ISLAMABAD – US Vice President Joe Biden is coming to Pakistan with a “strong message” of support from the Obama administration to the political set up in Pakistan coupled with a warning of deep negative impact on Pakistan-US relations in case of any derailment of democracy.
“The US vice president, who arrives on a daylong visit on Wednesday, will deliver a strong message to all stakeholders in Islamabad including the military leadership that President Obama and his administration are for the continuation of present democratic set up in Pakistan, which is struggling in the face of serious political and economic problems,” a diplomatic source said.
He said Biden would also warn against the derailment of democracy in Pakistan as it would not be detrimental only to Pakistan’s own interests but would also bring serious harm to relations between Islamabad and Washington. The source said one major reason for the fresh process of reconciliation launched by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and well-reciprocated by the PML-N and the MQM, was the Obama administration’s displeasure over precarious political situation in Pakistan and crumbling economy.
“The main purpose of Biden’s visit to Islamabad is political, a show of support for the political system in Pakistan as otherwise all other issues could be discussed during the President Asif Zardari’s forthcoming visit to Washington slated for January 13,” the source said. An official at the Foreign Office said the US vice president would also urge Pakistani authorities to launch what his country believes the most vital military operation in North Waziristan against the sanctuaries of al Qaeda and Taliban militants.
“The operation in North Waziristan is bedeviling the ties between Washington and Islamabad. Pakistani authorities have been avoiding it because the armed forces are already overstretched operating in almost every tribal region against the Taliban militants but the US has been adamant in its demand for immediate start of this operation without which the Obama administration believes any success in Afghanistan on war front is impossible,” the official said.
He said Biden would opt for the stick-and-carrot policy during his talks with the president, the prime minister and the army chief, committing speedy disbursement of already committed economic assistance including military aid while making a strong demand for the North Waziristan operation.
“Biden could also announce an increase in the economic assistance for Islamabad,” the diplomat said. “The other matter of concern for the Obama administration is the grave economic crisis in Pakistan and Biden is expected to urge Pakistani leadership to exhibit more courage to go for corrective measures such as imposition of reformed general sales tax (GST),” he said.
