U.S. Should React Strongly
to Pakistan’s Involvement
in Attack on U.S. Embassy
to Pakistan’s Involvement
in Attack on U.S. Embassy
Credible U.S. press reports yesterday revealed that cell phones found on the attackers in the September 13 attack on the U.S.
embassy in Kabul were linked to Pakistani intelligence officials. The U.S. has long known that Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the
Directorate of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), works closely with the Haqqani insurgent network, which has been responsible for
some of the fiercest attacks against U.S. and coalition soldiers in Afghanistan. But if media reports on the cell phone links are
accurate, this would be the first time the U.S. has a “smoking gun” on Pakistani involvement in a direct attack on U.S. civilian
interests.
If Pakistani leaders maintain their defiance in light of the new information on the cell phone links of the attackers to Pakistani
intelligence, the U.S. should begin to take punitive steps toward Islamabad that could presage a breakdown in U.S.–Pakistan
diplomatic relations.
Attempts to Salvage Relationship Prove Fleeting
U.S.–Pakistan relations have been severely strained since the May 2 raid that killed Osama bin Laden. The Obama
Administration had advocated for maintaining diplomatic relations and aid programs to Pakistan amidst growing doubts on
Capitol Hill about the merits of continuing the engagement. Members of Congress suspected that parts of the Pakistani security
establishment had helped protect bin Laden and had grown increasingly frustrated with Pakistan’s resistance to cutting links to
Afghan insurgents attacking U.S. and coalition forces. The Administration’s argument for engagement seemed to be justified,
however, when Pakistan recently signaled that it would welcome back some of the U.S. military trainers that had been kicked out
of the country shortly after the bin Laden raid.
But yesterday’s bombshell changes everything. Unless Pakistan agrees to take recourse against those ISI officials involved in
the September 13 attack and to work more closely with the U.S. in confronting the Haqqani network, the U.S. will have to
recalibrate its policy toward Pakistan, despite the potential negative repercussions for other U.S. interests in the region. As The
Wall Street Journal noted in one of its editorials today, “The U.S. cannot be seen before the world, or more especially by the
American people, turning a blind eye to Pakistan’s complicity in the murder of U.S. citizens serving in Afghanistan.”
In the event that Pakistan maintains its defiant attitude and refuses to take action against the perpetrators of the attacks on the U.
S. embassy, the U.S. must move forward with the following plan of action:
* Suspend all assistance programs to Pakistan, including civilian aid. Even though it is the military and intelligence
establishment that bears responsibility for the attack, it would be nearly impossible to provide effective civilian aid programs
without its cooperation. If the U.S.–Pakistan military relationship becomes more hostile, U.S. aid officials and contractors would
be even less safe than they are already, and, since Pakistani civilian leaders have been unable to forge independent
counterterrorism policies from the military, the U.S. would find it increasingly difficult to justify any aid to the government, parts of
which are involved in attacking the U.S.
* Recall the American ambassador to the U.S. for consultations on future policies toward Pakistan. The Obama
Administration has seemed paralyzed over its policy toward Pakistan ever since the bin Laden raid. The intelligence linking
Pakistan to the attack on the U.S. embassy should shake the Administration out of this paralysis. The attack shows that the U.S.’
s inability to bring change to Pakistan’s counterterrorism policies is risking the entire NATO war effort in Afghanistan and the
international community’s ability to defeat global terrorism.
* Readjust the U.S. force structure in Afghanistan and prioritize finding alternative routes to cope with a disruption
or even cutoff in supply routes through Pakistan. The U.S. has been able to increase the amount of supplies it sends
through the Northern Distribution Network over the last five years, and it should prioritize building up this network further. A cutoff
in the supply chain running through Pakistan would almost certainly gravely impact the U.S. ability to sustain military missions in
Afghanistan. This is a price the U.S. would have to pay and adjust to.
* Immediately list the Haqqani network as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. While this may have little practical effect in
terms of cutting funding to the organization, it sends a clear signal that the U.S. does not tolerate attacks on its citizens. Pakistan
has been trying to push for a role for the Haqqanis in reconciliation talks in Afghanistan. But the U.S. cannot countenance
negotiating with groups that are attacking U.S. civilians. Such a policy would demonstrate weakness and encourage other U.S.
adversaries to try to extract concessions from the U.S. through violence.
* Step up drone strikes on Haqqani targets in Pakistan’s tribal areas. The increased tempo in drone strikes in Pakistan’s
tribal areas has severely downgraded the al-Qaeda leadership and disrupted its ability to attack the U.S. Washington should
pursue the same kind of aggressive drone campaign against the Haqqani network in North Waziristan and parts of the Kurram
Agency, where some Haqqani forces have recently relocated.
* Reverse U.S. withdrawal plans from Afghanistan. Part of the reason the Pakistanis continue to support the Haqqani
network (and other Taliban proxies) is that they believe the U.S. will withdraw from Afghanistan before the situation is stabilized
and that the Haqqanis constitute the best chance to secure their interests in the country. The recent upsurge in Taliban attacks
inside Afghanistan—especially the assassination of former Afghan president and head of the High Peace Council Burhanuddin
Rabbani—demonstrates that the hard-line Taliban leadership has no interest in reconciliation talks and believes it can chase U.
