Another Blow to
Pakistan's Strategic Depth Policy
By Wahid Monawar
November 8, 2010
Nowadays it must be a daunting task to perform the duties of Pakistan’s top
soldier. General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is Pakistan’s top soldier. He is a four
star General in the Pakistan Army, and the current Chief of Army Staff of the
Pakistan Army. He replaced General Pervez Musharraf as the Chief of Army Staff
and the commandant of the army on November 29, 2007. General Kayani is the
former Director General of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
General Kayani has been under tremendous pressure by his US counterparts to
eradicate terrorist camps in Pakistan, hand over Taliban leadership, hand over
the mastermind of the September 11 attacks, Osama Bin Laden, who have been
enjoying VIP style hospitality courtesy of Pakistan's military.
In a recent interview the US senior Senator John McCain (R-AZ) said that the
Pakistani intelligence (ISI) is still supporting the insurgents in Afghanistan.
John McCain, the former candidate for the United States' presidential elections
said Pakistan's intelligence is using the insurgency as a political tool to gain
further influence in the region.
Nonetheless, General Kayani’s problems are far greater than being pressured
by the United States to deliver results. Pakistan’s Strategic Depth Policy is in
its final stage of defeat. While Pakistan suffers from a serious economic
meltdown, its archrival India has out performed most economies in the region,
closely following China.
To add salt to Pakistan’s wound, during a speech to India's parliament in New
Delhi on Monday, President Obama called for India to become a permanent member
of a reformed U.N. Security Council. The change would likely occur only if the
size of the Security Council is increased.
"The just and sustainable international order that America seeks includes a
United Nations that is efficient, effective, credible and legitimate," Obama
said. "That is why I can say today - in the years ahead, I look forward to a
reformed U.N. Security Council that includes India as a permanent member."
To further irritate General Kayani, Obama went farther than he had previously
during his stay in addressing the terror threat inside Pakistan, India's
neighbor and archrival. Obama angered some in India when he visited a memorial
to victims of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks but didn't mention Pakistan, which
was home to the attackers.
"We will continue to insist to Pakistan's leaders that terrorist safe-havens
within their borders are unacceptable, and that the terrorists behind the Mumbai
attacks be brought to justice," the president said in the address, to loud
applause. "We must also recognize that all of us have an interest in both an
Afghanistan and a Pakistan that is stable, prosperous and democratic - and none
more so than India."
While it is understandable that General Kayani has a pledge to defend
Pakistan, Pakistan’s Strategic Depth Policy no longer serves the interest of
Pakistani people nor it contributes positively to the progress of an economic
development, innovation oriented world.
Wahid Monawar is former Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of Afghanistan, Former Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the United
Nations in Vienna, and the founder of the Neo-Conservative Party of Afghanistan.
He is currently an associate of Zurich Partners.
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