Across the border

There should be no disconnect on Pakistan’s policy on matters between that for public consumption and in practice.

Only a few hours after Nato had promised an inquiry into the unusual incursion by Apache helicopters into North Waziristan a day ago, there has been further violation of Pakistani airspace. This time, Nato helicopters attacked a border checkpost in Kurram Agency, killing three soldiers. Pakistan’s threat to prevent Nato supplies moving across its territory, following the death of 30 people described by authorities as insurgents in North Waziristan, has clearly meant little, with raids continuing.  Islamabad has objected quite vociferously on this matter with the interior and information ministers loudly protesting. However, it boggles the mind to think that such intrusions into Pakistan’s airspace — much like those carried out by US drones — are perhaps part of some behind-the-scenes agreement with America and Nato. Given the military’s overarching control of our Afghan (as well as Indian) policy, perhaps ISPR should explain what exactly is going on.

We are seeing a switch to more aggressive tactics by Nato. It is no secret that America wants Pakistan to crack down on the Haqqani network which it says has a safe haven in North Waziristan. Its members reportedly carry out regular forays into Afghanistan and then return and America and Nato have both said that it is to deter this kind of activity that it has had to on rare occasion engage in ‘hot pursuit’ with the enemy inside Pakistani territory. However, this time around — prior to the Kurram strike — the Americans publicly admitted that something was wrong, and indicated that the Pakistanis were not told of the action prior to it taking place. Such manoeuvres put Pakistan in a tough spot, especially with domestic public opinion. Having said that, there should be no doubt really that it is in Pakistan’s interest that no terrorist network be provided a safe haven on its soil. This should be a shared objective and to further it the Pakistanis and the Americans need to have some kind of arrangement where such incidents do not happen again. Also, there should be no disconnect on Pakistan’s policy on such matters between that for public consumption and in practice.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2010.