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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| Wolfowitz says Pakistan ignoring Taliban activity |
| 2004-03-11 |
| The United States Deputy Defence Secretary, Paul Wolfowitz, has accused Pakistan of turning a blind eye to Taliban activity in the campaign against terrorism. Mr Wolfowitz says Pakistan must help wrap-up Taliban elements, ahead of the Afghan elections scheduled for mid-year. Mr Wolfowitz says there is a view in Pakistan that the US is only concerned with Al Qaeda. In an interview with the Far Eastern Economic Review he said the Pakistani military is cooperating in the hunt for Al Qaeda, but it is not cooperating with getting the Taliban. He said that is now an issue because of the Afghan elections in June. He also said that after the US Government’s lenient response to Pakistani physicist Abdul Qadeer Khan’s admission to selling nuclear secrets, Pakistan was now indebted with what he said is clearly a kind of ’IOU’ and there must be a full accounting of everything that has happened. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #6 So we agree (I think) that Perv cannot be seen helping us against Taliban - else it will be acceeding to Wolfie's (angry) charge / assertion that the Pakis owe it to US. So - where the hell can it go from here that helps US if Perv doesn't fess up to the deal made over Khan? That's what confused me. But now that's not all that is confusing. Your last sentence is an interesting riddle... I break it down and answer with: a) the Islamists wouldn't like the Paki Army going after the Taleban b) and they're not Perv's buddies Lol! You wanna reword something here? |
| Posted by: .com 2004-3-11 1:43:12 PM |
| #5 dot com Perv has little real support outside the army, and thats limited. He is threatened by the Islamists. The more it appears that hes helping the US against the Taliban, the more certain elements in the population rally around the Islamists. This way he can say - see im NOT helping the Americans, look how mad at me they are. Now if you think anyone in Pakistan who might at all dislike Pak army going after the Taliban is already firmly anti=Perv, then my analysis makes no sense of course. |
| Posted by: Liberalhawk 2004-3-11 1:28:30 PM |
| #4 Obvious? Wha? Sorry, but I think not. ISI was certainly quick to disclaim any quid pro quo for US soft-peddling on Khan -- right? So how is it obvious that Wolfie putting Perv on the spot will help? On the contrary, IMO - the PakiWakis are VERY big on being a major player and being shown major player respect. They want to sit at the Big Table VERY badly. Saying this looks like the US is ordering Perv and PakiWakis around. Or am I missing some nuance here? Show me where I'm wrong - I really want to know. In 2000 words or less, please! :-) |
| Posted by: .com 2004-3-11 9:58:25 AM |
| #3 And what about Pak's help in getting the Afghies rid of former USSR and later being being dumped and left high and dry w/o any support against the indies? And the American's leaning towards the Soviet's former biggest aly and stopping the sale of F16s and Awacs to Pakis? Although Pakis did receive few F16s despite paying for the full order. Since they again require Pakis help so they r now showering them with favors, albeit quite vocal about scratching each others back kinda thing. |
| Posted by: sakattack 2004-3-11 9:53:59 AM |
| #2 throwing down the gauntlet .... Or maybe providing cover for Pak actually cooperating in tracking Taliban - If I was Perv, and I WAS cooperating against the Taliban, Id WANT Wolfie to say this, for obvious reasons. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2004-3-11 9:46:15 AM |
| #1 Wow, old Wolfie is making it public. Funny thing about certains parts of the world: you can make almost any deal, and everyone will figure it out and know that there is a quid pro quo - but you're not allowed to speak it aloud or publicize it in any way. Even PakiWaki's have a "face" game. Wolfie's throwing down the gauntlet, methinks. Expect Strenuous Denials in 5...4...3...2...1 |
| Posted by: .com 2004-3-11 5:31:39 AM |