Lethal Drift of The Post-Afghan War
PKKH Exclusive | by Tabish Qayyum
Despite the ‘successful’ Drone campaign according to US, allegedly helping them deliver lethal blows to senior Al-Qaeda leadership and the Haqqani network in the tribal areas of Pakistan, patience wears thin in the US camp. US Defense Secretary Panetta threatened Pakistan recently on a visit to Kabul saying,
“Haqqani safe havens still exist on the other side of the border. Pakistan has to take action [to stop] allowing terrorists in their country to attack our forces on the other side of the border. We are reaching the limits of our patience here.”
The Taliban and Haqqani Network continue to stage brazen and audacious attacks in Afghanistan during these final years of this infamous war. Most recently Kandahar Air Base, Lakeside resort on the outskirts of Kabul came under deadly attacks lasting for hours breaching the most secure zones of the conflict; yet again, busting the myth of the ‘Afghan Forces capability to Securing Afghanistan’ post withdrawal. According to recent indications and reports, the US continues to measure its options for a ground assault in North Waziristan, considered by it a safe haven for the Haqqani Network. This approach can result in an immense diplomatic blow-back to an already suffocating relationship between a once cherished partnerships in the ‘War against Terror’. What are the options left for US after a decade of war is yet to be determined, but the stakes involved for the war-drained super power are not much difficult to anticipate!
In order to understand the regional strategy and stakes for the US, the situation needs to be assessed in retrospect.
Mission Afghanistan
The way the tables turned in Afghanistan for the international effort led by the US along with its mammoth coalition post the 9/11 attacks, was beyond anyone’s imagination. Earlier in this war, self-complacency had further entangled the US in Iraq and in Afghanistan, as the Taliban’s resurgence came up, the possibility of which had been over ruled by the strategists in Washington; it turned out to be a US nightmare in the years to come. Today, the US seems decisive in its withdrawal plan which was not initially meant to be in the objectives of this war. On the face of it, this war was meant for the destruction of the ‘Jihadist Industry’, earlier financed by the US against the Soviets, this was the primary objective, rest were covert and strategic.
For the US, a long term presence in the region with permanent bases in Pakistan’s backyard were imperative to sustain the emerging economic and military threat of China and for further cementing ties with India vis-à-vis ending the Kashmiri resistance dream and persuading Pakistan to a submission towards Indian’s integrated plan of hegemony and economic dominance, cutting it off from China’s support and assistance that is deemed necessary for Pakistan to deal with both ‘Friends’. Another significant objective, of the US ambition has always been Pakistan’s ‘Nuclear Arsenal’, considered to be the fastest growing arsenal in the world, hence the best way to deal with it was the complete security and political control of Afghanistan, which would have been used later for immense diplomatic and military pressure in making Pakistan re-think its India-centric rhetoric and finally ‘roll-back’ its Nuclear Plan, while the US ensures to provide it with a corrupt political landscape.
‘Cordoning’ China: Asia-Pacific Plan
In this whole end-game or perhaps the post-war scenario China is being asymmetrically cordoned as well. Pakistan is the ‘key’ to China’s flourishing economy. Providing her with trade routes via Ground and Sea, Pakistan holds high strategic and economic value for the emerging super power. Therefore, China will be directly influencing the oil supply from Oman, UAE, Qatar, Saudia Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq and Iran if provided a naval base at Gwadar, hence the reason the US has deployed a permanent aircraft carrier on this trade route.
The U.S. Navy will be sending its most sophisticated ships and aircraft to the Asia-Pacific region as it builds up its presence there. US plans to shift its 60% Navy Fleet in the region by 2020, which includes, the Littoral Combat Ship, which can operate in shallower waters more efficiently than other vessels; the EA-18G plane, which can jam enemy air defenses and fly faster than the speed of sound; and the Navy’s most advanced submarine — the Virginia-class. Several of these vessels are based at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. During the Cold War, the US kept 60 per cent of its subs in the Atlantic as a deterrent to the Soviet Union and they are doing exactly the same today to contain Chinese defense. Recently, Panetta has visited several Asian countries, clearly shedding light on their ulterior motives against China.
The US has shown unusual interest in Malaysia, in the field of defense, according to the Pentagon, press secretary George Little confirmed in a statement that the leaders of the two countries agreed to strengthen the bilateral military-to-military relationship. “During the meeting, both leaders stated that with a renewed focus on Asia as part of the U.S. defense strategy, they look forward to strengthening the U.S.-Malaysia military–to-military relationship, including expansion of multilateral exercises,” Little said. Panetta, who later visited Vietnam and India, used his Singapore visit to gather “first-hand information” in his bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Malaysia and host country Singapore, so as to reinforce the U.S. presence in Asia.
