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WASHINGTON: The most effective way to persuade Pakistan to do more against terrorists is to maintain close ties between the two defence establishments, says the general US President Barack has chosen to lead the Afghan war.
Lt-Gen John Allen told a US Senate panel that he would try to maintain close relations with Pakistani commanders after he takes over the command of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan early next month.
Senator Jack Reed, a senior Democrat, underlined the need to continue US-Pakistan defence ties during Gen. Allen’s nomination debate, which otherwise was very hostile to Pakistan.
“Have you had the occasion to or intend to meet on a regular basis Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and your counterparts on the Pakistani armed forces?” Senator Reed asked.
“I have met Gen Kayani on a number of occasions. It is not a relationship yet, that I hope to develop,” said Gen Allen.
The new Isaf commander said his predecessor Gen David Petraeus and he plan to visit Islamabad soon so that the relationship Gen Petraeus had enjoyed with Gen Kayani “can ultimately be passed to me”.
On Tuesday, the US Congress confirmed Gen Petraeus as the new CIA chief.
“I look forward to the opportunity to work closely with Gen Kayani and other senior Pakistani military leaders in partnership,” Gen Allen said. “Because in the end we have so many common objectives that we need to get after.”
Senator Scott P. Brown, a senior Republican member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, however, appeared unimpressed with the need to maintain ties to Pakistan.
“Gosh, we're giving them $4 billion, and yet sometimes we don't know if they're in or they're out. Are they with us, are they not?” he commented. “Well, I think there is a role, Senator. The role, as has been demonstrated by (previous Isaf commanders) Gen Stanley McChrystal, and Gen Petraeus, was to seek ways and opportunity across the border with the Pakistani military to try to have effect upon the nature of the border, the safe havens, those elements of the insurgency where we can focus our efforts,” Gen Allen responded “Gen Allen, how do you plan to incentivise the Pakistanis to control the distribution of ammonium nitrate, particularly given the fact that the Pakistani military and the civilian population, they, too, have suffered from these IED attacks at the hands of the Pakistani internally focused militants?” asked Senator Kay Hagan.
“The Pakistanis have recently; I think to their credit, issued a counter IED strategy. We'll continue to work with them to build their capacities,” the general said.
