- Anil Narendra
A leading Congressman, Ted Poe has moved a resolution in the US House of Representative to stop all types of economic aid to Pakistan. In case this resolution (MR 3013) by the Texas Senator is passed, all types of economic aid to Pakistan except the aid for the safety and security of nuclear weapons would be blocked. After moving the resolution in the Senate, Ted recently said that after Osama bin Laden being traced to Abbotabad, Pakistan has lost the credibility and has been proved a traitor, cheater and dangerous ally to US. He said that this so-called ally has been receiving aid worth billions of dollars, but on the other hand it is also supporting terrorists targeting Americans, as such the aid given to it must be stopped. It has been estimated that Pakistan has received direct aid worth 30 billion pounds (2,293 billion rupees) since 1948. Half of this amount has also been given additionally to Pakistan as military aid. The amount of 2.5 billion dollars (122.42 billion rupees) provided during 1962 was the highest US aid to Pakistan, whereas aid during 1990s aid was at the lowest level. President George Bush had stopped the aid in view of Pak nuclear programme. During the Indo-Pak wars in 1965 and 1971, US did not provide any aid to Pakistan. There was a time, when it was said that even the needle in Pakistan is imported from US. It is clear from the US economic and military aid to Pakistan that Pakistan's survival could be jeopardized. The developmental works in Pakistan continue with the US aid only. If this aid is stopped, it is feared that everything in Pakistan would come to stand still.
Recently, the Haqqani Network has become thorn in the flash for both the US and the Pakistan. US has asked Pakistan to take stern action against the Haqqani Network. Pentagon Spokesman, George Little has said that we have been conveying to Pakistan government for last one week to take action against terrorists operating in its territories. He said that we expect Pak government to act against terrorists in the areas close to Afghan border, who are entering Afghanistan and targeting Americans and Afghans. Another senior US official said that Pakistan is providing safe haven to Haqqani Network, which is a matter of serious concern. US want strict action against this group. It may be recalled that the terror organization, Haqqani Network is active under the leadership of Jalaluddin Haqqani of Afghanistan. The Network has a force of 15,000 fighters in border areas of Afghanistan-Pakistan. Jalaluddin Haqqani, Sirajuddin Haqqani, Badruddin Haqqani and Nasiruddin Haqqani form the top leadership of this organization. Suicide attacks are the effective modus operandi of this group. The Network runs on the money collected through murders, ransom and illegal weapon trade. It is mainly active in Paktia, Paktika, Wardak, Loghar and Ghazani areas of South Afghanistan.
In a counter attack, Pakistan has said that Haqqani Network is the creation of US itself. Pak Minister of Interior Affairs, Rehman Malik claims that the American CIA had created this Taliban group to fight the forcible Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and it had also trained them. Malik said on Sunday in Islamabad that the Haqqani Group was not created on the soil of Pakistan and US should not talk of things which took place 20 years ago. Malik said that Haqqani Network is now active in Afghanistan and those who talks against this fact must provide proof of Haqqani Network's presence in Pakistan. Amidst the tension between US and Pakistan over the relations between Haqqani Network and ISI, the Afghani Taliban has, for the first time issued a statement in Pak government's favour. The statement says that under the pretext of this issue, US wants to create instability in Pakistan and weaken the Pak government to make Pakistan fully dependent on it. It has been said in the statement that US is also trying to create rift between Pak government and its citizens and also wants to prove that Pakistan is the safe haven for terrorists. It may be concluded that tension between these two allies is growing. The other day, I read a report saying that US forces are planning a major attack on terror targets in Pakistan.
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