Fatima Talib

Pakistani government’s extreme efforts regarding war on terrorism with special focus on Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants’ infiltration across the western borders have not ever been commended and its chief mentors in Washington are urging Pakistan to do more. It is obvious that US Vice President, Dick Cheney, was not here to pat the back of Pakistani government rather he arrived with a bag full of concealed threats. Pakistan was warned in the name of upcoming Democratic Congress that it might loose hands on the ‘aid and the arms’ being received in Islamabad from the US government, unless it becomes more vigilant in tracking out and hunting down the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. Subsequently Pakistani government announced that Pakistani security forces have got their hands on Mullah Obaidullah Akhund, Deputy to the elusive Taliban Chief, Mullah Muhammad Omer from Quetta. A federal government officer reported his arrest on the condition of anonymity. The official told that Mullah Obaidullah was arrested on Monday 26, February 2007.  At that time Dick Cheney was on his surprise visit to Pakistan and Afghanistan but this news was disclosed in media on Friday March 2, 2007, when Cheney was off to his country. The Taliban leader carries $ 1 million bounty on his head and is on top of the most wanted men’s list in America. He was the most senior Taliban figure captured since the ouster of the puritanical militia from power in November 2001.1
Dick Cheney’s visit to Pakistan vis-à-vis the arrest of Mullah Obaidullah is part of the old practice of arrest of militants during or ahead of a high profile visit.2 Though Pakistan Government claims that arrest of Obaidullah has nothing to do with the Vice President’s visit and the action that led to his arrest was planned in advance, based on intelligence. But this attempt turned the desperation and fright of US government regarding Taliban’s ‘spring offensive’ towards a mere relaxation. But still US thinks that Pakistan has failed ‘to do more’ and has not done ‘enough’ to curb the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.

‘Spring Offensive’ Threat: The Afghan Front

On the other hand another senior Taliban commander Mullah Dadullah, in an interview aired on a British TV channel 4, claimed that Osama Bin Laden is alive and in touch with leaders of Taliban.
Then again Weekly Newsweek has received a new recruiting video in which the Taliban’s most notorious commander Mullah Dadullah Akhund was addressing an audience of some 400 men who are described as trained suicide bombers. He says “Our suicide bombers are countless”, “Hundreds have already registered their names and hundreds more are on the waiting list”. Those claim, while impossible to verify, cannot be discounted either.3
Newsweek further added that in another interview that was aired on Al-Jazeera channel in the end of February, Dadullah claimed to have more than 6000 armed guerillas in underground hideouts and other staging areas, waiting the moment to strike. “Strike is imminent,” he stressed while talking to the Arabic channel. Therefore more force has been deployed in Afghanistan bringing the coalition’s total armed strength to nearly 50,000 including 15,500 Americans in NATO ranks and 11,000 others under direct US command. NATO’s chief commander in Kabul, Col. Tom Collins says his force intends to head off the militants’ assault with pre-emptive attacks against Taliban strongholds and sanctuaries in Helmand and Uruzgan province.4
The US is sending more CIA agents to Pakistan and Afghanistan to hunt down Osama Bin Laden and Aiman-al-Zawahiri. According to a private news channel of Pakistan, US authorities were quoted saying that search for Osama and Zwahiri had not been abandoned, and more CIA agents, equipped with latest tools and technology, would be sent to the mountainous border of Pakistan and Afghanistan.5 US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said that Taliban and Al-Qaeda are using Tribal Areas of Pakistan, particularly North Waziristan for regrouping.6
Taliban’s up rise and spring offensive threats have made America and Britain to protest strongly against the release of five Taliban in return for Italian journalist. It will embolden the militants and thus increase the perils for NATO and Allied forces.7
US and Britain protest is understandable as they are the main contributors to ISAF and a boosted morale of the Taliban will cause a surge.
Taliban have signaled a shift in their policy towards journalists as they have released Italian journalist in exchange for their companions. They killed his driver claiming that he was an Afghan spy. They had never abducted or killed any journalist previously.8
Yet the resonance of Jalalabad had not dimmed out when Taliban for the first time showered rockets on NATO camps in province Kapisia, South Afghanistan. In reaction American Force instigated an air strike on a village between Mohsin Khel and district Najrab in Kapisia. However all the bombs fell in desolated areas but one hit a house and claimed nine lives of the same family.
After these incidents President Hamid Karzai while condemning US air strikes and firing in Jalalabad, demanded an assurance that such incidents are not repeated in the future but Americans remained indifferent to such demands and even to the tears shed by Hamid Karzai at the time when American bombardment took lives of small children a month ago. America took evasion by calling it ‘self-defense’ and the incident of Jalalabad was portrayed in a way as Taliban had opened fire on American forces after the suicide attack. President Hamid Karzai established a team of office bearers of interior ministry to find the facts and they found through interviewing the wounded that Taliban were not the one to open fire, rather it were American forces who targeted civilians dreadfully.  The initial investigation declared Americans at fault, however due to the American hold in the region these investigations stand nowhere.
The present attempts of Taliban in south, north and eastern Afghanistan have increased the resistance to an extent that seems to be uncontrollable for American and NATO forces. The accelerated Taliban attacks proved the claims of Taliban commanders as real instead of mere hypothetical threats.
One thing is also evident from these recent suicide attacks that Taliban have reorganized themselves in the last five years and strategically divided themselves in groups, each working independently. The fact remains that the increasing resistance against US forces in Afghanistan along with weakening financial and political position of Afghan government has discontented the public, which is gradually giving a good turn to Taliban. After five years rule of the present government where allied forces and government officials have ignored the local public, a sheer disappointment is evident, which is bubbling up and this frustration can be surfaced any time.
It is not possible to contain the increasing insurgence with mere vehement force.

