Pakistan will never root out terrorists

President Barack Obama and his advisors engaged in extensive discussions on the policy for Afghanistan and came up with the solution  to add 30,000 more U.S. troops to the 68,000 now in Afghanistan.

         Many security experts admire the President and his closest advisors. They want to do what is in the best interest of America.  Nevertheless, American policy experts completely ignored the double game of Pakistan.

 President Obama explained his decision to increase  military involvement in Afghanistan as follows:  “I make this decision because I am convinced that our security is at stake in Afghanistan and Pakistan”. Pakistan is the epicenter of violent extremism practiced by al Qaeda. It is from here that America was attacked on 9/11, and it is from here that new attacks are being plotted . Most of the anti infidels websites are originated from Pakistan. Pakistan army is involved in the recriitment, training and deploying Jihadi terrorists worldwide.  This is no idle danger; no hypothetical threat. In the last few months alone, India and several European countries have apprehended extremists trained in Pakistan to commit new acts of terror. And this danger will only grow if America withdraws its forces from Afghanistan. Without American army in Afghanistan, al Qaeda can operate with impunity.  The world must keep the pressure on al Qaeda, and to do that, democratic nations must increase the pressure on Pakistan. More aids for Pakistan means additional training opportunities for Jihadi terrorists.

          To accomplish his goals, America should establish stringent conditions for Pakistan aid. Intelligence agencies of India, Israel and India must work together and share information. America must mold the Afghan army and police force into modern, effective institutions.  Today they are corrupt and incapable of fighting effectively against the Taliban and Al Qaeda                                                                                                                                                                           

 The American plan was further explained by his Secretary of Defense Robert Gates who stated, “It’s the beginning of a process.  In July 2011, our generals are confident that they will know whether our strategy is working, and the plan is to begin transferring areas of responsibility for security over to the Afghan security forces with us remaining in a tactical and then strategic overwatch position, sort of the cavalry over the hill.  But we will begin to thin our forces and begin to bring them home.  But the pace of that, of bringing them home, and where we will bring them home from will depend on the circumstances on the ground, and those judgments will be made by our commanders in the field.”

          In a similar vein, the U S Secretary of State Hilary Clinton has stated, “What we’re talking about is an assessment that in January 2011 we can begin a transition, a transition to hand off responsibility to the Afghan forces.  That is what eventually happened in Iraq.  You know, we’re going to be out of Iraq.  We have a firm deadline, because the Iraqis believe that they can assume  and will assume responsibility for their own future.  We want the Afghans to feel the same sense of urgency.  We want them to actually make good on what President Karzai said in his inaugural speech, which is that by five years from now, they’ll have total control for their defense.”

          America has been in Afghanistan for eight years, since 2001, during which time they have tried to train the Afghan armed forces, apparently without success.  So, why should the President conclude that what America could not accomplish in eight years, The US will now be able to do to some extent in 18 months, or worse still, in five years, which means for Americans 13 years of war in Afghanistan? America is wrong in assuming that Afghanistan is the only problem. Jihadis are trained, equipped and directed by Pakistan.  Pakistan has been playing games with western nations and deceptively diverting aids for training Jihadi terrorists against India.

          Some security experts say that unless the world restrain Pakistan Jihadi terrorism will continue unabated. Without restraining Pakistan, the land war in Afghanistan is unwinnable.  Indeed, if America by any definition were to win in Afghanistan, it would be a pyrrhic victory, since Afghanistan really does not matter anymore.  The real threat is nuclear-armed Pakistan, where the Taliban and Al Qaeda are seeking dominance and already operate in the tribal areas and cross the border with impunity.  It is fair to conclude that the Pakistani army will ever root out the Taliban and Al Qaeda, which are perceived as allies against India, the enemy with which Pakistan has already fought three wars. Pakistan has been diverting billions of dollars for several years of American aid for trainng Jihadis against India without any restraints.

           Scott Shane of The New York Times in an article on December 6th, discusses the quandary of American soldiers fighting in Afghanistan.  He wrote, “The Taliban can plan an attack from Pakistan and execute it in Afghanistan.  Their fighters – or Al Qaeda’s leaders – can slip across the border to flee, or to rejoin the battle.  At the same time, the Americans can fight openly only in Afghanistan, not in Pakistan, and the Taliban know it.”

           The Obama administration expects to increase  attacks in the tribal regions in Pakistan, particularly with drones.  The New York Times article  continues, “That has been changing all year, however, and it is about to change even more, as the Americans gear up for an intensified war on both sides of the line simultaneously.  The dispatch of 30,000 additional Americans to the Afghan side of the border will occur simultaneously with more intensive missile strikes from drone aircraft and Pakistani army offensives on the other side.”

           This coordinated strategy will not last long.  When the Pakistani media begin to campaign that Americans are killing large numbers of innocent civilians, the weak Pakistani government will denounce the attacks by the U.S. calling for an end to the bombings and killings of alleged innocent civilians.

          The world must not forget the feelings of the Pakistanis.Times reporter Sabrina Tavernise in a Times article of December 6thy  high lighted the hostility of pakistanis against India, Israel and America .  She interviewed a prominent Pakistani psychiatrist who said to her, “The real terrorists are not the men in turbans we see on Al Jazeera…They are wearing Gucci suits and Brit hats.  It’s your great country, Madam…It’s coming from Americans, Jews and Indians.  It’s an axis of evil that’s being supervised by you people.”  Tavernise reported, “This is not such an unusual view in Pakistan, even if the tone was particularly harsh.  At 62 years old, Pakistan is something of a teenager among nations, even in its frame of mind – self-conscious, emotional, quick to blame others for its troubles.”

           The economic cost of Afghanistan war is staggering for America.  It may not produce positive result in the long run. Pakistan and Afghanistan will still train Jihadis against India and America.

           It is time for India to rethink its defense policy priorities. India should defend its homeland from all enemies, no matter the cost.  However, India should really evaluate and acknowledge their real enemies from without and within. India will be more effective in their battles against foreign  and doemstic terrorists if Indian government can cease the appeasement policies. Jihadi terrorists who commit heinous crimes against innocent civilians have no fear, guilt, remorse or empathy for the victims. For the safety and security of the country, Jihadi terrorists actual or potential should be identtified, cornered and contained by all means.

Responses