S. forces out of the region. The U.S. should demonstrate that it is committed to never allowing Afghanistan to serve as a base for
international terrorists again. This can be done only by ensuring that U.S. military commanders have the troops and resources
they need to complete the mission in Afghanistan and to finally force the Taliban into genuine negotiations.
* Consult with European allies on ways to move Pakistan away from the dangerous path it is pursuing. While the U.
S. and NATO allies work closely on the mission in Afghanistan, the U.S. has been virtually the sole player in seeking to effect
change in Pakistan. The Europeans argue that they have little concrete leverage in the country, but they could reinforce U.S.
messages and show solidarity with the U.S. position on Pakistan. Demonstrating solidarity between the U.S. and European and
other allies toward Pakistan would disabuse the Pakistani government of any notion that it can play the U.S. and its allies off of
one another and thus relieve international pressure on it to pursue different policies.
Time Running Out for Pakistan to Change Course
While there are risks inherent to going down a more punitive path with Pakistan, the recent information on ISI links to the attack
on the U.S. embassy leave the U.S. with no other option. There is still time for Pakistan to chart a different course. Pakistan’s
military leaders can begin changes within the security establishment that punish individuals involved in attacks on the U.S. and
close down ISI operations that support the Haqqani network. Their choices within the next few days will determine the future
course of the U.S.–Pakistan relationship.
Lisa Curtis is Senior Research Fellow for South Asia in the Asian Studies Center at The Heritage Foundation.
SOURCE: >> http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2011/09/US-Should-React-Strongly-to-Pakistans-Involvement-in-Attack-on-US-Embassy
By Lisa Curtis
September 24, 2011
Time to take strong action against
Pakistan
by Lisa Curtis
WASHINGTON: Obama Administration should take strong steps against Pakistan, including suspension of all US aid, if Islamabad maintains
its defiant attitude and refuses to take action against the perpetrators of the attacks on the US embassy in Afghanistan, a US expert has
said.
"If Pakistani leaders maintain their defiance in light of the new information on the cell phone links of the attackers to Pakistani intelligence,
the US should begin to take punitive steps toward Islamabad that could presage a breakdown in US-Pakistan diplomatic relations," Lisa
Curtis of the Heritage Foundation said yesterday.
Curtis, who is an expert on South Asia, was referring to US press reports which revealed that cell phones found on the attackers in the
September 13 attack on the US embassy in Kabul were linked to Pakistani intelligence officials.
"Unless Pakistan agrees to take recourse against those ISI officials involved in the September 13 attack and to work more closely with the
US in confronting the Haqqani network, the US will have to recalibrate its policy toward Pakistan, despite the potential negative
repercussions for other US interests in the region," she said.
Curtis asked the Obama Administration to several strong steps in the event that Pakistan maintains its defiant attitude and refuses to take
action against the perpetrators of the attacks on the US embassy.
Seeking to suspend all assistance programmes to Pakistan, including civilian aid, Curtis said even though it is the military and intelligence
establishment that bears responsibility for the attack, it would be nearly impossible to provide effective civilian aid programmes without its
cooperation.
"Recall the American ambassador to the US for consultations on future policies toward Pakistan," she said.
"The intelligence linking Pakistan to the attack on the US embassy should shake the Administration out of this paralysis. The attack shows
that the US's inability to bring change to Pakistan's counter-terrorism policies is risking the entire NATO war effort in Afghanistan and the
international community's ability to defeat global terrorism," she said.
SOURCE: The Economic Times
Pakistan
by Lisa Curtis
WASHINGTON: Obama Administration should take strong steps against Pakistan, including suspension of all US aid, if Islamabad maintains
its defiant attitude and refuses to take action against the perpetrators of the attacks on the US embassy in Afghanistan, a US expert has
said.
"If Pakistani leaders maintain their defiance in light of the new information on the cell phone links of the attackers to Pakistani intelligence,
the US should begin to take punitive steps toward Islamabad that could presage a breakdown in US-Pakistan diplomatic relations," Lisa
Curtis of the Heritage Foundation said yesterday.
Curtis, who is an expert on South Asia, was referring to US press reports which revealed that cell phones found on the attackers in the
September 13 attack on the US embassy in Kabul were linked to Pakistani intelligence officials.
"Unless Pakistan agrees to take recourse against those ISI officials involved in the September 13 attack and to work more closely with the
US in confronting the Haqqani network, the US will have to recalibrate its policy toward Pakistan, despite the potential negative
repercussions for other US interests in the region," she said.
Curtis asked the Obama Administration to several strong steps in the event that Pakistan maintains its defiant attitude and refuses to take
action against the perpetrators of the attacks on the US embassy.
Seeking to suspend all assistance programmes to Pakistan, including civilian aid, Curtis said even though it is the military and intelligence
establishment that bears responsibility for the attack, it would be nearly impossible to provide effective civilian aid programmes without its
cooperation.
"Recall the American ambassador to the US for consultations on future policies toward Pakistan," she said.
"The intelligence linking Pakistan to the attack on the US embassy should shake the Administration out of this paralysis. The attack shows
that the US's inability to bring change to Pakistan's counter-terrorism policies is risking the entire NATO war effort in Afghanistan and the
international community's ability to defeat global terrorism," she said.
SOURCE: The Economic Times
