| NEW YORK | RUPEE NEWS | August 8th, 2008 | Moin Ansari | Pakistan US relations are at a good at one level and really horrible at another.
Rethinking 911 unnecessary wars with Michael Scheuer CSM:-Rethinking the post-9/11 strategy: Getting more for less
After being partners for years in the war against terror, the American and Pakistani security establishments have begun to have serious misgivings about each other. The Americans are accusing the ISI of supporting the Afghan Taliban and of carrying out the Indian Embassy bombing in Kabul. They are also highly critical of the Pakistani army’s tactical decision, later endorsed by the new government, to negotiate peace with the militants in the tribal area. This, they feel, allows the militants to regroup and enlarge the space available to Al Qaeda and the Afghan Taliban in the tribal territory. Shafqat Mahmood
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Every meal we eat, and every bullet we shoot arrives in Afghanistan courtesy of the Pakistani military,” “If they want to put pressure on us, it is very easy for them to do that. They just slow down approvals, slow down convoys, and American and NATO soldiers will start to get hungry very fast.” Riedel (Foreign policy Advisor to Senator Obama)
Americans are from Mars. Pakistanis are from Venus
- Static on the American-Pakistani connection: A disconnect?
- Relations between ISI and CIA souring?
- The solution to the Pakistani ISI.
“Americans were not interested in disrupting the Kabul-based fountainhead of terrorism in Balochistan nor do they want to allocate the marvellous predator resource to neutralise the kingpin of suicide bombings against the Pakistani military establishment now hiding near the Pak-Afghan border.”
“In the strongest evidence-based confrontation with the American security establishment since the two countries established their post-9/11 strategic alliance, Pakistani officials proved Brahamdagh Bugti’s presence in Afghan intelligence safe houses in Kabul, his photographed visits to New Delhi and his orders for terrorism in Balochistan.”
“We wanted to know when our American friends would get interested in tracking down the terrorists responsible for hundreds of suicide bombings in Pakistan and those playing havoc with our natural resources in Balochistan while sitting in Kabul and Delhi”
American Loose Nukes. Pakistan Expresses concerns and offers help
Pakistan’s complaints do not end here. It accuses the Americans, who are the power behind the puppet Afghan government, of allowing anti-Pakistan activities to take place on Afghan soil. They have allowed the Indian government to establish consulates in various places near the Pakistani border that have only one purpose; to create trouble in Baluchistan and engage in sabotage and terrorism in other parts of the country. They have also through the puppet Afghan government provided sanctuary to anti Pakistan elements such as Brahamdagh Bugti and others. Kabul bombing: Ruse to send Indian troops to Afghansitan?
Pentagon & GHQ Ties Worsen Following Failed Coup Against Pak Army
Indians and Karzai, closely working with U.S., have created a ring of insurgencies, low-intensity wars, rebellions and militant groups around Pakistan but Mr. Bush insists that Pakistan must protect India and Afghanistan from Taliban and Muslim militant groups! After the failed coup against ISI and hence against the army, the levels of trust between Pakistani armed forces and Pentagon are at their lowest at the moment despite apparent cordial relations. ISI and GHQ are definitely angry at the aims and objectives of the U.S. planners and the role the PPP government is playing in the process. The way orders of putting ISI under Rehman Malick were forced to reverse at 3 am in the morning is in itself a complete commentary on the state of affairs after the botched CIA coup against ISI. Now the daggers are drawn. Each side will have to watch their backs, Indians too.
By ZAID HAMID Wednesday, 6 August 2008. WWW.AHMEDQURAISHI.COM
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan-A stunning axis of threat has emerged for Pakistan’s national security in the past two weeks.
U.S. and India have joined hands in a coordinated media blitz, psy-ops and diplomatic attack to target the center of gravity of Pakistani armed forces and to weaken the powerful institution which so far remains out of U.S. influence and control – the Inter Services Intelligence, ISI.
There is no doubt that U.S. has been heavily involved lately with the ‘democratic’, U.S. installed and backed PPP government in Islamabad to find ways and means to bring ISI under its tight control through players in the PPP government who are unelected and unaccountable but are sitting at strategic locations in national security establishments.
The reason behind targeting ISI is that it is now believed in the U.S. administration that while the Pakistan army remains the most powerful institution in the country, it is the ISI which is the source of that strength for the armed forces. Hence by attacking, subduing, controlling and destroying ISI, U.S. and by extension India can permanently solve the problem of not having enough leverage on Pakistani armed forces.
ISI remains the eyes and ears of Pakistan’s national security establishment and its Director General is appointed by the army chief, hence the influence and control as well as loyalties of the ISI remains with the armed forces despite reporting to the Prime Minister.
So if the ISI can be destroyed and penetrated by U.S. appointed elements from the PPP government, it would be a stunning coup to take over Pakistan which U.S. has been dreaming to achieve for decades. ISI has always been out of U.S. control and influence despite the very close relationship between CIA and ISI in the past and in the present.
