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[zahidkramet]

Connecting the dots

Zahid U Kramet

A report filed by AFP on December 22 had incumbent and future US Defence Secretary, Robert Gates, pledging to forge a stronger partnership with Pakistan for its economic development, as well as its fight against extremism and insurgency.

Speaking on the Public Broadcasting Service’s Charlie Rose show Mr. Gates reminded that Pakistan had lost thousands of soldiers in the war on terror and that it had rendered significant support in facilitating the passage of supplies to the West’s forces in Afghanistan.

An APP report posted on the same day covered Joseph Biden’s address on ABC’s This Week programme during the course of which the US Vice President-elect inferred India was complicit in the regional unrest reportedly in saying “And, I think we have a situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan…It implicates India.”

India, then, despite the empathy evoked with the Mumbai attacks, was being regarded with a degree of suspicion, more so when its numerous ‘trade’ consulates along the Afghanistan- Pakistan border were brought under closer scrutiny with the restiveness in the Pakistan’s north-west remaining rampant.

But, hardly had a new course for future US- Pakistan relations been envisioned in the light of this, “an independent bipartisan think tank of US experts” forwarded a gloom and doom message and the US intelligence services chorused that the next terrorist attack on America would emanate from Pakistan.

This team of experts featuring such luminaries as Lisa Curtis of the Heritage Foundation, John Gastright of Dyan Corp, Daniel Markay of the Council of Foreign Relations and Kara Bue of Armitage International who assembled in Islamabad a week ago, ruled that “Pakistan lacks both an effective counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency strategy”, to present the paradigm of ‘intervention’ as the solution.

This was reinforced by the media broadcast that the US was to up the troop surge in Afghanistan from 20,000 to 30,000, with General David Petraeus, the commander of the US forces in the area cautioning in a letter issued from the Central Command’s headquarters a “tough fight” in Afghanistan was forecast.

On cue, the panel of experts’ support of the Biden-Luger legislation which had committed $1.5 billion annually to Pakistan for non-military expenditure was qualified by the statement that the assistance “must be performance-based and accompanied by rigorous oversight and accountability.”

Simultaneously the media blitz against Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) sharpened, with the aforementioned panel of experts assessing that “the ISI is no longer certain that the coalition forces will prevail in Afghanistan and (so) is using militant groups in an attempt to expand its own influence.”

US-Pakistan relations visibly strained, India has availed the opening to up the Mumbai-massacre hype to fever pitch, beyond the shadow of doubt persuaded by the unrelenting insurgency in Kashmir, and notwithstanding the world’s guarded response to India’s belligerent stance.

Connecting the dots, the picture that emerges is an India at its wits end in combating the unrelenting insurgency in Kashmir and violence against the minorities around the country and, in accusing Pakistan of “using terrorism as an instrument of state policy”, has found a willing listener in the US, which confronts parallel problems in Afghanistan.

However, as the world at large has recognized, the solution is not to be found in an escalation of the war effort, but dialogue, albeit with the forces of insurgency. Unfortunately this harsh reality continues to elude both the US and India, neither which countries, at the moment, appear amenable to measures outside the battle theatre.

[Junaid Raza]

No offense to the author of this post but this article is nothing more than snippets from various newspapers and news websites. I feel that to make this forum more interesting forum members should post original ideas, thoughts and concepts. Otherwise this forum will become a news portal or an articles library (which is not a bad thing but not exactly what a forum should be).

[Spearhead Research]

Employing news snippets to present a picture is a style of writing used by many a scribe wishing to sound less than fractious. It is intended to be informative rather than opinionated, and is primarily directed at the discerning reader. But, of course, it might miss the target where opinion, of itself, is sought.

[Junaid Raza]

I understand that Zahid U Kramet is on Spearhead Research Panel of Experts so he must be well informed. I had merely given some suggestions which may have helped Spearhead Forums improve its readership and user activity.

Last remark by Spearhead Research was extremely defensive and sort of insulting. I have been writing on this forum for a long time now and I feel that I have all the right to give suggestions. Spearhead may or may not use my suggestions but there is no need to shoot down my or any other forum member's suggestions. They should be taken positively!

[Spearhead Research]

We certainly did not mean to be insulting and we apologize if we caused offence. And, please be reassured that forum member's suggestions will always be welcome -- yours especially by virtue of long association. The comment you took exception to was meant to be explanatory of a style of writing, no more. We're sorry if it did not come out as such. Please know too we hold your contributions in very high regard and look forward to receiving them as always.

[jaykay]

Let me butt in here. Spearhead values opinions and suggestions. Junaid is quite right in saying that he has been a long time contributor and he has made very useful contributions---in fact he heas been trying to get this forum going. We want him to continue his association with us.
Zahid is perhaps making the point that you can use material if you end up making suggestions. Junaid is right in saying that in an opinions forum you should have only original content. We should learn from both views and do what it takes to keep the forum lively.
We need not be defensive and of course no one wants to be insulting---a misunderstanding but a great learning experience for all of us.So let us pull together to activate this forum. Spearhead has yet to get a full time moderator because of constraints ---we need all the help that we can get

[Junaid Raza]

I appreciate the concern and attention Spearhead Research has shown. General Karamat Sb's comments are always to the point and highly constructive.

I will of course continue to post on these forums...

[H Khan]

If I may indulge in some unsolicited advice:

I think Spearhead Research should have some type of small seminar, symposium or group discussion on webinar or similar online mode.

This type of format would generate interests amongst the active members and it will not cost much.

Since I'm affiliated with Pakdef Military Consortium www.pakdef.info I would suggest some type of bilateral mode initially. I think with the vast membership (4,700+) of Pakdef and Spearhead Research membership both identities would benefit tremendously.

We can always use the post-Bombay scenario as a starting point and I think this topic will generate a lot of interest.

Again, my apologies for this unsolicited advice.

hkhan@pakdef.info

[farazjk]

Some very nice suggestions by Mr H Khan. Spearhead Research will definitely look into these options. All input from all our valued members is greatly appreciated and valued by Spearhead Research.