The U.S.-Pakistan relationship faces new challenges, but recent media characterization of a breakdown in relations is clearly exaggerated, Islamabad’s ambassador in Washington Husain Haqqani stressed Sunday.
In a special writing for the CNN, Haqqani revealed that Pakistani
intelligence has detained or questioned many persons to identify
members of eliminated al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden’s support network.
“Even if some people were arrested for collaborating with a foreign intelligence service, that would not be different from the United States arresting Jonathan Pollard for spying on behalf of America’s friend Israel. Allies share intelligence. They should not be found conducting espionage on one another,” he wrote in the article put on the channel’s website.
Haqqani noted that public recrimination and cynicism is not the way forward.
“It is now time for all of us to take a deep breath and objectively evaluate the realities of the relationship between America and Pakistan in a way that furthers our shared goals and objectives.”
Commenting on mutual views - particularly on the Capitol Hill and among the Pakistani people - the ambassador wrote the U.S. Congress complains of lack of cooperation while the standing of the United States in Pakistan, which has not been high for decades, has sunk to what may be its lowest level in history.
Most Pakistanis mistrust the motives of the United States, believing America is somehow manipulating, exploiting, patronizing and treating them with contempt.
“The fear that the United States will desert Pakistan once again, as it did at the end of the war against the Soviets in Afghanistan in 1989, is widespread.”
The envoy argued that the bin Laden episode is a moment of introspection for both Pakistan and the United States.
On the Pakistan side, a high level commission—along the lines of the 9/11 Commission and Warren Commission—will determine how bin laden lived in Pakistan without detection and how we can improve our surveillance to root out other terrorists in our country. It will also investigate how a foreign force, albeit an ally, could penetrate our airspace and conduct a military operation without our knowledge.
“On the U.S. side, there needs to be an examination as to why the U.S. did not feel the need to inform Pakistani leadership of the operation, being sensitive to the negative signals unilateral military action send to the people of Pakistan about our alliance.”
“America asks whether Pakistan is an ally and can be trusted. And of course, the same questions are being asked about the United States in Pakistan.”
Haqqani reminded critics of Pakistan’s role that “there is an elected democratic government steering the bilateral relationship on our side after a long period of dictatorships supported by Washington. A democratic Pakistan will always be aligned with the values and interests
of the civilized world, and clearly with the free world’s leader, the United States of America, even when there are differences on some issues from time to time as among all friends.”
Pakistan has paid an enormous price in its fight against extremism and terrorism: 35,000 civilians killed, more Pakistani soldiers lost than all of NATO combined, 2000 police dead, the assassination of our leader Benazir Bhutto and massive losses to our economy in investment, trade and infrastructure, he wrote.
The diplomat clarified the oft-quoted inflated figures on U.S. assistance for Pakistan.
“We appreciate America’s help, but the notion that America has “given” Pakistan $20 billion since 9/11 needs to be seen in context. About $12 billion of this figure is Coalition Support Funds, reimbursements for expenses incurred by Pakistan in counterterrorism operations. They covered the cost of the fuel, ordinance, training and execution of counterterrorist operations.
“The blood, sweat, effort, grit and guts are those of a Pakistan that bears the brunt of the battle against terrorism, a battle clearly in the national security interests of the United States.”
Overcoming strains in any relationships require work and time, he underlined, while calling for toning down rhetoric.
“Both sides can and should do better to lower the decibels and strengthen the bilateral bond. Misleading headlines and selective leaks should not permanently undermine our relationship.
“There will be challenging days ahead, but the mutual benefit of our alliance cannot be overstated. As U.S. Adm. Mullen recently said to Congress: “If we walk away from it (the relationship with Pakistan), it will be a much more dangerous place a decade from now, and we’ll be back.” APP
Haqqani noted that public recrimination and cynicism is not the way forward.
“It is now time for all of us to take a deep breath and objectively evaluate the realities of the relationship between America and Pakistan in a way that furthers our shared goals and objectives.”
Commenting on mutual views - particularly on the Capitol Hill and among the Pakistani people - the ambassador wrote the U.S. Congress complains of lack of cooperation while the standing of the United States in Pakistan, which has not been high for decades, has sunk to what may be its lowest level in history.
Most Pakistanis mistrust the motives of the United States, believing America is somehow manipulating, exploiting, patronizing and treating them with contempt.
“The fear that the United States will desert Pakistan once again, as it did at the end of the war against the Soviets in Afghanistan in 1989, is widespread.”
The envoy argued that the bin Laden episode is a moment of introspection for both Pakistan and the United States.
On the Pakistan side, a high level commission—along the lines of the 9/11 Commission and Warren Commission—will determine how bin laden lived in Pakistan without detection and how we can improve our surveillance to root out other terrorists in our country. It will also investigate how a foreign force, albeit an ally, could penetrate our airspace and conduct a military operation without our knowledge.
“On the U.S. side, there needs to be an examination as to why the U.S. did not feel the need to inform Pakistani leadership of the operation, being sensitive to the negative signals unilateral military action send to the people of Pakistan about our alliance.”
“America asks whether Pakistan is an ally and can be trusted. And of course, the same questions are being asked about the United States in Pakistan.”
Haqqani reminded critics of Pakistan’s role that “there is an elected democratic government steering the bilateral relationship on our side after a long period of dictatorships supported by Washington. A democratic Pakistan will always be aligned with the values and interests
of the civilized world, and clearly with the free world’s leader, the United States of America, even when there are differences on some issues from time to time as among all friends.”
Pakistan has paid an enormous price in its fight against extremism and terrorism: 35,000 civilians killed, more Pakistani soldiers lost than all of NATO combined, 2000 police dead, the assassination of our leader Benazir Bhutto and massive losses to our economy in investment, trade and infrastructure, he wrote.
The diplomat clarified the oft-quoted inflated figures on U.S. assistance for Pakistan.
“We appreciate America’s help, but the notion that America has “given” Pakistan $20 billion since 9/11 needs to be seen in context. About $12 billion of this figure is Coalition Support Funds, reimbursements for expenses incurred by Pakistan in counterterrorism operations. They covered the cost of the fuel, ordinance, training and execution of counterterrorist operations.
“The blood, sweat, effort, grit and guts are those of a Pakistan that bears the brunt of the battle against terrorism, a battle clearly in the national security interests of the United States.”
Overcoming strains in any relationships require work and time, he underlined, while calling for toning down rhetoric.
“Both sides can and should do better to lower the decibels and strengthen the bilateral bond. Misleading headlines and selective leaks should not permanently undermine our relationship.
“There will be challenging days ahead, but the mutual benefit of our alliance cannot be overstated. As U.S. Adm. Mullen recently said to Congress: “If we walk away from it (the relationship with Pakistan), it will be a much more dangerous place a decade from now, and we’ll be back.” APP
