While addressing the Harvard Kennedy School on Feb 13, US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter stated that despite the recent tensions, ISI and CIA have continued to cooperate but added that there is a contradiction between American short and long-term goals in Pakistan.

“In the long-term we have a commitment to stability and parallel processes to efforts in Pakistan,” Mr. Munter said, “but on the short-term we focus on counter-terrorism”.
He commented that Pakistani politicians do not want US to go away and made a distinction between the Pakistan’s state and its society. “Pakistani society is like a ship that sometimes can’t go forward and it can’t go backward, but it can’t sink,” he said. “It is resilient.”

He said Pakistan government considers itself an equal stakeholder in war against terror with USA, but added the cooperation between the intelligence organizations could be affected once Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lieutenant General Ahmed Shuja Pasha leaves the office. The comment defies the usually held perception that US is not happy with ISI and Gen Pasha.

Analysis

He further informed that the military-to-military ties between the two countries were also strained as military aid to Pakistan was suspended after Pakistan decided to remove American trainers. He also talked about the next generation of generals who are disconnected from American traditions and training and distrust their western counterparts.

He advised US to maintain policy of minimum interference and maximum decency over Pakistan’s affairs. He said Raymond Davis issue, operation against Osama bin laden, and American drone strike that killed 50 people in South Waziristan, all account for the worsening relations with Pakistan.

According to Munter, one of the other reasons for the stress between the two countries was overpromising by America. For example, American developments goals in Pakistan for 2008 that included women’s rights, water resources and telecommunications never materialized. However, he supported Pakistan’s goal of moving the relation from aid to one based on trade and investment.

Ambassador Munter hailed Pakistan’s sacrifices and efforts in the war against terrorism. He added that by recommitting to the development efforts in Pakistan, US could redeem its lost perception in Pakistan.

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The US once again increased its pressure on Pakistan to take action against the Haqqani network. In a meeting between Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) Admiral Mike Mullen in Seville Spain on Friday, the US representative asked Pakistan to act against safe havens of the group in the country. The statement followed earlier remarks by the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Congressman Mike Rogers and the US ambassador to Pakistan, Cameron Munter. Both called for tougher action by Islamabad against militants. Cameron Munter added that US has evidence linking Haqqani network to ISI. The issue was also discussed in detail at a meeting between Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in New York on Sunday.

Meanwhile Haqqani group delivered statements over the weekend that they operate out of Afghanistan and ready to negotiate if Taliban do so as well.

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Speaking with the Speaker of Balochistan Assembly Muhammad Aslam Bhootani in Quetta, US Ambassador to Pakistan stated on Thursday the province was very important to the US. Munter also conveyed his concerns over the human right abuses and the issue of missing persons. On Wednesday, the ambassador had announced 8.6mn rupees for the construction of two homes in Quetta’s SoS village.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister of the insurgency-infected province, Nawab Ali Raisani, informed the Ambassador that Mullah Omar and Al Qaeda’s new leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri were not hiding in Balochistan and Taliban and extremists are not operating from the province. Raisani further added that he believed in political reconciliation and there was no difference between Baloch and Pashtun people.

“Although some incidents of terrorism are taking place in Balochistan, the overall situation is under control and law enforcement agencies are making their efforts to thwart such incidents,” he added.

Earlier Cameron Munter had reiterated he was very hopeful about the US-Pakistan relations despite disputes between them over various issues. Moreover, Munter stated he supported the democratic system in Pakistan. A consistent stream of media reports indicates the US is interested in establishing a consulate in Quetta, which borders Afghanistan and Iran.

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