US Foreign Policy

This is in response to Bruce Riedel’s opinion article ‘Is Al Qaeda on the ropes?’ (KT/Sept 21). What Mr. Riedel has addressed are the achievements attained in the US—led war on terror.
A weakened Al Qaeda setup can never be completely written off. The battle of arms has gotten too far along and could produce no better results than what has been achieved. Extending its use or even intensifying it will only fuel the resurgence process.
It is now time to evaluate the root-cause of the entire mayhem and address it diligently. The network has expanded itself and strengthened to work as independent chapters elsewhere within and outside the region. The western occupying forces in Afghanistan should demobilise as a result and leave the indigenous problems of the Taleban to the current Afghan government to tackle. Secondly, and most importantly, a review of the US foreign policy, especially in the case of the Middle East has to be carried out and readdressed.
It is the result of all such policies and actions that has led the entire world into a state of chaos and turmoil. These policies need to be dedicated to confidence building and gaining trust among those factions that are viewing the US and its allies as a cause of their grievances and miseries. Additionally, they should be directed towards enabling a change in the mindset and ideology.
Also, Pakistan should be acknowledged for its due share in terms of losses and achievements in the war-on-terror. Being forcefully dragged into a state of perpetual war in its backyard and parsimoniously aiding in a threatening fashion to recompense for its participation as a ‘key ally’ is not rewarding enough.
Moreover, the entire country has plunged into a socio-economic disaster primarily because of being sucked into the war. Words like ‘incompetent’ and ‘reliable’ just fade away the efforts of hundreds that have been put in to achieve what is there today.

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This blog featured in KT letters to the editors, 23rd Sept, 2011

Security Breach!!!

FBI’s most wanted terrorist was killed in a covert raid by the US forces on Pakistan soil with no information or assistance from the Pakistani Military or Intelligence. Though the US vehemently claims that it had received no backing from the Pakistani authorities to conduct its raid there lacks credible evidence in support of it. The mere merchants of governance in the already fluttering regime of Pakistan have seconded their claim possibly to avoid any sort of backlash from the militants, which does seem as imminent as ever, and to void any connection in aiding Osama’s hiding or even knowing his whereabouts.

It is rather difficult to fathom how any operation on a foreign soil could have been conducted without any or little involvement of its authorities, especially in the mysterious region of Pakhtunkhuwa whose thick long mountainous belt has eluded everyone. Even the widely controversial and criticized Drone Attacks over the North Waziristan area have been possible only with the intel and support of Pakistan Military. It has been a long established fact that the US has always been weary and skeptical of the Pakistani Intelligence and its alliances with the Afghan Taleban especially after the 1998 incident when US intended to bomb and kill Osama and his elites in one the Al Qaeda Training camps in Afghanistan and miserably failed after, supposedly, being tipped off by Pakistani authorities as they had been notified of the cruise missiles flying over their airspace. Though, again, there has been lack of material evidence supporting this notion.

If one reasons it out, there is less to blame the Pakistani intelligence for its dual personality. The ingrained bond with the Afghan Taleban was seeded by the CIA during the Soviet Invasion. However, over the years it has strengthened primarily to secure much of Pakistan’s own sovereignty at home and importantly also to maintain a higher degree of influence in Afghanistan than from India. However, the duality had its price. Allying with the US in the war on terror and allowing its soil to be used against the Afghan Taleban shredded its sovereignty into pieces and shifted the balance of influence over to India.

The US has on countless times threatened, and many a times even harmed, Pakistan’s sovereignty. However, with this secretive raid in Abbottabad has the US breached Pakistan’s security? It has done so a million times, does this one make it any especial? It does only if the claimants are true. A cross border raid using stealth technology at a town not far from the capital is a dithering sight for Pakistan security and its intelligence. It is a direct assault and shame on the Pakistan Military and Intelligence whom we savior for our protection. Furthermore it is an embarrassment to our leaders who have gone so much into the lucrative US aid that they have foregone their country’s sovereignty and security for its sake.

The US Occupation and the Afghan Wealth

Prologue:

The East India Company, initiated as a trading company to pursue trading with the East Indies but ended up trading primarily with Indian sub-continent and China. It started its trading business in early 1600 and had sought after trading all the valuable natural resources of these lands from silk, cotton, indigo, dye, saltpetre, tee and even opium to the European lands up until 1757 when the Company Rule in India began. The company itself was dissolved in 1874 owing to the Indian Rebellion and the British Raj took over.

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"The United States has recently discovered untapped natural mineral deposits worth nearly $1 trillion", says a report by New York Times. The reserves are so vast that it could "fundamentally alter the Afghan economy and the war itself". So much so an internal Pentagon memo suggests that the Central Asian country could become the “Saudi Arabia of lithium,” a precious raw material used in the making of batteries for laptops and mobile phones.

The Russians were aware of this fact and they, along with some Afghan Geologist, during the 1960's had put in great effort to discover these natural resources. Alas, this finally puts in place the real motive of USSR's Afghan-War in 1979. They might have intended to forcefully occupy the poor and barren land to fill their monetary aims. However, a more resilient and rugged Afghan rebels had a fighting reply to their incursion.

Of course, one cannot omit the vast and generous clandestine support of the United States in driving the Soviets out of Afghan. They had poured in numerous weaponry along with financial aids to counter the Russian onslaught. And they had with them the 'ever-abiding' and truly loyal ally, Pakistan.

One ponders the extreme generosity exhibited by the Americans and Pakistanis towards an utterly poor, backwards and extreme stubborn nation like Afghanistan. What vested interest could they possibly have in rescuing them from the Soviets. Was it out of compassion and humanitarian ethics to save an oppressed nation at the hands of Soviets. Or was it out rivalry against the number 2 World Power. Or probably was it because the US had other, and better, plans for a war torn country.