Rift in Pak-US Coalition

Pakistan is constantly being spoon fed by the American power and is being forced to do more or face the music otherwise. US senators pushed Bush administration to launch military strikes at alleged Al-Qaeda targets inside Pakistan though US secretary Condoliza Rice and Joint Chief of Staff Chairman General Peter Pace indicated it before that US will not go for direct military action inside Pakistan’s tribal region, because they sought no direct role in Pakistan’s Northern region where US officials had noticed a rise in Al-Qaeda activity. Later senior Pentagon officials added fuel to the fire by claiming their troops have already targeted Taliban and Al-Qaeda sites inside Pakistan and that they have an agreement that allows them to do so. Lt. General Douglas Lutte, Chief Operating Officer for the Joint Chiefs of Staff told, “We have all the authorities we need to pursue, either with (artillery) fire or on the ground, across the border.” However Pakistan refuted to all such statements and made it clear that there was no understanding with the coalition forces that allowed them to target alleged Al-Qaeda and Taliban sites inside Pakistan. “No foreign force will be allowed to launch direct air strikes inside Pakistan’s territory, the Chief Military Spokesman told Daily Dawn.9 President Parvez Musharraf in his recent interview with a private TV channel said that no one is allowed to attack Pakistan. He also added that all the US officials’ visits were for some “fact finding” and Pakistan has successfully satisfied its close ally. Contrary to that Mr Dick Cheney is reported to have delivered a tough message to Pakistan saying, “Islamabad should act to destroy Al-Qaeda and Taliban hideouts in the tribal zone or let the Americans do the job”. Senator Dianne Feinstein, the number two Democrat on the committee criticized measures so far taken by Pakistan, terming them half hearted and urged Islamabad to ‘do more’. She also indicated that the US might have launched a campaign to persuade Pakistan to take some drastic measures for uprooting the reported terrorist hideouts in tribal areas.10  Consequently Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam categorically stated in a press conference, “There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that any attempt to indulge in hot pursuits would receive a benefiting response. Every one should know that we have the capability and determination to deal with such threats and defend our borders”. 11   Director General ISPR Maj Gen Waheed Arshad has also denied any agreement between Pakistan and Allied Forces to allow them to launch direct military strikes into Pakistani Tribal Areas. He was of a positive view that Pak Army is fully able to fight and curb terror and will not let any one violate sovereignty of Pakistan.12 And Pakistani ambassador in Washington warns Bush Administration that demanded to ‘do more’ and pressure tactics for targeting Al Qaeda inside Pakistan will be disastrous for current regime in the country and thus the US war on terror will suffer more setbacks.13

