Pakistan's strategic enigma
By Sajjad Shaukat | Published: November 27, 2008- Digg
- StumbleUpon
- Text Size
The US War On Terror has enveloped Pakistan from all sides. Besides other drastic implications, it has also caused a grave financial crisis in the country. Even America refused to bailout Islamabad and compelled her to accept the 'conditionalities' of the IMF where Washington has a greater influence.
American high officials fear that Pakistan's deteriorating economy will further intensify the political turmoil and undermine its cooperation with the US, affecting the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan and tribal areas. On the other side, the US is increasing the multiple crises of our country through CIA-operated strikes on FATA, which have killed more than 200 people in the past four months.
During the recent visit of the US Central Command Chief General David Petraeus, PM Gilani and COAS General Kayani warned him that it was "not possible to ask our people to support the War On Terror when our sovereignty is violated everyday." Just after the trip of General Petraeus, attacks by American drones have continued unabated.
Meanwhile, CIA's Director, Michael Hayden has told a Washington think tank that in wake of US pressure on Al-Qaeda near Pakistan's border, "the region remains the biggest terrorism threat to the US."
However, the main aim of the US by these sporadic strikes seems to antagonise the tribal people against the government and to expedite radicalism among the young men, turning them into suicide bombers, ultimately giving a greater blow to the security of Pakistan and its democratic government.
The present strategic dilemma of Pakistan could be judged from the statement of PM Gilani who said in the Senate on November 12 that the biggest problem of the country was law and order and he "was ready to step down if anyone could come up with a solution to multifarious problems."
Here the question arises: who have made Pakistan, a strategic enigma and what are their designs. The fact of the matter is that the US-led India and Afghanistan are destabilising Pakistan through their respective intelligence agencies for their common interests. With continued subversive acts this year, even our civil and military leadership have pointed out that foreign hands are involved in creating lawlessness in the country. In this connection, Asian Tribune Online indicated: "CIA and RAW developed their tentacles in Swat, Bajaur, Kurram Agency and Balochistan. Some of the pro-Pakistan groups had been purchased or neutralised."







Your Opinion