After successfully ridding the Soviets out of Afghanistan, the US embarked on a similar yet more conspiring mission in the Central Asian country. Under the banner of 'War-on-Terror', the United States along with support from NATO barged into Afghanistan and upset the balance of power, overthrowing their only opponent - Talibans. The Taliban were the key in countering the Russian invasion and had gradually gained power as the dominant force in Afghanistan since the exit of the Russian forces. During their seven year rule in Afghanistan, they had enforced a 'Perfect' Shariah system. Though, many anti-Muslim critics have condemned their rule and bolstered enormous accusations against some of their policies, however, the facts were far from the truth.  

The US had sought the opportunity and yielded in. Of course, yet again, they could not have been successful in their campaign without the humming support of their closest and utterly disliked ally, Pakistan. The  current US occupation in Afghanistan is showing reminiscence of the colonization of the sub-continent by the East India Company.

Though, undeniably, the driving motive for the staunch US occupation in Afghanistan could be to evade the terror threat posed by Al-Qaeda. However, one cannot negate the fact that exploiting the 'Afghan Riches' would not have been possible with the Taliban sitting on top of them. They needed pro-US government and policies that would favor their stakes in the indigenous wealth of that country.

It has been nine years since the US military occupation started its devious efforts under the covert war, they have met more remorse than success. And since now it has become more evident that the wealthy Afghan soil is potent enough to emerge as one of the most influential mining centers of the world, the war will see a more difficult route ahead. Out-numbered and out-classed by a high tech  and sophisticated weaponry, the Afghans have always thought of the US occupation as an illegle incursion into their land but now it becomes a matter of personal prestige, pride and honor to secure the blessed Gift from God onto their land.

Swat Operation & The Lahore Blast

Three weeks into the conflict and the devastating aftermath of the Swat Operations are on the forefront. The Lahore blast can easily be documented as a Prime Beginning into the retaliation by the Talibans.
Pakistan government had marshaled 15,000 troops into the swat valley to eliminate and annihilate the “existential threat” consuming the US war in Afghanistan.

Apparently, and for all reasons logically perceived, Pakistan had never been a part of the ongoing War on Terror, though there had been claim of Pakistan being a close ally of the US on the war, its actual participation had yet to be compromised. The Bush administration had tried its utmost tactics to indulge Pakistan with itself, yet their threatening attitude brought them no gain. On the contrary, the recent Obama administration, realizing the fact that Pakistan’s involvement is the certain key to its triumph in Afghanistan, sought to boisterously aid Pakistan and buys them into the bargain.

The onslaught by the Pakistan army in the Swat Valley is a prime war tactic profoundly utilized by large armies battling out insurgencies. The fleeing Afghan Talibans sought refuge in the North Frontier Province of Pakistan in the homes of their Pakhtun brothers who would help and aid them in their resurgence. The clan-brotherhood of the Pakhtuns is one of a kind in the world. Thus these lands were converted into rendezvous points and it was through these lands that the recent uprising of Taliban began.

The US having little access to these lands had no other option but to pile up pressure on the Pakistan government and force them into launching an assault

The end to the Swat Operation is as uncertain as its success or failure. Yet, the repercussions have started its toll. Pakistan risks greater backlash and further destabilization in the country. The Pakistan army may make short-term gains, but it risks increase terror-like attacks on more stable areas of eastern Pakistan. The very indiscriminate nature of military response may well be storing up resentment elsewhere and ability of Taliban-like-groups to quickly inflate in other areas as they are squeezed in Swat is of particular concern.

The Taliban and its allies will resort to increase terrorist attacks elsewhere in Pakistan and then there will be two questions left with Pakistan. One is whether the army and police can hold the territories it has conquered, and secondly – more questionably, will they go on to reconquer other areas on the Afghan Frontier (rendezvous points) as the US would like.

The only, materialistically viable solution for a long-term stability in Pakistan is dependant on the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan and not merely reinforcing Pakistan army and police and pumping in aid to undercut insurgency. It is the US presence in Afghanistan that is feeding the insurgency in Pakistan and eventually in Afghanistan.

Omar's Ordeal

The latest developments to Omar Ahmed Khadr’s case have left the globe spinning in a sympathetic and emotional distress, either in compassion or in anguish. The video tapes narrate his unfortunate tale of disgust, cry and aggravation. His six years as an inmate at the United States prison of Guantanamo Bay and their uniquely derived method of interrogation has seen him transformed into anything but a villain in this story.

His tragic story does force me to reserve a soft corner for him, not only because he’s a Muslim and also a Pakistani, but when I am unable to differentiate his accused crime of killing Sergeant Speer with the killings of innocent civilians by the US air strikes in Nuristan province of Afghanistan or in Swat (Pakistan) under the banner of War-against-Terror. How can one label them as ‘accidents’ and accuse a 15 year old boy of throwing a grenade at an armed officer fully equipped with all his battle gears and guns ready to engage the enemy. How is Omar any indifferent from David Hicks (Aussie Taleban) or John Walker Lindh (American Taleban), who have now even completed their sentences even though being caught red-handed, with guns, fighting against the coalition forces with the Taleban.

As his story surfaces further and unveils the many hidden secrets to the war-on-terror, it also serves as an appeal to the International Community and everyone around the globe that when they hear his case, do think of him as a human, think of him as your 22 year old kid or sibling who has spent the last 6 lonesome years in a gruesome prison when you were enjoying the comforts of life. It also serves as an indefinite example that events like these are an avalanche in the making that are destroying the youth of today and transforming them into the Talebans of tomorrow.