The US has, in the recent weeks, asked Islamabad to enhance its military cooperation by sending its ground troops in Afghanistan, hand over more air bases, and stop the entry of Jehadi activists into Afghanistan.
The US has been trying to convince Pakistan through foreign dignitaries visiting Islamabad in the last few weeks to pledge its ground troops as the US strategy in Afghanistan has so far failed to deliver the desired results.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Turkish President, Centcom Chief Tommy Franks, and US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, discussed the issue with President Musharraf in detail but could not bring the General on board on this issue since the public pressure on the military government is already high for siding with the US. President Bush will make another attempt to persuade Musharraf to join the coalition “in a more meaningful manner,” knowledgeable diplomatic sources said.
Pakistan, however, is reluctant to enhance the level of its current cooperation with the United States particularly when Islamabad is yet to receive a firm commitment of substantial military and economic assistance from the US, although it is facing twin dangers of economic recession and rising military threat on its eastern border with India.
The co-operation if everything goes on well by 10th will be enhanced. The ground troops may go in. |
