Gen Petraeus Debunks Allegations of Duplicity Against Pakistan

[RiazHaq]

http://www.riazhaq.com/2016/11/gen-petraeus-debunks-allegations-of.html

General David Petraeus, former CIA director and commander of US troops in Afghanistan, has said there is no evidence of Pakistan playing a double game and supporting terrorists in Afghanistan. Petraeus' remarks are now particularly significant given the fact that he is on a short list of President-Elect Donald Trump's nominees for Secretary of State. He was answering a question posed to him at a presentation at Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a British security think tank based in London.


Is Pakistan Duplicitous?

The question was asked by a female Afghan Ph.D. student at the end of remarks by the general on "Security Challenges Facing the Next US Administration. Here's the question:

"General you have stated that democracies can not win long wars (General Petraeus interrupted and said he did not say that and added "in fact I take issue with that" as the student continued). Afghanistan is now US's longest war. What stops the US to win the long war..whether Pakistan intelligence is the cause of the long war? Why does the US not take action against the Pakistan ISI which continues killing and supporting terrorists?"

General David H. Petraeus's response:

Here's part of Gen Petraeus' response: "I looked very very hard then (as US commander in Afghanistan) and again as CIA director at the nature of the relationship between the various (militant) groups in FATA and Baluchistan and the Pakistan Army and the ISI and I was never convinced of what certain journalists have alleged (about ISI support of militant groups in FATA).... I have talked to them (journalists) asked them what their sources are and I have not been able to come to grips with that based on what I know from these different positions (as US commander and CIA director)".

Gen Petraeus did acknowledge that "there's communication between the ISI and various militant groups in FATA and Balochistan (Haqqanis, Taliban, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, etc) but some of it you'd do anyway as an intelligence service." He added that "there may be some degree of accommodation that is forced on them (Pakistanis) because of the limits of their (Pakistan's) forces."

US-Pakistan Ties:

On the question of the nature of US-Pakistan relations and Washington's influence in Islamabad, General Petraeus said:

"Some people say Pakistan is a frenemy...it is just very very difficult to pin down (blame on Pakistan) and it's even more difficult to figure out how to exert leverage that in a meaningful way resolves the issue. There was a period when we cut off all assistance and ties (to Pakistan) and held up F-16s that we were supposed to deliver for a while and that did not help our influence there (in Pakistan). It's a very very tough situation and it may be among the top two or three challenges for the new administration right up there with Syria".

General Petraeus acknowledged Pakistan's cooperation and sacrifices in fighting terror in the following words:

“Pakistan Army suffered casualties and had limited Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities though the US did try to help and there existed enormous amount of cooperation between the two militaries. However, the unfortunate episodes of Raymond Davis and publications of book by Bob Woodward and WikiLeaks did impact negatively on this cooperation”.

Summary:

General David H. Petraeus has thoroughly debunked intense and ongoing media propaganda campaign of allegations of duplicity against Pakistan Army and ISI. He has also ruled out cutting ties with Pakistan as an option. His recommendations have now assumed added significance because he is now on a short list of President-Elect Trump's nominees for secretary of state.

Here's the video of General Petraeus at RUSI. His remarks on Pakistan are in the last 8 minutes of the video:

Related Links:

Haq's Musings

Husain Haqqani vs Riaz Haq on India vs Pakistan

Impact of Trump's Top Picks on Pakistan

Husain Haqqani Advising Trump on Pakistan Policy?

Gall-Haqqani-Paul Narrative on Pakistan

Pakistan-China-Russia vs India-US-Japan

Robert Gates' Straight Talk on Pakistan

http://www.riazhaq.com/2016/11/gen-petraeus-debunks-allegations-of.html

 

[RiazHaq]

Here's the latest from Washington Post: Trump to meet with Petraeus, Romney as secretary of state battle heats up

President-elect Donald Trump will meet Monday with retired Army Gen. David Petraeus, a possible alternative choice for secretary of state amid an escalating feud over the position between supporters of former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who will sit down with Trump on Tuesday.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/poli...df7538-b584-11e6-a677-b608fbb3aaf6_story.html

 

[Oracle]

i admire Pakistan policy now that no one is your enemy ( Russia ), no one is friend either ( USA) . Both stands at same level. China is exception though. With neutral policy towards USA / Russia and look towards their own interest , Pakistan can get respect in the eyes of both.

