Few countries have done as much for Washington in war against terrorism as Pakistan but the Bush administration has been slow to deliver on its promises.
In an analysis the New York Times points out that the Pakistani government has demonstrated how firmly it is in the camp of cooperation, most lately in allowing the FBI and CIA to conduct a raid with Pakistani police here last week that rounded up more than 30 men with suspected links to Al Qaeda.
The raid also demonstrated how valuable that cooperation can be: one of those apprehended, Abu Zubaydah, is suspected of being a top lieutenant of Osama bin Laden.
Noting that the Bush administration has recognized the contributions of Gen Musharraf, inviting him to Washington and commending his courage, however, the paper said it has been slow to deliver on promises of police assistance, and has not removed duties and quotas on Pakistani textiles, a move that would give a vital lift to the economy of this impoverished country.
"Without some tangible benefits like those, there is a question of how long the Musharraf government can continue to mobilize public opinion behind its anti-terrorism policies," the paper said.
Washington has also at times taken actions that seem to undercut Gen Musharraf. Ten days ago, for example, it ordered all dependents of embassy employees to leave the country, out of concerns about security. "This is certainly not a good sign," the interior minister, Moinuddin Haider told the paper.
"If everybody starts packing up and going home, it doesn't make a very good impression," he added. "We have to show some courage."
That Gen Musharraf has survived this close alliance is a lesson that Washington hopes other leaders can learn, particularly President Megawati in Indonesia.
Most recently, there has been a noticeable absence of protest in Pakistan over the role of agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the raid. No major newspapers have editorialized against it, and Gen Musharraf's mainstream political opponents have not criticized it.
The paper said that there is certainly a radical element opposed to Gen Musharraf's policies. It is loud and violent and it has allies among Pakistan's military and intelligence corps. But for the moment the key military officers have stayed in line, and the Islamic political parties and radical leaders have failed to turn out anything but paltry crowds for anti-Musharraf or anti-American rallies.
This is not to deny the existence of a deep current of anti- Americanism in this Muslim country of 140 million. The hostile sentiment arises not only because of America's policy in Israel, but much closer to home because of American policies in the region.
After the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, the United States arrived in force, training, arming and equipping guerrilla groups, including the Mujahideen. When that war was over, the United States basically abandoned the region, the paper said.
"Pakistan was left with drugs and Kalashnikov," a western diplomat told the paper. "Pakistan felt betrayed."
The Times said: "In now siding with the United States, Gen Musharraf and his advisers have not erased this resentment, but in the main, Pakistanis appear to put national interest over past grudges. Religious extremism and sectarian violence have rent this nation.
"We have taken a very strong stand, because we believe that to have security in Pakistan we cannot have extremism here," said Haider, the interior minister.
It is not a risk-free policy, as Haider knows personally. His older brother was assassinated in Karachi last December. That attack was widely seen here as a retaliation against the government's policy of siding with the United States and cracking down on extremist groups in Pakistan. But the government vows to carry on. "Our resolve to continue this policy remains firm and strong, because it is good for Pakistan," Haider told the paper. Still, he would like to see a little more cooperation from the United States.
The Musharraf government has given Washington a list of what it needs for its war against terrorists, starting with simple things like computers and printers for the provincial police, who are in the front line, the paper said.
Dawn today.....
From Idea last week....and finally NYTImes reading 'Ideas' changed their line, it does make an impact I think...gg
When 'Idea' reports it is more authentic on Pakistan US co-operation than NYT, Boston Globe and Washington Post put together. Please check our recond since inception. ggg
That is on lighter side but a fact, I have on these pages exposed the glaring lies that are sold to the US public so as to malign the image of my nation with best of efforts. This is happening day in and day out.
Lahore is my place of business plus every newspaper is carrying the story today, I just talked to SP Lahore he tells me his entire command was placed under US elite forces who led the attacks and flew in from one of the bases within Pakistan with the goggles and paraphernalia that goes with it. Faisalabad and Lahore are third and second largest towns in Pakistan.
By the way when was the last time US had been given this free hand to operate in any of the Islamic countries ( Saudis are not ready to surrender their prisoners from Al Khober up until now-Egypt refuses to acknowledge the crazy pilot who ran the plane in the sea) other than Latin America like Columbia or Panama or Japan under occupation never a sovereign nation has allowed this to happen, we do this because we as a nation want to get rid of this menace, naturally our enemies who have greatest of the sway over US media cannot swallow all this, their whole dream that we will implode under 'Talebenisation' has become a nightmare as Pakistan comes off dark ages since 9/11 and have become a respected member of global community, we played a role in it, we take greatest of pride. The nation is behind it, the coup never happened, the party has just begun, where others were looking for US to make hot pursuits in and around Parachinar or Qilla Urrah vali the escape routes of these Al Qaeda, US- Pakistan went for the jugular in the heartland and within the hinterland of Punjab a dagger in the heart of these extremists. Attacking Lahore/Faisalabad havens with US commandoes is like attacking London Derry ammunition dumps of IRA. The guy who actually suspected to kill Daniel hails from Toba Tek Singh a town 50 miles from Faisalabad, by denying them sanctuaries and safe havens US has now an upper hand... deny them place to convene and put them on run that is right now the biggest business concern of US to do business and to protect the intellectual overstretch of US you need the stick and need to shove it up too. President Bush butters it right and inserts it enough to give them the right run. Resolve and chase makes the difference between avoiding future crisis and having one, that is where a hard line President in this crisis was required someone who may not go for appeasement and encouragement of terror. |
