Consistent with the record of his boorish remarks, US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has threatened Pakistan that the US would “do everything it can” to defend its forces from Pakistan-based militants staging attacks in Afghanistan. He suspected the Haqqani network for the recent day-long siege of the American Embassy and NATO headquarters in Kabul and an earlier attack in which 77 US soldiers were injured. The US would not elaborate what action it would take, he added ominously.
The Foreign Office’s response to this statement that is nothing short of a declaration of war is too insipid to be of any substance. Even conceding that the fact of Afghan resistance boldly challenging the combined might of the US and NATO right at a time when Washington has been touting its successes in Afghanistan is a matter of great embarrassment to it, Panetta went too far in his aggressive style. A response that merely says it is “out of line with the cooperation that exists between the two countries…Pakistan condemns it but would not lodge a protest” is just ridiculous.
Panetta has accused the Haqqani group only on the basis that he “suspects” it to be responsible for the siege and the truck bomb attack. Clearly, he had no evidence to support his suspicion and the US should have been told in unmistakable terms that it would get a befitting response if it dared attack Pakistan.
It is no secret that the American drawdown is taking place not because the resistance has been put “on the back foot” as claimed, but because the US has become weary of fighting the intrepid Afghans for a decade and has yet failed to subdue them.
To hide the shame of defeat, the Pentagon is desperately trying to look for a scapegoat on whom to put the blame for the daring and successful attacks on the stronghold of its power; the security network of the embassy and the NATO headquarters covering all the routes leading to them must have been foolproof. The resistance’s penetration into that military cordon shows the freedom of movement, which the forces against the foreign occupation of their motherland, enjoy in Afghanistan.
There is no need for Pakistan to sound defensive. At a moment like this, there is dire need for both the ruling political set-up and the armed forces to be on one page and firm in their resolve not to be cowed down with such threats.
The perception that the politicians in power are out of step with the armed forces in refusing to bear the insults of aggression must be removed forthwith so that the likes of Panetta should know that they are going to come up against a nation fully united. The failed war in Afghanistan can only follow another frustrating venture. The US and allies had better pack up and go home, with whatever they are left with.
OSAMA AHMED
Karachi