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Anti-US sentiment sweeps across Pakistan
FT ^
| Jan 4 2002
| Edward Luce in New Delhi and Farhan Bokhari in Islamabad
Posted on 01/03/2003 11:05:47 AM PST by swarthyguy
Relations between the US and Pakistan have frequently come under strain since Islamabad joined Washington's anti-terror coalition in September 2001. But the two countries have mostly succeeded in keeping their frictions out of the public eye.
That guard now appears to be slipping. On Friday a senior US military official caused outrage in Pakistan when he said that American troops had the right at any time to cross into Pakistan on counter-terrorist operations.
It followed an exchange of fire between US soldiers and a Pakistan border guard last weekend that provoked a US bombing raid on a religious school in which the guard had apparently taken refuge.
US and Pakistan officials disagree as to whether a 500lb bomb fell on Pakistan or Afghanistan soil. But after Friday's assertion of the US army's right to "hot pursuit" that disagreement seems academic.
Instead, the focus is increasingly turning to what appears to be a surge of anti-American feeling in Pakistan. "Anti-Americanism is the issue that unites almost all shades of political opinion in Pakistan," said a senior western diplomat. "Six months ago it would not have even figured except among the Islamist parties."
Why have Pakistan's 140m people turned so vehemently against the US? Husain Haqqani, a former adviser to two Pakistan prime ministers, says that Pakistanis fear that the fraught history of US-Pakistan relations is repeating itself.
They think of the 1980s, when the US established warm relations with the military ruler Zia-ul-Huq because it needed Islamabad's help in ousting Soviet occupying forces from Afghanistan.
Once the Soviets had been defeated, Washington quickly reverted to a critical stance over Pakistan's relations with "rogue" states such as North Korea and its nuclear weapons programme.
Today, Washington needs the co-operation of General Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's military president, in its hunt for the remnants of al-Qaeda and the Taliban. But friction is growing as time goes on, especially with the reappearance of Pakistan's apparently unbroken clandestine ties with North Korea.
"The similarities with the 1980s are striking," said Mr Haqqani. "I don't think there is anyone in Pakistan who believes that America wants a lasting relationship. They believe Washington will dump Pakistan without a second thought once it has served [US] interests."
In a speech last week Gen Musharraf implied much the same thing - albeit in the context of Pakistan's continued dispute with India over the divided state of Kashmir.
Many in Pakistan had hoped that Islamabad's co-operation in the war on terror would be rewarded by Washington's assistance in helping to push India to the negotiating table on Kashmir.
Instead, the US and its allies routinely describe Pakistan-trained "freedom-fighters" in Kashmir as "terrorists". India appears to have won the diplomatic game. "Nobody will come to our assistance [against India]," said Gen Musharraf. "We have to fight alone ourselves."
Aslam Beg, one of Gen Musharraf's predecessors as head of Pakistan's military, says America is also in danger of repeating its mistakes in Afghanistan, which has allegedly dropped off Washington's list of priorities.
"Afghanistan is divided into five regions, each ruled by a separate warlord," said Gen Beg. "America seems to have forgotten the fact that instability in Afghanistan will swell the ranks of these ['terrorist'] groups as it did in the early 1990s."
On the US side, there is growing suspicion that Pakistan is not providing all the support it can in the joint operations along the 2,400km Afghan-Pakistan border.
But there is still a strong sense that Gen Musharraf is the best leader Pakistan has got, in spite of misgivings about both his commitment to democracy and his ardour in closing down home-grown terrorist groups.
This view is also a source of deep resentment in Pakistan. "There is a mistaken belief in the Bush administration of 'après Musharraf le deluge'," said George Perkovich at the Carnegie Endowment in Washington. "This has encouraged the US to turn a blind eye to Gen Musharraf's manipulations of the democratic process."
But there is no reason to suppose that a genuinely civilian regime in Pakistan would have opposed the US anti-terror coalition, says Mr Perkovich. Furthermore, few believe there is any danger of Islamists taking power in spite of their strong showing in October's controversial national elections.
"Once again the US is backing a military regime at the expense of democracy," says Mr Haqqani. "Washington should not be surprised if this makes it unpopular with ordinary Pakistanis."
TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: enemy; islam; jihad; pakistani; southasialist
Boo hoo hoo,
That old canard about the US abandoning Pak after the Soviets left Afghanistan.
If the US had stayed with a visible presence, cries of hegemonistic and imperialism would've been raised. Since it left and trusted its allies, saudi and Pak to do the right thing by improving the economic conditions of the two countries, which they failed to do, America gets blamed for the chaos -- directly due to the machinations of saudipak sponsored warlords in Afghanistan.
And --kashmiri "freedom fighters" and "terrorists" in quotes...shame to see FT fall for that bull....
