“I have made it clear to Afghanistan’s neighbour – Pakistan – that it can and should be an equal partner in this process in a way that respects Pakistan’s sovereignty, interests and democratic institutions. In pursuit of a durable peace, America has no designs beyond an end to al-Qaeda safe-havens, and respect for Afghan sovereignty”, Obama said from Bagram Air Base.
Noted expert on South Asian issues, Lisa Curtis of The Heritage Foundation, sees in Obama’s remarks frustration more than anguish. She said the President appears to be frustrated with Pakistan and it is reflected in his address to the nation from Afghanistan.
“The President’s frustration with Pakistan and its lack of cooperation in Afghanistan came through in his remarks. He said Pakistan should be part of the process to stabilize Afghanistan”, Lisa Curtis in her comment on the address.
A major attack in Kabul a few weeks ago was linked to the Pakistan-based Haqqani network. It is a reminder that terrorist sanctuaries in Pakistan continue to threaten stability in Afghanistan, the American expert points out.
According to her, ‘Pakistani military leaders must be convinced that pursuing a broad crackdown on violent Islamist groups in the country will strengthen Pakistan’s economic and political outlook and overall regional position’.
Pakistani military leaders have so far resisted cracking down on Taliban and Haqqani network sanctuaries largely because of their failure to envision a new strategy that both protects Pakistan’s regional interests and uproots support for terrorist activities and ideology, as Lisa Curtis rightly says.
‘Islamabad’s practice of relying on violent Islamist proxies in Afghanistan (and India) has backfired badly on Pakistan and there is increasing recognition among Pakistanis that a Taliban-dominated Afghanistan would likely have a destabilizing impact on Pakistan’ she avers..
Another point she makes and which deserves immediate attention is that the US officials must convince Pakistani leaders that unless they use their resources now “to force the Taliban to compromise in Afghanistan, Pakistan will suffer from an emboldened Taliban leadership that will project its power back into Pakistan”.
There is merit in her argument that rather than basing US strategy on long-shot talks with Taliban leadership, Washington should focus its attention and resources on building up anti-Taliban elements that share the US interest in preventing Afghanistan from serving as a safe haven for international terrorists once again.
Because, a Taliban victory in Afghanistan will go to strengthen Islamist extremist forces in Pakistan, and it in turn will embolden the hard-liners in the GHQ Shura, which controls the country’s expanding nuclear weapons.
