Addressing an audience of think tanks and policy pundits at the Council on Foreign Relations in a session moderated by former US Secretary of State Madeline Albright, Khar explained why Admiral Mike Mullen made his now famous remarks about the Haqqani network being a veritable arm of the ISI.
“Intelligence was shared with us that there was a truck full of explosives that was crossing the border into Kabul and we were asked to apprehend it.” Khar questioned how the truck had managed to cross 300km into the Afghan territory.
When discussing the security situation in Pakistan, Khar said, “People like me, who are part of the elite, our lifestyles have changed.” She followed it up by asking the audience to imagine what kind of effect the security situation has on the rest of the population.
On the protests in Pakistan, Khar said that the government was able to manage the situation better because Friday had been declared a holiday, else school children and others would have been at risk.
In her remarks, the foreign minister said that Pakistan does not want any strategic depth in Afghanistan. She added that the closure of joint operations between US forces and Afghan forces and the recent green on blue attacks were matters of grave concern.
“It is not ambition, but anxiety which drives our interest in Afghanistan,” said the foreign minister. She added that she would be the first to admit that Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan have not been easy, but cited examples of how they have built a relationship with the Afghan president.
“To Pakistan, the most important capital is not Washington or London, but Kabul,” said Khar.
Khar also pointed that drone strikes were illegal and counterproductive.
In response to a question about contacts with militant groups, Khar said that even the CIA has contacts with these groups. “Maintaining contact versus having control is a very thin line. If we have any contacts, our message is always be part of the political process.”
When asked about Dr Shakil Afridi’s imprisonment, Khar said that the legal process was underway, and said she was concerned at how he had harmed the cause of polio vaccination for children in Pakistan.
COMMENTS (38)
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To all concerned, You do not need to sit on presidents seat to "rule" a country ! Like ostrich we can sink our head but opening eyes to reality would surely tell that US and its policies are dictated by military. Put simply, otherwise US would not have spent humongous amounts on its military as there are more pressing financial needs in country for last century or more.
@BruteForce: If that be the case, Pakistan is a democracy under a civilian govt, why then people say Pakistan is controlled by the Army? What is control and what does it imply? Pentagon is controlled by the civilians! Similarly, CIA is controlled by the civilians! Who is controlling and who is running it? Are both entities the same? I am sure you would have read lot of books on CIA and ISI and not relied on media and media alone or, you would have served in Pentagon, CIA and ISI. That's why you know so much about them particularly who controls whom! :)
Can someone remind Ms Khar that USA in its 200+ history never under Military dictatorship unlike Pakistan which have more than 50% time under Military dictatorship ,so how can both the Military have equal say in running of the country.
News flash, Pentagon runs the US government according to Pakistanis
I mean, seriously?
Zardari couldn't even push in the legislation seeking civilian control of the ISI. Pentagon is controlled by Civilians.
The Constitution of The United States very strictly establishes the president of the United States as the "Commander in Chief" of the entirety of the nations armed forces. The slightest resistance or protest of orders from the civilian executive branch would immediately seen as a mutiny and will result in immediate dishonorable discharges. The Generals of the United States also are all in their positions at the pleasure of the President. I would love for Zardari or anyone to have that type of authority over the military. In actuality, in Pakistan it's the other way around. The civilian government enjoys governance and the fruits of the power they hold at the pleasure of the un-elected military commanders whom have reserved the right to constantly threaten the possibility of a coup and complete control of the nation. Khar is very busy trying to make the world believe that the Pakistan she dreams of actually exists today.
kabul is the most important capital yet pakistan proposed to build a 1,500-mile (2,400 km) fence along its border with Afghanistan and minethe border to separate it from Afghanistan. How ironic it is!!!!!!!!!!!
@Mirza: Are you tired of commenting on TOI?
"Pakistan military plays as much of a role as Pentagon in US: Khar"
Now, that is a laugh! Did Pakistan military pre-approve this statement of yours, Ms. Khar?
Talk is cheap and she can talk as much as she likes, the facts speak for themselves, the rhetoric is designed to give Pakistan parity of esteem with the US. Unfortunately the facts point to the contrary, due to the decisions made by Khar's elite, there is very little actually left of Pakistan. She may appease the generals and her elite counterparts in the military wit this kind of language but what have the military, this government or for that matter previous governments done for Pakistan? darw all the parallels you want my lady, once the military can STOP OUR COUNTRYMEN being swatted like flies by American drones and the UK/US created Taliban and once the mullahs who feed on the poverty and simplicity of our awam are locked up, when a Pakistani child can start to hope and dream of a future...that's when we can start to respect the words of khan's elite and call ourselves Pakistani, until then she can compare minare pakistan to the Eiffel tower its still wont turn Multan Road into Champs-de-Mars!
