Clinton’s Af-Pak policy under fire in Washington

Secretary of State argues Pakistan has a critical role to play in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON:

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke positively about her recent trip to Islamabad, but faced sceptical remarks from committee members when she testified at a House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing titled “Afghanistan and Pakistan: Transition and the Way Forward.”

In her opening comments, Clinton reiterated that the US had been tough but conciliatory when her delegation visited Pakistan. “General Dempsey, Director Petraeus and I delivered a single, unified message: Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership must join us in squeezing the Haqqani Network from both sides of the border.”

Earlier, the committee’s chairwoman Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen had questioned the US’ somewhat contradictory approach: “On the one hand, the US is negotiating with the Haqqani Network, on the other hand they’re trying to destroy it.”

Alluding to the Haqqani Network as Islamabad’s armed proxies, the chairwoman said that the US and Pakistan relations should be reexamined if attacks on US forces in Afghanistan continue.

Speaking about future negotiations for the Afghan peace process, Clinton emphasised her wish that all sides act “in good faith, both through unequivocal public statements and by closing off the safe havens.”

The Secretary of State said that the US wants an inclusive Afghan-led peace process, through she admitted the US has to both fight and talk before building helping to build a new future in the country.

Clinton added that the US is working with Pakistan to target those attacking US forces in Afghanistan, and said that she had conveyed to the Pakistani side that the attacks were an outrage.

Clinton also said she warned Pakistan of the danger of distinguishing between terrorists. “No one who targets innocent civilians of any nationality should be tolerated or protected,” she said, adding that the US and Pakistan “had detailed and frank conversations about the concrete steps both sides need to take.”

Ranking member Howard Berman urged the US to put a hold on military assistance to Pakistan. However, he highlighted the importance of helping the Pakistani people, and said that the US should continue civilian aid to the country.

Berman also questioned whether Secretary Clinton was right to give a security certification earlier this year. In response, Secretary Clinton said that “on balance, Pakistan met the legal threshold.” Pakistan, she said, had made sacrifices in the war and was cooperating in intelligence matters.

During the Q&A session, Representative Chris Smith highlighted Afghanistan and Pakistan’s worsening record on safeguarding minorities in the country, and cited the murder of former Minister of Religious Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti as an example. Clinton said that religious minorities of all hues faced discrimination in the two countries, as different sects of Islam were also being targeted.

US general says Pakistani forces aiding militants

Pakistani forces are allowing insurgents to launch rocket and mortar attacks on US troops across the border in Afghanistan and may be collaborating with the militants, a Lieutenant General Curtis Scaparrotti said on Thursday.

The rocket fire targeting American forces often originates within sight of border posts manned by Pakistan’s Frontier Corps, said Scaparrotti, the deputy US commander in Afghanistan.

He added that cross-border attacks have increased dramatically in eastern Paktika province in recent months, with rocket and other fire four times higher than in previous years (With additional input from AFP)

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2011.