Author: Editorial
Publication: Washington Times
Date: November 4, 2001
URL: http://www.washtimes.com/op-ed/20011104-16818328.htm
How long does the United States
need to be deceived before it confronts Pakistan about the lies? That is
the logical question following revelations by this newspaper's reporter
Bill Gertz that elements within the Pakistani military and intelligence
agencies have been secretly sending military goods to the Taliban. This
is in violation of both a U.N. resolution barring such arms transfers as
well as Pakistan's promise to back the U.S. military strikes. While it
is unclear whether President Pervez Musharraf had direct knowledge of the
transfers or it has been done behind his back, one thing is clear: Pakistanis
have consistently aided the Taliban and violated the interests of the United
States. Therefore, the next question is, is Pakistan for us or against
us?
When Gen. Musharraf first stated
Sept. 19 what the Bush administration called "support" for the United States,
he bragged: "I have done everything for Afghanistan and Taliban when the
entire world is against them. I have met about 20 to 25 world leaders and
talked to each of them in favor of the Taliban. I have told them that sanctions
should not be imposed on Afghanistan and that we should engage them. I
have been repeating this stance before all leaders, but I am sorry to say
that none of our friends accepted this."
Will U.S. officials start listening
to what Gen. Musharraf has really been saying all along? Perhaps not. In
one breath on Thursday, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld admitted that
Pakistan is supplying covert military aid to the Taliban militia, and then
he praised the Pakistani government for its support of the United States.
What is wrong with this picture? It is understandable that, for the first
few weeks after the September 11 attacks, the Bush administration was swayed
by Gen. Musharraf's courtship. He called for Osama bin Laden's indictment,
he fired top intelligence and military officials who were sympathetic to
the Taliban, and he outlawed calling for holy war on mosque sound systems.
But it is clear that, even if he didn't know about the arms deals, he has
not been able to stop them. The undercover operations take place at night
along the Pakistani-Afghan border. The Deccan Herald of Bangalore stated
that the arms were being disguised as U.N. humanitarian supplies. Meanwhile,
the State Department is confident that the Pakistani government is cracking
down on such operations.
Well, such confidence may be dangerous.
After all, Pakistan sheltered bin Laden in the 1980s, and, as a Muslim
nation sympathetic to the Taliban's cause, Pakistan has great interest
in keeping the Taliban around. It has only been six weeks since President
Bush warned all those who would support or harbor terrorists, such as al
Qaeda and the Taliban: "Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists."
Pakistan must be posed that ultimatum again - and this time, Pakistan must
answer honestly. Pakistan is handing weapons to U.S. enemies with one hand,
and shaking the United States' hand in friendship with the other. The United
States cannot continue to be complacent while Pakistan does both.
