Pakistan: Ally, Enemy, or Somewhere in Between?

[Xing Daorong]

Personally I think Pakistan, under Musharraf has become more of an ally than in the past and is, imo, the biggest ally in the War on Terror. Before the United States winning a sweeping victory in Afghanistan NO foreign power had been able to conquer or occupy Afghanistan for over 800 years. Pakistani logistics and military support to keep militants from regrouping and crossing the boarder like they let them do against the Soviets ensured a much quicker victory.

[Xing Daorong]

When one thinks of Afghanistan from an educated perspective, one might think of mixed ethnicities, the former Taliban regime, opium trade, poverty, or towering mountains. But the one country that slips the minds of many today is Pakistan, a country that has experienced a major reversal in foreign policy since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. I'm here to give everyone a little briefing on the modern history of Pakistan and why it seems like such an unpredictable player in global politics.

In 1999 Pakistani paramilitary forces as well as funded and equipped militants of Kashmiri background intruded past the de facto Indian border. The intrusion force consisting of Kashmiri militants, Pakistani professional and paramilitary soldiers, and Afghan mercenaries numbered roughly 5,000. The army chief involved on the Pakistani side of this conflict was none other than Pervez Musharraf, on the Indian side, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee gave the orders. The Pakistani-Militant forces captured several highpoints in Kargil, due to heavy Pakistani artillery support and the covertness of the moves, they went largely undetected by Indian forces, but when militants allied with the Pakistanis ambushed and killed an Indian soldier patrol group the conflict quickly escalated. Vajpayee quickly authorized what was Operation Vijay in which the Indian Air Force would provide support while the Indian Army mobilized some 200,000 troops. But due to the difficulty and harshness of the terrain, only 20,000 were able to go fight. The war was brief, hundreds of casualties mounted on both sides and India re-took Kargil. The tensions in Pakistan, because of this, were ready to erupt. Following an attempted coup, Musharraff assumed executive authority over Pakistan and became "president" officialy in 2001.

Origionally many members of the Pakistani government, military, and intelligence services, had sponsored and supported al-Qaeda members operating within Afghanistan as well as the brutal fundamentalist Taliban regime running Afghanistan. But September 11, 2001 drastically changed Pakistan, with Musharraf being an openly supportive leader of the United States and the War on Terror, but an opponent of the ongoing War in Iraq. The problem with Musharraf turning his back on the Taliban and allying Pakistan with a country like the United States, which was not looked very fondly upon in the region, was that several people within Pakistani politics and the military continued to support militant activity than continued to go on in western Pakistan and across the border in Afghanistan. Now we have seen major combat operations by the Pakistani military in Waziristan, Wana, and other largely tribal provinces with militant support. Just two months ago a Pakistani assault chopper blew up an al-Qaeda safehouse in Waziristan, killing over twenty militants. In January, during an origionally controversial U.S unmanned drone attack in Waziristan, Pakistani agents confirmed that the U.S strike had killed a top al-Qaeda bomb expert as well as multiple militants.

But Pakistan in the eyes of many foreign policy analysts seems like a very shady country. And considering the lack of public support for Musharraf, it has led many to believe that Pakistani citizens seem more ready to pledge their support to the likes of Osama bin Laden than Musharraf or his Western allies. Musharraf has already had four failed attempts on his life, some of which involved suicide bombers, car bombs, and in general militant activity. In my view it shows that the militants view Musharraf as a genuine threat, and the fact they would send someone to kill themselves just to try and kill him shows perhaps their desperation at being squished between coalition forces in the east along the Afghan border, and Pakistani forces actively patrolling the tribal regions of the west. I don't know if he is a good man or not, considering he is an autocratic ruler it's hard to say, considering there have been many reports of human and civil rights abuses within Pakistan but when compared to other dictators in Asia and the Middle East, Musharraf's track record looks decent. I don't know whether or not to call him an "ally" completely, regarding morally and militarily, but Pakistan has certainly been a major help to American forces and imo, Afghanistan would have and still would be a much tougher war had it not been for Pakistan's support.

----------------- ~~Some Wanted Terrorists the Pakistani Government Has Captured or Killed:~~

Amjad Farooqi- Wanted terrorist involved in the Daniel Pearl murder.(Killed)

Khalid Shaikh Mohammed- Mastermind of the 9/11 attacks.

Abu Faraj al-Libbi- al-Qaeda's once "Number 3" man, Libyan of descent.

Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani- Wanted in connection with the bombings of the U.S embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998.

Mustafa Setmariam Nasar- Wanted in connection with the Madrid train bombings.

Shammin Ahmed- A leader of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi militant group that is known to be connected with al-Qaeda.

Shahab-ud-Din (as well as four of his un-named associates)- Wanted in connection with the decapitation of Daniel Pearl.

Abu Zubaydah- A wanted al-Qaeda operative.

Sharif Al-Misri- A wanted al-Qaeda operative of Egyptian descent.

Ramzi Yousef- al-Qaeda member charged with bombing the World Trade Center in 1993, was turned over to the U.S shortly after his capture in Islamabad in 1995. -----------------

Now when one looks at the track record of the Pakistanis at capturing high profile terrorists like Khalid Shiekh Mohammed and Ramzi Yousef, anyone can tell that these guys know what the are doing. And because they know the topography, demographics, and culture of the largely tribal regions and cities these guys are caught, they can identify the threat and take ithe threat out way before intelligence agents in Washington are even done locating him.

It is in my view that if and when Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zwahiri are captured, they will either be led handcuffed into Pakistani hands, or have their body riddled with Pakistani bullets, not a U.S soldier miraculously finding him and taking out the most wanted man in the world like we would imagine. So even if Pakistan is an ally with a shaky government and many anti-American as well as pro-al Qaeda intelligence agents, it has proven to be the most valuable ally in the War on Terrorism and the key to capturing bin Laden and his close knit ring of operatives lies in Pakistan. If he is caught anywhere else I have a feeling it will be in the mountainous region of Iran or Bangladesh, somehow those are the only other places I think he could hide for awhile.

But what are your thoughts on Pakistan and her role in the War on Terror and International politics?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oh yeah some fun facts about Pakistan:

-Pakistan is the 6th most populous country in the world.

-Karachi is the largest city in Pakistan, not its capital Islamabad.

-Pakistan got its name from Choudhary Rahmat Ali's famous political pamphlet "Now or Never" where muslim homelands where layed out and called for their unification. P was Punjab, A for Afghan areas in the region, K being Kashmir, S for the Sindh province, and stan from the Baluchistan. Don't ask me where the "I" comes from I'm not sure.

[Yo-Yo]

Pakistan is just like Saudi Arabia. The governments are both allies of ours, but the people hate us.

[Responsibility2nd]

But what are your thoughts on Pakistan and her role in the War on Terror and International politics?

Watching those rat bastids cheer when the towers fell turned my blood cold.

They can rot in hell.

[Xing Daorong]

I don't know, you have to see some of the reforms Musharraf has made, fiber optics, new electronics facilities, and an improved quality of life for his people. As far as dictators go, Musharraf is loads more of an honest man than the Dummocrats over here, he is a dictator who actually strives to help his people. As the quality of life improves in Pakistan the people there won't think as harshly as they do of Western nations as they do now.

[Xing Daorong]

Not some of the "Pakistanis" I'm talking about the government and how it has been laying down a major asskicking on militants in the Western regions like Waziristan and Wana, where tribes are everywhere, essentially al-Qaeda country.

Musharraf has struck such a low note with these militants that he has has FOUR attempts on his life involving suicide bombers and car bombers. This only reinforces the idea that Musharraf is doing his job against these bastards who are killing innocent people and coalition soldiers.

[neddah]

"Pakistan got its name from Choudhary Rahmat Ali's famous political pamphlet "Now or Never" where muslim homelands where layed out and called for their unification. P was Punjab, A for Afghan areas in the region, K being Kashmir, S for the Sindh province, and stan from the Baluchistan. Don't ask me where the "I" comes from I'm not sure."

Not so sure about all this......istan means islamic paradise...

[Xing Daorong]

No no, "istan" mainly means "Land of </blank>" like Afghanistan is "Land of the Afghans". The political pamphlet put a spin on the last part so Baluchistan could be included as a Muslim homeland.

[Responsibility2nd]

Good points. And while I'm no expert on Pakistani relationships, I still remain skeptical with Pakistan/India relations, Pakistan/Taliban relations as well as Pakistan/US relations.

[FreedomNeocon]

Here is the big secret...

On 9/12 Musharraf recieved a call from Bush and got the 'you are with us or you are against us' speech.

Quite literally.

