Thursday, February 18, 2010

Is The U.S. Interfering In Pakistan's Internal Affairs?



Fawning Over Pak Military, US Undermines New Delhi Talks -- Times of India

WASHINGTON: India may be wasting its time and energy engaging Pakistan’s civilian set-up in the upcoming talks on February 25, going by the way Washington is primarily dealing with the country’s military and intelligence leadership in Rawalpindi and leaving Islamabad’s democratically-elected government in the lurch over sensitive parleys on terrorism.

US recognition of Pakistan’s military as the real power behind the civilian façade has been evident for some time, with American interlocutors, including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, spending more time with the army brass in Rawalpindi than with the civilian leadership in Islamabad. But it has become glaringly evident this past week when Islamabad was left largely clueless about a CIA-ISI move to engage the Taliban in a move dressed up as the ''capture'' of Taliban No.2, Mullah Birather, in a joint operation.

Read more ....

My Comment: I know that India does not have good relations with Pakistan .... and Indian news coverage of Pakistan has almost always been universally negative .... but kudos to the Times Of India for this report and what it sees is happening in Pakistani politics, how the US is influencing Pakistani politics, and what may be the probable reasons for arresting the Taliban's Chief military Commander last week.

Their analysis (and commentary) on the February 25 peace talks between Indian and Pakistani officials is also a must read. Bottom line .... who rules Pakistan? .... the democratically elected political leadership or the ISI/Pakistan military. If US behavior is any indication, they are now putting their money on the ISI/Pakistan military.

No comments: