Agreed, that the global war on terror (GWoT) is not our war. Agreed, that it is solely and wholly that of the US-led Nato nations. Agreed, that the war we are fighting against our own terrorists is the direct outcome of our involvement in the GWoT on the side of the US. Agreed, that our terrorists will go home once we get out of what many of us believe is somebody else’s war. So, let us chalk out a plan to achieve the objective. No need to call an APC for that.
The federal government in consultation with the army could and should make the plan on its own because the nation has given it the mandate to do all that is needed to do to make Pakistan a safe and secure place to live in and not to waste time by convening APCs. If at all it needs to take the nation into confidence on such plans, which in civilised countries are disclosed only on a need-to-know basis, it can debate them in a closed door session of the joint parliament and/or circulate them to the provincial governments for comments.
But before doing all that Pakistan is obliged, being a member of the United Nations and also because it was the UN Security Council that had, in the first place, sanctioned the invasion of Afghanistan by the Nato troops way back in 2002, to make an announcement on the floor of the UN General Assembly that it is withdrawing from the equation of the GWoT. In any case, we don’t have any troops in Afghanistan, though we did provide the invading troops a couple of air bases for air-lifting them and for flying sorties in aid of land troops, and for emergency supplies and later for launching the drones, but we have already withdrawn this facility. Another facility that Pakistan provided to the US-led Nato troops was the over-land supply routes from the Karachi port to Afghanistan and back, which are most likely to be closed down in the next 11 to 12 months as that is the deadline for the major drawdown of foreign troops from Afghanistan. This has been the most important element of our involvement in the GWoT.
The other equally important element is the ‘air corridor’ reserved within our airspace to allow unhindered flight of US drones to North Waziristan and back home. Drones come in presumably in ‘hot pursuit’ of those Afghan Taliban led by the Haqqani network that mount targeted attacks on foreign troops stationed in Afghanistan from the safe havens located on our side of the Durand Line. International law allows countries to cross borders in hot pursuit of intruders. However, it is only logical to presume that once the foreign troops leave Afghanistan, the US will have no reason to send in its drones.
So, it would be very much in the self-interest of all those who want Pakistan to withdraw from the GWoT at the earliest, to facilitate, rather than block the departure of Nato containers from Afghanistan. Blocking would only delay the departure of foreign troops, tempting the Haqqani network to continue attacking from across the Durand Line, which in turn would instigate the US to send more drones, which in turn would infuriate our terrorists and force them to continue ambushing our security agencies, their installations and innocent civilians with IEDs and suicide bombings.
“The choice was between boots and drones,” responded the then foreign minister, Shah Mehmood Quraishi, when I asked him “Why drones?” The place was London, the year 2009. I had approached him in a London hotel where he was scheduled to meet his British counterpart, David Miliband. He did not say so but I assumed that Pakistan preferred its sovereignty to be violated by drones rather than US boots.
Let us keep in mind that this choice would not be available to Pakistan if the Haqqanis continue their bloody game from the safe haven of North Waziristan even after the departure of the foreign troops from Afghanistan because the 350,000-man well trained and well equipped Afghan Army is hardly likely to possess drones. It would be the Afghan Army boots that would be chasing after the intruders in hot pursuit.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 20th, 2013.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
COMMENTS (9)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@Sophya Khan
well then you are NOW seeming the punitive damages of your so called assets from the last afghan war. and the way things are going, i dont think so the army, the administration or the people of the country have learned any lessons
@Singh: hmmm maybe you will understand it 30 years later... the 70 billion is not in damages to roads... ever heard about punitive damages? have you never heard of law suits where the court orders punitive damages of millions ? but we cant expect anything sane from you... and btw have you ever calculated the number of trucks going through pakistan for the last 12 years and the transit fee and taxes? just add them up and come here we can then discuss the details..but you are only here for trolling...
