impotent, dysfunctional, corrupt and useless govt sitting on the benches of parliament then it is the obligation of the army to rise for the security of national interests...... whether their statement is constitutional or not, but they are mirroring the feelings of common man..... why should we waste our forces and resources for the security of american soldiers....
All these American stooges should rather stop it please."we cant fight NATO,we cant do this we cant do that,they will send us to stonage" c'mon people.nothing is going to happen.please do not underestimate roue people and our country, we are no afghanistan nor iraq.its this slave mentality which will let us down.i do not say that we are superior nor do i live in some fantasy or denial.but just take this example that with the flow of harsh pakistani statements US is going towards reconciliation mode.Secondly why do you all live in denial about the wrong doings of US and its intelligence agency? do you think CIA is clean? all this mess has been created by them and now they ask us to clean it.they better go back to Texas and catch rattle snakes.
@Jehangir You are right. But the Nato attack will effect not only Pakistan, but the neighboring countries too. The Afghanistan war does not effect only Afghanistan but also Pakistan. Similarly the war in Pakistan will effect India, and other bordering countries like Iran and China and other gulf countries in terms of insurgency, smuggling weapons and drugs . Are you sure India and other countries are ready for the consequences of US attack on Pakistan? I do not think that countries like China will let NATO take action against Pakistan, this is not because China is Pakistan's friend but the reason is that insurgency will rise in the region. So the conclusion is that US can never attack Pakistan because of its geographic location.
Well i would say here we are fighting some one elses war we have been imposed upon us which was a mistake committed our former leader. its time to see what we want , not some one else want. pakistan zindabad
Our troops are attacked everyday from across the border but there is no mention of that anywhere. And NATO please stop acting like a cry baby and try solving your own mess instead of blaming it on others.
Well i would say here we are fighting some one elses war we have imposed this war upon us which was a mistake committed our former leader. its time to see what we want , not some one else want. pakistan zindabad
@ali: Who says there is an eastern threat? Imagination and greed for power.
If America, the terrorist, invades us, may be we are destroyed, but we cannot be defeated, but it will be a blessing for the whole world because America will not be the same America and the humanity will be preserved and saved from its poison, Insha Allah. Every patriotic Pakistani is with Army and the government if they are sincere in protecting the country.
US is losing now. During 10 years of Afghanistan occupation, what it did for afghani people? what it did for their education, health. Instead millions of afghan and iraqi innocent people killed on the name of so called war on terror. US attacks on Iraq on the name of chemical weapons, but after what found after attack on iraq?
@True Pakistani: I am second. You are absolutely right. Pakistan Zindabad, Pakistani Army Zindabad. Allah will protect Pakistan InshaAllah.
Americans have time and again proven that they are silly, but then what can you say to a country that is dying? In less then three decades USA will be gone! Beware the death throes of a super (has been) power
It looks like things have reached boiling point between Pakistan & US. Being a muslim I sincerely pray to Allah(swt) that my pakistani brothers can get out of whatever predicament they found themselves into. However I would like to ask the pakistanis to take inspiration from their next door neighbour Iran , a country that is under stringent US sanctions for the past 30 years - all the time when PAK was America's indispensable ally . In that period they fought a 10 year long resource draining war with Iraq which was politically, economically & technologically backed by US and in that sense the iranians actually fought the US in the form of Saddam's iraq without any backing from China or Russia. Look at where Iran is today . Although not well renowned, they have their own automobile & electronic brands and the only muslim country other then Pakistan that mastered the nuclear fuel cycle. Having a automobile brand in today's age with competition from already other world renowned brands is not a small feat. They are actively fighting a proxy war US in iraq and are openly backing Hamas & Hezbollah ( sworn enemies of US & israel) but can the US do anything about that other then protesting. Iran is actively competing with the US for influence in he M.East. Thus you can see sanctions were actually a blessing in disguise for them and it can also be a blessing for you guys as well.
@ All American Supporters/Lackeys
Pakistan sincerely served the International cause( which was not because of its failings) sacrifizing fifty thousand lives and seventy billion dollors of collateral damage and still being blamed. The US having all the military might to root out the so called terrorists has failed and has almost been defeated is now asking Pakistan to get invovled in a venture which means horrible consequences for its people who are facing daily suicide attacks and if Pakistan goes along with the US demand it will means opening a new front and abondoning the safety of its citizens. Pakistan is not here for Sale, US & NATO should fight their own war in Afghanistan.However the writing is on the wall ''
@Gul Pakistan has to be prepared for these things. 1. A Naval Blockade of Fuel & supplies. 2. A blockage of Exports to Europe / US. 3. Complete stoppage of Aid (military & civilian) from NATO/US. 4. IMF stopping Aid/Loans to Pakistan; 5. Pressure on Saudi & Other middle east countries to restrict aid to pakistan. 6. Air Strikes on NATO Jets in Waziristan/Quetta & probably even Islamabad on our Assets -Taliban & Haqqani Network.
ISI, being a premier intelligence agency, would have planned all this before taking a decision to take on US Might in support of Haqqani Network.
