DG ISI’s
visit: Perceptions & realities
Mohammad Jamil
Since 2nd May incident of violating Pakistan’s sovereignty by US Navy
Seals at Abbottabad Compound and some subsequent events, Pak-US ties had come
to the lowest ebb. However, Pakistan’s strategic decision to open Ground Lines
of Communications led to DG ISI’s visit to Washington, which eventually
resulted in significant thaw in Pak-US relations. The visit frustrated the
detractors of Pakistan who with their gimmicks and wicked schemes wanted to
create a negative impact about the outcome of the visit. Some media analysts
(both domestic and abroad) negatively speculated regarding the outcome of the
visit that it would hardly produce any good results for Pakistan. Such media
speculations had created misperceptions among the masses. Some domestic media
men, analysts and commentriat had presaged that the visit was likely to result
into a stalemate, or the visit would end up with conceding all US demands.
At least one American newspaper had reported that a deal has been
struck with US/CIA for undertaking a Joint Operation codenamed “Tight Screw” in
which American boots on grounds would be allowed. There were concocted stories
and rumors that Pakistani demand on the core issue of drone attacks in FATA has
been rejected by US counterpart and that Pakistan has not been able to convince
US authorities to end drone bombings, or transfer drone technology to Pakistan
or share target intelligence with Pakistan for engaging through PAF assets.
Some analysts went on to describe ongoing targeted action in North Waziristan
by giving a spin that Pakistan would launch a major operation under US duress.
As all speculations came from international or American media, there was a need
to correct perceptions on DG ISI’s visit to Washington, counter the
disinformation and dispel the rumors. But in the absence of any comment from
the ISPR or military spokesman, it was not possible to counter the propaganda
against Pakistan.
Now there is news in the local press quoting military sources that
there is going to be no operation in North Waziristan (NW) against Haqqani
Network, and speculations about Joint Operation by Pakistani and US led NATO
forces are totally incorrect. The spokesman has categorically stated that there
is no deal between Pakistan and US to undertake operation codenamed “Tight
Screw” against Haqqani Network in North Waziristan, and stated that no foreign
boots on ground would be accepted by Pakistan to operate inside Pakistan. It
has now transpired that DG ISI during his visit to Washington maintained that
Pakistan has offered numerous sacrifices in fighting the war on terrorism and
those sacrifices must be acknowledged. He also demanded that drone attacks in
FATA should be stopped or drone technology be handed over to Pakistan, as drone
attacks have proved counter-productive stirring anti-US feelings in
FATA/Pakistan. As regards allegations that Pakistan supports Haqqani Network
for their operations inside Afghanistan, these have been rejected and Pakistan
has always denied using Haqqanis against US-led NATO forces in Afghanistan.
Although Pakistan has been trying to stem the movements of the militants, yet
it should give its message loud and clear that it would not allow anybody to
use its soil against Afghanistan or any other country for that matter.
Afghanistan, on its part, should also ensure that they do not allow any
militant organization to cross the border and attack Pakistani citizens and
security personnel. There was incontrovertible evidence that Afghanistan is
recruiting Pakistanis from Chitral and other areas in its vicinity for
induction in Afghan army. They should stop recruiting Pakistanis from Chitral
for Afghan army, and Afghan government should ensure that TTP elements in
Afghanistan stop launching attacks inside Pakistan.
Interior minister Rehman Malik has recently revealed that fugitive
Swati thug Fazlullah is being backed by some Afghan government elements. His
alien props were indeed more than evident as he surfaced abruptly in Swat,
after years-long mysterious sojourn in Afghanistan, to challenge the state
writ. The worldly-wise knew that he was a proxy of alien powers, but official
hierarchy in Pakistan had kept quiet then and had not spoken out the homely
truths about this operative wearing the deceptive cloak of a cleric. In the
run-up to the invasion of Afghanistan by the US-led invaders, a master-dupe
Sufi Mohammad, the father-in-law of this chairlift operator, seduced some ten
thousands of wretched Swati young greenhorns to fight on the side of the Afghan
Taliban. Sufi put Fazlullah in command of this literally gun-fodder. And the
two together led (rather misled) those unsuspecting Swati youths into
Afghanistan. Nonetheless, the moment the US-led invasion of Afghanistan ensued,
Sufi abandoned Swato youths and fled back to Pakistan, where he begged the
Pakistani authorities to take him into protective custody, fearing being
lynched by the kith and kin of the innocent Swati youths, whom he had betrayed
and left behind to be killed or to end up in the private jails of Afghan
warlords.
Hence, instead of beating about the bush, the Pakistani establishment
must ask for Fazlullah’s repatriation, and the handing over of hundreds of his
brigands holed up along with him in the Afghan safe havens. They all are
fugitives, who have not only committed sedition against the state but also the
crimes of murders, rapes, and gross human rights violations against our people.
No leniency can be shown to them all. On the other hand, the US and Afghanistan
have to realize that since joining the war on terror Pakistan has suffered
immensely in human life and treasury. In fact, Afghan war that started after
the Soviet army invaded Afghanistan, Pakistan, the US and the West had joined
hands, and the jihadis from all over the world were inspired through
international media and facilitated to come and join jihad. It was in this
backdrop that Commander James Mattis of the Central Command of the US in a
Congressional hearing convened by the Senate Armed Services Committee last year
had admitted: “Part of the reason these groups exist is that together with
Pakistan we helped create some of them”. This vindicates Pakistan’s position.
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