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In Pakistan, Anger Builds over US Strikes
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - The furor intensified yesterday over Washington's decision to pursue Islamic militant targets inside Pakistan, with opposition lawmakers threatening the country could pull out of the war on terror if the US refuses to respect its borders.
A Pakistani protester held a burning US flag during a protest yesterday in Multan against missile strikes in tribal areas. (MOHAMMAD MALIK/AFP/Getty Images) About 100 protesters burned American flags after the latest missile
attack left at least 12 people dead in the North Waziristan region of
the troubled northwest. Residents said they heard the sound of
propeller-driven US Predator drones circling overhead before the
explosions.
President Bush secretly approved more aggressive cross-border operations in July, current and former American officials have told the Associated Press.
Since Aug. 13, there have been at least seven reported missile strikes as well as a raid by helicopter-borne US commandos that Pakistani officials claim killed 15 civilians in tribally governed territory where the government has little control. The frontier region is considered a likely hiding place for Osama bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri.
Pakistan's government and military have issued stiff protests to Washington over the recent rash of cross-border strikes, although the criticism appeared to be mostly rhetoric aimed at soothing domestic anger, given that Pakistan has few options for stronger action.
Domestic media have criticized the government for not reacting more strongly, even suggesting the public criticism is just lip service and that a secret deal has been reached with Pakistan's leadership allowing cross-border incursions.
General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, the Pakistani Army chief, has denied that and vowed to protect the country's sovereignty "at all cost."
Leaders, including new President Asif Ali Zardari, have reiterated their commitment to fighting violent Islamic extremism and have aired no threats to withdraw their cooperation.
However, they are sensitive to public opinion in Pakistan, which is hostile to US policy in the region.
Agitation on the issue by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who heads the main opposition party and has a large popular following, could make it hard for Islamabad to maintain the close alliance with Washington forged by Zardari's predecessor, Pervez Musharraf.
"We need at this time to make it clear to foreign countries that Pakistan will not tolerate such actions," said Ahsan Iqbal, a lawmaker in Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-N party. "If it continues, then Pakistan can consider pulling out completely from this war on terror."
Iqbal and another party leader called for an urgent parliament session to debate how Pakistan can respond.
"The parliament must be convened on a one-point agenda, because the nation is under a threat of war," said lawmaker Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. "Irrespective of where the threat is, every inch of this country is sovereign. Every inch of this country is sacred."
Defense Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar said Pakistan's armed forces were "ready to meet any such eventuality if this is repeated" and evoked Pakistan's war against India in 1965.
Despite the strong language, parliament has few options beyond issuing a condemnation of cross-border raids and reiterating the country's sovereignty.
Realistically, there's not much Pakistan can do to stop the United States from mounting cross-border attacks, short of shooting down helicopters carrying allied forces. And breaking off relations would mean an end to billions of dollars in US aid at a time when Pakistan's economy badly needs foreign assistance.
Most analysts doubt Pakistan is ready to reverse Musharraf's decision in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks to stand with Washington. Even Musharraf raised the specter of pulling out of the war on terror.
11 Comments so far
Show AllWhat a mess. Notice that it really is about money and power. Rich people make wars, poor people fight them.
"However, they are sensitive to public opinion in Pakistan, which is hostile to US policy in the region."
Duh! Anyone is going to be hostile if you violate their soverignty. You cannot decide to use military force inside an allies country without their permission and think they will welcome you with open arms.
The first time people are killed during one of the Mexican military incursions here, what sre we going to say? Hi, glad you came. Sure we will!
"Realistically, there's not much Pakistan can do to stop the United States..."
Wishful, deluded and dangerous thinking from the "take it and like it" school of American imperial diplomacy.
I don't think the soverign territority of Pakistan is being honored by the Al Quaida, the Gulf Arabs, and the Taliban from Afghanistan. The Pak government is too weak to actually govern those territories, the people who are killing school teachers, and women who dare to go to school, or appear in public, and they are beheading foreign aid workers (NGOs)...
Seems to me they NEED to be dead, and the PAKS need to secure the border, but THIS they can not do, so I think the IDIOT in the white house is actually correct this time (and THIS TIME ONLY) and that the killers should be pursued into the so called tribal areas...
Actually, the more enlightened Pakistanis are calling for dialogue with the Taliban and the so-called Al-Quaida groups. The US has no business getting involved with Pakistan's problems, unless specifically asked.
