‘Diplomatic sources’ in Pakistan say, “The US and Pakistan have reached an understanding on joint operations against the Haqqani network but no final decision has been taken yet”. Outside, ‘leaks’ have appeared in the press indicating that “understanding for joint operations against the Haqqani network was reached at a meeting between senior US and Pakistani military commanders in Islamabad”. More clearly, The Wall Street Journal reported “that plans for joint operations” against the Haqqanis and Maulavi Fazlullah “were discussed in meetings between ISI chief Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam and top CIA, State Department and Pentagon officials in Washington”. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik used to throw broad hints at Americans for helping the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) assist in carrying out attacks inside Pakistan from the Afghan provinces, Kunar and Nuristan. Now, he says the Afghan government and its secret agency are doing the dastardly deed, not the Americans.
Apparently, our ISI chief General Islam got nowhere with the drones and an understanding on the subject was deferred. He is believed to have offered a proposal which urges the US to identify targets and let Pakistani F16s carry out the attacks. If there is no agreement on the drones, it could derail the whole process, not so much because the Pakistan Army hates the drones but because the Pakistani people and the media have been subjected to a hype about them by the concerned quarters, which may not be speaking with one voice.
Another question must bother the Pakistani side — if not the Americans — because they have more information about Pakistan’s real capacity to control events on its soil. The Haqqanis have a close relationship with al Qaeda and Admiral Michael Mullen, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, accused the Haqqani network of being “one of several extremist organisations serving as proxies of the Government of Pakistan”. The Haqqanis are lodged safely in North Waziristan, which the Pakistan Army says it cannot attack just yet for various reasons, in order to flush them out. But the network has extended itself to other areas, too, including the Kurram tribal agency. The Americans want to take the Haqqanis out because of their ability to kill in large areas of Afghanistan. They operate in the Afghan provinces of Khost, Paktia and Paktika and have an extensive presence in Kabul, Logar, Wardak, Ghazni, Zabul, Kandahar and Kunduz. Their outreach also includes the distant Afghan provinces of Badakhshan and Faryab.
If Pakistan gives up the Haqqani network, it gives up its trump card in the Afghan endgame. But the new line in Pakistan is that the doctrine of strategic depth is no longer the embraced philosophy and a new approach has been adopted. As far as the drones are concerned, the world sees pressure rather than conviction behind the Pakistani stand. Every time the Taliban attack and kill innocent Pakistanis, the clearly enunciated message is ‘get the Americans to stop their drones’. There is yet more lack of clarity. Is Pakistan able to deliver on the commitment it is vaguely making to the Americans through its ‘understanding’ on the Haqqanis? This is the question most analysts in the US will ask.
The question about the capacity of the state to control its territory is being asked in Pakistan but it is diverted to other emotive aspects of the sovereignty of the state vis-à-vis an intrusive strategy of the Americans to tackle terrorists that Pakistan cannot handle. If the Taliban were not obliged to own up to their acts of terrorism to make their presence felt, Pakistan is inclined to link all terror on its soil to America and India, as it is doing with respect to Balochistan. The problem here is that Pakistan is alone in the world in this thinking and its economy is in the process of a meltdown that cannot be halted without international help.
It is time to make a comprehensive policy shift. It is going to be difficult but as long as the international community understands that it is taking place, Pakistan’s chances of surviving remain bright.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 7th, 2012.
COMMENTS (39)
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we are not against haqqani network operation but 1st tell where is this network. it is also operating with fullfledge force from afghanistan but uncle sam is failed there and now wants pakistan to to kill his own citizens. is this not against the international human rights voilation. north waziristan is loyal territory and operation will make them disloyal. then no one will come for help
Regular day of an Indian troll 1) come to office 2) take IT desktop support calls 3) put anti-pak comemnts on ET 4) take IT desktop support calls 5) put anti-pak comemnts on ET 6) eat vegetable stew (wobble head sideways) 7) put anti-pak comemnts on ET 8) add a few paki chiks on facebook (wobble head sideways) 9) go home
ET "Goodbye, Haqqani network?" My comment replying to PTI enthusiasts a day before looks in line with the heading of the editorial
sabi Aug 6, 2012 - 8:39PM Reply
"PTI is loser without establishment backing and there are indications of establishments changing it’s course.Good for pakistan bad for PTI." Bold and realistic editorial kudos.
