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America pressing Pakistan on a long wish list | Pakistan | News | Newspaper | Daily | English | Online
LAHORE The Obama administration is pressing Pakistan hard to eliminate all hardline religious groups, which Pentagon believes are militant outfits ahead of the much-awaited US troops withdrawal from Afghanistan after decade-long and unending war against Al-Qaeda and Taliban.
The US wish-list also includes permission for NATO forces ground operations in North Waziristan Agency (NWA), drone strikes in Balochistan, military operation in Southern Punjab and visible elimination of Haqqanis and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
American and Pakistani defense experts say that international media war against Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Directorate is part of the well-thought out strategy to force Islamabad to compromise on strategic affairs. This time, the US has sizeable wish-list as far as efforts to disrupt, dismantle and defeat the Taliban and Al-Qaeda elements are concerned, an official in the Interior Ministry said seeking anonymity.
An American official engaged in Afghanistan and familiar with the developments also revealed that Washington would consider handing over of fully-equipped and lethal drone technology to Islamabad if Pakistan agreed to implement US war strategy in the region as it is.
They have to choice what they like. This is not a matter of just likes and dislikes. This is a long war against terror and we have to declare clear-cut victory (in Afghanistan), which is only possible if our war-time strategic partner offers unconditional support, the Kabul based American official told this reporter during his recent visit to Pakistan.
When asked about the recent deliberately-leaked US defense cables linking ISI with militant outfits, he said that the ISI was the major hurdle to carry out ground operations in NWA and southern Punjab. As the US military command has suggested this year would be the turning point in Afghanistan, Americans can go to any extent. But, we never wish to lose our strategic partner (Pakistan), he emphasised. He further added, If they (ISI) will not cooperate with us as we require, it means they are with Haqqanis and LeT. So it means they are siding with the militant outfits, the outspoken US official justified.
The American officials claimed that the Pakistani security establishment lacked public support as far as punitive action against LeT, Haqqanis, and pro-Taliban elements in Southern Punjab is concerned. We understand their problems but we need joint ventures against common enemies. These militant groups are serious threats for Islamabad as well as Washington, US officials added.
Pakistan and American officials said that in response to Islamabads demand to stop covert CIA operations in Pakistan, Washington has suggested Islamabad to scale down ISI operations, no matter the top intelligence agency is striving hard to wipe out the menace of terrorism from its soil.
They (Americans) are upset since Raymond Davis episode exposed US designs in the region. They think that the men gunned down by CIA-contractor in Lahore were ISI operatives although it has been proved totally baseless. We are eager to remove trust-deficit but not at the cost of our national interest, a Pakistani official having in-depth knowledge about the issues said, requesting his name not to be made public.
According to him, the so-called US defence leaks are desperately trying to attach ISI with the militant outfits to create countrys negative image in the Western media when they (Americans) know that the same spy agency remains the biggest victim of suicide bombings as its headquarters in Lahore, Peshawar, and Multan were bombed.
Its very unfortunate. They have reasons to understand (our commitment),,, but they dont, the official said. Pakistan is the worst terror-victim in the world as the country with fragile economy suffered unusual human and economic losses due to war on terror in Afghanistan. Pakistani officials describe US allegations against Pakistani security establishment as a malicious campaign to demoralise the terror-hit nation despite its remarkable sacrifices and success.
American officials insist that Pakistans punitive action against Haqqanis, LeT, and other militant groups is vital to economic and security stability in the region.
India is also sitting on the next table in the Af-Pak peace conference room and keenly watching towards the strategic-partners to decide her role in the war-torn country after US-led allied forces withdrawal, US officials claimed.
They also added that the US wanted complete elimination of JuD and LeT in the province of Punjab and Kashmir as well because the step would help build confidence among the nuclear-armed neighbours. While dismantling Haqqani network is the key to American success in Afghanistan, US officials believed.
Pakistans vision on Kashmir is very clear and Islamabad will not move an inch from its stance on the occupied valley, Pakistani officials said. A senior political leader in Lahore said that the option to move UNSC against the deadly drones targeting women and children in northwest Pakistan is under spotlight following the visit of Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif to Beijing, where he underlined the incursion as attack on the countrys sovereignty.
