NEW YORK:
US and Pakistani officials are considering joint counterterrorism campaigns in Afghanistan and Pakistan, an American newspaper reported on Saturday, saying the move would mark an upturn in cooperation after more than a year of ‘rancorous’ relations.
“The campaigns would be intended to help stamp out major security threats facing each country, targeting what the US says are sanctuaries for the Haqqani network, and what Pakistan says are sanctuaries for the Pakistani Taliban in Afghanistan,” the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) said in a dispatch on the talks ISI chief Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam had with his CIA counterpart David Petraeus as well as officials of the State Department and Pentagon.
The plans are considered, at best, promising, the dispatch said, pointing out that US officials have long pressed Pakistani counterparts to target the Haqqani group, but without success.
In meetings with CIA’s Petraeus and other officials, Lt Gen Islam explained that US concessions on drones and the Taliban sites in Afghanistan would give Islamabad room to build domestic support for counterterrorism work with the US, the newspaper quoted officials as saying.
Under this proposal, the US would also work with Pakistan to control the Afghan side of the border, so militants driven out could not escape into the Afghan border region, these officials said.
The Pakistanis have named the planned offensive, in North Waziristan, Operation Tight Screw, according to WSJ.
“Pakistan’s democratic government is committed to moving forward with the US in many shared goals,” Pakistan’s Ambassador in Washington Sherry Rehman was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
She said her government is working to reshape its relationships in the region. “Better ties with the US can help us in this broader goal of creating equities for peace instead of volatility in a region that is going through many security transitions.”
“It’s a good beginning,” Vali Nasr, a former top State Department official who is dean of the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, told the newspaper.
He pointed out that in previous joint campaigns Pakistan has asked to be involved in all aspects of intelligence-gathering. But the US side has looked sceptically at Pakistani requests to share information about coming raids. “It’s always been a sticking point,” said Nasr, an American of Iranian descent.
Also discussed was Pakistan’s demand for a halt to CIA drone strikes in tribal region. But no agreement was reached on any changes to the programme, the newspaper said, citing officials.
US and Pakistani officials, according to the dispatch, both described this week’s meetings as productive and indicative of a higher level of trust than in previous meetings.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 5th, 2012.
COMMENTS (24)
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It's highly unlikely that this planned offensive, in North Waziristan, "Operation Tight Screw" would bear fruit. If the US does it share and goes after the TTP insurgents in Afghanistan on behalf of Pakistan, there's no guarantee that Islamabad would go after the Haqqani fighters in North Waziristan, because they don't pose a threat to Pakistan.
@Don: Depending on the price!
The mighty $ turns Pakistanis into circus clowns jumping through burning hoops to please their masters.
@Ahmer Ali: Apparently not. Haven't you noticed that the Taliban have grown stronger in the last few years. Clearly, Pakistan is not capable of fighting them alone.
Interestingly, this was originally posted on WSJ and our media didn't provide any detail in this regard. Secondly, both sides have the same arguments, one is asking for drone tech & intel sharing, other is asking for "MORE" to do on terrorism. It's the same musical chair...
Hope we have (again) not agreed to work on the same old pay and there is no U turn on the policy of no US boots on Pak soil.
@Malik
Last I looked the President of the USA was black -- I doubt that will change your racist attitude but facts never seem to overcome bias.
@Basit, considering that Taliban supporters like you are everywhere, I'd say it will take at lease a generation to really defeat the insurgents.
How can our army decieve our brothers in afghanistan?
Only the Americans and their stooges can think that another operation is all it will take to defeat the insurgents.
Pakistan army has finally revealed that it is serving US not willingly but are afraid to do so. I ask one thing, what is the limit of this scared theory, when Pakistan will react. If for example US demands that the mothers and sisters of all Pakistanis be handed over to US, whether Pakistan will react or not.
Great news. We must put aside our false pride aside and fight side by side to eliminate our existential threat from terrorists.
@Malik:
Manning up or showing bravery isn't about stupidity you know .. Human are superior than animals and are meant to be using their brain unlike animals.
This will cause more problems for us Pakistanis! remember what havoc the terrorist wrecked on Pakistanis during the years 2006-2009? there were bombings everywhere everyday!.This will not go well if Pak Army is thinking of carrying out ground offensive in North Waziristan. US will never win this war not even for the next decade.
"The Pakistanis have named the planned offensive, in North Waziristan, Operation Tight Screw, according to WSJ."
Aptly named. Tightly screwed & the price is 1 Bln in advance & Rest comes later!
Shame!
Sorry to say, if ever this war comes to an end US will kick Pakistan out of its interest in the region and there would be nothing left in the end for sorry Pakistan the. Ya Allah when the Pakistan Incumbent government will understand.
To put it bluntly:
Drones to continue Pakistan to attack HaqqanisPakistan army is finally being reasonable. Reasonable people will be rewarded.
Go Sherry, go. Work on your charms:-)
after 10 years of collision partner in war against terrorism have finally decided to raid against the insurgents. we want to know when this war is going to end. tired of this war against terror
Pakistan will be doing a great favour to itself by taking action against both TTP and Haqqani groups. However, if it does not fulfill its commitments as in the past, US is going to come heavily on Pakistan.