The logic in this brilliant article makes a lot of sense. That is great, but when have we ever done anything sensible? No, it’s not logic, but our own philosophy that works for us.
We have a simple philosophy. It is called “Philosophy of Fear”, and is very easy to understand. Even the illiterate masses of this Land-of-the-Pure understand it well, and it thus enjoys nation wide approval. Just briefly sample what can be achieved by it:
• Instilling mortal Fear in our own Hindus and other minorities makes us even more Pure. • Instilling mortal Fear in Ahmadias and Shias will make us even more Sunni. • Fear of our ‘Blasphemy Law’ will make Islam more respected all over the world. • Fear of our ban and riots will reform YouTube. • Instilling mortal Fear in Indians by these methods will get us the bounty of Kashmir: 1. Fear of misinformation. 2. Fear of another 26/11. 3. Fear of our Nukes. 4. Fear of LeT and JeM. 5. Fear of our latest invention, ’Non State Actors’. 6. Fear of infiltration and firing across LOC. 7. Fear of not being granted MFN status by us. • Fear of blocking Supply Routes will stop US Drones even if Keyani wants them (ask IK). • Fear of TTA will make NATO turn tale and vanish in thin air. • Fear of TTP will make us more Sharia compliant. • Fear of our Army would have stopped Bengalis’ rebellion. • Fear of our Army will reform misled Balochs. • Fear of Rangers will clean up Karachi and reform Police. • Fear of Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry will reform our Judicial System. • Fear of JIHAD will make everyone in the world convert to Islam, and make Super Powers surrender to our might.
The list could go on, but enough is enough.
Suffice it to say that nothing will work for us unless we throw this complete Philosophy in the trashcan, where it truly belongs.
@Sophya Khan: 70 billion in losses to pak? Can any one explain where this figure come from? With such amount, whole Pakistan road can build from scratch. Even small street in inner city. Nato supply use two route only. Does those road been damage beyond repair. Every stat come from Pakistan must be divided by 100. Every person on TV talk show use different fatality # . 70 billion or 70 million? ? remain ? Singh ET please........
Really disappointed when i read it.These type of Journalist only talk/Write what US dictate them.That have no concern about peace and Pakistan.Their Only aim is $$$$.
Boots and Drones! Let's hope the chameleon reads it and comes up with a new phrase.
@It Is (still) Economy Stupid:
please enlighten us, how much NATO pays in taxes and transit fee to the Pak govt...and how the coalition support fund which is the cost paid by the pakistan army, is begging for fund? 20billion in 12 years in the so-called aid and 70 billion in losses to pak? wake up please... you can only think of the business that the truck drivers having with NATO..then what will happen to that after 2014? will they die? and why dont you talk about the damage that is done to pak economy by the presence of these merceneries? or maybe you have a logic for Raymond davis also... maybe he was having a business contract and if pak would have punished him, the world would have stopped trading with pakistan?
"International law allows countries to cross borders in hot pursuit of intruders." As long as it is not Indian troops. Troops from US, China, KSA and UAE in Pakistani territory have multi entry Visa. Few weeks ago the same writer wrote about Its economy Stupid. He has not mentioned the economic benefits of NATO to Pakistan. The contract between the truck driver, transport company and NATO is a valid commercial contract. Any violation send clear message to business community the transit through Pakistan is a lost cause. It is better to use Iran's Chabbar port. Pakistani politician have vote banks on opposing NATO supply whether it is skirmish at the border or events in the neighboring country, They will never thank NATO for providing honest days wages to the truckers. Economy is not there priority begging for funds is. They need to learn that it is still the economy stupid.
One can safely predict that the Americans atleast(if not the entire NATO) are not leaving Afghanistan by end of 2014,not atleast in the next 5 years-no matter what the circumstances, Haqqanis or no Haqqanis. Afghan Taliban have not been defeated by these Americans in last 12 years, so they might curtail their numbers,but absolutely no chances of leaving.