To: swarthyguy
From the VOA/AFP
US Defends Right for Military Forces to Enter Pakistan
VOA News
03 Jan 2003, 13:52 UTC
The United States says it reserves the right for its military forces to enter Pakistan in pursuit of enemy fighters who flee there from Afghanistan.
U.S. military spokesman Major Stephen Clutter said in Afghanistan Friday that is a long-standing policy, although it has never been announced publicly. Major Clutter said the Pakistani government is aware of the policy and accepts it. However, recent news reports quote Pakistani government ministers as saying Pakistan will not allow such cross-border "hot pursuit."
Pakistan is an important ally in the U.S.-led war on terrorism. Thousands of troops are deployed on Pakistan's western border to stop Taleban and al-Qaida fighters fleeing Afghanistan.
In Pakistan Friday, hard-line Islamic leaders are staging nationwide demonstrations, denouncing possible military action against Iraq. Protesters rallied outside several mosques, chanting anti-U.S. slogans. The hard-line groups oppose Pakistan's support of the war on terror. They have called on U.S. troops to leave the region.
Some information for this report provided by AFP.
He he he.....Talk about a hornets nest being stirred up by Major Clutter.
To: swarthyguy
SINGAPORE: Japan looks at India as a “strategic partner” in the definitive context of new perceptions that are beginning to determine the course of the ongoing global “fight against terrorism”. ...
Reinterpreting Tokyo’s policy-orientation towards India, the Japanese Foreign Minister, Yoriko Kawaguchi, said Japan was cognisant of the importance of reinforcing its present global partnership with India from a “strategic point of view” too. ...
She also disclosed that New Delhi was assisting the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force’s vessels that were operating in the Indian Ocean area “in support of the international community’s fight against terrorism”.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_3-1-2003_pg4_12
To: swarthyguy
I don't know why the media insists on reporting about these stupid countries protesting. This is a non-event. These countries have been hating us for generations. What's news here? As long as I can remember some jerky country has been burning our flag or our president's effigy. Who cares! Same ole - Same Ole !
To: swarthyguy
Anti-US sentiment sweeps across Pakistan Anti-Pakistan sentiment sweeps across Kansas
To: swarthyguy
I predicted it over a year ago,pakistan will befall the same fate as Iraq.Use em if you gotem,take them out when you can.
To: belmont_mark; AmericanInTokyo; USMMA_83
Greater East Asian CoProsperity Sphere Ping....
Looks like the North Koreans have given the reticent Japanese a wakeup call.
To: swarthyguy
And the NK's won't like it much when the Japanese have nuclear arms.
To: *southasia_list
Looks like Major Clutter is in a mess of trouble....
US officer provokes uproar in Pakistan
By Farhan Bokhari in Islamabad and Edward Luce in New Delhi
Published: January 3 2003 19:34 | Last Updated: January 3 2003 19:34
A US major caused uproar in Pakistan on Friday when he said American forces had the right to conduct anti-terrorist operations on Pakistani soil.
The comments, from a US soldier serving in Afghanistan where American forces are hunting the remnants of al-Qaeda and the Taliban, come amid growing friction between the two countries in their 15-month joint anti-terrorist operations.
Earlier this week, a US aircraft bombed an abandoned religious school near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border after a shoot-out between US soldiers and a Pakistani border guard. The US says the 500lb bomb fell on the Afghan side; Pakistan disputes this.
“It has been a longstanding policy that if we are pursuing enemy forces, we are not just going to tiptoe and stop right when we get to the border,” said Major Stephen Clutter at Bagram air base in Kabul.
“We do reserve the right to go after them and pursue them and that is something Pakistan is aware of.” But a senior Pakistan official insisted US forces required Islamabad’s permission to operate on Pakistani soil.
Pakistan is expected to react formally on Saturday. The US State Department is expected to “clarify” Maj Clutter's comments.
“Whatever may have been the understanding between our two governments, these arrangements were not to be discussed publicly,” said a senior Pakistan official. “This makes a complete mockery of our position.”
The US statement triggered strong criticism from Pakistani politicians, including the country's Islamist parties that have recently taken power in the two provinces bordering Afghanistan. However, anti-US demonstrations attracted fewer people than the organisers expected.
The MMA coalition of six Islamist parties now govern Balochistan and North West Frontier province where many of the terrorist groups are believed to be hiding. They campaigned last October on a platform to expel US forces from the country and Balochistan recently released 32 alleged terrorists from detention.
Diplomats said the interests uniting the US and Pakistan were still stronger than the issues dividing them. Pakistan has deployed more than 60,000 troops on its border with Afghanistan, mainly in support of the US counter-terrorist campaign.
However, some analysts said Friday's comments would undermine General Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's military president. “Gen Musharraf may find it’s harder to pursue his pro-US agenda,” said Hasan Askari Rizvi, a political commentator. “Anti-US sentiment is bound to strengthen further.”
