ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan has quietly conveyed to the United States to not make any public statement on its planned operation against militants in the restive North Waziristan Agency bordering Afghanistan.
The advice stems from the fact that any remarks by American officials may complicate the Pakistani authorities’ plan to create the ‘necessary environment’ for the Waziristan offensive, a senior government official said.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the official told The Express Tribune that the military does not want to be seen as aligned with the US on the issue of launching a fresh operation in the rugged tribal belt because of growing anti-American sentiments in the country.
The US has long been calling on Pakistan to go after the deadliest Afghan insurgents, the Haqqani network, which is believed to be based in North Waziristan.
Islamabad voiced concerns when US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta disclosed last month that the Pakistani military was planning to start an operation against militants in North Waziristan.
He said Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani had confirmed to Isaf Commander in Afghanistan General John Allen during a meeting that the military would soon launch an operation.
“It was inappropriate for Panetta to make that statement. There was no need for that ... it really complicated the situation,” a military official commented.
Reports of the planned offensive immediately invited strong criticism not only from rightwing groups but also the country’s main opposition party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.
These parties accused the government of launching the new offensive at the behest of the US. In response to the backlash, Kayani informed top US military commander General James Mattis in August that Pakistan would not conduct the operation because of outside pressure.
The official said the military was planning for a new push against the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) but did not want to give any impression that it was being done under US pressure.
Pakistan’s national interest continues to be the prime consideration for any decision regarding the military offensive in North Waziristan, the official insisted when asked about the timing of opening a new front in the battle against militancy.
Following Pakistan’s request, the US now appears careful in making any public comment on the Waziristan offensive. It was also evident from the statement issued by the US embassy following a recently concluded visit by President Obama’s point man for the region Marc Grossman, who did not make any public remarks on the issue.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 17th, 2012.
COMMENTS (26)
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Here's an idea. Let FATA and Baluch secede. Then Pak does not need to whine about sovereignty and Pak and ISAF can obliterate this new country and everything in it.
They know only rhe language of gun , Civilized treatment is only for civilized people and not for distorted tribals .
please think being a Muslim where killing one person is equal to killing a humanity.how can you kill innocent people by an operation.all the stakeholders must be brought on negotiating table to avoid bloodshed for both sides.
If you will not kill them they will enter in Islamabad through Lal masjid , then again a Red star operation will be required . Now there is no other option left . Compell them to surrender there itself or face the death foe entering directly in the heaven .
In my opinion north waziristan operation will be disasterous not only for the army present there but also the other country men. the outcome of such operation will bring more suicide attacks and bomb blasts in the country. million people including women and children will be displaced . any person who has little know how about the weather suitibility for the operation will agree that in october onwards till march its not workable. if pak army launch an operation in winter its equal to kill innocent people by making them IDPs in winters.
US killed baitullah mehsud TTP chief in drones and also other Alqaeda leaders then why do we pakistanis say that TTP is supported by US that is wrong i believe
brother it all about money we dont have it neither america
Get it over and done with We dont want a state within a state we have an army. 6th largest army in the world 9th firepower in the world . Come on we must not make pakistan a banana republic. Put QRF along the border and dont let these ttp escape kill them .
I had commented on ET more than a month back that the operation against Haqqanis would never be conducted by Pakistan but it may have to fight both Talebans one day.
Sensitive or fragile secrecy is always like a trust. American high ranking official did no care and opened.it Pakistan had to face consequences. it mean, they are not sincere with Pakistan. The words of front line ally is only a lip-service.
Which only means that Pakistan is not going to make that operation.
It's not complicated at all. You apparently made promises to the American's and now they expect you to honor them - perhaps they are tired of all the duplicity and want you to stand by your word.
Pakistan Should immediately take action to establish soverignity over north Waziristan or otherwise USA should increase the frequency and intensity of Drone attacks.
Negotiating table is better than operation.vide the result of military operation in east Pakistan now called Bangladesh.
Bring the Taliban to the negotiating table by accepting their true and justified demands,United States to be pressurised in this connection for releasing Taliban prisoners from the Cuba jail and removing Karzai as a president because Taliban understand him American stooge.They are true in their sense.
This decade long war must be ended before it converted into a wide and large form. ,
If there will be no operation there then they will do their operation in different parts of the Pakistan .
Now the choice is your's
Seems more like anti Pakistan army slander by this newspaper, anyways this is a false news and no operation will happen
we do need the Waziristan operation, but we also need US to leave the region.
There should be an operation in NW against TTP...but not Haqqani.
There is no solution but that the Americans leave Afghanistan. As long as they stay, there can be no security in either Afghanistan or Pakistan !! These operations only increase bloodshed and hatred !
@Sabah Aslam: Was the SWAT operation Fatal for the country back then? How can Pakistan whine about "Sovereignty" when it cannot even extend the writ of the state to North Waziristan?
This will be the opening gambit to disaster. The whole region of Pakistan, Afghanistan, India (inside Afghanistan), and countries bordering Afghanistan are involved in playing 'hide-and-seek.' The US and Pakistan's panache for creating global problems is well known to all and sundry.
The idea is to go after the TTP who are the delivery maidens of the US and India. In the present scenario; economics, political and rain devastation, we cannot afford monolithic expenses. As it is the PPP government does waste no time in printing notes for its ministers and lackeys.
Defend the borders sturdily and no offensive movements. That will teach the TTP a thing or two. The Americans have pushed the war into our territory being unable to fight the Taliban onslaught and now we are stuck with a damming situation that is driving us into a sinkhole.
Pakistan for all its faults and follies is still and will Inshallah remain our country. Only we have to change the people at the top and policies. Salams
There will never ever be any more operations since it will result in breakup of Pakistan with half of Pakistan (Balochistan and FATA) seceding
Pakistan should be a normal country like any other secure and welfare country. 99% Pakistanis who don't even spit on talibanization will never raise voice aginst them due to religous thoughts made by mullah for centuries. North waziristan must be cleared to make Pakistan a welfare country.
Play your cards wisely. Wait for US to withdraw its troops and Haqqani network will split itself into pak. and afghanistan. Its not debate of good or bad anymore, we have to take care of our own security by playing tactical game.
Operation in North Waziristan is a fatal game for the country’s security and stability. It would have grave consequences for not only the country but for the innocent people of Pakistan as well. U.S. who is the key player in the war against terrorism, has nothing to put on risk neither security of its people nor stability as it is not playing this war game in its own territory. This all would have deadly repercussions for Pakistan. Pakistan army and government should sit with the U.S. officials to work on that and should first have in hand the plan for handling the situation after the attacks and also a plan to prevent the aftershocks of this attack.