AN interesting twist has emerged in the latest story of accusations and counter-accusations between the US and Pakistain. Army chief Gen Kayani... four star general, current Chief of Army Staff of the Mighty Pak Army. Kayani is the former Director General of ISI...
has issued a surprisingly restrained statement in response to Adm Mike Mullen`s blunt allegations about Pakistain`s support for the Haqqani network, describing them as "very unfortunate" and "disturbing". While he claimed they are "not based on facts", his tone still made for a relatively controlled reaction to what some are calling the most serious American accusations against Pakistain since the start of the alliance in 2001. Did it reflect an awareness on the army chief`s part that the US has shared, or at least possesses, concrete proof to back up its claims? If so, the time has come for Pakistain to rethink its approach to the Haqqani network. Quite aside from the demonstrated risks of a defence strategy that involves harbouring handpicked bad boys, one of the last things Pakistain can afford is to be proven a controller of attacks against Americans in Afghanistan.
| "Y'all want to listen to those cell phone conversations again, General?" |
But temperatures are still heated, with public opinion in both countries no doubt being shaped to some extent by their hawks, from former Jamaat-i-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad preparing the nation for war to those American politicians seeking to cut off all aid and ties. Meanwhile,
...back at the abandoned silver mine, the water was up to Jack's neck and still rising...
government officials, although more restrained, continue to convey the irritation of their respective militaries; both Pakistain`s prime minister and its foreign minister have made bold statements about the costs to the US of losing Pakistain`s support. And on the Pak side it is ultimately the military that runs the show when it comes to relations with America. Its next steps will be interesting to watch, because that institution now has some tough choices to make.