Further knitting the Defense Web around China, US have carved out strong defense deals and ensured cooperation between Australia and Japan in the recent Shangri-La Conference held in Singapore. The plan of these nations is to ensure security in the Asia- Pacific region by working together in solidarity and conduct Joint military exercises. While New Zealand and United States have also engaged in similar deals signing strategic accords needed for Washington to keep a wary eye on China.
In further attempts of this strategic focus by US, Panetta has also visited the ‘Cam Ranh Bay’ to seek its control yet again after 1975, when the Vietnam War ended. The bay and its airfield was one of three main hubs used by the US in the war. It is one of the South China Sea’s best natural harbour, and the US hopes to use it to boost its naval presence and counter the rise of China’s navy. ”Access for United States’ naval ships into this facility is a key component” of the US’s relationship with Vietnam, ”and we see the tremendous potential here”, Panetta said. This game plan in the international scenario makes the US intentions on Pakistan more visible.
Target Pakistan
In a re-shuffle of plans or strategic maneuvering the US seems to have focused ever more on Pakistan, making sure not to let Pakistan achieve any ‘strategic depth’ in Post-War Afghanistan that could further strengthen China via Pakistan and to counter Pakistan’s undeniable stakes in Afghanistan; India is being lured in as a ‘lynchpin’. On a recent visit to India, Panetta said that the US strategy sought to “expand our military partnerships and our presence in the arc extending from the Western Pacific and East Asia into the Indian Ocean region and South Asia”. According to him, “Defense cooperation with India is a lynchpin in this strategy”. It is interesting to note that India is still reluctant due to the inevitable ripples that can potentially escalate the ‘Kashmiri Freedom Movement’. In a recent press statement the Taliban threatened India of dire consequences saying it was “totally illogical” for Indian policy makers to “plunge their nation into a calamity just for the American pleasure”. It is a ‘veiled threat’ according to Vikram Sood former Chief of RAW. Delhi has poured in $2 billion in aid and reconstruction of Afghanistan, while private sector groups plan to invest some $10 billion there, which in the view of Taliban is an effort to strengthen the Karzai government.
In its Dual Strategy the US insists that Pakistan should step up operations against Al-Qaeda remnants and Haqqani Network in North Waziristan (NW) and mulls for clandestine or direct intervention in case Pakistan fails to do so; curb domestic terrorist organizations including LeT, Jamat-ud-Dawa to appease Indians; blame Quetta Shura for failure in Negotiations; control the source of the fertilizers used in the manufacture of improvised explosive devices (lEDs); and prevent proliferation of nuclear material/expertise, which in its say, Pakistan has always done. Among all these there is a major bone of contention; the issue of visas to US experts engaged in counter-terrorism efforts and other assistance programs. The US wants resumption of NATO supplies, disregarding Pakistan’s fresh genuine demands and the resolutions adopted by Parliament of Pakistan and shameful refusal of apology for massacre. The US House Armed Services Committee passed a bill prohibiting the preferential procurement of goods and services from Pakistan until NATO supply lines were re-opened. Pakistan is being threatened with sanctions and serious ramifications if it does not ‘move on’.
In case of any adventurism by US-AFG forces, Pakistan will try to immediately mobilize its troops on its western front while India will try to settle scores and covertly join this new surgical coalition from the eastern front. Recent beheading of 17 Pakistani Soldiers in a cross-border attack by hundreds of militants in Lower Dir (Western Border), violations of Cease-Fire on the Kashmir LOC (Eastern Border), and the latest arrest of Sabahuddin Ansari are few indications of this assertion. To add salt to the injury, internal security threats for Pakistan are elevated as incidents involving sectarian, ethnic, Anti-State Terrorism are fueled, diametrically cultivating circumstances for external threats which would finally result in changing the Geo-political boundaries of Pakistan, rendering it as an inefficient, handicapped and dependent state. Hence, it is imperative for the US to inflict deep and lethal blows to Pakistan during these last years of a failing war, if the hegemonic designs are to be achieved.
Will US be able to accomplish this uphill task or continue to live in the abyss it is trapped in, draining its remaining resources in this power struggle? Will Pakistan survive this onslaught, being resilient in the face of the US designs and secure its strategic and national interests in the region are what we wait to see.
