Attack on Mullah Mansoor pushing Taliban away from negotiations: PESA

Says real motive behind drone attack is to damage growing Pak-China ties

The Pakistan Ex-servicemen Association (PESA) has said that the US attack on Mullah Akhtar Mansoor in Balochistan has sabotaged the efforts of Pakistan to bring the Taliban on the negotiating table.

It is a general perception that the real reason behind the US attack was to damage the growing links between Pakistan and China, it said.

This was observed in a meeting of the executive council of PESA presided by its Senior Vice President Vice Admiral Ahmad Tasnim, SJ & Bar. Admiral Fasih Bokhari, Air Marshal Masood Akhtar, Lt Gen Naeem Akbar, Brig Mian Mahmud, Brig Javed Akhtar Khan, Brig Arbi Khan, Col Dalel Khan, Brig Masud ul Hassan, Capt Akmal Shah (Navy), Ch Zia Naseem Ghumman and others.

They condemned the American drone attack dubbing it as a gross violation of international laws and sovereignty of Pakistan, and also an act to sabotage Pakistan’s efforts to bring the Taliban on negotiating table again.

The attack gives credence to the perception that real target was the growing economic links between Pakistan and China, otherwise he could have been targeted in Iran, from where he entered Pakistan, they added.

The former military leaders said that while continuing our efforts to mend our fences with USA, Pakistan cannot afford to weaken its links with China. We also need to develop closer links with Russia and Iran, they added.

They observed that rejection of financial support by the US Senate for the purchase of eight F-16 fighter aircrafts is no doubt regretful, but more dangerous is the clause that requires certification from the US government that force is not being used against elements that are demanding political freedom.

With this clause, the US Senate has come out in the open about its support for the Balkanisation of Pakistan. It is surprising why our government has not responded to this clause, they added.

An anti-Pakistan trend in the US Congress and media shows that Pakistan’s sacrifices and efforts towards winning the Cold War have been thrown in a dust bin, they said, and continued: “We are now being pressurised to follow America’s revised strategy in the region”.

They added that we have not had any capable foreign minister for the last eight years. “We cannot make the US change its geo-strategic policies, but an effective foreign minister could have gone around the world, explaining Pakistan’s case,” they pointed out.

They observed that in recent months, a number of high profile cases of corruption and anti-Pakistan activities of some prominent personalities and political workers have come to light and are under investigation and trials.

Members expressed their concern that although it is being claimed by various agencies that these cases would be taken to a logical conclusion, but not a single major case has been finalised as of yet.

All eyes are now set at the outcome of investigations regarding Panama Papers, they said, and added that: “Conflict of interests and politicisation of civil service are the root cause of this problem. An honest officer does not feel secure in his position”.

Ministry of Religious Affairs and Council of Islamic Ideology should give a top priority to revert our mosques to their original status, as not only a place for worship but also as centres of peace and unity for the Muslims according to the values set by the Holy Quran, they concluded.