‘Anew broom sweeps cleanest’ goes the saying, and whilst Army Chief of Staff General Raheel Sharif is hardly new, he is a very different broom to his predecessor. He is coming to the end of a seven-day visit to the US and appears to have hit the right note with his American hosts. He has met with members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senate Armed Services Committee and the Select Committee on Intelligence and made clear that the Pakistan Army is going to fight all terrorist groups — including the Haqqani network. To this end, he had some hard words for India saying that the ceasefire violations that have persisted since October 2 were negatively affecting the Pakistan Army operations against terrorist groups in North Waziristan and elsewhere. With 140,000 men deployed in Operation Zarb-e-Azb, there was a reasonable expectation that India would cap both the rhetoric and the cross-border tensions. Eradicating terrorists is, after all, in India’s interests as well, given the expansionist statements of both al Qaeda and the Islamic State in recent months. That has not happened.
It is unlikely that the US will intervene or comment on the record regarding the cross-border firing, preferring a hands-off approach to bilateral relations between India and Pakistan. What is more likely is that the US will continue to provide military assistance given the evidence coming out of Operation Zarb-e-Azb — 1,200 militants dead and as many as 200 of their facilities destroyed. Layer this with a reset of relations with Afghanistan and the security sandwich becomes a more palatable item for the US — with which Pakistan has of late had a somewhat fractious relationship. Selling a robust and broad-spectrum counterterror offensive that ticks the boxes for America, as well as for Pakistan, should be something that India can see the wisdom of and buy into in the interest of regional stability generally. There are considerable shared, but poorly-exploited interests in play as well, mutual benefits that lie on the table untouched. A different broom is not going to re-write history but may at least clear the decks of some ancient luggage.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 21st, 2014.
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"A different broom is not going to re-write history but may at least clear the decks of some ancient luggage." Ancient "luggage" is the last thing you want to get rid off. It is the ancient "baggage" you ought to be thinking of. In any case, what is writ cannot be unwritten. History cannot and should not be rewritten in any case.
Bottomline: Modi will not be forced by USA or any other nation. He has seen adversity in his life and is not cowed by it. He will tell USA that if it doesn't want advice on its own policies then it should stop giving it to India.
None of what Gen Raheel Sharif claims under operation Zarb-e-Azb is verifiable with media not allowed anywhere near FATA, nor are the claims of having killed X number of militants in the absence of proof or identity. Military has made many claims about targeting militants across the board for years, proved false under burden of proof. More than us speculating, it is the Afghans who who will know whether there has been a change of heart seen through the militants being targeted. Actions not verifiable through diverse and multiple sources is generally classified as propaganda. It is the duty of the Pakistani media to play a responsible role in putting all the claims made to test, without fear or favour.
Wisdom lies in converting the Line of Control into International Border. But this step requires courage,foresight and erudition on part of the leadership of India and Pakistan.
" What is more likely is that the US will continue to provide military assistance given the evidence coming out of Operation Zarb-e-Azb — 1,200 militants dead and as many as 200 of their facilities destroyed." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.why does a proud nation like Pakistan seek ' military assistance' or for that matter any assistance? 2. You call ISPR handouts as evidence?