Passing through the Crisis
The recent visit by Hillary Clinton to Pakistan took place in a particular situation, as tensions between Pakistan and the US had escalated following Admiral Mike Mullen’s allegations leveled at Islamabad that it was backing the Haqqani terrorist network. The US also threatened to breach Pakistan’s sovereignty over the Waziristan region and to take militarily action against the Haqqani network. In response, Islamabad warned that any intervention by the US in Pakistan will be met with Pakistan’s army’s reaction. US-Pakistan relations had reached the boiling point, according to some analysts, and bilateral relations were on the verge of suspension.
But something different lies beneath: it can be seen that the Americans on the one hand put pressure on Pakistanis to crack down on the radical groups and on the other hand, behind the curtain, talk Pakistan into aligning itself with the US’s interests in Afghanistan, all while it should not be forgotten that seasoned Pakistani generals cannot be cheated easily; that is, they neither create a situation which is conducive to struggle with Washington nor meet the US’s demands regarding northern Waziristan, even if that leads to a war with the US. Washington is wielding the stick above Pakistanis’ head (Mullen’s remarks), while tempting them with carrots (Hillary’s comments.)