Posted on 08/08/2008 12:24:52 AM PDT by Brian_Baldwin
India Daily Aug 3, 2008
Editorial: Sudhir Chadda
America can do it. It has large enough stick and carrot to do it. The Bush Administration is proceeding in the right direction. Finally the Americans have understood how terrorism works in Pakistan. It is based on the Pakistani spy network ISI. Now Americans have moved to force ISI (the mother of all terrorists) flush out its own creation.
US on Sunday asked Pakistan to get its intelligence network to work towards tackling terrorism that is affecting its neighborhood.
"Pakistan needs to get everybody lined up in the same direction if they are really going to tackle the terrorist problem," US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher, who is here as an Observer at the SAARC Summit, told reporters.
The indications are clear from Bush Administration. ISI's involvement in the bombing of Indian embassy in Kabul has finally made it clear how the terror network in the regions works centering on ISI.
"Our view is that it is important to have a good intelligence service in Pakistan, but it is also important for that intelligence service to work single-mindedly with other institutions to tackle the terrorist issue that affects so many people in Pakistan and its neighborhood," he said.
The bigger question is, however, who really controls ISI? Does Pakistani Government has any control over the clandestine operator ISI?
One thing is for certain, Pakistani Military is controlled by elements of ISI, This is more true as tussle between Musharraf and ISI elements has given more power to ISI in recent days.
Again the million dollar question is: who controls ISI?
Some international think tanks argue, it is the Taliban and Al-Queda that are in control of ISI and through ISI they also control the heart and soul of Pakistani Military.
It will an ultimate test of these theories as Americans try and push ISI to go after the terrorists finally.
The problem is that ISI has two components – the overt one that will try and oblige the Bush administration. But the shadow ISI perhaps will continue its terror mission as usual and perhaps intensify its efforts is desperation.
Given the animosity, largely religious based (heck, hatred at times) between India and Paskistan, I will take what an Indian newspaper writes about Pakistan with a grain of salt. That said, however, ISI has long been cited as a haven (an instrument at times) of radical Islam. I do not think this is news to US intelligence. What is news is that some in the ISI have been caught red-handed, given other reports. I hope the facts are pressed and a change (or cut off of aid) is pressed, but given the change in administrations in the US in the coming months, I am not sure the momentum to press things is there on the part of the US. Hope I am wrong.
Finally the Americans have understood how terrorism works in Pakistan. It is based on the Pakistani spy network ISI.
Can America make Pakistan’s notorious ISI work to flush the terrorists out?
No, America cannot make Pakistan’s ISI flush terrorists, Many in ISI sympathize with the Islamic terrorists, some in ISI are Islamic terrorists.
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