Instead, Obama commissioned a serving brigadier from the very outfit responsible for the bombing to undertake an investigation, who predictably produced a finding that was rejected outright by Pakistan as fictitious. The excuse that had Obama apologise to his Republican opponents would have had him for toast and showed him off in an even poorer light.
It now seems that Obama is having second thoughts. According to a US official, “the State Department is supporting a proposal circulating in the administration… to issue a formal apology for the death of the soldiers (killed on November 26) because we feel that an apology would be helpful in creating some space”. In other words, the US is considering an apology months later, not because it was wrong for not apologising earlier, but because by doing so now it would obtain what is presumably worth more than America’s honour, namely; cheaper petrol, etc; for the American war machine in Afghanistan.
In the same column, I had said “If (Nato) supplies are reopened as a result of pressure on the current weak and vacillating leadership here, routes will likely be blocked by demonstrators or made impassable by local Taliban supporters”. And this is now likely. The Jamat-e-Islami has pledged to block them and there are others who will do worse, making it more difficult for our already harassed police and Rangers to ensure safe passage.
Actually, it was an open secret that the routes would be reopened following a brief show of bravado and, sure enough, that’s what’s happening. Given our economic woes and our spendthrift habits and the military’s incessant need for American weaponry, the compulsion to return cap in hand to the IMF and the Americans for further assistance is irresistible.
However, few would have been able to predict the steep fall that has occurred in relations in the more-than-two months that have elapsed since the Salala attack. Consider the following:
1. The obloquy heaped on Pakistan by US officials and Congress when Husain Haqqani was directed by the Supreme Court not to leave the country. Such was the fury on display that it seemed as if Pakistan had detained the US ambassador rather than one of its own.
2. Congress scheduling hearings on Balochistan and calling for a free Balochistan to be carved out of Pakistan. When has a state openly called for the disintegration of an ally even as they are fighting a war against a common enemy?
3. Granting US citizenship to a foreigner — Shakeel Afridi — for placing American interests above that of his own country so that he would not swing, just as the American murderer Raymond Davis was handed over because he was an American citizen.
Meanwhile, Senator Kerry, of the Nishan/Hilal-e-something-or-other fame, says that America is banking on India for taking on China and looking after Afghanistan. In so many words, he has called upon India to play the role of America’s sentinel in Asia. It’s almost impossible to believe that the Indians will be so stupid. And in case, if they are tempted by his invitation, they need look no further than how we fared when offering ourselves as America’s bastion against all comers in the region.
Soon the CENTCOM supremo, General Jamges Mattis, will be reaching Islamabad, bringing with him a whole lot of new targets for the drones; new demands that he will want General Kayani to fulfil and American suggestions to place before the Taliban presumably in return for the release of the (CSF) money they owe us.
Before getting down to discussions, General Kayani could address Mattis thus: “General, as I understand it, your policy re: ‘safe havens’ is: Marja (in Helmand province) must be controlled in order to eventually control Kandahar. Kandahar must be controlled to control Afghanistan. Afghanistan must be controlled to control Pakistan. Pakistan must be controlled to prevent Saudi terrorists from getting on to an aircraft on a flight to JFK, New York. If that is correct there is nothing more I can say or do. If it is not, what are you doing here?” (I owe the foregoing thought to an American journalist)
Published in The Express Tribune, February 11th, 2012.
COMMENTS (11)
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@numbersnumbers: Its not MAS's fault...they teach little children in Pakistan that they had "glorious" victories in 1965, 1971, Kargil, in Afghanistan, in Abbotabad, at Mehran, and Salala.
Ref Uzra Syed's query.
Read what I have said re Davis again. Where have I said that he did NOT have immunity? But Davis was let off because he was an American citizen (and a CIA spy).and that's the point. The immunity matter was merely a pretext. Or perhaps you don't think so, in which case don't worry there is nothing wrong with you that miracle can't fix.
@MAS: WOW, kick Indian butts!!! Please remind us how Pakistan "Kicked Indian Butts" in the LAST 4 WARS! Also tell us how things are going in EAST PAKISTAN these days! (Another great victory?????)
MAS
I am an Indian and I acknowledge that pakistan can kick Indian butts.....HAPPY !!!
It's good Pakistan keeps wasting time in kicking butts rather than make efforts to stand on it own....
Keep your martial thoughts to yourself and try to become a mercantile economy .....pakistan this way will be able to redeem Jinnah's Dream....
In the meanwhile keep dreaming about kicking Indian butts ...
Mr Hilaly was right about Davis. The technical legalities and loopholes are unfortunately there. If we don't like them we can get out of the conventions.
“Honourable nations are not ashamed to admit their mistakes and apologise for egregious errors” What exactly does honor have to do with it? Nobody is going to apologize and give you money just because you tell them they should. Also, according to the report, it says they opened fire first. Nobody is going to be sympathetic towards the ones shooting at them. Let alone pay you for it. How it really went down... Who knows? It's not like Pakistan helped in figuring it out. That's another reason for not apologizing. No real conclusion for fault. You guys always seem to get in the way and make things harder than they have to be and then want to be paid and appreciated for it. I hope there's never an apology. I hope there's no money given. I also hope they fire back if they're shot at in the future regardless of the "why." You make a lethal move, you get one in return. If your aim isn't as good as the one you're firing at or it's a slingshot pointed at a missile launcher, too bad for you.
Sir I feel sorry for Pakistani troops whatever the findings are i guess these troops are used to indo pak skirmishes may be they took a shot at the american troops who then retaliated with brute force.as for India-china rivalry we to busy trying to compete with each other on economic for a physical war now is not the time for war for us Asian giants. As for US of A well they can assume and give us speech on their perceived interest , we Indian want economic prosperity nothing more, in that we will take all help we need ,even if Pak can help us....... Stop sending your yahoooos to India.
@John B: John, you have to wait a little, let the US bail out of Afghanistan, then you will see your genius Indians running out with their pants on fire. Pakistan can not take on the US but they are good enough to kick Indian butts in their western backyard.
It should be obvious to anyone following the incidents since Abbottobad that US has decided to go alone without Pakistan. US can sit and wait in Afghanistan holding the fort with occasional "warm up exercises" to prevent the barrels from rusting. Can PAK hold the fort?
Whether Pakistan likes it or not, India will be engaged in Afghanistan, and Pakistan has to decide whether to come on board or stay aloof and jump from US ship to be tethered with China. The last thing China wants is to get entangled in Afghanistan for PAK. And Indians are genius in political decision making, and so far they have always won and I am sure they have more historical documents in their archives to look and find a strategy than PAK.
It would be nice if the author had also asked PAK to apologize for harboring OBL. Suddenly everyone in PAK forgot about hosting OBL.
Apology for Salala, why because PAK did not like the US findings and only PAK findings are correct?
It is time for PAK to go fly a kite!
Sir, your reference to Raymond Davis release and eventual evacuation is a bit out of sync with your public stand on the issue when it's alive. May I remind you that you went around saying that under Viena or whatever Convention this man had absolute immunity---didn't you? Deny it and I publish here the links to your appearances in various televised 'talk-shows'.