Pakistan Ledger| Intellibriefs | Defense Analysis| پا کستان لیجر| پاکستاني کھاتا | -ميرا پيغام پيارے ھموطنوں کے نام.صرف ھبلوطن پاکستانی آنکھوں کے ليے— یا رب دل مسلم کو وہ زندا تمنا دے جو قلب کو گرما دے جو روح کو تڑپا دے

LAHORE: US secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton’s three-day visit to Pakistan looked more like a high-profile campaign to remove uncertainties and ambiguities about US motives and objectives in the region. She also opened US purse to cough out a little more money against losses of billions of dollars that people of Pakistan have been accruing in the larger war against terror in the tribal badlands and its impact on economy in the form of bomb blasts countrywide. Americans faced only one 9/11 while people of Pakistan have perpetually been living in 9/11 maelstrom. Thirdly, Ms Hillary repeated the rhetoric that terrorism is no good either for Pakistan, the US or any other country. 

But did she try to understand why the US is stuck in Afghanistan and why Pakistan is where it had been during the last eight years after 9/11/2001? Why the terror war instead of moving forward and accomplishing the mission is getting two steps backward against every single step forward? 

Whatever NATO forces are engaged in to stabilize Afghanistan or prop up a democratic façade, Pakistan’s establishment feels the rectangular strip of the country has been sandwiched between the rock and a hard place. On the Eastern border of Pakistan it is very difficult for India to become a whole-hearted friend of Pakistan as long as the latter keeps humming support for the liberation of occupied Kashmir. Sharing more than a thousand-mile long border with India including a divided desert and marshy lands, Pakistan’s intelligence apparatus can’t have sweet dreams because of the unresolved dispute over Kashmir. But ever since the installation of pro-Indian government in Kabul, the strategic planners of Pakistan have been living through a nightmare. India has been stabbing Pakistan in the back (read Balochistan) through its protégé in Afghanistan. Of course, India can’t be allowed to take a firm hold in Pakistan’s backyard. As such, Pakistan has been facing this paradoxical situation. All this has happened because of the US presence in Afghanistan. Thank you, dear Hillary! 

Historically, governments in Kabul had been pro-Soviet during bipolar cold-war era with almost no Indian role. After Soviet Union’s breakup and liberation of Central Asian States, Pakistan hoped to obtain what it called ‘strategic depth’ on its Western borders against a never-compromising foe on the other side. There were dreams of a Muslim bloc emerging in Central Asia. But the hopes were catapulted when the US brutishly carpet-bombed Afghanistan after 9/11, removed Taliban government and planted an anti-Pakistan regime in Kabul in 2003. That has been Pakistan’s persistent rub. The US government remained impervious to the sensitivities and irritants in the backdrop of war against terror being fought separately by the NATO/US forces in Afghanistan and armed forces of Pakistan in its own lands. 

Apparently, their objective is the same – elimination of terrorist outfits posing threat to the world but there has been confusion over different brands of militants who are anti-Afghanistan government, anti-India, anti-US and anti-Russia. They are spread over the fringes of craggy and porous borders between Afghanistan and Pakistan and moving back and forth. Over a fluid security situation they evolved a confluence of designs and purposes. True that the monster was created by Pakistan’s establishment with the US backing during anti-Soviet era, many of the elements turned against its creator, Pakistan, for her siding with the US because of which people of Pakistan have been facing its brunt. 

This multi-faced creature has been sending mixed signals to Pakistan establishment which finally made up its mind to break its skull in Waziristan after an attack on GHQ, the nerve centre of Army command. 

Now that Pakistan’s establishment is ready to go in for the whole hog, the US seems to be out of sync. Not that it lacks impetus and determination but it has been failing in its perception and estimation of ground realities vis-à-vis Pakistan’s long-term strategic and security imperatives which the US agencies and think-tanks have never fully focused on. What Pakistan requires in the least is a neutral Kabul government which does not sing to Indian harp. 

The sermons which Ms Clinton delivered during current visit to Pakistan apart from soothing itches on US aid hardly addressed the real and deep concern of Pakistan’s establishment. 

The clock is ticking fast as Pakistani forces are fully out to destroy the hornet’s nest. Apart from providing aid, the US is not helping in shaping the region pre-dominantly pro-Pakistan so that it continues its blitzkrieg on terrorists without thinking of dangers lurking to its polity. The US will have to focus on that if Pakistan zeroes in on Taliban as it has. The vital question is what will happen if in the end Pakistan finds itself squeezed between India and its puppet government stabilized in Kabul. Will Pakistan have space to breathe? This is the grey area of Pakistan-US relationship and it has remained tainted. Drone attacks controversy also arose because of this factor. 

Hillary’s charm offensive, therefore, remained merely cosmetic and skin deep. The trust deficit continues to exist until the US brings Pakistan out of its straightjacket position. 

Addressing this very genuine concern of Pakistan is, in fact, the only recipe for US success in Afghanistan. It will, therefore, have to talk to what’s called friendly Taliban and allow them a say to run Afghanistan affairs on even keel. If not, the region is likely to remain in the quagmire of militancy and Pakistan, too, will continue to suffer despite many more Kerry-Lugar Bills. Thank you, Ms Hillary! But our nightmare continues. 03 Nov, 2009 MAK Lodhi. MAK lodhi is a senior journalist who writes for English News Papers. He also contributes his articles to Opinion Maker