Tabish Qayyum is the co-founder of Defense and Geo-Political Magazine Fortress and Investigative Journalist at PKKH. He is also a writer and educational consultant. He can be reached on twitter @tabesch.
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Very nice article,and an eye opener.
The present Pak stand viv-a-vis America must continue to stop US designs against China.
China is our best friend for all seasons.
The WW3 has started and it will get bloodier.
i think misguided educational system and systematic propaganda of lies and mutilated history by feudal ruling class of Pakistan has injected a false sense of grandiose,and self importance in the minds of Pakistani youth . this article and comments here reflect the depth of problem civilized world has to handle in near future.i feel sorry for 20 crore people who were our brothers just 65 years ago being lead by a small privileged group teamed up with insane and psychopath Muslim fundamentalist who dream to rule the world and have created a situation when every one else sees Muslims with suspicion and have started to see Islam as the root cause of all problems . patience of world is wearing out as due to these people everyone has lost some amount of freedom and waste of resources in security from idiots blasting themselves after being motivated that after death they shall get model like girls and most expensive wines to drink (these mullahs Are already having this lifestyle but in backyards but are using these idiots as fodder ). if these guys don’t want to see truth and continue to live in fantasy world consisting of conspiracy theories and assumption of being supported by Chinese and Saudi’s then they are certainly speeding towards mass suicide. please look in mirror , Saudi’s have given abu jindal ( who is exposing and confirming suspicion of civilized world about involvement of Pakistani authority in terror acts ) to India. China is a very focused country and business like , never will they want to create situation which shall endanger more than 40 percent of its trade interest to support a ideology that is harming them in a important provionce of theirs. may Allah guide this misguided population away from a situation which which shall lead to annihilation of a large society and death to a large population in neighbourhood of Pakistan although they shall still continue to exist .
Pakistan defence planners KNEW FROM THE START OF INVASION OF AFGHANISTAN that it based on PURE FABRICATED LIES and ultimately PAKISTAN would the target THERE ARE/WERE MANY TALE SIGNS that indicated this!
Pakistan has several options to STOP USA/THE NATO/INDIA hegemony
1. CLOSE THE SUPPLY ROUTE FOREVER!
2. COME TO AN AGREEMENT with IRAN on DEFENCE
3. Saudi Arabia and the rest have to be brought on BOARD which is achievable as they are being BLACKMAILED BY USA!
4.BLOCK SALANG TUNNEL and make AFGHANISTAN the graveyard for usa/the nato
Come to an agreement with Iran on defence?????????????????????????
Good luck with the Saudis. They’re a strategic ally of the US.it will be a miracle if they accept. Btw u forgot Russia and the central Asian states
great analysis
pakistan must stand fast
Fear of Pakistan is correct. It will have to confront on both the borders. Fact is that it barks only on India with its violation of LOC in Kashmir to support Jehadis and sacrifices its soldiers on its western front. It has no military guts to combat US forces and Taliban. Article reflects the circlement by US of both China and Pakistan, There is no garrantee by Iran and Saudis that they will help in times of hour and pakistan will be left isolated to bear the brunt of US/NATO /INDIA.
Welcome to the graveyard of empires India. But ironically India is no empire. It is pretending to be a super power but the slum dogs do not understand the fact that once NATO/ISAF leaves and India steps in, if it commits this mistake (and surely they will find it hard to resist) then the writing on the wall is very clear. My prediction, beginning of the end for India. Good luck piss drinker GOTYA, we are waiting for you.
pakistan may succumb in the beginning but all hell will go lose on India eventually. US and NATO will anyway take minor casualities but taliban alone are way too much for india. and then the dragon.
And if pakistan acts wise, they would equip afghan taliban with ammunitions. China wont stay silent, not for Pakistan but for its future supply routes through Balochistan. Mind you, in an open war the tribesmen from western province are stronger than pakistani military force. It would not be more than a couple of years before insurgencies in India will reach to the point that india disintegrates.
Just to remind you, the indian economic bubble has already gone burst and we are well aware that indians are sissies when it comes to real life beyond bollywood.
How come USA /the NATO are still using SHAHBAZ AIRBASE at Jacobabad and grounds to plant guidance systems to guide the drones?
SOMETHING IV VERY WRONG HERE! THESE SHOULD BE CLOSED IMMEDIATELY
Don’t drag India into your wet dreams. As much as you and your uncle Ahmed Q want – India hasn’t entered Afghanistan and neither will it bother to start a war with you. Pakistan is a garbage heap. Fighting with you guys will just drag our economy down to the gutter – something which no sensible Indian wants. You have nothing to lose…. we all know that. We have a lot to lose. That’s a fact.
