Backing down: US no longer urging full-scale Waziristan blitz
During US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s recent visit to Islamabad, Pakistan made a commitment to Washington that it would tackle the Haqqani network, a senior American diplomat told The Express Tribune.
However, what is significant is that the US is no longer pushing Pakistan to initiate a full-scale military offensive in North Waziristan which is allegedly being used by the Haqqani network as a launching pad to target US-led international forces in Afghanistan.
“We are not asking Pakistan to invade North Waziristan. What we want is for this Haqqani threat to be eliminated, either through the use of force, or by other means,” the diplomat disclosed, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.
If Pakistan were able to convince the Haqqanis to come to the negotiating table, that would be a “very positive start”, he said. He did not, however, say exactly what commitment Pakistan had made with the US regarding the Haqqanis. “We leave it to Pakistan,” he added.
Despite Islamabad’s commitment, he cautioned that a lot of work is yet to be done in order to judge whether or not Clinton’s recent trip was successful.
“I won’t say the worst is over, but what I do believe, is that the best is yet to come,” he said.
For years, Pakistan has been resisting US pressure to go after the Haqqanis in North Waziristan. Its reluctance is attributed to the military establishment’s decade-old contacts with the network and the belief that the group has a critical role in the Afghan endgame.
But in recent months, the Haqqani network has become a major thorn in the relationship between Pakistan and the US.
The US stepped up pressure on Islamabad to dismantle “terrorist sanctuaries” from North Waziristan.
But during Clinton’s visit, the two sides covered significant ground to narrow down their differences, not only on the Haqqani network, but also on the Afghan reconciliation process.
Regarding Pakistan’s role in the Afghan reconciliation process, he said Pakistan needs to be honest about its links with the Afghan Taliban.
“We want a commitment from Pakistan to play a constructive role in the Afghan reconciliation process,” said the official when asked what specific role the US wants Pakistan to play. His remarks underline concerns in US ranks that Pakistan is yet to be forthcoming on the Afghan endgame.
“We simply want Pakistan to be honest with us about whether or not they can bring the Afghan Taliban to the negotiating table,” he pointed out.
Pakistan, during the discussion, did agree to facilitate the US to help it reach out to the Afghan Taliban but insisted it would not become a guarantor of the process.
When approached, Foreign Office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua refused to confirm reports about Islamabad’s commitment with Washington in terms of the Haqqani network.
“I can only say that Secretary Clinton’s visit was very constructive. Both sides put across their point of view on key issues in an open and candid fashion,” she added.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 25th, 2011.
COMMENTS (14)
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@MarkH: You seem to be the only one who thinks the US didn't want military action against the "Haqqanis". The journalist of this article thinks they did, as evidenced by the title of the article, and I think most Pakistanis also feel that the US wanted military action. Our politicians also told us that after their last all parties conference.
If the "full scale attack " is anything like Swat offensive then it would take months to put together - use a small fraction of the armies resources - leave an escape route - and fail to capture or kill any of the leaders. The USA doesn't want another publicity stunt - what they want is for Pakistan to make it clear to the Haqqani that they cannot use Pakistani soil as a safe haven.
i said this a million times in my comments.... US never wanted an operation against Haqqaniz... instead using it as carrot n stick through pak army to get them to negotiating table
@MarkH:
"the times, they are a changin", old chap. Wake up!
@Bhatti:
Yes, picture is impressive
I completely agree with Gul Khan, why US is not helping us negotiate with TTP who have never attacked any US force but only Pakistani people and its forces. If US wants to have peace, then it has to ensure that either it combats the TTP elements in Afghanistan Nuristan and kunar areas OR it helps us negotiate with them, to have a long term peace. Then we will see about Haqqanis.
Correct,the picture in this article is awesome, that tells all about the preparedness of our forces. It should be a welcomed development as far as the formulation of the same argument is concerned, because the US has not changed her stance. Still, it is transferring responsibility on Pakistan to establish peace in Afghanistan. The most important point is to seek Pakistan's full force/support to the reconciliation process in Afghanistan. I believe after the recent trip of US officials and in the days to come (before the BIG Istanbul Afghan Conference), the US would continue to craft arguments in relation to reconciliation with the Taliban and Haqqanis plus pressure to DO MORE may well continue as well. But, the exit policy, still must include Pakistan's role as a leader, because no other country in the region would have higher stakes than Pakistan ( not to mention sacrifice of 40,000 civilians and more than 5000 security/military personnel). This decision to embrace Pakistan's sincerety would also warrant a solid path for a smooth US & NATO exit from Afghanistan. Warning of dire consequences and violating Pakistan's sovereignty would not get the US and allies any closer to reconciliation process, a fact that is reliable today and tomorrow.
Vienna,25-10-2011 Pakistan so far been not responding to treatment.So new treatment was agreed upon.What is wrong with that ? As living sovereign organism Pakistan should show it does have responding sensitivities some where. It was just an on going process of identification.The efforts are of course to save Pakistan from following OBL with almost 180 million innocents,and the loving Zebu Brahmin breed that Americans love so much. Taravadu Taranga Trust for Media Monitoring TTTMM India --Kulamarva Balakrishna
@Amir Wayn: Yes, really.
@MarkH: Ohh Really ?
The title does not fit the content of the article.
Why Miss Clinton is not forcing Pakistan to convince the TTPs to come to the negotiating table? Why only Haqqanis are important for US and not other terrorist groups which are working only against Pakistan.