To: swarthyguy
If we hadn't let them go in the first place we wouldn't be having this problem.
There should have been 50,000 US troops on the ground sealing off the escape routs before our mercenaries backed up by another 50,000 US troops started the ground offensive. I was saying that back then.
We cannot defend ourselves if we are cowards.
The Afghan war was a failure because of US unwillingness to accept casualties. That's what Bin Laden was counting on. He was right.
One of the reasons Bin Laden felt secure enough to attack us in America was because of the demonstrated cowardice of our politicians to let the military do it's job.
Our soldiers are brave patriots and wanted to go. Our politicians are cowards of the lowest order.
11
posted on
01/03/2003 2:50:27 PM PST
by
stalin
To: Oldeconomybuyer
Anti-Pakistan sentiment sweeps across Kansas The sentiment just swept across Georgia, and is moving fast...
To: stalin
That's why last year i groaned and laughed that our fearless leaders would accept the fiction that the pakis would seal the escape routes out of torabora.
Heck, the pakistani army and border forces probably helped the binladin brigades escape and then found them shelter in Kashmir and Waziristan.
The chickens are just coming home to roost now.
But the fiction of the Durand Line is now out in the open.
And three cheers for Major Clutter, US Army. Bravo, Bravo!
To: swarthyguy
India never look this good as an ally!
To: swarthyguy
As you well know, as early as 9/12/2001 I was recommending a joint Indian - US military coup de grace that would have consisted of immediate blitz and subsequent invasion of Pakistan as the FIRST act in the war on terror. Proceed from there. Of course, one gets accused about being a brutal kaiser or warmonger with that sort of talk in this "gentle age" we find ourselves in.
One thing I find remarkable in most articles of this sort is the failure to mention what, from a long term strategic geopolitical standpoint, is the most important objection the US OUGHT to have with Pakistan - the relationship with the PRC and subsequent long term encirclement of India coupled with the surge for the strait of Malacca maritime choke point.
It is indeed encouraging to see Japan finally stepping up to the plate. Also of note is the increasing deep and solid military relationship between India and Taiwan. Maybe someday the US will get on board with more than words and feeble fragments of action. I look forward in particular to the serial production of armaments by Japan using her vertically integrated and still substantial industries. This is something we now lack in the US and will, likely sooner rather than later, deeply regret. Well at least there's lend lease from Japan if things get really bad!
15
posted on
01/07/2003 12:24:15 PM PST
by
GOP_1900AD
(Un-PC even to "Conservatives!" - Right makes right)
To: belmont_mark
Right up your alley ping...
http://www.saag.org/papers6/paper579.html
Pak enshrined the concept of Nuke Blackmail deterrence being used by NK now.
There were reports this past spring of very highlevel TaiwanIndian military contacts.
To: swarthyguy
SAAG are alright in my book! One of my favored sources! Of note from the article, I found the statement about the US not wanting India to be the regional hegemon to be intriguing. Given that the US cannot hope to achieve such status due to our weak overall presence on mainland Asia (e.g. ever since our totally unforgivable abandonment of Thai bases in the late 1970s - which I argue, was akin to something like walking away from the Fulda Gap!), then that would leave the PRC - not good! Are we REALLY that dumb? (I suspect we ARE!)
All I can say is, for the Right to be successful in India in terms of true military posture, then they MUST overcome the issues with the US mentioned here. As I see it, the best way to do that would be to work on raising the level of alarm amongst the Beltway crowd to, not just Pakistan, but, the combined PRC, Pak, Lao, Burmese posture vis a vis ASEAN / Malacca. This would resonate and open the back door to an unavoidable exposure of the ugly baby that is the current US - Pak one sided (in Pakistan's favor) relationship. I've read "Bush at War" and can clearly see how incorrect geopolitical paradigms (e.g. the inheritance of the now outdated "Northern Tier" mentality which was heavily pro-Pak and anti-Indian), and not expediency, led us down the road to kissing Islamabad's rear end. Course correction is yet possible, but will be increasingly painful the longer we delay.
17
posted on
01/07/2003 2:47:28 PM PST
by
GOP_1900AD
(Un-PC even to "Conservatives!" - Right makes right)
To: belmont_mark
The result of India's moralizing and hectoring of the USA during the ColdWar...Nehru's refusal to send troops to Korea,...India's refusal to join SEATO CENTO etc....India's unpreparedness for Kissinger's move into China....
Lot of history to overcome.
But on the bright side, the two countries recently signed a treaty excluding each other's personnel from the ICC and discussions on missile defence are proceeding strongly, if quietly.
But one of the alqaeda jihadi bases is Kashmir. Until the world deals with that...India could and would've if not for the calls for rrestraint all last winter and spring...
Anyway, spilt milk and all.
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