Enough Is Enough

Pakistan is passing through a most critical phase of its history which is not only threatening from strategic point of view but requires immediate and sensible steps as for as on tactical fronts. Pakistan which became a forefront and an important ally of USA’s resolve in war against terrorism after nine 9/11 in 2001 has played its role, beyond its limitations. USA and its scapegoats like Hamid Karzai have time and again criticized that Pakistan was not doing enough. There was a dire need to intimate Americans that enough is enough. But Musharraf government had been dragging the word given to USA to support them in their “Holy War”. Still Americans are not satisfied; they want more from Pakistan knowing the fact that Pakistan army which is one of the best armies of the world is itself engaged in different areas to eliminate terrorists from its soil. US army can never ever achieve better results as compared to Pakistan Army which know the terrain and the tactics. America is not winning the war in Afghanistan and its pity that America hasn’t learnt anything from USSR which not only was defeated by Afghanistan but was forced to be divided into many independent states due its deteriorated economy.

America seeing no clear cut success in Afghanistan now wants to change its war strategy and dimension by directly intervening into Pakistani areas in vague of chasing and eradicating so called terrorists. This would obviously be a clear violation of boundaries of sovereign Pakistan. Americans hegemonic designs are clear from a report published in New York Times that “President George W. Bush secretly approved orders in July allowing U.S. Special Forces to carry out ground assaults inside Pakistan without approval from the Pakistan government”. The report further narrates that “The new orders reflect concern about safe havens for al Qaeda and the Taliban inside Pakistan and an American view Pakistan lacks the will and ability to combat militants”.

On the other hand Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, has announced that he was commissioning a new military strategy that will cover both sides of the Afghan-Pakistan border. Mullen delivered this statement on the eve of the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 where he disclosed that the plans include the tribal regions of Pakistan, where Osama bin Laden and other Al-Qaeda leaders are thought to be hiding”. According to Mullen, their new strategy will allow American forces to fight militants in Pakistan's tribal regions as well as in Afghanistan.

May be Mullen would have been waiting for a strong appreciation from Pakistani government for very kindly including the name of Pakistan in their new strategy. But within hundred minutes of Mullen’s statement, Pakistan Army Chief, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani cleared their concepts while saying that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country will be defended at all cost and no external force is allowed to conduct operations inside Pakistan. He further said that the rules of engagement with the Coalition Forces were well defined and within that, the right to conduct operations against the militants inside own territory is solely the responsibility of the respective armed forces. There is no question of any agreement or understanding with the Coalition Forces whereby they are allowed to conduct operations on our side of the border. He reiterated that ultimately “it is our national interest which would always guide our policy”.

It was really a long awaited statement by some one responsible of strategic boundaries of Pakistan. America for being the team leader of the allied countries should at least respect their particular traditions, values and level of their self esteem. America instead of considering these nations a tissue paper should honor their resolve to eliminate terrorism from the world. Obviously changing American strategies create concern at the part of allied nations. Even NATO’s General Secretary has announced that NATO is going to retaliate only to the fire coming from other side of the border and NATO doesn’t have the mandate to enter into the borders of other sovereign countries.

No doubt General Kayani’s daring stance is closer to the wishes of the nation. How ever government of Pakistan should step forward to clearly inform NATO that Pakistan would be unable to support them logistically incase of any future violation. US allied NATO countries must realize that putting their troops and resources just for the American war will create unpleasant effects on their financial system. They must convince US to abstain from carrying out hostility in Pakistan, an established nuclear power and respect the sovereignty of other states. Any wrong policy in relation to war on terror will not only destroy the peace of the region but might plunge the world into another world war causing disaster to humanity.

America and NATO should realize that Pakistan Security Forces have given enormous sacrifices in this war and it is the presence of the Army which has restrained terrorist activities in FATA. It is the high time that America and NATO both should join hands with Pakistan to seal Pak Afghan border and fencing be ensured to stop cross border infiltration. If they feel there is a problem from this side of the border they must come out from the camps to address the issue. Only working on perceptions based strategies will not serve the purpose. In fact Mr. Bush is now short of time as after two months there are elections in United States and obviously Bush would not be in power. Chances of success of his party candidate are also very bleak. So he wants to give his nation a gift by entering forces into the boundaries of sovereign and an atomic country, Pakistan.

America has to think hundred times before going for this adventure because it can lead the region and the world toward a great adversity for the reason that Pakistani forces and its nation will never accept this exploration. Support of the people of Pakistan to its forces has always proved to be decisive. Hence America should reasonably consider what General Kayani said that “it is the multi prong approach, fully supported by the people of Pakistan which will help us defeat the threat of internal terrorism.”