Hillary’s iron fist in a velvet glove

[trident2010]

Hillary’s iron fist in a velvet glove

ISLAMABAD: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday went about with her usual charm offensive, but maintained a hawkish position over Pakistan’s strategic concerns in a reflection of the deep mistrust that still exists between the two allies.

Secretary Clinton more importantly for the second day running, handed out a stern warning to Pakistan that any future terrorist attack traced back to its soil would have devastating consequences.

Ms Clinton, who was here to co-chair the second round of Pak-US Strategic Dialogue, had several public engagements – the joint media conference with Foreign Minister Qureshi, a town hall meeting and an interaction with TV anchors.

And where she had good words and cheerful news for Pakistan on new projects, a vivid message running through all here activities was that of a clear distrust and divergences over the issues that were close to Islamabad – the civilian nuclear cooperation with China, water disputes with India and Kashmir.

Although the hardline position of the Obama administration on Pakistan’s efforts for brokering a deal between Afghanistan’s most potent warring group – the Haqqani network – and Kabul appeared to have been softened down, there was a clear inclination towards reintegration involving the foot soldiers instead of reconciliation and first defeating the group militarily.

When Pakistan entered the upgraded Strategic Dialogue in March, Islamabad had made clear that it was expecting Washington to deliver tangibly on its strategic concerns, which among others included civilian nuclear energy, role in Afghanistan reconciliation, settlement of disputes with India.

Ahead of the second round, officials appeared to be under a delusion that the US had accommodated their concerns as they regularly referred to the tacit US support for Sino-Pak nuclear cooperation at a recent meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group in New Zealand.

But Ms Clinton not only candidly acknowledged that the legacy of suspicion cannot be wished away, she also surprised simpletons in the Pakistani camp by voicing concerns over the Sino-Pak nuclear cooperation, asking it to respond to the worries in the international community.

“NSG has posed series of questions that need to be answered … there are clearly reservations. Pakistan knows that. I’m looking forward to the answers to the questions,” she said at the joint media conference.

She mentioned some of those concerns at the town hall meeting – Pakistan’s history of proliferation and its position on FMCT.

“The problem with A. Q. Khan raises red flags for people around the world, not just in the US, because we can trace the export of nuclear information and material from Pakistan through all kinds of channels to many different countries. That cannot be overlooked or put under the carpet. Pakistan, right now, is the only country standing in the way of the Conference on Disarmament pursuing something called the Fissile Material Cut Off Treaty.”

AFGHANISTAN RECONCILIATION
The line taken by the secretary was softer than what senior Obama aides, and more importantly the new ISAF commander in Afghanistan Gen Petraeus, has been articulating recently.

She clearly said the US would not oppose any reconciliation effort as long as the group has proven sincerity.

Prior to Clinton’s visit the indications from Washington were that there was no room for a political settlement with the Haqqani Network.

This position had in fact forced Pakistan to halt its efforts for working out a peace agreement, launched last month, between the Haqqanis and Kabul.

But, surprisingly, Clinton took a rather middle ground, saying: “We had never rejected that (reconciliation), but cautioned to enter realistically with respect to sincerity and lasting commitment that is made. We are not rejecting any offer.”

There was a lot of emphasis on caution in her remarks as she said that Pakistan may proceed, but with its ‘eyes wide open’ given its past failed experience of making peace with militants in Swat.

She also spared no effort in her interaction with anchors to make Pakistani strategists realise that Haqqani network was a future threat for Pakistan even though it may have not struck inside the county as yet.

In a reference to the reintegration of low and middle ranking cadres, an approach preferred by the US over reconciliation, she suggested there were many young men who were forced into fighting, but could be salvaged.

Besides, there was a clear leaning towards militarily acting against warring factions.

Ms Clinton also deemed it appropriate to repeat on this occasion the usual American official’s catchphrase that Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar were in hiding in Pakistan, but ulike her last visit she stayed short of accusing Pakistani officials of being aware of their presence.

Nevertheless, she expressed US helplessness at getting hold of them. “We don’t have a clear idea how best to get to these people, whom we consider to be our primary enemy. We would like to work more closely together to go after them and capture or kill them.”

WATER DISPUTE
The secretary of state, curtly rejecting Pakistan’s request for help in solving its water disputes with India, asked it to first manage its own resources before seeking external mediation.