@Saim Saeed: Yes. The article DOES say that. Please read the very fist paragraph which says "Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said on Friday that the military in Pakistan plays as much of a role as the Pentagon in the United States does."
I think today a number of army officers are talking about three Turkish generals who sentenced 20 year jail for working against political government. The very first example was set by Hazrat Umer may God by please with him when he sacked Hazrat Khalid for their insubordination. Now we have to follow the Turkish example and hanged Musharf for killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti, by doing so we give army generals a message, ‘Don’t work for America’.
““To Pakistan, the most important capital is not Washington or London, but Kabul,” said Khar.”
And dear madam minister, we thought you were Pakistani. Should you not care the most about Islamabad, Pakistan and the people in it
And also, the US military does not depose civilian government everytime the economy is in the black
Mrs Khar, spoke the truth, straight to the point american,s know what she means. We are proud of Khar
What pakistan and other islamist countries are suffering,no doubt is worst. It's creater is isreal and no doubt american govt. becauce there are many higher authority following judaism in usa that's not mean any religion say to practice against humanity. That people are being diverted by isreali govt. and some so called jewish religious leader. Isreal want to divide muslim from western and by these the isreal would able to make increase its ecomony power and will become super power and at last would betrayed to westren. USA govt. says they donate a lot of money to pakistan but do they forget that how millions of dollar,lives,peace, raputation of pakistan have been wasted and still is going on. All knows isreal and usa govt. would not accept it and pakistan and other suffering countries must not be hopefull to it. I respect usa and isreal but do not know that what isreal and usa govt. are doing,is right or wrong? But i know that what the west asian countries are suffering is wrong. It is most-most worst than any attack. I believe that it is actually a propaganda to become a superpower of isreal...
Pakistan military plays as much of a role as Pentagon in US: Khar
In a war zone, maybe the Pentagon calls the shots - civlians cannot keep interfering with military decisions. But does the Pentagon have any say inside the US? Any military takeovers for example? Did the Pentagon plan or orchestrate (without civilian oversight) even one of the military interventions in any country so far?
But, now that the FM has said this, everybody in the Pakistani Government is going to mouth the same thing, and from there it will go into schools and madrassas.
I completely agree with the headline. Its not only US but in many countries , millitary has a dominant role. If anything than in Pakistan it has become week to the extent that it is unable to stop the day to day bashing it receives on local media ( print / electronic ) etc. Going to wars is not in monetary or public favor of ANY elected govt in US. We all know that democratic US govt did not create the pretext of WMDs to march on Iraq. They pentagon no only created a reason for war but successfully sold it to media where everyone started crying out loud about WMDs . The only issue in Pakistan is abundance of pseudo intellectuals who have smelled eternal millitary phobia . Even diarrhea feels like a job of ISI to these people and you can never "debate" with these intellectuals.
@Cautious:
Nations have army. In case of Pakistan army has nation. Army reports to civilian government. In case of Pakistan civilian Government reports to army. Best example eas 26/11, Pak President was ready to send ISI chief to India to resolve the problem but he was overruled by Army.
FM is at her best and they must hear it loud and clear.
When this government feels a bit of heat from the khaki brigade, it goes in over-drive to please its masters in GHQ.
Thats all this is :)
Just like imran only younger and cuter
Is she seriois?
“Hina Rabbani Khar said on Friday that the military in Pakistan plays as much of a role as the Pentagon in the United States does” Ok, how much role do you think Pentagon plays?
Mrs. Khar, Do you really believe in what you are saying? I die to know what these elites say in privet...
Well said!! We are proud of you!
"“It is not ambition, but anxiety which drives our interest in Afghanistan,”
Really?
"It's not ambition, but hatred for India which drives our interest in Afghanistan"
would have been correct.
"“To Pakistan, the most important capital is not Washington or London, but Kabul,” said Khar."
Not new Delhi? Who would have thunk - after the 4 wars and all your non-state actors paying us visits from time to time.
"Pakistan military plays as much of a role as Pentagon in US: Khar"
Sheis a good actress to be able to say this with a straight face.
Except that in the USA it's clear that the Military/Pentagon reports to the elected govt and the President can/has relieved any General he is displeased with.
This is a misleading, and blatantly untrue headline. Did Khar, in fact, say that Pak forces play as important a role in the pentagon as 'US' (sic!)? The rest of the article makes no mention of the headline. Shoddy journalism.