T

he US’s Abbottabad operation on May 2 has destroyed what was left of the tattered sovereignty of Pakistan after years of American drone strikes and CIA operations. The Pakistani and American leadership are making a mockery of the world by claiming that the operation against the compound allegedly housing Osama bin Laden was done unilaterally by the US without Pakistan’s knowledge.

We are expected to believe that Pakistan’s army is able to hold the million man Indian army at bay but it cannot realize that American helicopters loaded with US personnel are flying around 35 miles from the capital next to the elite training center Kakul?

This is a ridiculous notion. Pakistan’s secular leadership including COAS Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, DG ISI Ahmad Shuja Pasha, their cronies in the military and politicians have willingly all agreed to produce this drama and help America create a narrative whereby Pakistan is backed into a corner by world public opinion. Pakistan, or more specifically the Pakistani military and intelligence services, will be accused of harboring Bin Laden right under their noses and only direct intervention by US Special Forces resulted in the man being eliminated.

This entire piece of theater allows America to do two things.

One, it is allowed to withdraw from its costly war in Afghanistan by saying it got its target, thereby attempting to preserve the prestige of the US armed forces and boost public opinion at home. The withdrawal is necessary as the US can no longer sustain its military occupation and can attempt to “hand over control” to Afghan forces. This will give it the opportunity to refocus its energies on the Middle East to prevent the popular uprisings and toppling of its puppets from loosening its grip on the region. It is critical that America maintains control of the oil in the area and prevents an Islamic oriented power from emerging that could challenge it on an ideological and strategic level.

Two, it sets up the stage to not only continue drone strikes in Pakistan’s tribal areas but also expand both the reach and magnitude of its military operations in the country. An incursion by troops in helicopters is an unprecedented act of war against Pakistan and will serve to push the line of what is tolerable for America to do in Pakistan further.

The reasoning for this is to pursue America’s real objective in Pakistan, which is to prevent real ideological change from occurring that will threaten its economic and geostrategic interests in Central Asia and the Middle East. America will continue to create strife in Pakistan so that the country becomes further divided amongst any lines possible — ethnic, provincial, sectarian, political and religious grounds. This will keep Pakistan weak and distracted, and the current and previous crop of leaders have facilitated America along this path.

Pakistan needs to stand up and issue a strong response to the US straight away if it is to prevent this unprecedented incursion from becoming the norm. Pakistan must not be pressured by the Western media for standing up for its independence when the issue of Bin Laden is involved. The country must draw a line and make it clear to the whole world that no country can simply fly in wherever and whenever it wants to and kill people.

Muhammad Asim
Karachi