Pak-US relationship: Hide and seek

EDITORIAL:DAILY TIMES


The Pak-US relationship is at an all-time low, with the Haqqani network being the reason behind this latest disruption of relations. The US seems to have had enough of Pakistan’s alleged ‘ties’ to the militant organisation and Pakistan remains unwavering in denying this accusation at any cost. Prominent officials and military authorities are making the rounds and talks are taking place in an attempt to defuse tensions. However, the situation looks bleak. US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen has not only accused Pakistan’s ISI of supporting the Haqqani network — in the wake of the attack on the US embassy in Kabul — he has now said that even he, a person who had been a ‘friend’ of Pakistan, has been brought to this breakdown point. In this tense imbroglio, the latest statement to come from the militants is quite interesting. The Taliban have claimed that the Haqqani network is being supported — in fact “owned” — by them and not by Pakistan. Such a statement coming on the heels of the accusations that are flying against Pakistan makes this a convenient claim of ownership. The Afghan Taliban have also claimed that none of their bases or fighters are within Pakistan. Instead, they say, they have their own country and they conduct operations inside and outside the country according to their own initiatives. If such a statement by the Taliban is to be believed then it must be asked: who controls the group that claims it ‘owns’ the Haqqani network? Where exactly are these Taliban fighters operating from? Pertinent questions when one considers that the Pakistani establishment has always distinguished the Afghan Taliban as the ‘good Taliban’.

The Americans have, apparently, reached their threshold. This latest statement by the Taliban will be considered as little more than propaganda that serves to back Pakistan’s denials. Too many instances have pushed the US towards the edge: the US sharing intelligence on militant whereabouts in North Waziristan only to receive news that they had run off to Kurram Agency, Osama bin Laden’s peaceful abode in Abbottabad, the deadly siege of the US embassy in Kabul only two weeks ago and other such instances that have cost US soldiers’ lives in Afghanistan. Strong statements about Pakistan’s relations with the Haqqani network are now being made because, obviously, the Americans have our tactics and double-faced strategies figured out. Despite ongoing efforts to ease the confrontation between the US and Pakistan, there is still smoke. The US Congress has moved a resolution to completely cut off aid to Pakistan in the light of the strong accusations against us. The American public is increasingly demanding a stoppage of aid to a country that encourages militants to attack US interests. Without American dollars supporting our economy, we will be in for a very tough time ahead.

The real question remains: what will we do now? Our ‘strategic depth’ policy looks ready to backfire unless we retreat from this position. It is obvious that, in the endgame in Afghanistan, no one really wants to see al Qaeda at the negotiation table, least of all the Americans. If the Afghan Taliban really is supporting the Haqqanis, then it is ardently supporting al Qaeda’s ideology. The Haqqani network, with its violence-prone outlook towards the Americans and its unacceptable links with al Qaeda is not going to be allowed near the negotiation table. The losses incurred by Mullah Omar after 2001 may have rendered him slightly more ready to distance himself from al Qaeda and thus be more acceptable to the Americans once 2014 comes round. However, the Haqqani network will never be allowed to have a place in the future set-up of Afghanistan. Pakistan would do well to think about that.