Pakistan's Choice
David Morris
fqmorris at hotmail.com
Tue Sep 18 09:15:49 CDT 2001
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/18/opinion/18HAQQ.html
September 18, 2001
Pakistan's Choice
By HUSAIN HAQQANI
A specific operation against Afghanistan or Mr. bin Laden would not suffice
to eliminate, or even sufficiently limit, terrorism. The United States must
be prepared for a longer war. Pakistan should certainly be enrolled as an
ally, but not without an appreciation of realities in that country. Pakistan
can provide valuable intelligence on Osama bin Laden and other terrorists.
It has not actively supported American action against Mr. bin Laden in the
past, arguing that local Muslim militants would destabilize an already weak
Pakistani state. But Pakistan's leader, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, recently said
that fewer than 1 percent of the Pakistani people support the extremists.
Ordinary Pakistanis want extremism eliminated. It has brought only misery.
Pakistan has itself been the target of terrorism in recent years. But the
country's Islamic militants have been ignored by the military regime on
grounds of supporting their fight against Indian control of the Himalayan
territory of Kashmir. Pakistan describes these militants as freedom
fighters.
In return for supporting the United States in any operation against
Afghanistan, Pakistan would expect American backing in encouraging dialogue
with India over Kashmir. General Musharraf will seek American indulgence of
his deviation from democracy on grounds that he plans to act against Islamic
extremists. But the United States must not give up on Pakistani democracy
and should seek to build friendship with Pakistan's people the 99 percent
who oppose terrorism and not merely with its military leader. It may be
tempting to deal with an individual for immediate gains, but this approach
is fraught with danger. The United States counted on General Zia and his
intelligence services during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, only to
find Osama bin Laden and his suicide bombers in the shadows of that covert
war.
Pakistan's level of commitment to the antiterrorist coalition currently
being put together by the United States could have profound implications for
India-Pakistan relations. In recent months, there has been a perceptible
American tilt in favor of India. If Pakistan fails to join the American
campaign, India will benefit by isolating Pakistan. As the United States
turns to Pakistan to eliminate terrorism, it should help Islamabad negotiate
with India over the status of Kashmir, which has been critical in Pakistan's
policy of supporting the Taliban and jihad extremism. With India and
Pakistan on the same side, against terrorism, this is a historic opportunity
to set aside prejudices of the past.
-----
Husain Haqqani is a political analyst. He served as Pakistan's ambassador to
Sri Lanka and as adviser to Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto.
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