Dynamics of US Policy-Shift

These demands can perhaps be another form of pressure tactics played by the American government to get the support of Pakistan to attack Iran as it did gain it long ago which led America topple down Saddam Hussain. The one million-dollar question is that what should Pakistan do if America asks it for support? However president Musharraf has condemned the attack and warned that there would be serious consequences of a US attack on Iran because this would plunge the whole region into serious sectarianism. There is a consensus among all schools of thought--- moderate or extremists, government camp or the opposition that Pakistan should not support American aggression this time. If we are asked “Are you with us or against us’? We should tell the bluntly “We will not support an attack on Iran”.14
Due to the on going pressure Pakistan is facing or might face sheer problems and it is threatened time and again that it might loose American support. Since the Democrats’ victory in the mid term elections last year, unfriendly voices in congress have been to cut aid to Pakistan and democratic lawmakers who now control both chambers of US congress, have threatened to with hold the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan unless Islamabad did more against Taliban and Al-Qaeda. Resultantly National Assembly Pakistan standing committee on defence taking a bold step and counter that threat by saying that Pakistan could also end co-operation with the Us in the war on terrorism if the Us congress passed any law or resolution imposing sanctions on Pakistan. this bold response really shun the Government and Foreign office spokesman Tasneem Aslam came up with a confusing and ambiguous statement “ Parliament is the sovereign body and the Parliament does not represent does not represent government, it represent the people of Pakistan and it does not have to represent the government’s views. This statement of her also raised an important point that Government of people (democratic government) does not exist in Pakistan. The non-existence of democracy was even proved a few days ago with the suspension of Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Chauhdary by President Musharraf and without a reference. This action of military government led to a sudden change in American policy towards Pakistan and US senate overpoweringly approved legislation characterizing restrictions on US military assistance to Pakistan and calls for the restoration of democracy in the country. The legislation approved aims at implementing many of the remaining reforms suggested by the September 11 commission. This resolution is not all disaster. The House of Representatives passed a similar motion in January. The amendment made to senate’s version “US military assistance to Pakistan should be guided by self-evident progress by the government of Pakistan in achieving certain objectives related to counter terrorism and democratic reforms”. The bill was approved with an amendment, which also urges Pakistan to dismantle existing proliferation network and prevent nuclear proliferation. The amendment also says that a democratic, stable and prosperous Pakistan that is a full and reliable partner in the struggle against Al-Qaeda and Taliban and a responsible steward of its nuclear weapons and technology is vital to the nation security of the US and to combating international terrorism. 15 Pakistan is used to of getting sugarcoated intimidations from US but this time president Musharraf is not willing to digest it. The reason behind this hindrance might be the current startling situation of the country and despite toiling hard Musharraf ‘s power is in danger. Due to the present political scenario Musharraf has bee pressurized by the US to bring democracy to the region and to give up the army chief’s post by the end of this year.
To keep a close eye on the political changes bubbling up in Pakistan, US government is now seeking a better alternative in Pakistan to replace Musharraf because US is not used to keep all its eggs in one basket. That is why Pakistani government is now forced to have timely election and US senators have also urged Musharraf to ensure that the coming elections accommodate the exiled leaders of PPP and PML N to participate in the elections.