We knew it was Taliban in Afghanistan and we knew the Paki Intel was VERY, VERY, VERY close to them.

Musharraf chose with us, and was the most important, and strongest arab ally, ESPIALLY that early on with as much as they did.

There is still ALOT of terrorist activity within the country... mabye even more than Saud... but he is also doing more about it.

Sadly pakistan is one nation where democracy would severly hurt us (at least before it all went to hell for a few months/years and 'grew up')

Hopefully they will benefit from Iraq as well.




Of course Pakistan is rife with terrorists, Musharif is just hoping to whittle them down

[FreedomNeocon]

Here is the big secret...

On 9/12 Musharraf recieved a call from Bush and got the 'you are with us or you are against us' speech.

Quite literally.

We knew it was Taliban in Afghanistan and we knew the Paki Intel was VERY, VERY, VERY close to them.

Musharraf chose with us, and was the most important, and strongest arab ally, ESPIALLY that early on with as much as they did.

There is still ALOT of terrorist activity within the country... mabye even more than Saud... but he is also doing more about it.

[ClaireSolt]

I saw something recently that indicates that we have been more active in Pakistan than I realized. We have poured money and effort into it in preparation for democratic elections next year. Read a book about the country and find out it is a whole different world.

[Xing Daorong]

Good post. :)

[Xing Daorong]

The U.S has invested billions in Pakistan I think for military, commercial, and strategic advantages and their economy is going up I believe. We probably would bank money on elections but I would be wary of doing that considering the progress Pakistan has made under Musharraf.

[MikefromOhio]

Personally I think Pakistan, under Musharraf has become more of an ally than in the past and is, imo, the biggest ally in the War on Terror.

They aren't nearly the biggest ally in the WOT. That would be Britain.

[Bean Counter]

Pakistan has always had it's own agenda, and it always will. I don't consider any country a true ally when they have a leader who is in power by way of a Coup. (And no, the 2000 elections don't qualify as a coup, for you DUmmies out there!)

I think it's a matter of Musharaff knowing which side his bread is buttered on, and peacefully cooperating with the US, while trying not to piss off the Islamic radicals in his own country. He does it because right now it is in his best interest to do so, and he will continue to cooperate until it is not in his interest to do so...

It's a tenuous relationship at best...

[yankeedame]

A wee bit of history on Pakistan's first 20 years. Draw your own conclusions.

First there was: Muhammad Ali Jinnah

(December 1876 - September 1948) Founder of Pakistan.
Died of tuberculosis shortly after becoming Governor-General.

=============

Then there was:

Liaquat Ali Khan

(1895-1951. Ruled 1949-1951)

First Prime Minister of Pakistan. Took over leadership on the death of Jinnah. Assassinated by political rival, Oct. 1951.

===============

Then there was:

Khawaja Nazimuddin

(1895-1956, rule 1951-1956)

The second Governor-General of Pakistan, and later the second Prime Minister of Pakistan as well.
"Dismissed" by new Governor-General Ghulam Muhammad.

==================

Then there was:

Ghulam Muhammad.

(1895-1956, ruled Oct. 1951- Oct. 1955)
Claiming poor health, Ghulam took a leave of absence in 1955. The acting Governor-General, Iskander Mirza, soon dismissed him. Ghulam Muhammad died soon after.

=================

Then there was:

Iskander Mirza

(1899-1969, ruled: 1955-1958)
Appointed himself "President of Pakistan". Over thrown, and succeeded by his handpicked C-in-C of Pakistan Army,Ayub Khan. Mirza died in exile in London.

==============

Then there was:

Ayub Khan

(1907-1974, ruled: 1958-1969)
In 1969 decided to give up rule. Turned over control of Pakistan to General Yahya Khan, whom he had previously appointed chief martial law administrator.

[Xing Daorong]

In terms of loyalty, yes Britain has that title, but in terms of overall value it is Pakistan.

[MikefromOhio]

No I don't think so...

That would go to either Kuwait or Qatar or both

[Xing Daorong]

Believe me, Musharraf has done more than an ample job at thouroughly pissing off the Fundies and the militants in Pakistan, the military gunships are popping al Qaeda afehouses in Waziristan, one of their choppers took out like 47 militants in January.

[Bean Counter]

I certainly won't dispute that Musharaff has made some serious efforts in the War on Terror in his own country.

I'm just saying that I'm not ready to commit to having his likeness carved into Mount Rushmore just yet, if ya catch my drift...