This time, when the PPP government is in power in Islamabad and dubious characters have been appointed at critical strategic locations, it was decided to test the powers and sensitivities of the armed forces by targeting the ISI. A high-risk gamble that U.S. and India thought PPP government could pull off before the visit of Pakistani PM to United States and agreed to create an environment in which it would become easy for the PPP government to justify their attempted coup against the premier intelligence agency of Pakistan.
That’s how the events unfolded in a rapid burst of media, diplomatic, political and military moves. The target was ISI.
Chronology of events meant to set up ISI:
On June 25, Hamid Karzai’s government directly blames ISI directly for the attack on Karzai on Apr. 27.
On July 9, Karzai accuses ISI of planning the Indian Embassy attack.
On July 13, Indian National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan calls for ‘destroying’ the ISI.
On July 26, Interior advisor Rehman Malik tries to bring ISI under the Ministry of Interior. Mr. Asif Zardari immediately justifies the move and supports it. Soon after, fearing a massive backlash from the armed forces and ISI, the plan of CIA & Co. fails. The orders are withdrawn at 3 am with massive embarrassment for the PPP government and dismay in Washington.
See some of the media coverage that supports our points here:
July 28, Afghan Intelligence service blames
ISI of plotting to attack Indian assets in Afghanistan.
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ISI accused of plotting against Indian projects
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KABUL, July 28: The Afghan intelligence agency accused Pakistani agents
on Monday of training thousands of militants to attack Indian road
projects in Afghanistan. Afghan officials have accused Inter
Services Intelligence agency of a string of attacks in recent months
straining relations between the two neighbors
http://www.dawn.com/cgi-bin/dina.pl?file=top13.htm&date=20080729
On July 30, CIA also blames ISI for Kabul blasts.
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Bush told Gilani of ISI link with militants
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WASHINGTON, July 30: President George W. Bush told Prime
Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and members of his delegation
during their formal meeting here on Monday that the US believed
that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency had
established deep ties with militants operating in
Pakistan’s tribal areas, some officials present at
the meeting told Dawn on Wednesday.
http://www.dawn.com/cgi-bin/dina.pl?file=top10.htm&date=20080731
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CIA chief conveyed concerns over ISI
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WASHINGTON, July 31: CIA chief Michael V. Hayden had an exclusive meeting with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani during his visit to Washington this week, presenting him with a “charge-sheet” on Pakistani intelligence agencies’ alleged involvement in jihadi activities. Diplomatic and US sources told Dawn the allegations included in the “charge-sheet” were almost identical to what the New York Times had reported on Wednesday.
http://www.dawn.com/cgi-bin/dina.pl?file=top6.htm&date=20080801
On August 1, Sherry Rehman, Pakistan’s information minister,
in an interview accused that there are some
elements in ISI who are acting on their own and may
be they were involved.
On August 1, U.S. government officials also
blamed ISI for Kabul embassy blast.
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US slander against ISI rubbished: Indian embassy blast
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ISLAMABAD, Aug 1: Pakistan on Friday angrily rejected a report that the
United States had accused its main spy agency – ISI – of helping
to plan a fatal bombing at India’s embassy in Kabul
last month. Citing unnamed officials, the New
York Times said intercepted communications
had provided clear evidence that the ISI was involved
in the July 7 suicide attack on the Indian mission, which killed around 60 people.
http://www.dawn.com/cgi-bin/dina.pl?file=top1.htm&date=20080802
Frustrated and desperate, the U.S. government continued to carry out military attacks inside Pakistani border areas on the excuse of not receiving enough support from Pakistani ISI. The attacks occurred despite a pledge by President Bush that U.S. would respect Pakistan’s sovereignty.
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US to respect Pakistan sovereignty, says Bush
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WASHINGTON, July 28: President George W. Bush assured Pakistan on
Monday that the United States supported Pakistan’s
sovereignty, hours after a US air strike had killed six people in Fata.
http://www.dawn.com/cgi-bin/dina.pl?file=top1.htm&date=20080729
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Missile raid on S. Waziristan; six killed
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PESHAWAR, July 28: A missile apparently fired from a Predator drone killed
at least six people on Monday in a compound in South Waziristan,
near the Afghan border. A security official said the strike
might have killed a senior Al Qaeda trainer known for his expertise in chemicals.
The official put the death toll at 12.
http://www.dawn.com/cgi-bin/dina.pl?file=top2.htm&date=20080729
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Pentagon says attacks on militant sites will continue
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WASHINGTON, July 30: Two days after President George W. Bush assured
Pakistan that the United States respected its sovereignty, a
Pentagon spokesman told journalists that this respect would
not prevent US forces from targeting militant sites inside Pakistani territory.