So keep dreaming about India invading or starting a war….. just isn’t going to happen.
You guys really need to know how to spell “linchpin”.
Otherwise, good analysis.
Just Hilarious! The author’s grasp on reality is about what we have come to expect from a Pak.
Some simple questions: Why does the USA need bases in Afghanistan for use against China ? Just absurd. 2) total worldwide US military expenditures are 4.8% of American GDP, down from 10% when we were at Peace in the 50s and 60s. The money spent on Pakistan aid and Afghanistan is wasted, but is is merely a drop in an economy of 15 trillion per year.3) why would the USA invade Pakistan on the ground ? Now that the double game played by Pakistan is obvious to all, the way to destroy Pakistan is to let it alone with the Frankenstein it has created and nurtured. Simply deny the Paks outside aid.
This article is typical of what I read in the Pak papers. The level of ignorance about the rest of the world demonstrated by these rants goes a long way to explain why Pakistan is becoming another Somalia.
Wake up and stop hatred and start praying. Strengthen bonds with china and Form naval alliance, regular visits to our ports will scare foreign bully navies away. Moreover pakistani naval patrols in conjunction with china will give give them a taste of their own medicine.
I have these words for our local enemies, internal and neighbouring. IF YOU ALLOW OUTSIDERS TO TRY AND BEAT US INTO SUBMISSION…. YOU ARE NEXT… GO OVER HISTORY, LEARN A LESSON AND DONT DIG YOUR OWN GRAVE…
Pakistan Awwal, Pakistan Aakhir, Saya-a-Khuda-a Zuljilaal, Amiin.
This aritcle may seem like an eye opener to some, but reality is, that the writer unwittingly has put fear in the hearts of some people.
Unlike our present misguided leaders, we, as sons and daughters of this Paak Sar Zamiin must strive for Islaam and Pakistan. Indeed, Allah helps those who help themselves. May Allah SWT protect our beloved Pakistan. After all it is He who gave us this portion of Paradise (albeit a small portion) on planet earth.
As the ayah of Qur’aan kariim explicitly mentions: ‘’THOSE WHOSE FAITH ONLY INCREASED WHEN PEOPLE SAID, FEAR YOUR ENEMY, THEY HAVE AMASSED A GREAT ARMY AGAINST YOU,’ AND WHO REPLIED ‘ALLAH IS SUFFICIENT FOR US, HE IS THE BEST PROTECTOR.’’ AL-IMRAAN (3:173). Ask only Allah SWT for all our needs – worldly or of the hereafter.
Pakistan Zindabaad, Paendabaad.
ALLAHU-AKBAR!
Pakistan Awwal, Pakistan Aakhir, Saya-a-Khuda-a Zuljilaal, Amiin.
After all the suffering and after eight months of refusing to re-open the Ground Lines Of Communication – GLOC, for the USA, why has Pakistan yielded to the enemies demands? Why has it decided to re-open these routes?
IS THE BLOOD OF THOSE WHO WERE SLAIN IN COLD BLOOD ON 26/11/2011 BY THE NEFARIOUS AND DASTARDLY OCCUPIERS OF AFGHANISTAN MEAN NOTHING TO ANYONE?
We’re all aware that particularly the USA, India and Israel in the shadows, and perhaps with lesser intent NATO and ISAF want to harm Pakistan immensely, but what are our leaders thinking? Just $$$??? They fear USA et al and not ALLAH SwT?
ALLAH SwT save us, Aamiin.
Pakistan Zindabaad, Paendabaad.
ALLAHU-AKBAR!
About education. I do not know wether the US scools are good for anything. You get the impression that they are bad för the poors (weapons and disorder) and for the rich just formal – people go trough having to learn nothing – even becoming lawyers. Of Europes history the amerivans know nothing. Not also of the rest of the outern world. Only what the founding fathers have said. They seldom leave America but for Mexico and only the afroamericans are excused because they donot come from Europe.
So, it is not odd that the americans can be told just anything by their government about foreign matters. They have been told and ythey all repeat . Then they force the world media to repeat AND THE WORLD MEDIA DO. So we have to hear stupid ignorant lies about serbs, iranians, ugandians, Asia and China. Some aunt from there is propagateing with arms behind her back stupidities without even knowing how stupide versions of the worldyou can have when living isolated in USA.