Gen Pasha be careful of Zardari, Haqqani

Amid ongoing vilification campaigns to demonise Pakistan Army and premier intelligence outfit Inter-Services Intelligence, to create distance between people of Pakistan and Army or security establishment, mounting pressure on General Headquarters for further military actions and carry out clandestine operations by CIAs cells across Pakistan, ISI Chief Gen. Ahmad Shuja Pasha undertook an unpleasant visit to the US Capital Wednesday to seek 'mutually acceptable arrangement, documented understanding between Pakistan and the United States in future collaboration and Pakistans total rejection to stationing of US militarys officers in Pakistan Armys different formations.
Officially we were told, Pasha was going to Washington to coordinate intelligence matters, the military said in a one-line statement.
Incensed over the bin Laden raid, Pakistan drastically cut the number of US military trainers allowed in the country and also set clear terms for US intelligence activities in the country.
Washington, responded by saying it was holding back $800 million - a third of $2 billion in security assistance - in a show of displeasure over the cutback of military trainers, limits on visa for US personnel and other bilateral irritants.
Despite protests by Pakistan in public, the United States has continued drone strikes in its northwest region, killing at least 48 suspected militants this week, one of the largest death tolls to date in the controversial air bombing campaign. At present Shamsi sand strip too has become an irritant which Pakistan wants to be controlled by itself.
Though the United States had adopted somewhat indifferent attitude vs Pakistan but it needs Islamabads support which it badly needs but feel shy in pushing forward to the civil and military leadership of Pakistan.
US wants Pakistan Army to hunt down remaining leadership of Al-Qaeda and its facilitation in its graceful exit from Afghanistan.
While the United States requirements from Pakistan are growing its dubious meddling into Pakistans internal affairs within the framework of different programmes within the framework of PakistanUnited States Strategic Dialogue suggests long term interests of the United States in Pakistan.
To comment on the latest Washingtons approach towards Pakistan, it clearly appears the US desires to dump Pakistan but it is hesitant in just giving up. There exist many areas where the United States need Pakistans support badly. These demands are not being voiced by American Congressmen and the military leadership.
After 9/11 the United States had forges non-documented deals with Pakistans civil and military leadership at different occasions. Starting from Collin Powels meeting with military President Pervez Musharraf and President Bushs meeting with his Pakistani counter-part at Camp David.
So far we are extracting what had exactly happened in June 2003, the $3 billion aid package was only a third of what Pakistan wanted and half of what it expected. The US President bluntly rejected pleas for F-16s fighter planes and suo motu raised the issue of democracy in Pakistan. And American officials made it clear the aid was contingent on Pakistan treading a straight and narrow path on non-proliferation and terrorism. Not exactly a meeting of hearts and minds, youd think. But for Pakistans military ruler Pervez Musharraf, US President George Bush stood up decisively for Musharraf on, calling him a loyal ally and a man of his word and signalling Washingtons full-scale backing for the embattled dictator in the face of wide-spread criticism of US policy.
In an astonishing defence of the now widely-reviled dictator, Bush told ABC News in an interview at his Camp David retreat: So far Ive found him to be a man of his word.
Surprisingly Musharraf never took his Foreign Minister Mian Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri to this visit of vital importance for Pakistan and the United States. The exclusion of Kasuri this time has given rise to speculation that differences have cropped up between the two due to Kasuris unhappiness. It was Camp David where the United States was successful in imposing unequal treaties with Pakistan. Documented or verbal.
During much of Bush presidency, US policy had coddled Musharraf and disregarded the 170 million people in Pakistan. With Musharrafs exit new Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wanted a decision on multiyear, civilian assistance for Pakistans infra-structure, energy, agriculture, education and womens empowerment in addition to media outreach.
Story does not end here where United States carried out its long term plan to subjugate Pakistan.
Real bad started on November 2008, when CIA Director Mike Haydn held a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari at New Yorks InterContinental Barclay Hotel, where Pakistans Ambassador Hussain Haqqani too was present. Subject came under discussion was How to avoid innocent and civilian lives getting killed by drone-fired missiles.
Zardari told Hayden ,Kill seniors. Selling out Pakistans pride, honour and self respect it was President Zardari who repeatedly said the Americans, kill the seniors. Collateral damage worries you Americans. It does not worry me. These are the kind of deals which will make mission of Gen. Pasha to Washington not only difficult but complex.
To me this was one of the biggest sell out made by Zardari-Haqqani team. Zaradri still lives in the Presidential Palace and Haqqani continues to be Pakistans ambassador in Washington. Are they accountable for their questionable role holding high offices?
Writer is a senior journalist and has reported for New York Times during 2nd Afghan War.