It’s time the US woke up to Pakistan’s games 10 Jul 18
Every time there is a visit to Pak by a senior US representative, the remarks made are the same. Pak must do more for curbing its support to terror groups. It must bring the Taliban onto the negotiating table. It must complete the trial into the Mumbai attacks and prosecute terror group leaders. These remarks have been flowing for years but to no avail. Pak listens, meets, discusses and does nothing. Trump has cut all forms of aid to Pak, passed multiple strictures, but everything remains as it was.
Attacks in Afghanistan continue, so does infiltrating terrorists into Kashmir. UN designated terrorists roam free, collect funds, participate in elections, remain protected by the state, while leaders of the Taliban continue to enjoy state hospitality. The admission by Sartaj Aziz in an open forum in the US that Pak holds influence over the Taliban and Haqqani network has still not resulted in increased US pressures. Pak requests the US to act against the TTP, which it does by Drone strikes, but gets nothing in response.
It continues to enhance its nuclear arsenal, on which the west has always expressed concern, but again the US remains silent. Its links with North Korea in developing nuclear weapons are well established. While North Korea has come under sanctions, Pak remains untouched. It was with immense pressure that Pak was finally placed on the ‘Grey List’ by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Nothing much may emerge from the Grey List as China would ensure that it is bailed out in a few months. Pak showed its arrogance to the world by lifting the ban on a known terror group, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, and its leader, Maulana Ahmed Ludhianvi a few hours before FATF was to meet. A few days before the meeting, global terrorist Hafiz Saeed launched his election campaign. Yet this was ignored by the US and FATF.
Is US pressure lacking because of Chinese support to the country or because it still believes and hopes Pak would act in Afghanistan? The truth possibly remains within.
The US is aware that Pak has a dubious record of supporting terror groups. It has ignored all world rulings on acting against them. While it keeps terrorists, who target Afghanistan hidden, prevents them from openly displaying their presence before the international community, it brazenly allows anti-India terror groups to move freely. It has been regularly reported by Afghanistan that terror attacks in the country have been planned in Pak. The presence of serving Pak army personnel alongside the Taliban in Afghanistan is well established.
Pak does so not because it fears the powers of the US but because it has, as a policy, taken advantage of US dependence on Pak soil for its operations in Afghanistan. It is aware that the US would never impose sanctions but would only threaten, neither bite nor hit Pak for its actions. It would do as it has been doing over the years, expect Pak to act, send in its senior civil and military advisers, desiring Pak’s support, but refuse to impose any conditions. The comments to multiple US senate committees by senior members of the government has always been, ‘we expect Pak to do more, we are engaging with it’.
At present due to US’s poor relations with Russia, support from countries surrounding Afghanistan cannot be taken. This has benefitted Pak. US-Iran relations moving downhill has again blocked any other avenue for the US to engage hostile forces in Afghanistan. Iran as an enemy of the US would now join Pak in supporting the Taliban.
Support from China would ensure that Pak is never chastised internationally, protected from sanctions and free to continue supporting terror as a matter of state policy. China blocking the designation of Azar Masood as a global terrorist and blocking Indian entry into the NSG, unless Pak is also included, are clear examples. The US has accused Iran of supporting terror groups in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, but never accused Pak of doing the same in Afghanistan and India. Thus, clearly the US is biased towards Iran for ulterior motives.
There have been multiple reports of the US being concerned about Pak’s nuclear assets falling into hands of terrorist groups. The US is also said to have conducted war games on how to secure these assets before they fall into terrorist group hands. With such groups now fighting elections and the manner in which the internal situation in Pak is unfolding, they would soon become a part of the government. If they do, then surely, the chances of nuclear weapons falling into the hands of terrorist groups is very likely.
It has been almost two decades since the US invaded Afghanistan but has been unable to succeed solely because Pak has refused to act against terror groups operating from its soil. Till Trump came to power, the US provided aid to Pak, which was channelled to support those very groups which targeted Afghanis and US personnel in the country.
Pak’s excuse has always been that it has suffered maximum casualties in battling terror, but those it is fighting are its own nationals whom it has alienated. They are not Afghanis nor Indians. The TTP (Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan) rose post the attack on the Lal Masjid, while the Baluchi nationalists have been compelled to take up arms due to atrocities.
This does not justify it stopping terrorist groups who operate in other neighbouring countries. Unless US pressure increases manifold, Pak comes under sanctions, its military hierarchy comes under US travel ban, Pak would continue as hither to fore. It would promise, listen to US leaders who visit, but do nothing. It would continue taking the US for a ride. It is time the US wakes upto realities and decides to enhance pressure.
About the Author
Maj Gen Harsha Kakkar
Retired Major General Indian Army