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NATO strikes: Moment of truth for leadership
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Visits
82
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Visits
82
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Visits
82
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December 23, 2011
Tension generated by NATO strikes on Pakistani border check posts is not only prevailing, but also the situation is growing more tense day by day. US mounted pressure in North Wazirstan, but the same was rejected by Pakistan army and consequently NATO targeted Pakistani check posts, killing 24 personnel.
Some analysts were describing these attacks as only the beginning. The US was said to be watching reaction from Pakistan nation. The coming few weeks can be very vital in the relations between Pakistan and US. The United States and its allies would announce their next strategy after seeing the reaction of Pakistani nation.
The NATO forces attacked that check post in Salala on Pak-Afghan border wherefrom Pakistan army could easily keep a watch on any interference from Kunar. Army had set up check post in this area after great difficulties. The essential commodities were being transported to that remote mountainous area through helicopter.
Countrywide demonstrations are continuing against these strikes even after 10 days. However, Pakistan media and political parties, instead of forging unity, started pulling legs of each other. The debate on Memogate issue has started on night TV talk shows once again. The largest opposition party, PML-N, has approached Supreme Court on the controversial Memogate issue, rather than taking it up in parliament. This move has relegated incident of martyrdom of 24 soldiers to background. Had such incident occurred in India, then the reaction would have been immense and beyond control.
The US and its allied forces launched this attack at a time when allied forces abolished border posts in Kunnar province and facilitated the movement of militants. These militants have killed dozens of security personnel in more than 30 attacks from across Afghan border, and these attacks are still continuing.
The recent reports disclose that militants had launched an attack in the area of Drosh in Chitral. Security sources had claimed 15 militants were killed and 4 security personnel injured in this strike. The US had imposed these terrorists on Pakistan as punishment. No steps are being taken to halt their movement. On the other side, Pakistan has to face such allegations. Allied forces are leveling allegations against Pakistani intelligence agencies for extending cooperation to warring Taliban in Afghanistan. Charge is shifted to Pakistani agencies soon after any incident of terror takes place in any area of Afghanistan.
Debate has begun in US on how to teach a lesson to Pakistan. Such debate is continuing between Democratic and Republican parties. US Senator John Mucain has once again accused ISI of supporting Taliban. Not even a single US official has bothered to extend apology on the incident of martyrdom of 24 soldiers of Pakistan army. The have taken position to launch a major offensive against Pakistan, and President Asif Ali Zardari has summoned joint session of parliament after Moharram, realizing the situation.
However certain observers are not pinning high hopes on the joint session of parliament convened by the president as all the resolutions adopted in the earlier joint sessions of parliament were shelved. At present, all the political parties will have to reach some conclusion in the wake of grave situation and they will have to take some decision.
According to ISPR Director General Maj-Gen Athar Abbas, at least 72 soldiers of Pakistan army have been killed and 25 injured in 8 strikes launched by NATO during the last three years.
As per latest reports, Pak-Afghan border in Torkham and Chaman has been totally sealed for NATO supplies. Hundreds of containers were stopped from crossing the border to take the goods for NATO. The Government has also set a good precedence by boycotting Bonn Conference on Afghan issue. However, more steadfastness should be demonstrated.
The whole nation has fixed its eyes on its elected leadership and armed forces. We remained suspicious in the eyes of world even after we rendered sacrifice of 40,000 lives in war on terror. Our institutions and nation are held in suspicion.
We will have to take a decision, because it’s now or never. We must decide whether the US and its allies are our friends or foes. The test of our leadership will continue till a complete decision comes from it in this regard.
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