Revising the rules of engagement
Prime Minister Gilani, while briefing the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) about the decision to revisit the national security paradigm, said that staying aligned with the United States was the best way to achieve peace in Afghanistan. The committee met on Friday to discuss the November 26 Nato strikes on the border posts in Mohmand Agency and endorsed the Cabinet’s decision to get the Shamsi airbase vacated and boycott the Bonn Conference despite opposition from some participants on the latter issue. Those supporting the view that Islamabad’s absence from the conference will make the whole exercise meaningless must be mistaken. As a matter of fact it can only increase the risk of Pakistan becoming irrelevant in an important initiative to craft Afghanistan’s future.
That the PCNS did not lend credence to Mr Gilani’s wise counsel about working closely with Washington and Kabul is not hard to fathom in the wake of public outrage. It is unfortunate that the politicians representing at this parliamentary forum have not been able to comprehend that their decision can adversely impact our capability of fighting terrorism especially when the US Senate has passed a bill blocking military aid to Pakistan.
Then there is also a threat emanating from the Nato commanders planning a substantial offensive in eastern Afghanistan aimed at militant groups based in Pakistan.” They have hinted at an escalation of aerial strikes as well as ground attacks on insurgent hideouts on our soil. ISAF Commander Gen John Allen has been quoted by The Guardian as saying: “the need to confront sanctuaries was one of the reasons we are shifting our operations to the east”.
There is no disputing the PM’s observation that terms of our engagement with the United States, NATO and ISAF have to be reviewed on the basis of sovereign equality, mutual interest and respect. But when military response to such transgression is not a choice owing to our technological disparity then diplomacy remains the only means to resolve the issue.
Then there is also a threat emanating from the Nato commanders planning a substantial offensive in eastern Afghanistan aimed at militant groups based in Pakistan.” They have hinted at an escalation of aerial strikes as well as ground attacks on insurgent hideouts on our soil. ISAF Commander Gen John Allen has been quoted by The Guardian as saying: “the need to confront sanctuaries was one of the reasons we are shifting our operations to the east”.
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