Shift in moving away from USA will change politics at Pakistan as well as previously every govt / general were indirectly approved by USA. I will give credit to Gen Raheel shareef for that.

 

[cloud4000]

I doubt Petraeus is in the running for any cabinet position given he left the CIA in disgrace. Talented as he is and smart as he is, the Senate will give him a tough time questioning and voting to confirm will be far from certain. Romney, on the other hand, is a shoe in.

If a cabinet level post is no available, he should've been hired as NSA. A far better choice than Flynn.

Then again, I could be completely wrong. Didn't expect Trump to be President, so who knows what will happen.

 

[RiazHaq]

i admire Pakistan policy now that no one is your enemy ( Russia ), no one is friend either ( USA) . Both stands at same level. China is exception though. With neutral policy towards USA / Russia and look towards their own interest , Pakistan can get respect in the eyes of both.

Shift in moving away from USA will change politics at Pakistan as well as previously every govt / general were indirectly approved by USA. I will give credit to Gen Raheel shareef for that.

“America has no permanent friends or enemies, only interests.” Henry Kissinger

Rapidly unfolding events confirm shifting post-cold-war alliances in South Asia. Chinese President Xi Jinping is starting his first state visit to Pakistan to commit investment of over $45 billion in Pakistan, representing the single largest Chinese investment in a foreign country to date.

Chinese and Pakistani naval forces have also agreed to boost maritime security cooperation in the Indian ocean with the sale of eight diesel-electric AIP-equipped submarines capable of carrying nuclear weapons. This cooperation is aimed at defending against any threats to shipping lanes in and out of Pakistani ports serving the planned Pak-China Corridor.

Russia, too, has lifted arms sales embargo on Pakistan and agreed to sell weapons and make energy infrastructure investments. Plans are in place for first-ever Pakistan-Russia military exercises.

These development come on the heels of US President Barack Obama's second visit to India and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent tour of Western capitals with the signing of deals confirming Modi's India's status as the West's latest darling.


http://www.riazhaq.com/2015/04/post-cold-war-line-up-pakistan-china.html

 

[Tiger Genie]

I doubt Petraeus is in the running for any cabinet position given he left the CIA in disgrace. Talented as he is and smart as he is, the Senate will give him a tough time questioning and voting to confirm will be far from certain. Romney, on the other hand, is a shoe in.

If a cabinet level post is no available, he should've been hired as NSA. A far better choice than Flynn.

Then again, I could be completely wrong. Didn't expect Trump to be President, so who knows what will happen.

Petraeus is actually one of the most qualified people for sec of state - both by experience and acceptability by both parties. However he did admit to a misdemeanor charge in settlement of the classified info case. If I remember correctly there was some brouhaha by Hillary Clinton and him but do not recall details.

Romney is a fantastic guy and if Trump can get him it will be a feather in Trump's orange cap. However I have my doubts how well that chemistry will be. So I won't rule out Petraeus's chance.

 

[DJ_Viper]

http://www.riazhaq.com/2016/11/gen-petraeus-debunks-allegations-of.html

General David Petraeus, former CIA director and commander of US troops in Afghanistan, has said there is no evidence of Pakistan playing a double game and supporting terrorists in Afghanistan. Petraeus' remarks are now particularly significant given the fact that he is on a short list of President-Elect Donald Trump's nominees for Secretary of State. He was answering a question posed to him at a presentation at Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a British security think tank based in London.

I am a big fan of Mr. Petraeus. He's a one sharp patriot and has done amazing work for his country. Salute to people like him anytime of the day.

He is a strong contender for the Secretary of the State role. I hope he'd get it. He would make a fine Sec. of the State. In fact, as this forum is a Pakistani forum, he would be great for Pakistan as he knows all major politicians and military officials. Looking forward to him getting elected from the US's point of view

 

[RiazHaq]

This story about Gen Petraeus debunking duplicity allegations against Pakistan has not been picked up by the mainstream media, particularly the western media.

It seems to me that the media doesn't report what it doesn't like. In this case, the media doesn't like Gen Petraeus' remarks because he is highly critical of the journalists' reporting about Afghanistan when he says " "I looked very very hard then (as US commander in Afghanistan) and again as CIA director at the nature of the relationship between the various (militant) groups in FATA and Baluchistan and the Pakistan Army and the ISI and I was never convinced of what certain journalists have alleged (about ISI support of militant groups in FATA).... I have talked to them (journalists) asked them what their sources are and I have not been able to come to grips with that based on what I know from these different positions (as US commander and CIA director)".

