Senator Kerry's heavy baggage

by Ayaz Ahmed Pirzada
May 18, 2011

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/1444/senator-kerry-heavy-baggage

The US Senator Kerry is carrying a heavy baggage when he arrives in Islamabad. He visit is taking place at a time when decades old relations between the intelligence agencies of Pakistan and the United States are said to be next to nothing. The vibrant exchange of information between ISI and CIA started when during Gen Musharraf's regime Pakistan became a front line state in war against terrorism. But after the Abbatabad raid by the US navy SEALS killing Osama Ben Laden with out taking Pakistan into confidence the ISI felt betrayed by the CIA giving a jolt to decade old close cooperation. The Senator's crucial talks in Islamabad would be an attempt to repair the damage caused by mistrust on the Pakistani premier intelligence during the operation in Abbatabad. This operation is also seen by Pakistan as a flagrant violation of its sovereignty.

The United States as on several occasions in the past would use the threat of Congressional cuts to the $3 billion in yearly American aid to Pakistan as a bargaining chip. The US has a rich trove of information it says it obtained during the attack in Abbatabad and if any linkage of Pakistan is found giving protection to Osama that would be used in the talks in Islamabad. But so far the US authorities have found no such proof which could establish any role of Pakistan facilitating Osama's stay in Abbatabad. According to the New York Time (May 14): "Senator. Kerry's main piece of negotiating leverage is Pakistan's uncertainty about what officials are finding in the trove of computer about Pakistani complicity hiding the Qaeda leader. American officials say they believe the top leaders of the country were genuinely surprised about Bin Laden's whereabouts, based on their reaction to phone calls from the administration on the night of the raid and electronic surveillance of Pakistani government communications. But the officials strongly suspect that others in the government, the military or the Inter-Services Intelligence directorate, or ISI, the main intelligence agency, were aware of Bin Laden's location .Mr. Kerry will also raise an issue that the administration has refused to discuss publicly: Pakistan's escalating production of nuclear fuel to expand its arsenal of 100 or so nuclear weapons. Members of Congress, in closed sessions, have complained that since the $3 billion American annual aid to the Pakistani military is fungible, the United States is effectively helping bankroll the fastest-growing nuclear arsenal in the world. "It will jeopardize funding if that continues," Mr. Kerry said. In fact, according to some officials, the administration is on alert for signs that Pakistan's reaction to the Bin Laden raid could be an expansion, or repositioning of its nuclear forces. "The very public discussion that the raid showed the nuclear assets could be vulnerable to seizure may lead them to disperse them, or increase their number," said one United States official involved in monitoring Pakistan's nuclear program. It's a significant worry because the more they spread it around, the higher the risk something gets loose." In spite of using all pressure tactics America does not want breaking point in relations with Pakistan which is a nuclear state and its support is crucial for ending the war in Afghanistan. Given Pakistan's strategic location and providing the only viable transit route to NATO through Pakistan the US can not accomplish the mission in Afghanistan.

The raid in Abbatabad with out taking Pakistan into confidence, Americans say, was a tightly guarded secret so that it could not be leaked helping Osama to escape. The Pakistanis and their army felt insulted and humiliated by the treachery of a close friend to whom it lent support and even tolerated drone attacks on its soil. "The army chief was described as angered that the Obama administration failed to trust him enough to tell him before the raid, asserting that in keeping him in the dark the United States had alienated Pakistan 's best friend." Pakistanis felt embarrassed and vehemently criticized intelligence agencies for being ignorant about Osama's last abode in Abbatabad. Leaders of public opinion raised serious questions about the safety of their nuclear assets. People were stunned and a pall gloom was unleashed in the entire country the way the SEALS came in helicopters, killed Osama and safely took away his dead body.

The Chief of the army staff Gen Kayani who immediately went to various garrisons to take them into confidence, took a bold decision that heads of intelligence agencies should brief the parliament on the incident. This has never happened in the country's history that the army which ruled Pakistan for 44 years decides to seek the trust of the parliament. The DG, ISI, Lt Gen Pasha admitted to the parliament the failure of his organization and asked the nation and parliament to forgive him. He offered to step down if the parliament so desired .He conceded that Pakistan is facing several problems and does not have the latest technology to intercept intruding Stealth helicopters. After the testimony to the elected representatives by the spy agencies the parliament through a resolution, reposed full confidence in the army and the security agencies. The parliament's trust in the army is also seen by many as a nation's mandate. So the rules of parleys would be some what different than before when the people were never told about the secret agreements and understandings with foreign powers. So this time the civil and military authorities enjoying so much of faith of the nation should have a measure of dignity while talking to a long time friend.

DISCLAIMER: Opinion expressed in this article is solely of the author and may not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Weekly Blitz.

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