The Flipside of Abbotabad Fiasco

By

Dr. Raja Muhammad Khan

In its first formal response after the joint session of the Parliament, the Pakistan legislatures have called for a “review of the country's relationship with the US.” The review of the policy is considered essential because of the US military operation on Pakistani soil which violated the Pakistani air space without prior permission or a warning. Indeed, this is very serious event in the history of Pakistan after 1971, and considered as a national debacle. The resolution unanimously “condemned the unilateral action... which constitutes a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty”. The resolution also urged that if US continue the drone attacks in the coming days, the NATO transit conveys would be banned from using the Pakistani soil. Earlier the Military leadership of the country briefed the law makers about the US unilateral military operation in Abbatabad on May 2, 2011. It was felt by all participants during the course of the discussion, that, indeed, this US action and the statements which preceded it or issued thereafter by U.S officials had the malicious designs, in fact a “campaign to malign Pakistan.”

Indeed, this is worth mentioning that over the last few months, US State Department as well as its military apparatus and CIA have launched a well orchestrated campaign against the armed forces of Pakistan and its intelligence setup, especially the ISI. They have created lot of misperceptions about the role of these Pakistani institutions which as a matter of fact refused to accept their demands, considering those as against the national interests of Pakistan. Apart from other factors, the tension in the bilateral relationship of ISI and CIA begin once ISI objected to the issuance of bulk visas to US nationals under the garb of diplomatic corps by Pakistani authorities without clearance of ISI. These visas were issued mostly by Pakistani embassy in US, Interior Ministry and even at time from Pakistani Embassy in UAE even.

 It is pertinent to mention that these visas were issued in haste, at time even on holidays. ISI was sceptical to this unusual processing of visas and even shown its written reservations to this business to the Government. Acting as an eyes and ears of the country, ISI could not reconcile with such a heavy diplomatic corps of US in Pakistan, thus started monitoring the activities of these so-called diplomats. The peak hours of this episode reached once the Raymond Davis was arrested on the charges of killing two Pakistanis in Lahore, whom he considered as if they were chasing him during his suspicious activities. It is believed that, despite of US pressure of not to investigate him and he being a non-cooperative, during the period of arrest, Pakistani investigators were able to extract some very sensitive and useful information from this CIA operative, having diplomatic visa even.  His linkages with some of the terrorist organizations inside Pakistan were also revealed during the initial investigations.

Logically the event should have been closed with release of Raymond Davis, after giving blood money to the relatives of those killed. After all Pakistan made a great compromise on this release, otherwise, he should have been tried as per the law of land and could have received the death penalty. But, US anger was more prominent thereafter, and it was demonstrated in the form of killing of over 80 innocent Pakistanis in North Waziristan in a drone attack just two days after the release of Raymond.   Then there started a series of accusations on ISI, by top US officials like Admiral Mike Mullen, right on the Pakistani soil for having alleged linkages with Afghan Taliban. The accusations were reinforced by the leakages of the Wiki leaks, which revealed that US has grouped ISI in the list of terrorist organizations.  The differences between these spying networks become so odd that, ISI Chief, General Pasha felt so uncomfortable during his visit of CIA Headquarters, that he has to shorten his scheduled trip to US.

The CIA driven world-wide media campaign against ISI was indeed aimed at defaming this premium intelligence agency to a level that any future happening could be in conformity of the US conspiracy theories. The South Asian and Pakistani media, which always toe the Western and US line, also projected the theme against ISI on many occasions. Since the realist and patriotic people of Pakistan were not in sync with waves of conspiracy against ISI and armed forces of Pakistan, therefore, the Abbotabad incident was planned and executed to make people believe. As stated by Leon Penatta, the CIA Director, immediately after the Abbotabad fiasco, that, either Pakistani spying network is incompetent or part of providing shelter to OBL.  In either case, the statement is aimed to put down the ISI and armed forces of Pakistan in the eyes of Pakistani masses, besides, international community.

Since the label Pakistani security establishment got from US (CIA Director) that, “being either an accomplice or incompetent.” The question arise, as to why causing such an embarrassment for the armed forces and ISI, by an ally. These prestigious Pakistani institutions have after all served US purposes during long years of the cold war and now during a decade long of so-called war against terrorism. The fact of the matter is that, over the years, these institutions became so strong and well organized that U.S would have neither desired nor could digest them. As a major power, U.S would desire that armed forces of Pakistan and its intelligence setup to comply its orders, which in most of the cases are against the national interests of Pakistan, thus, refused on various pretexts. This repeated refutation of the Pakistani military establishment has irritated and infuriated the sole super power, otherwise unfamiliar with listening to nonconformity.

Furthermore, traditionally, the people of Pakistan have great respect for their armed forces and ISI, and have always look towards them during trying moments. This love of the Pakistani masses with its armed forces has proved the real strength of armed forces, indeed forming national strength altogether. US found armed forces and the masses on the same page in pursuing the national interests of Pakistan. This act of national unity could not be digested by US and all other anti-Pakistan forces. Therefore, this US military operation, “Geronimo” to haunt the OBL was planned and executed to create dissatisfaction among the masses, which they thought would lead to create cracks between armed forces, politicians and the general masses.  

Despite of its hectic media campaign and pressure tactic, followed by military operation on May 2, 2011, it appears that, US remains much shorter than the desired objectives. Rather Pakistani nation has gained more strength and was able to bring a unanimous resolution for safeguarding its national interests and in backing its armed forces and ISI. The event is unique in a way that political and military leadership are on the same page to deal with external forces.