@ All American Supporters/Lackeys
Pakistan sincerely served the International cause( which was not because of its failings) sacrifizing fifty thousand lives and seventy billion dollors of collateral damage and still being blamed. The US having all the military might to root out the so called terrorists has failed and has almost been defeated is now asking Pakistan to get invovled in a venture which means horrible consequences for its people who are facing daily suicide attacks and if Pakistan goes along with the US demand it will means opening a new front and abondoning the safety of its citizens. Pakistan is not here for Sale, US & NATO should fight their own war in Afghanistan.However the writing is on the wall '' US will leave Afghanistan as the Russians did- Totally defeated
@GetRidOfFeudalPolitics: Your answer to proof/reason by GHQ:
Though the media wing of the army did issue a public statement about the special meeting, it opted not to say anything after a six-hour long sitting at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.
I see how many indians are commenting imposing as Pakistanis disguising with Muslim names. Dont Worry Indians, If NATO attacks Pakistan, India would be first one to taste death
Is this an effort to put Pakistan in a state of war with NATO and to jeopardize the peace of Pakistan?
don't bite the hand that feeds you. Please lets fix our domestic problems 1st and than we can talk about wars and stuff ... may be you guys don't know the consequences of this clash. We ll be send back to stone age while USA/NATO will survive .... lets get real and get rid of those terrorist who are not only a threat to our society but to this whole region.
But sympathizer of terrorist who literally payed homage to Osama Bin Ladin wont understand this ... GOD bless Pakistan.
We have absolutely no idea how intelligence game works. There is a reason why ISI is the best intelligence agency in the world. Even with so little resources in comparison to CIA, Mossad, KGB and MI-6; we do top the chart.
So the people behind ISI knows what and what not to do, how and how not to go about it! Dont they?
by saying no to america we create enemies outside of pakistan,, by saying yes to america we create enemies inside of pakistan,,, so which one is more dangerous every one knows.... Taking action against a group which is not a threat to pakistan, is a big big foolish act... I am first to say no to America....
I have seen a lot recently Turkey being mentioned about its about face change and becoming a voice in the world community. For anyone in the know, some time back, the generals were ruling and dictating Turkey. Comes in Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as PM. He wrestles power of all establishments into his fold. ALL decisions are now fomulated by the elected Govt. and not by any other establishment. Yes it has taken him some time for Democracy to come full but he has done it. Now the world respects Turkey. Its is time Pakistan does the same.
@Arindom Pakistan don't want to be caretaker of the world like American's are we just need to live our own life. Till right now we have faced enough terrorism than any other country in this world after 9/11 and you are asking to take action against Haqani's means more trouble in the country, more bomb blasts and more innocent lives will set on risk. Some time you need to appreciate those people who are in the line of making peace, fighting and war is not the solution every time. Fighting and war means you are making more enemies and this will carry on through your generations and generations.
Foolish decision
Fasten Seat Belts as taking on NATO is gonna be a hell of a ride.
Assalam-o-Allaikum Warahmatullah.May Allah Almighty help Pakistan Armed Forces in this time of difficulty and ordeal and give them courage and bravery to defend Pakistan,its nation and its self-reliance and sovereignty (Aameen).
@Gul Khan: OMG a fight with NATO? I predict a quick and decisive victory with no need to announce the victor!
well i am amazed to see that those sitting outside pakistan are taking too much toll of the recent developments.it is time for getting united..and i guess you guys did not get the point of military and political leadership that enough is enough.the point is all our forces are deployed on western border and the remaining force is on eastern borders:minimal force possible.what uncle SAM wants that we should employ our forces from eastern front to north waziristan.do you guys think its an intelligent move?thus putting our entire existance at stake.try to keep ur hatred and prejudices isolated for a while and see the broader spectrum. plus if pakistan is trying to stand tall after a long list of follies we should support them instead of being pessimistic and always finding negative points in between the lines. regards
@Accay Hasn: and messing with the USA and NATO will have pleasant consequences?
@Cautious: There is another parallel that can be drawn with that situation. The US attacked without proof and without solid reason.
I dont understand why they do not make the proof public. And if they dont, how can the world trust them again after Iraq.
Second thing I dont understand is, why would Pakistan want to direct militants to provoke them now and invite them to attack us. The logic that they are giving for Pakistans links with the Haqqanis is that Pakistan wants to retain control over afghanistan once they leave. If that is true why wouldn't Pakistan just leave them alone and let them leave the region.
Third, supposing the Pakistanis are innocent, the reason they may refuse to go after Haqqanis even now may be that it will cause a backlash in terms of more suicide attacks in Pakistan and perhaps the troops really are stretched right now. If you remember two militant attacks have been launched from afghan side in last two months killing almost 60 soldiers. The whole western border is not safe as the Americans clearly do not have control over there so opening up another front will cause great losses. AND, given all the losses we have born, it is greatly angering to be accused of complicity with militancy.
