Tuesday, May 6, 2008, Rabi-ul-Sani 29, 1429    

Anti-terror policy
US sending mixed signals

News Analysis
Zahid Hussain

Washington DC—The United States is sending mixed signals to the new Pakistani government over its talks with militants, troubled by the failure of past deals but reluctant to publicly criticize its key ally in the war on terror. “We have expressed our concerns on it,” said White House Press Secretary Dana Perino as the new government made efforts through ANP-led NWFP government to woo tribesmen on its side in isolating the foreign fighters.

The US officials have been supportive of Islamabad’s approach to bringing tribesmen into mainstream political life but urge that any peace deals should be enforced effectively and not disrupt ongoing anti-terror operations in the Afghan border region.

At the State Department, spokesman Sean McCormack and a senior counterterrorism official voiced Washington’s support for such efforts as they hailed Prime Minister Gillani’s commitment to pursue a multifaceted policy, which includes use of force in case it is required.

Sending mixed signals is a tactic aimed at avoiding public censure of the key South Asian ally but keeping pressure on it in order to secure continued cooperation.

Pakistan’s role is indispensable along Afghan border as its forces not only curb free movement of al-Qaeda and Taliban militants - many of whom crossed the Afghan border over to FATA following US victory over the Taliban five years ago - but also because 70 pre cent of the supply lines for more than 40,000 American troops passed through Pakistani territory.

In an apparent support for such peace agreements – only with locals and not with hard core terrorists – the US officials and experts even cite the example of success of such initiatives as followed in Iraq’s Anbar province as well as in some Afghan pockets where the British struck such deals.

Pakistan, meanwhile, has launched a huge media effort in the US newspapers to explain its new anti-terror strategy to isolate al-Qaeda foreign elements and win over local tribal population in federally administered tribal areas on the Afghan border.

In an article in The Washington Post Prime Minister Gilani expressed Islamabad’s resolve not to talk to terrorists but use negotiations with local tribesmen to secure their anti-terror support through their economic development, political empowerment and good governance.

While The Washington Post and The New York Times have written stories conveying unnamed US officials’ concern over deals, the Pakistani lobby in Washington has also been active getting some favorable comments from experts.

Meanwhile, an attack on Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul has sent seismic waves among allies that even six years after toppling the Taliban, the dangers have remained serious.Anti-terror policy