If you can suspend the US propaganda-inspired notion that the Taliban are some kind of horrific cockroaches from Mars, fit only to be exterminated, than the idea seems to have some merit.
And, I've never really been unable to understand the difference between killing suspected spies (and sometimes getting the wrong person) by beheading and killing whole wedding parties by predator drone piloted remotely by someone in Sunnyvale, California, on a suspicion that perhaps one person at the wedding might be "the enemy". The latter seems more horrific to me - positively Darth Vader.
Recall one of the "debates" during the primary season. I believe the moderator was Wolf Blitzer. He asked:
If you had a chance to kill Osama Bin Laden, but knew that a number of innocent people would also die, would you pull the trigger?
The democratic candidates jumped to their feet enthusiastically stating that yes, they'd kill a number of innocent people to get Obama. Except for Dennis Kucinich. Hillary was very enthusiastic about the chance to waste some folks if it meant getting Bin Laden.
That is murder. I therefore consider Hillary and even Mike Gravel (also raised his hand as I recall) incipient murderers, they are willing to end the life of innocent human beings to achieve their goals. As for those folks guiding the drones, whether they are in sunny California, the south, midwest, wherever, these folks are mass murderers. They leave a work day in which they may have wasted 10 - 20 - 30 unknown human beings - many admittedly women and children. They simply wash their hands and go attend the neighborhood cookout - little do the other attendees know that a mass murderer lives in the neighborhood.
Tanstaafl.
&YYY&
The rationale for the government policy of multiple murders carried out by the Vampire States inside Pakistan is logical thinking. The logic of military mad, delusional and greedy people. The logic of VS power and media have decided that the safety of the VS is imperiled by the lives of poor villagers (also known as terrorists) in yet another far away nation. Congratulations Pakistan, you have just had the famous imperialist kick in the balls all over again.
Every poor villager in Pakistan is now officially a terrorist, regardless of age or sex. The minions of the mighty Vampire States who like to blow villages to bits from remote control and safe locations, are freedom loving, free thinking, fully qualified and lavishly paid human beings, whilst members of the Pakistani nation are untrustworthy dogs to be exterminated or driven from their hovels.The people of Pakistan, like those of Afghanistan, are of negative value to the Vampire States, that is the message, I am sure that the people of Pakistan have received loud and clear.
The Silence on Pakistan is Deafening.
Does a government still exist in Britain, in Germany, France? Anywhere in Europe? The Middle East?
Is NATO still around? Has anyone seen any comments coming out of the good old United Nations, that bastion of Peace and Light?
Surely, the United States of America has declared pre-emptive war on Pakistan. Has it? Has it not?
Did I miss the retroactive Articles from the UN that stated that the US of A was legally entitled to bomb innocent people in Waziristan, because those pesky Taliban and Al Qaeda people were hiding there?
Come on Russia. At least step up and call the US President the hypocrite that he is.
No?
Ho hum. The world keeps turning - for a while anyway.
I said it before the US is after the Pak nukes. They want to start a new fight again calling it War of Terror. If Pak decides to level a few Nato/US bases in Afghanistan go ahead. It would show America we won't take it.
The Bloodshed Stops Once President Barack Obama Calls For Negotiations With The Taliban & al-Qaeda
"Based on?"
"U.S. aggression being the root cause of the violence in Pakistan/Afghanistan."
"But why would Barack Obama call for negotiations with the Taliban & al-Qaeda?"
"That's what peacemakers do."
"Anything else?"
"His working with Congress & with us to dismantle Empire-USA, shutdown the CIA plus turning things around here at home."
"And then what sort of world?"
"It'll be up to us."
Yourstruly,
You are truly an optimist.
"His working with Congress & with us to dismantle Empire-USA, shutdown the CIA plus turning things around here at home."
Actually Obama is planning to enlarge the Afghan war, extend it into Pakistan, and increase the size of the US military. Those are his stated positions. Anyone hoping for a peace & democracy by way of Obama is pretty well deluded IMHO, and is ignoring the man's clear statements of policy.
He's strongly in tune with US Emperialism, and has stated he will leave troops in Iraq for "training" (aka occupation force). He thoroughly kissed Israel's ass midway during his candidacy, signaling that yes, the US will continue to be Israel's biotch.
Obama is barely, if any, improvement over Bush.
Tanstaafl.