Now, I, understand why, Imran khan is organizing an anti drone march, because he wants to protect his proxy team in North Waziristan in such a sensitive time that US led international forces in Afghanistan plan to withdraw by the end in 2014. Why he was not calling for a rally in the tribal areas where millions of pashtoon population is being still hostage by so called Pakistani and international militants. I think up to some extend ET editorial is based on correct information because, when so called militants in Swat (pashtoonkhwa) were in the pick of their power, local government was totally collapsed, i remember that time an International Herald Tribune published a report about the militancy in Swat."The headline of that report was"fixed it or we will fix it". May be the same threat has been again repeated to Pakistani authorities. that, I think Pakistani authority has last or lost chance. Be remember west is not stupid and weak. Ask all dictators of the world.
@Mirza: "Sir, do you know what is the punishment in Islam for calling a Muslim a non-Muslim? Do you realize that even Allah is not going to forgive you till I forgive you for your false allegations about my faith? However, I have no malice against you or anybody as long as nobody is physically hurt."
Mirzaji, you asked some good questions to Mehtab and said that since no-one is physically hurt by him challenging your faith, you have no malice towards him. The question Pakistanis should ask themselves is when they say that Ahmadis are not Muslim (just based on a law passed in the parliament), would that attract the same punishment in Islam? IAsk because I do not know anything about Quran. After all it is hard to argue that no one is hurt in the process of calling Ahmadis as non-Muslims.
@Mehtab As a pashtun and muslim I do not agree with you. Pakistani's and Afghans have been used by world powers and their own governments. It is time that the ppl live in peace and get educated. In 60's pakistani's used to travel to kabul beause the weather was not as hot as in pakistan. My friend do not think from the angle of hate towards india and afghanistan rather look for things that unites you with them.
@Lala Gee: I am a Sikh and a proud Indian, does it make me a khalistani. If mirza is a american, please respect his views. I respect your views too but I will stand against criticism. Thank you
@Mehtab Khan Afridi: Praji, Abu jundal was extradited from Saudi Arabia. The Saudi govt sent him here
@Ninja: So you mean to say that giving support to terrorism in other countries and providing a lifeline to those terrorists is in Pakistan's interest. You mean to say that harboring terrorists, so long as they kill others, and using them to further your state policies is in Pakistan's interest. If that is the case, then please be prepared to be paid back in kind by the rest of the world. Guys like you still don't realize that the days of using terrorists as instruments of state policies and getting away with it are long gone. You will have to pay a heavy price if this continues.
@antony:
"@Mehtab, I think you are paranoid of honest criticism from fellow muslims.. Mirza is a pakistani living in US."
Who knows, it is internet. "He" could be Sharon Stone or Paris Hilton, or pose as one of them. Who knows and who cares. It is what he says that matters, and the fact is he never spoke sympathetically or in support of Pakistan and Pakistani nation and always spoke as an outsider and not being part of the Pakistani nation. He never speaks a word against India or USA for their most horrible crimes against humanity, let alone criticize them. To him every thing about India and USA is good and any and every thing about Pakistan and Pakistani nation is bad. Even a good news favoring Pakistan is a bad news for him and worthy of his criticism. The question is do the others consider him part of the Pakistan nation, I doubt it and certainly I don't.
Good riddance! These so called jihadis aka proxies kill innocent Pashtuns and in their quest for power get played by their archenemy.They forgot how Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef was treated by his masters when the US threw down the gauntlet. This marriage of convenience has run its course and outlived its utility.
What a world standard Yesterday Hero of honors Todays Terrorists?
@Mehtab Khan Afridi: please read about the black septmber in Jordan and see how your hero Zia-ul-Haq slaughtered fellow muslim brothers and sisters Palestinians and was rewarded by king of Jordan. Pakistan rewarded him to become a president for life. How is that most sucide bombers attack Mosque on friday pm to inflict maximum casualty? Pakistan's flaw is tht it wants to protect every muslim in the world and ignore their own citizen in Pakistan. Cleaning of the world starts from home.
If this is true this is good news. In the long run strategic depth is a failure strategy. Afghanistan is our neighbour. We want a friendly neighbour. The best way to do that is to help them rebuild thier country not send over Haqqani and co.
Its time the deep state realised this and changed its outlook and actions. For our country to be strong economically we need to have all of our neighbours as friends and trade with them all not send backward terrorists to their lands.
The moves to make friends with India is good, and we should continue this and also not send fighters there.
Pakistan is a country of 180 million people, we need to trade and make peace not support terrorism and have our own country on fire.
I really hope this editorial is right for the sake of Pakistan's long term future.
"Every time the Taliban attack and kill innocent Pakistanis, the clearly enunciated message is ‘get the Americans to stop their drones’." instead I do aver here as "every time the drones do that massacre in tribal areas in complicity with g-headquarters, the clearly enunciated message is "get into the punjab and other provinces and do those damned suicide bombings
@Mehtab Khan Afridi: Where do you get your information? OR do you write your own news and then read it as absolute truth.
@Mehtab, I think you are paranoid of honest criticism from fellow muslims.. Mirza is a pakistani living in US.
@JJ: Your argument is a Million dollar argument. Let me add little more. Haqqani Network " so called" may have 6000 fighters. Is it because of these 6000 people that more than 300,000 US & NATO troops and the best Machinery failed in Afghanistan? If so, Then I will probably fire the entire army and employee these 6000 Low cost fighters in the army. Great savings for the American Taxpayers.
@Mirza: If Pakistan has to survive and live in the community of nations they have no choice but to give up supporting the terrorists. Who is going to determine the choices ? YOU? Go determine the choices for you first then lecture others. First what you should do it to stop hiding behind Muslim names and come up Boldly without showing signs of Cowardice and declare your true RSS Terrorist Identity. That will be the starting point to even talk with Pakistanis. As long as You will Hide behind false identities, You will be recognized as Hindu terrorist. I agree with you that Pakistan should cooperate with Civilized world but you are not part of that world. Because a nation who have slaughtered 100,000 of its own citizens is the most uncivilized nation on earth. This Genocide is continuing therefore you and your nation both are counted as uncivilized part of the world. If OBL was found in Pakistan then Abu Jundal is Found in India. That means you had planned the Mumbai attack and now your Govt. must be prosecuted for this crime according to the logic you apply on OBL. In the last, What You can live or can not live is your own problem. Pakistan has nothing to do with it. You can eat insects or Grass, it's up to you. We know you belong to extremist Hindu RSS terrorist Faction so tell them to provide you food. Hope you will not be shot for such a little request.
Pakistan has to play ball ,,, it cannot continue acting as a a rouge state. The olny way to protect its sovereignty ,integrity and credibility is to stay within the norms of world community
kallchakra : I am sure you meant Hussain haqqani.
One question: you have mentioned in your article that they are in the large areas of Afghanistan, then why US is not starting an operation in Afghanistan against them.. why they are urging Pakistan to initiate it?
A great balanced and pragmatic editorial. If Pakistan has to survive and live in the community of nations they have no choice but to give up supporting the terrorists. There are no options, ifs or buts. The presence of OBL in army base was the game changer and it has left Pakistan at the mercy of the world. They are fully exposed and need to start cooperating with the civilized world, the sooner the better. We cannot live on grass as food and water as fuel.
Realistic editorial. Possible for Pak govt, if sincere, with help from outside, If they think state actors/nonstate actors are more helpful than outsiders, in achieving their goals (whatever it may be), then only djinns and water car inventors can help pakistan.
This is silly. The international community must realize that Pakistan never had anything to do with the Haqqanis. In the same way, it will continue to have nothing to do with them.
@Humayun: "Absurd, Ridiculous, Irrational, Illogical, Incongruous and this is an Editorial from Express Tribune"
I am sure you are one of the believers in the water car.
Hard hitting, in the face editorial, ET. Can Pakistanis face the truth?
Haqqani Network a trump card? What was the outcome of its other 'trump card' NATO supply line? Pakistan's obsession with Afghanistan will only harm itself ferociously. TTP in the north, India on its eastern borders and America and India(???) in Balochistan. Wonder if the Deep State can handle all this when they cannot even shoot down a drone.
@C. Nandkishore, yes from today all policies Pakistan makes should be based on what pleases the international community rather then what is better for Pakistan /sarcasm
"If Pakistan gives up the Haqqani network, it gives up its trump card in the Afghan endgame. " A clear admission that terrorists are an extension of policy.
The editorial is at best wishful thinking that the Deep State would give up its trump card for the end game in Afghanistan.
Absurd, Ridiculous, Irrational, Illogical, Incongruous and this is an Editorial from Express Tribune,
It is time to make a comprehensive policy shift. It is going to be difficult but as long as the international community understands that it is taking place, Pakistan’s chances of surviving remain bright. I completely agree with ET. This is the best and correct advice possible.