In the wake of Saturday’s NATO/ISAF air strikes on two Pakistani border posts that killed 24 troops and wounded another 15, the intelligence-sharing, which is critical to counter-terrorism and a communication channel to pass on information about the militants and terrorists’ movement on both sides of the Pak-Afghan border, has also suffered a blow following the blocking of supplies to Afghanistan, notice to the US to vacate Shamsi airbase and Islamabad’s refusal to participate in the Bonn Conference.
As the Obama administration tries for the restoration of NATO supplies and withdrawal of Islamabad’s demand for the airbase to be vacated, through secret channels it is also urging Pakistan to raise the level of intelligence cooperation, which is the most vital component of counter-terrorism.
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) chief General David Petraeus called his Pakistani counterpart Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief General Ahmad Shuja Pasha seeking restoration of intelligence cooperation two days ago, but Islamabad declined to cooperate until certain important steps were taken by the US with a formal apology at the top level.
The other demands of Pakistan are stern punishment for NATO officials involved in the strike, compensation to the victims’ families and a firm assurance that such an act of aggression would not be repeated.
Apart from intelligence cooperation, military-to-military ties between Pakistan and the US have also suffered to a great extent but channels are being kept open on the request of Washington to iron out differences that erupted after the attack in Mohmand Agency.
“Some important calls are being made at the level of the military leadership, with the US side expressing condolences over the killing of Pakistani soldiers and asking for reversal of anti-Washington decisions, but they are being told that the government would decide what should be the future nature of Pakistan-US ties,” said a Pakistani official, who asked not to be identified by name.
ALTERNATIVE ROUTES: A diplomatic source meanwhile confirmed that the US and other NATO states were looking for alternative routes to ensure a smooth supply of goods to their troops stationed in Afghanistan.
However, he hastened to add that Washington and its allies were exploring other routes even before the Mohmand Agency strike and one could say that the process had been accelerated.
“NATO reduced 50 percent of its dependence on Pakistan when it comes to supplies for Afghanistan before the Mohmand Agency strike and if the situation doesn’t improve between the two sides, the level would be reduced further with shifting of the goods to other routes,” he said.
At present, he said, the US authorities were more concerned about the loss of intelligence cooperation with Pakistan and equally important, the role of Pakistan in the Washington-backed Afghanistan reconciliation process with the Taliban, which they see as not paying any dividends without Islamabad’s support.
“So it is exactly these two things that the US administration has been urging Pakistan to not walk away from, as that would be catastrophic for Washington’s exit strategy for Afghanistan,” he said.
Pakistan was left with no alternative. Pakistan's stand is justified and has the support of the people of Pakistan at home and abroad.
Pakistan's demand which are as follows are also justified:
" punishment for NATO officials involved in the strike, compensation to the victims’ families and a firm assurance that such an act of aggression would not be repeated".
Web administrator.
In case you are trying to remove certain undesirable words like the 4 letter words this is a ludicrous move to just block one word and have it replaced by a star.
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Web administrator.
In case you are trying to remove certain undesirable words like the 4 letter words this is a ludicrous move to just block one alphabet and have it replaced by a star.
Can you look into this. Thank you
paki newspapers are entertaining…on one hand you have this story and at another place in the same newspaper you print that pak and us communicate and avert another attaack…check all facts..maybe visit a relaible world news site and then print…morons..
how can you say for sure there was an intel sharing to avert any such escalation
I didn't know Indians could be that stupid the story that you see on the side of this news in the recommendations was published in June.
these are indian trolls bro. always on pakistani website degrading and humiliating themselves
@rk……Though you calling us morons, however you do pay a visit to Pakistani website and go through an article..and that's not all..you do leave a comment too !! What an ignorant blabber american
Very fair response…
But when are you getting around with your 'F' problem?
Good for USA. What intellegence the friends of Alquaida/Taleban and fabricators of LeT will share ?
You need to check your facts books, for WHO created, supported and nurtured these organization from inception till maturity??? Blinded, with one eye? sure you're!
@Harleen America exports terrorism in other countries to gain advantage over resources, land or society. Talibans are one of the many products of USA. America creates insurgency in countries. Arab spring has nothing to do with Arab community. Demon Cracy is from USA. What else would you like to know? Intelligence sharing? You can't even spell Intelligence. Let me give you a piece of Intelligence Sharing. GROW UP…….. As For Pakistan We Are ALLHUMDULILLAH a hard bone to swallow.
Then why are you so worried Harleeen. Hahaha.
For the Millionth time i suppose
Intellegence sharing was one sided even before this.
Our ISPR can better enlighten us in this regard
would that we should follow this tough policy from the very begning.any how for next generation,we must be welaware.
The best thing that can come out is if the US shifts its supply route away from Pakistan. From the looks of it they don't want it any more than we do. We are destroying our roads, our law and order situation and getting nothing in return.
I say good riddance!!
It is not Pk’s war that our soldiers our fighting. .It is America’s war.. If the US could find another ally except us, it would have done that ages ago.. The US lost 303 lives in the 9/11.. and PK has lost 45000 lives.. US need to realize that America’s 9/11 is PK’s 24/7.. PAKISTAN ZINDABAD
"America's 9/11 is PK's 24/7.. " – well said! There is a lesson to be learned. That's where American tax payer dollars are spent as does the lives of the third world countries. But there is no diminishing fortune of our leaders, civil or military, as a consequence.
US needs to be taught a lesson now …get on the back of taliban again let them rot in afg
as for as history of pakistan is concerned it wud be nothing less than a revolution if military-intelligence sharing with u.s. hanged on long term basis… i hope
Paki sucks paki dick
Paki’s are ugly and gross yuck. I don’t know why America let’s you in this wonderful country. Our country is slowly deteriorating because of these ugly “things” or pakis rather.
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