Pakistani Deceit At Its Worst

As the Obama administration began consultations with top Pak Generals in Washington last week on the measures to be taken to bring order in Af-Pak (phrase coined by new President) region, the Pakistani Army intensified its lobbying with various institutions of US administration and launched an internet media campaign to put up a ‘benign’ face of victim, which deserve fresh infusion of new funds.

Addressing the Congress on February 24, President Obama has conveyed his administration’s resolve to forge a new comprehensive policy towards Pakistan and Afghanistan to curb violent extremism in the region. “…I will not allow terrorists to plot against the American people from safe havens half a world away.” Pakistani Chief of Army General Kayani, the ISI Chief and head of the military operations and their Afghan counterparts were summoned to Washington on February 23 and the three-day talks seemed to have some no-nonsense exchange of views.

Thomas Ricks, author of a new book on Iraq entitled The Gamble, told Newsweek in an interview it was wrong in thinking of Afghanistan as “Obama’s Vietnam” because that honour rests with Pakistan. Ricks argues that “We could lose Afghanistan, and it would be bad but it would not present an existential threat to this country. If you ‘lose Pakistan’ — and by that I mean if Pakistan collapses or is taken over by Islamic extremists — you face the prospect of Islamic extremists having nuclear weapons. That’s Al Qaeda’s dream. It’s our nightmare. That’s why Pakistan is Obama’s potential Vietnam. There’s no clear solution there.”

Sensing this thinking in the Administration, the Pakistani team and their informal lobbyists apparently made it out that the US has hardly any choice but to go by the advice of Islamabad. It appeared that the easily gullible American experts are no match for their Pakistani interlocutors who have perfected the art of ‘deception’ having lived in the company of their Chinese masters for long. Not surprisingly, General Kayani was conferred the Legend of Merit (Degree of Commander) Award to keep the Pakistani strong man in good humour.

Pak Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani with Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman, U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff

On the other plane, ex-Generals of Pakistan Army had put out their own an informal analysis to American authorities and think tanks to soften the ground to fleece the US treasury. They painted a picture of how their country was coping with an extraordinary situation since the year 2001 and how impossible for any country to continue in such a situation for long. Recalling that it was the US-sponsored jihad against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan, which heralded Taliban/Al-Qaeda, they pointed out that Pakistan was dragged into the war and is now bearing the brunt of its repercussions.

Added to this was the problem of massive number of Afghan refugees who could not return to their land due to unabated instability in the region. The ex-Generals also claimed that while the US military casualties are only 500, Pakistan Army lost nearly 1500 of its soldiers. While trying to reassure Islamabad’s continued determination to remain a key American ally and strategic partner in the global war on terror, they argued that to effectively deliver this role, the need the US military and non-military aid so as to stabilize internal situation and launch a campaign to bring order on its western border.
In defence of the recently signed peace agreement with Sufi Mohammad to implement Sharia law in Malakand region of the NWFP, the ex-Pak Generals deceptively tried to make out that there was really nothing to alarm about it as the provision already exists in the Pakistan Constitution. It is also argued that there is a Sharia law in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The deception has no bounds as even a school boy knows that the ‘Sharia’ law in Saudi Arabia is administered by the government. If the UAE is applying ‘Sharia’ law, no one really felt it so as it is indistinguishable from any modern administration.

In contrast, the ‘Sharia’ law in Malakand is to be administered by the Taliban and the Pakistani government is totally out of it. The world has already seen the Taliban justice system in Afghanistan and memories are still fresh.

Another strange argument being put forward by these ex-Generals was that the talk of additional 30,000 American troops reaching Afghanistan has only created more complications, provoking Taliban/Al-Qaeda to intensify their attacks.

The massive media campaign of putting out a benign face of Pakistan, being a victim of the situation, appeared to be meant to ward off any tough talk from the new American administration and persuade them to quickly infuse much needed funds into Pakistani economy suggesting that it is in their own interest.

The Atlantic Council, an American think tank lobbying for Pakistan, released its report on February 25 timing at well for the trilateral consultations on Af-Pak. It projected that Pakistan is on a rapid trajectory to failure as a stable, democratic state and needs a boost of $ 4 billion in aid and loans each year to begin it turning around. A democratic Senator John Kerry and the Republican Senator Richard Lugar are to introduce a bill for immediate American aid. Kerry and Republican former Senator Chuck Hager are the Atlantic Council Honorary Chairmen. Hager having left the Senate is now the Council’s Chairman. While Pakistan is in dire need of urgent economic aid, any unconditional funding could end up in military purchases from China and other countries to target its eastern neighbour.

The claims of the Pakistani Generals that they are a reliable and strategic partner in the war against terrorism need to be taken with a ‘pinch of salt’. American ambassadors and commanders in Afghanistan have been repeatedly complaining of Pakistan’s double games and its facilitation of movements of Taliban/Al-Qaeda elements criss-crossing the border to launch attacks against NATO forces. American and British intelligence have also had such experience of giving information to Pakistan agencies on the locations of Taliban/Al-Qaeda leaders but only to be found later that they have escaped from these locations. This is precisely the reason that Americans decided to launch drone attacks and even ground operations to eliminate these terrorist elements without involving Pakistani Army or intelligence.

Following the truce agreement with Taliban in Malakand, reports have come out indicating that the Pakistani government paid US $ 6 million to the Taliban for ceasefire in the area. Soon, the drama unfolded with the top 3 Taliban factions in South Waziristan got united under the instructions of Mullah Omar, who instructed them to desist from attacking Pakistani soldiers. The Taliban leader Maulvi Nazir has stated that the Taliban alliance is meant only to fight against the US together because they are concerned over the surge in American troops in Afghanistan.

The Pakistani Generals have also been saying similar statements that the surge in American forces could provoke dangerous attacks from Taliban/Al-Qaeda forces. Is it a coincidence or a deliberate coordinated policy that both the Pakistani Generals and Taliban leaders are talking in similar language? The secret of the peace accord is to buy peace from the Taliban from being attacked, while leaving them free to target the Americans.

It is only hoped that the American administration and their experts involved in planning the strategies for AfPak region are alert and attentive to Pakistani Machiavellian tactics to teach them an unforgettable lesson.