However, for Pakistan, it is certainly very difficult to take on the Haqqani network. Because then, it would have to fight powerful vested interests in the Pakistan army and the ISI besides trampling on the turf of certain important politicians in the region. Moreover, if Pakistan chose to act against the Haqqani network, it would substantiate India’s allegations that the government of Pakistan is involved in patronising Al-Qaida and other militant outfits. This is a risk that Pakistan cannot possibly afford to take as the move would expose its double standards globally.
On the other hand, ever since these reports came to light, the US has understood how important is it for the American interest in the war on terror to uproot the entire Haqqani network and its nexus with the Pakistan army, intelligence and the political administration. But so far it has failed to force Pakistan to act against the network. All that the otherwise pushy US has been able to do so far is issue directives regarding how Pakistan should act against the Haqqani network. However, instead of putting the issues into perspective, the directives have created more problems. On top of it, Clinton’s visit that was meant to smooth the troubled relations ended up in a disaster of sorts. And some sharp reactions from Kayani, rather a kind of a warning to the US, made matters even worse.
“The US will have to think 10 times before attacking Pakistan,” Kayani told a gathering in Pakistan. He further added that he had warned Americans that Pakistan did not require their military assistance as it’s a nuclear armed country and ‘not Iraq or Afghanistan’. It was for the first time that Pakistan had responded to the US in such a strident tone. The statements made by Kayani show Pakistan will not take things lying down even if it’s at the cost of impairing its special relationship with the U.S. The language, says Bhaskar Roy of the South Asia Analysis Group, is more dangerous than North Korea’s periodic outbursts. “According to Western analysts, Pakistan has continued to expand its nuclear weapons inventory (with help of China) and may soon hold the third largest stockpile of nuclear weapons in the world. Notwithstanding that, Kayani’s words are of grave concern,” he says.
In a way, it is the strategic interest of China in Central Asia that is stopping the US to act strongly against Pakistan. The US knows pretty well that once it walks out from the simmering Af-Pak region, China would waste no time in rushing in to fill the vacuum, mainly for two reasons. First, China’s entry into Pakistan would help it to check the rise of India and the Indian influence in the region. And second, if there is any threat to China in the Central Asia region, it is from India and the wider threat is from the US. So, by getting the US out of Pakistan, China not only would get a toehold in Afghanistan, but it would also be able to control Pakistan and effectively Central Asia, especially with respect to oil, natural gas and other important minerals. For China it would almost be a win-win situation. However, US interests are not very different either and it lies in the vast and untapped natural reserves in Afghanistan. Secret reports of the FBI and the CIA suggest that Afghanistan is an extremely rich place for several important minerals like uranium, diamond, gold and even several radioactive minerals. And that’s apart from the huge reserves of oil and natural gas that have been discovered in this region. So, the interests of both the US and China are somewhat common.
On the other hand, ever since these reports came to light, the US has understood how important is it for the American interest in the war on terror to uproot the entire Haqqani network and its nexus with the Pakistan army, intelligence and the political administration. But so far it has failed to force Pakistan to act against the network. All that the otherwise pushy US has been able to do so far is issue directives regarding how Pakistan should act against the Haqqani network. However, instead of putting the issues into perspective, the directives have created more problems. On top of it, Clinton’s visit that was meant to smooth the troubled relations ended up in a disaster of sorts. And some sharp reactions from Kayani, rather a kind of a warning to the US, made matters even worse.
“The US will have to think 10 times before attacking Pakistan,” Kayani told a gathering in Pakistan. He further added that he had warned Americans that Pakistan did not require their military assistance as it’s a nuclear armed country and ‘not Iraq or Afghanistan’. It was for the first time that Pakistan had responded to the US in such a strident tone. The statements made by Kayani show Pakistan will not take things lying down even if it’s at the cost of impairing its special relationship with the U.S. The language, says Bhaskar Roy of the South Asia Analysis Group, is more dangerous than North Korea’s periodic outbursts. “According to Western analysts, Pakistan has continued to expand its nuclear weapons inventory (with help of China) and may soon hold the third largest stockpile of nuclear weapons in the world. Notwithstanding that, Kayani’s words are of grave concern,” he says.
In a way, it is the strategic interest of China in Central Asia that is stopping the US to act strongly against Pakistan. The US knows pretty well that once it walks out from the simmering Af-Pak region, China would waste no time in rushing in to fill the vacuum, mainly for two reasons. First, China’s entry into Pakistan would help it to check the rise of India and the Indian influence in the region. And second, if there is any threat to China in the Central Asia region, it is from India and the wider threat is from the US. So, by getting the US out of Pakistan, China not only would get a toehold in Afghanistan, but it would also be able to control Pakistan and effectively Central Asia, especially with respect to oil, natural gas and other important minerals. For China it would almost be a win-win situation. However, US interests are not very different either and it lies in the vast and untapped natural reserves in Afghanistan. Secret reports of the FBI and the CIA suggest that Afghanistan is an extremely rich place for several important minerals like uranium, diamond, gold and even several radioactive minerals. And that’s apart from the huge reserves of oil and natural gas that have been discovered in this region. So, the interests of both the US and China are somewhat common.
Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).
For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
IIPM Best B School India
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman
IIPM's Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).
For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
IIPM Best B School India
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman
IIPM's Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