LAHORE The Obama administration is pressing Pakistan hard to eliminate all hardline religious groups, which Pentagon believes are militant outfits ahead of the much-awaited US troops withdrawal from Afghanistan after decade-long and unending war against Al-Qaeda and Taliban.
The US wish-list also includes permission for NATO forces ground operations in North Waziristan Agency (NWA), drone strikes in Balochistan, military operation in Southern Punjab and visible elimination of Haqqanis and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
American and Pakistani defense experts say that international media war against Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Directorate is part of the well-thought out strategy to force Islamabad to compromise on strategic affairs. This time, the US has sizeable wish-list as far as efforts to disrupt, dismantle and defeat the Taliban and Al-Qaeda elements are concerned, an official in the Interior Ministry said seeking anonymity.
An American official engaged in Afghanistan and familiar with the developments also revealed that Washington would consider handing over of fully-equipped and lethal drone technology to Islamabad if Pakistan agreed to implement US war strategy in the region as it is.
They have to choice what they like. This is not a matter of just likes and dislikes. This is a long war against terror and we have to declare clear-cut victory (in Afghanistan), which is only possible if our war-time strategic partner offers unconditional support, the Kabul based American official told this reporter during his recent visit to Pakistan.
When asked about the recent deliberately-leaked US defense cables linking ISI with militant outfits, he said that the ISI was the major hurdle to carry out ground operations in NWA and southern Punjab. As the US military command has suggested this year would be the turning point in Afghanistan, Americans can go to any extent. But, we never wish to lose our strategic partner (Pakistan), he emphasised. He further added, If they (ISI) will not cooperate with us as we require, it means they are with Haqqanis and LeT. So it means they are siding with the militant outfits, the outspoken US official justified.
The American officials claimed that the Pakistani security establishment lacked public support as far as punitive action against LeT, Haqqanis, and pro-Taliban elements in Southern Punjab is concerned. We understand their problems but we need joint ventures against common enemies. These militant groups are serious threats for Islamabad as well as Washington, US officials added.
Pakistan and American officials said that in response to Islamabads demand to stop covert CIA operations in Pakistan, Washington has suggested Islamabad to scale down ISI operations, no matter the top intelligence agency is striving hard to wipe out the menace of terrorism from its soil.
They (Americans) are upset since Raymond Davis episode exposed US designs in the region. They think that the men gunned down by CIA-contractor in Lahore were ISI operatives although it has been proved totally baseless. We are eager to remove trust-deficit but not at the cost of our national interest, a Pakistani official having in-depth knowledge about the issues said, requesting his name not to be made public.
According to him, the so-called US defence leaks are desperately trying to attach ISI with the militant outfits to create countrys negative image in the Western media when they (Americans) know that the same spy agency remains the biggest victim of suicide bombings as its headquarters in Lahore, Peshawar, and Multan were bombed.
Its very unfortunate. They have reasons to understand (our commitment),,, but they dont, the official said. Pakistan is the worst terror-victim in the world as the country with fragile economy suffered unusual human and economic losses due to war on terror in Afghanistan. Pakistani officials describe US allegations against Pakistani security establishment as a malicious campaign to demoralise the terror-hit nation despite its remarkable sacrifices and success.
American officials insist that Pakistans punitive action against Haqqanis, LeT, and other militant groups is vital to economic and security stability in the region.
India is also sitting on the next table in the Af-Pak peace conference room and keenly watching towards the strategic-partners to decide her role in the war-torn country after US-led allied forces withdrawal, US officials claimed.
They also added that the US wanted complete elimination of JuD and LeT in the province of Punjab and Kashmir as well because the step would help build confidence among the nuclear-armed neighbours. While dismantling Haqqani network is the key to American success in Afghanistan, US officials believed.
Pakistans vision on Kashmir is very clear and Islamabad will not move an inch from its stance on the occupied valley, Pakistani officials said. A senior political leader in Lahore said that the option to move UNSC against the deadly drones targeting women and children in northwest Pakistan is under spotlight following the visit of Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif to Beijing, where he underlined the incursion as attack on the countrys sovereignty.
