A test of Pakistan’s diplomacy
Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012 2:11:40 by Faisal Farooq
Turkey, the close friend of Pakistan and important ally of NATO forces, desperately wants the land route for allied forces battling in Afghanistan to be resumed.
However, the hype created by the establishment, opposition and a section of media after the highly condemnable Salala check-post attack is standing in the way to resumption of supply-line.
Keeping in view the political, economic and military clout of Pakistan, we should have given a thought out response to the allied countries.
However, the incumbent under the pressure of those who matter blocked the supply line for NATO forces. Furthermore, Pakistan Army declined to join the NATO investigation into the incident, rejecting the explanation given by the probe.
A boycott to Bonn Conference and tripartite talks were among the other rash decisions taken by Pakistan.
Over the recommendations of Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS), parliament sought an apology from the United States and a halt to the drone attacks. Ultimately, Pakistan is facing the consequences of unrealistic decisions.
Drone striking is another outstanding issue between the two countries. The parliamentary panel asked the government to put an halt to drone service as a precondition for resuming the land route for allied forces.
However, it was nothing to avail. Several drone attacks have been carried out in recent days after the committee announced its demands. The US believes that attacks through unmanned air crafts are a vital tool in the war against terrorism.
The Americans have decided to pursue a light-track plan in Afghanistan, as its troops would end their battle in the troubled country.
The responsibility for national security will be taken over completely by the Afghan army and police following the withdrawal of international forces.
In order to save the lives of US troops and reduce the defence budget, the Americans would rely of air strikes wherever these would be required. However, this strategy could bring out disastrous consequences.
Afghanistan is bound to fall to Taliban once the foreign forces are out along with their sophisticated weaponry system. A Taliban-dominated Kabul would serve as the strategic depth for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants who would intensify their attacks inside Pakistan.
On one hand, Pakistan should not pipe dreaming on its part while the US should also realize that this does not bode well either for the region or the international community.
The two will have to find out to continue their cooperation to rid the region of extremism and militancy.
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Tags: America, Bonn conference, Islamabad, Kabul, NATO, NATO summit, Pakistan, PCNS, Taliban, TTP, US, WashingtonShort URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=22999
Posted by Faisal Farooq
on May 22 2012. Filed under National, Opinion, Pakistan.
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DO OR NOT TO DO is the dilemma, the route has to be opened as we can not face the wrath of combined US and European nations. Now the option is how best we can bow out, I think we must create hype on the apology act until panneta agrees on 5000$ per truck and that will be the point when we must say that we are in fact, opening NATO for Europeans and not for US.