‘War on Terror’ Terrifies Pakistan

Regarding Afghanistan, Pakistan is again under pressure and facing the aftermath of Taliban and Al-Qaeda attacks in its tribal areas and through out the country in form of bomb blasts, suicide attacks or the blames of cross-border infiltration. In the tribal areas of Pakistan Baitullah Mehsud, the militant commander, announced to abide by the peace deal with the Pakistani government and offered its support to curb violence in tribal areas. NWFP government has directly blamed Mehsud for the suicide attack in tribal areas and said “it’s his last chance”. Tribal areas’ MNA Maulvi Mirrajudin Khan told media that Mr. Mehsud had offered co-operation to the government in its efforts to check the acts of terrorism in Pakistan and stop infiltration into Afghanistan. Later NATO and Afghan forces in a joint operation conducted in Pakistan region on March 7 2007 captured a close companion of Baitullah Mehsud. Perhaps it was part of NATO’s spring offensive against Taliban began on March 6 2007 under the name of operation Achilles which will involve 4,500 NATO and 1,000 Afghan troops. It was launched in Southern Helmend province. This operation has also been characterized as ISAF’s major operation for 2007.16
Pakistan has once again been blamed for fencing the western border the chief secretary officer of Helmand province General Nabi Jan, blamed the large-scale terrorism in his province on what he termed cross-border infiltration from Pakistan. While talking to Daily Dawn he alleged that Abdullah Mehsud had come all the way from Waziristan to Helmand to force the council of Elders of Musa Kila to withdraw from the agreement of peace it had signed with the commander of British troops and he also tried to disrupt and destroy some infrastructure uplift projects. He seriously doubted Pakistan’s claim that it had established about 1,000 posts on the border to check cross-border infiltration, but refused to reveal the number of posts on the Afghan side or how far the Afghan and foreign troops were from Durand Line. Afghan Defence Ministry conversely blamed that Pakistan has started fencing its western border, though Pakistan officials denied any of such activity, “according to Afghan military intelligence they have started fencing the border in an area opposite to Bermel”. Barmel is in Paktika province “We should keep in mind that in most areas the so called Durand Line is not clear” fencing in the area would separate tribes and families living on either side but Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said “There is an international border between two countries and there is no doubt, when we say we will not allow our territory to be used for militancy in Afghanistan we are very serious”, she also said “our decision to fence some of the area on our side of international border reflects our determination not to allow our soil to be used against Afghanistan”. Another Pakistan security official denied fencing taking place but he added that reconnaissance work was in progress. US assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher who was in Afghanistan said efforts to control the movement of militants across the border should be agreed by both sides and urged US, NATO, PAK and Afghan to work together.17
The current security and political situation in Afghanistan is not sound at all and deteriorating day by day. Attacks of Taliban, Al-Qaeda and the counter attacks of coalition forces are claiming lives of innocent people and causing damage to the infrastructure of the country.

1 Daily Dawn March 2, 2007 front page, Ismail Khan
2 Weekly Cutting edge March 7-13, 2007 pg 3, Wajid Shamsul Hassan
3 Newsweek pg 32-33 March 5, 2007, by Sami Yousafzai and Ron Moreau
4 Newsweek pg 32-33 March 5, 2007, by Sami Yousafzai and Ron Moreau
5 Daily Times March 7 2007 monitor
6 Daily Times March 9 2007 online
7 Daily Express, March 23, 2007
8 Daily Times, March 21, 2007
9 Daily Dawn March 4, 2007
10 Daily Dawn March 5 2007 Anwar Iqbal
11 Daily Dawn March 6 2007 Qudsia Akhlaq
12 Daily Nawa-e- Waqt March 4, 2007
13 Daily The News, Editorial, March 4, 2007
14 Weekly Pulse March 9-15 pg 3 editorial
15 Daily Dawn front pg March 15, 2007 Anwar Iqbal
16 Daily Dawn March 7, 2007
17 Daily Dawn March 14, 2007 AFP