“Pakistan has to get control of the water you currently have, because if you go to a mediation body and say water is being diverted, the first response will be you are not efficiently using the water you have,” she said.

In the Strategic Dialogue document prepared by Pakistan, Islamabad had placed the water crisis with India as the foremost issue of concern.

Pakistan has the world’s most extensive system for irrigation and transportation of water, but it has “been neglected and fallen into disuse” and steps need to be taken to address the situation, she said during her interaction with television anchors.

KASHMIR
On the longstanding Kashmir dispute, which was one of the issues that caused an impasse in the India-Pakistan trust-building talks last week because of India’s refusal to discuss it, the secretary of state indicated that Washington would continue with its hands off policy.

“We can only encourage, we can’t solve (the Kashmir issue) because at the end of the day, this is an issue (to which) there is no dictated response. This is what Pakistan must do, this is what India must do.”

However, she said US would like Pakistan and India to sustain their renewed engagement process.

STRATEGIC DIALOGUE
A joint statement issued after the second ministerial meeting said: “Secretary Clinton conveyed the United States’ support for Pakistan’s socio-economic advancement. In this context, she said the United States would, in particular, support programmes and projects in the priority areas of energy and food security and social sector development. Secretary Clinton announced US assistance for signature projects in energy, water and health.”

“The United States will also continue to assist Pakistan in reconstruction and rehabilitation in areas that have been affected by terrorism, especially Swat, Malakand and South Waziristan Agency,” the statement added.

Moreover, the Pakistan government expressed its continued commitment to eliminate extremism and militancy and to undertake legal and structural reforms in order to promote good governance and open the way to economic growth, development and prosperity.


DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Hillary?s iron fist in a velvet glove

 

[trident2010]

When all the answers are "NO" then what is this strategic dialogue all about ?

These visits more look like a factory owner checking on its workers and telling them to work fast else they won't get a day's salary.

 

[Spitfighter]

indicated that Washington would continue with its hands off policy.

“We can only encourage, we can’t solve (the Kashmir issue) because at the end of the day, this is an issue (to which) there is no dictated response. This is what Pakistan must do, this is what India must do.”

So much for the UNSC resolutions, straight from the horse's mouth. Oh but wait, let me guess, the US doesn't count anymore does it?

I hope we can put the 'India is violating its intl' obligations' argument to rest now. The resolutions on Kashmir are obsolete.

 

[Donatello]

Stupid lady. Doesn't know jack about Afghanistan or Pakistan.

Three US Presidential terms, number of military commanders, NATO alliance and 9 years of losses later, she has no clue as in how to talk.

 

[blain2]

Water issue was a known. There is absolutely no reason for our politicians to cry like donkeys when they cannot get themselves to agree on building dams.

Kashmir issue and US stance has been known for decades. What she has said now is no different. Pakistan has always looked to internationalize this issue and will continue doing so...I certainly was not expecting any support from the US on this issue.

The only real issue is the Pak-China nuclear deal. Despite all the reservations, the issue is one between China and Pakistan. Based on the news reports concerning this issue, Pakistan is likely to get the deal. Ms. Clinton can try to lecture Pakistan over her concerns, yet the real issue even at NSG is that after the pass given to India and the fact that Chinese are going to grandfather the supply to an understand reached prior to China's joining of the NSG, the US and NSG members may not have much a choice.

 

[Hulk]

About the UN resolution have you ever seen any UN official talking about it?

 

[blain2]

Stupid lady. Doesn't know jack about Afghanistan or Pakistan.

Three US Presidential terms, number of military commanders, NATO alliance and 9 years of losses later, she has no clue as in how to talk.

Part of the blame should go on the donkeys in our foreign office and the government. The "sub accha" reporting they do after interacting with the Americans usually always backfires. It would be better for them to disclose the American point of view to the Pakistani public very clearly. The downside for our government is that if they do so, then they can't get away with giving in to the Americans so easily.

 

[Hulk]

Water issue was a known. There is absolutely no reason for our politicians to cry like donkeys when they cannot get themselves to agree on building dams.

Kashmir issue and US stance has been known for decades. What she has said now is no different. Pakistan has always looked to internationalize this issue and will continue doing so...I certainly was not expecting any support from the US on this issue.

