Mansoor Ijaz, the person who is now all over the place. Ever since his controversial op-ed in the Financial Times he came to prominence, this Memogate has well boosted his publicity. The person who is entertaining people with new stories periodically has not yet provided any valid clue about his dubious identity. Isn’t he playing quite smart?
Anyhow the history about his social circle is quite interesting; he has links with the elite and top nerves of US, he drafted the memo for US top military and political brass, so is it that easy for an ordinary man to do so and if not then who dictated him the memo?
Why is out of bag now? Why is he revealing secrets about Haqqani now and who is backing him? Obviously, there is a mastermind controlling all the strings. Nevertheless, the recent revelation about him also demands consideration: Why he approached RAW to broker a peace deal between New Delhi and jihadis and who drove him to meet Hizbul Mujahideen’s chief? How is he able to approach the key intelligence agencies?
Most of the facts indicate him a CIA product but the possibility of being double agent cannot be ruled out; he can be a part of dangerous coalition or troika having anti-Pakistani sentiments. Whatever the truth is, we should keep in mind the potential traps which can possibly be designed to ignite mutiny in our imperative institutes. Beside, serious efforts should be made to know his dubious identity and game plan.
MOMINA ASHER
Islamabad
(II)
If Mansoor Ijaz has no credibility or is a man of shady character, how could he be so close to Pakistan’s ambassador to the USA, Gen James John and American government that his memo could reach Admiral Michel Mullen, the then chief of General Staff of American Forces?
Another important point is the text of the memo and its timing of unveiling it to the world media. Mansoor Ijaz could not write all this on his own and dare to send it to Admiral Mullen without some authority behind him. Either he had the blessing of Hussain Haqqani or it is a brainchild of CIA who used an influential Pakistan-born American.
The government of Pakistan should not delay finding the truth which perhaps is already known to our Prime Minister (who had a meeting with Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani discussing this memo) who is as usual gaining time by fighting a lost battle with his legal wizard Dr Babar Awan to complete his term of five years.
They are fighting the issue and not telling the public what actually happened. The government must expose the involved personalities and diffuse the public anger and stop the speculations.
MUHAMMAD AZHAR KHWAJA
Lahore