Pakistan is not responsible for security of US & Nato forces in Afghanistan...!!!
haqanis have not attacked us yet why should we attack them isnt it plain stupid
Now it's the haqqanis out of nowhere..
Hamid Gul, Shahid Masood, Ansar Abbassi are the only people who i see leading pakistan to glory ... otherwise ... I see a bleak future for Pakistan ... May god bless !!!
Dear Cautious, Ahmedanijad also thinks USA is bluffing, so does Castro, Kim Ill, Chavez et. al.
The Pakistan Army has done the sensible and right thing by calling an emergency meeting and remaining silent on the discussions. They are the experts in their profession and know what fighting, killing and destruction is all about. They know what it is to pull a trigger or send their troops into battle. It is not an easy decision. One that could have immense and far reaching effects. Faith in ALLMIGHTY ALLAH and standing firm and steadfast in the face of opposition. All Pakistanis must at this time support without stint and hesitation the Pakistan Army, Air Force and the Navy. Salams to all our brave and men and women.
did the army bother to ask President or Prime Minister or Parliament before taking this policy decision ?
According to which constitution does the army have power to vote up or down any policy? In every country army follows govt’s orders rather than behaves as a political party and issues more statements than any elected leader. Pakistani army and ISI have lost all credibility yet once again after being found in bed with OBL. Until they come clean and either accept or refute the US president's claim that OBL was hiding there, nobody in the world is going to believe them. Showing anger and refuting the facts is not going to change the world opinion. With the era of communication, even Pakistani public is not that naive anymore.
Pakistan Army & ISI backs Haqqani Network which is well known to everyone in Pakistan. Same is the case with Groups like LeT, JeM & Other Islamic Mujahideen. Now its finally the end game & a showdown with the US. Our Army Top Brass seem to be counting on the support from China, but we must be very careful with China. China cannot be trusted since they never supported us in all our lost wars with India. Even during Kargil war, when our politicians and Generals went to china for help, they refused. US, in the midst of recession, will not be able to handle Pakistan & by pitting china against US, we can make the best of the two worlds. I think ISI is planning to do just that (similar to USA Vs. USSR).
A big NO to any military action against the Haqqanis. We cannot afford to mess with any Afghans. That will have dire consequences!
The likes of Hamid Gul, Shahid Masood, Ansar Abbassi, will be very pleased.
They obviously think the USA is bluffing --- so did Saddam. . Your choices are clear. Stop the Haqqani from using Pakistani soil to attack NATO/Afghanistan or let NATO attack the Haqqani inside Pakistan. If those alternatives are unacceptable then you should be prepared to fight NATO.
The top brass statement is unconsitutional, undemocratic and illegal. They have no right or obligastion to decide foreign affairs matters. The only forum is elected assembly, where democratically elected government has authority to decide our fate. If safe heavens of Haqani group are in Pakistan's jurisdiction then democratically elected representatives should decide what to do with them. If that area is not part of Pakistan, then why Pakistan's resources are used to protect them.
"Abbas added that Pakistan had closed cell-phone towers in the area to prevent terrorists from communicating and coordinating their activities within Waziristan".
Since Haqqani says and Rehman Malik and Gilani confirm that the Haqqanis are no longer in Waziristan, why are the normal Pakistani citizens living in Waziristan inconvenienced by denying access to cell phone communications? Is this not a tacit acceptance that the Haqqanis are very much present in Pakistan - despite all claims to the contrary?
If General Kayani can leave for London right after the meeting to give lectures, its pretty obvious that things are not as bad as are being made out to be. For those who have been beating the war drums for the past 2 days, they need to stop raising. That said, tensions are running high..you never know what the Americans may do, Kayani jets of to London..anyone going to criticize him for jetting away to Europe while the nation faces serious challenges? Ofcourse not..
Oh! "dair ayed durust ayed", so we are accepting our involvement with others, so why bothered to deny first, it's like saying "look teacher i was not the only one to leave the room first there were others too so you should punish them too" , who are the others? and why we are concerned with others involvement.we should have tackled the allegation very elegantly but in fact leaders have left the General alone.America will make our army harried, if our parliament doesn't sit immediately and get rid of this filthy Taliban and Afghanistan game for ever.I am afraid we are in great trouble.If Haqqani is only a "deeni" madrasah, like other madrasahs in India and south east Asia, with a purpose of serving Islam and raising pious Muslims why it is causing the WHITE HOUSE, a fitful night's sleep." DAAL MAIN KUCH KALA ZAROOR HAI", I will pray for my country to be safe from all conspiracies either being weaved across the border or inside.God bless Pakistan.At any cost we are with our brave General. and help him deciding something better for us. I am sure my comments won't make through moderation but at least i am satisfied i spoke my own mind.
It is amazing to see how precious the Haqqanis are for Pakistani establishment - that they are willing to put at risk billions of dollars in aid and also total international isolation - just for the Haqqanis' sake!!
Something else that is clear than every before is that the civilians has ABSOLUTELY no say over ANY policy in Pakistan, not just defence policy as previously suspected!! Sad day for democracy....