The only real issue is the Pak-China nuclear deal. Despite all the reservations, the issue is one between China and Pakistan. Based on the news reports concerning this issue, Pakistan is likely to get the deal. Ms. Clinton can try to lecture Pakistan over her concerns, yet the real issue even at NSG is that after the pass given to India and the fact that Chinese are going to grandfather the supply to an understand reached prior to China's joining of the NSG, the US and NSG members may not have much a choice.

Agreed all these response are expected. I feel our politicians should learn to be more well behaved. There are certain things that are best discussed secretly.

 

[blain2]

About the UN resolution have you ever seen any UN official talking about it?

Not talking about the UN resolution does not mean its not there. UN officials never deny the resolution. However the situation on the ground is that for as long as there isn't enough pressure, things don't move fast enough.

 

[Donatello]

There goes the " strategic dialogue" .The USA is just looking at its own concerns ie to clean up the mess in Afghanistan.

Since Pakistan's economic weaknesses are well known ,US will keep forcing Pakistan to do more and take cash in return ,without giving any help in kashmir , water issue , and Nuclear deal.

Pakistan will take whatever cash comes its way because the economic crisis is getting worse.

The Pakistani Finance minister recently warned the PM about A NEW CRISIS in the making by december 2010.

Please provide a source other than an Indian hyped up media which tells Pakistan is going into an economic crisis.

The crisis is there because of security concerns and general uncertainty.

In the cities it doesn't look like one anyway.

 

[jbond197]

Not talking about the UN resolution does not mean its not there. UN officials never deny the resolution. However the situation on the ground is that for as long as there isn't enough pressure, things don't move fast enough.

UN resolution is still there but do you think its valid anymore?
Firstly the resolution was for whole J&K not only Indian administered Kashmir that included Aksai Chin as well but the ground realities has changed now where a part of Kashmir is gifted over by Pakistan to China and Aksai Chin is administered by China and on top of that Pakistan never honored the resolution by pulling out PA and Tribals from Kashmir at the first place.

Now real question is that if the demographics has changed so much and none of the conditions were fulfilled by Pakistan itself then how come anybody demand a plebiscite or something??

In that perspective, is it wrong to say that the UN resolution do exist but is not implementable in todays scenario? Things have changed so much since the passage of resolution that it has lost its worth and can not be forced upon anybody.

 

[karan.1970]

Please provide a source other than an Indian hyped up media which tells Pakistan is going into an economic crisis.

The crisis is there because of security concerns and general uncertainty.

In the cities it doesn't look like one anyway.

does the imf bailout of 2008 ring a bell. considering 50% of pakistan's forex reserves today are made of the same bailout money

 

[blain2]

There goes the " strategic dialogue" .The USA is just looking at its own concerns ie to clean up the mess in Afghanistan.

Since Pakistan's economic weaknesses are well known ,US will keep forcing Pakistan to do more and take cash in return ,without giving any help in kashmir , water issue , and Nuclear deal.

Pakistan will take whatever cash comes its way because the economic crisis is getting worse.

The Pakistani Finance minister recently warned the PM about A NEW CRISIS in the making by december 2010.

Pakistan will weather it as it has done many other financial crises inshallah. The basics of the economy are strong.

 

[blain2]

UN resolution is still there but do you think its valid anymore?
Firstly the resolution was for whole J&K not only Indian administered Kashmir that included Aksai Chin as well but the ground realities has changed now where a part of Kashmir is gifted over by Pakistan to China and Aksai Chin is administered by China and on top of that Pakistan never honored the resolution by pulling out PA and Tribals from Kashmir at the first place.

Now real question is that if the demographics has changed so much and none of the conditions were fulfilled by Pakistan itself then how come anybody demand a plebiscite or something??

In that perspective, is it wrong to say that the UN resolution do exist but is not implementable in todays scenario? Things have changed so much since the passage of resolution that it has lost its worth and can not be forced upon anybody.

The resolution in place is a starting point. I don't think pragmatists on either side expect the solution to be totally along the lines of the original resolution. Some adjustments are only realistic in light of changes over the past 60+ years.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

All matters can be resolved with India moving out peacefully , indians would still be welcomed to visit