Strained relations

A test of diplomacy in Chicago

Pakistan’s important allies including Turkey desperately want the Nato supplies to be restored. What stands in the way is the hype created by the establishment, opposition and a section of the media after the highly condemnable Salala attack. What was needed was a well thought out response keeping in view the political, economic and military clout of the country. The government under pressure from those who matter, however, immediately banned the Nato supplies. The army refused to join the Nato investigation into the circumstances leading to the tragedy and rejected the explanation given by Nato. Other rash decisions that followed included a boycott of the Bonn Conference and tripartite talks. The Parliament put up the demands for an apology and an end to the drone strikes. The country now faces the consequences of unrealistic decisions.

The US has decided to follow a “light footprint” policy in Afghanistan. US troops would end their combat role in 2014 after which the responsibility for national security will be taken over completely by the Afghan army and police. The US would rely on strikes from a distance that include drone attacks wherever these would be needed. This would save the lives of the US soldiers and help reduce the US defence budget.

The strategy could lead to catastrophic results. Kabul is bound to fall to Taliban once the Nato troops are out along with their sophisticated weapons and airpower. A Taliban-dominated Afghanistan would serve as the strategic depth for the TTP militants who would redouble their attacks inside Pakistan. There is a need on the part of the US to realise that this does not bode well either for the region or the international community. Islamabad on its part should stop pipe dreaming. Both need to find a way out to continue their cooperation to rid the region of militancy and extremism.