The general has essentially undermined the entire premise of the media narrative about the alleged complicity of Pakistani military and ISI in supporting militancy in Afghanistan.


http://www.riazhaq.com/2016/11/gen-petraeus-debunks-allegations-of.html

 

[T-Rex]

I am a big fan of Mr. Petraeus. He's a one sharp patriot and has done amazing work for his country. Salute to people like him anytime of the day.

He is a strong contender for the Secretary of the State role. I hope he'd get it. He would make a fine Sec. of the State. In fact, as this forum is a Pakistani forum, he would be great for Pakistan as he knows all major politicians and military officials. Looking forward to him getting elected from the US's point of view

If Petraeus is selected it will be a difficult for Trump to do the bidding for his hanuman admirers.

 

[OTTOMAN]

I doubt Petraeus is in the running for any cabinet position given he left the CIA in disgrace. Talented as he is and smart as he is, the Senate will give him a tough time questioning and voting to confirm will be far from certain. Romney, on the other hand, is a shoe in.

If a cabinet level post is no available, he should've been hired as NSA. A far better choice than Flynn.

Then again, I could be completely wrong. Didn't expect Trump to be President, so who knows what will happen.

He will suerly suffer after challenging strong Indian lobby in US senate

 

[Indus Pakistan]

that the media

That is how media always works - east, west or whatever. It is not that it fabricates (rare) but more often that it ignores one area and makes conspicous effort to highlight another. In short editor makes the news. This is one example and it is not going to change.

Pakistan could arrest this trend and move in the right direction by recognizing Israel. That would win over lot of influence in media houses of the West.

 

[cloud4000]

He will suerly suffer after challenging strong Indian lobby in US senate

I wouldn't worry much about the Indian lobby, their influence on Congress is overrated. What Congress -- controlled by Republicans -- care about most is the perception of hypocrisy and double standard. if they were to seriously consider Petraeus for Secretary of State.

Republicans have been pillorying Clinton on handling of classified e-mails but they will accept a disgraced former head of CIA accused of leaking sensitive information to his mistress? Doubtful it will happen.

 

[TMA]

That is how media always works - east, west or whatever. It is not that it fabricates (rare) but more often that it ignores one area and makes conspicous effort to highlight another. In short editor makes the news. This is one example and it is not going to change.

Pakistan could arrest this trend and move in the right direction by recognizing Israel. That would win over lot of influence in media houses of the West.

And give up her nuclear arsenal as well.

To accept imposter Israel would be national blasphemy (not to say that Pakistan is not already doing such an act).

 

[Indus Pakistan]

And give up her nuclear arsenal as well.

And take my shoelaces off as well? What does recognition of Israel have to do with nukes and India. Bharat has million soldiers parked right on pakistan's border. It has had wars with Pak. Pak military trains day after day on the premise that India is the threat. Therefore those nukes are needed as shield against India.

imposter Israel would be national blasphemy

How will it be national blasphemy. Do you know what blasphemy means? Does the Quran forbid recognition of Israel? foreign policy is not decided by theology or else China would be declared 'blasphemer' for bein a official athiest state. That mean's China as a state refuses to accept Allah's existance let alone submission.

not to say that Pakistan is not already doing such an act

Well you just contradicted yourself and effectively rubbed off your previous assertion. If Pakistan is a blasphemer it is a blasphemer. There is no grades of blasphemy. You are or are not.

 

[TMA]

And take my shoelaces off as well? What does recognition of Israel have to do with nukes and India. Bharat has million soldiers parked right on pakistan's border. It has had wars with Pak. Pak military trains day after day on the premise that India is the threat. Therefore those nukes are needed as shield against India.


How will it be national blasphemy. Do you know what blasphemy means? Does the Quran forbid recognition of Israel? foreign policy is not decided by theology or else China would be declared 'blasphemer' for bein a official athiest state. That mean's China as a state refuses to accept Allah's existance let alone submission.


Well you just contradicted yourself and effectively rubbed off your previous assertion. If Pakistan is a blasphemer it is a blasphemer. There is no grades of blasphemy. You are or are not.

I admit that my attempt at sarcasm was very poor.(about the nukes).
Commiting a sin is bad but then commiting another sin on top of it, is worse. What should happen is to stop commiting (national) blasphemy, not carrying on adding to it (which would be the case if Pakistan were to recognize imposter Israel).