“We, of course, respect the sovereignty of Pakistan,” said
spokesman Geoff Morrell. “But as the president said after 9/11, we
will do whatever is necessary to protect the homeland from future attacks.”.
http://www.dawn.com/cgi-bin/dina.pl?file=top9.htm&date=20080731
Simultaneously, the Indians started violating the Line of Control in Kashmir where clashes were reported between the two armies.
It is obvious that U.S. wants to protect two hostile neighbors India and Afghanistan at the cost of Pakistan’s own security. Indians and Afghans, closely working with U.S. have created a ring of insurgencies, low intensity wars, rebellions and militant groups around Pakistan but Mr. Bush insists that Pakistan must protect India and Afghanistan from Taliban and Muslim militant groups!
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US wants Pakistan to also protect neighbours
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WASHINGTON, July 29: The White House has reminded Pakistan at it has an “international obligation” to fight terrorism, and besides protecting its own people it also has an obligation to protect its neighbours. The White House fact sheet, issued after a meeting between Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and President George W. Bush, reflects a marked changed from previous US statements on this issue which named Afghanistan as the neighbouring state threatened by terrorism emanating from Pakistan’s tribal areas.
http://www.dawn.com/cgi-bin/dina.pl?file=top1.htm&date=20080730
It is obvious now that Pakistan will have to guard and protect its assets more carefully in Afghanistan when both hosts – Karzai & Co. – as well as his Indian allies are out to take revenge.
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Blast near Pakistan consulate in Afghanistan
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KABUL, July 31: An explosion outside a Pakistani consulate in western Afghanistan wounded at least one person on Thursday, officials said.
The explosives were attached to a bicycle outside the gates of the consulate in the city of Herat, said Naeem Khan, spokesman for the Pakistan’s Embassy in Kabul. He said a policeman was wounded.
http://www.dawn.com/cgi-bin/dina.pl?file=top3.htm&date=20080801
But interestingly, after their failed coup against ISI and his failure to protect Pakistan’s strategic national interests, the PM and his embarrassed advisor desperately tried to put up some sort of defense for Pakistan and ISI to redeem their own badly tarnished credibility and prestige. It’s too little too late.
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Malik blames Afghanistan, India for Fata unrest
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WASHINGTON, July 30: India and Afghanistan are stirring troubles in Fata and Balochistan, Rehman Malik, adviser to the prime minister on interior, told journalists on Wednesday.
http://www.dawn.com/cgi-bin/dina.pl?file=top2.htm&date=20080731
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Gilani hits back, cites US failure in Afghanistan
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WASHINGTON, July 30: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has rebuffed demands for unilateral US action against suspected terrorist targets inside Fata, saying that such strikes further complicate an already difficult situation. http://www.dawn.com/cgi-bin/dina.pl?file=top3.htm&date=20080731
But amid all this attack, Pakistan received support from an unexpected source. An Afghan official had no choice but to come out with truth, as the following report shows. And as usual, the Pakistani media failed to exploit this story.
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Iran becoming main route for militants: Afghan daily
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KABUL, July 27: Iran had become the main transit route for militants trying to join militants in Afghanistan, an Afghan government daily claimed on Sunday. Some Western nations with troops in Afghanistan have claimed that Iranian weapons destined for the Taliban have been seized in Afghanistan, although they are unsure whether Tehran knew about the shipments.
http://www.dawn.com/cgi-bin/dina.pl?file=top7.htm&date=20080728
After the failed coup against ISI and hence against the army, the levels of trust between Pakistani armed forces and Pentagon are at their lowest at the moment despite apparent cordial relations. ISI and GHQ are definitely angry at the aims and objectives of the U.S. planners and the role the PPP government is playing in the process. The way orders of putting ISI under Rehman Malick were forced to reverse at 3 am in the morning is in itself a complete commentary on the state of affairs after the botched CIA coup against ISI. Now the daggers are drawn. Each side will have to watch their backs, Indians too.
This column is extracted from a situation report released by BRASSTACKS, a security and defense analysis think tank based in Islamabad. Mr. Zaid Hamid is its Founding Consultant. He can be reached at info@brasstacks.biz
ZAID HAMID’S COLUMNS
PPP’s Kiss Of Death
This Govt. Is Dangerous For Pakistan
U.S. Is Lying: No Chance Of Another 9/11 From Pakistani Tribal Areas
Open Letter To Dr. A. Q. Khan: Why Are You Destroying What You Built?
U.S. Game Plan Against Pakistani Nukes Gets Into High Gear
Setting A Trap For Army And Pakistan
Clumsy Govt. Endangering Pak Nukes
Watch Out For Change In Islamabad
American Assets Are Positioned In Pakistan
Uncle Sam, Your Game In Pakistan Is Exposed
No Government In Islamabad
Setting A Trap For Pakistan
U.S. Ready To Invade Pakistan
Musharraf’s Failures: A Revealing Assessment
