Posted by Shyam Moondra
Although Pakistan has denied any involvement in the multiple acts of terror in Mumbai that led to the murder of over 180 innocent people, it has been widely reported that in the past Pakistan's Intelligence Services has used terrorism as a policy tool against India and Afghanistan. It's strongly believed that Pakistan's Intelligence Services played a role in recent terrorist act against India's embassy in Kabul and attack on India's Parliament Building in New Delhi. Given the logistical complexity of the Mumbai terrorist act, it's hard to believe that whoever planned and executed this senseless act of terror didn't get any support from someone in the Pakistani government.
It's to India's credit that in spite of many provocative acts of terrorism committed by organizations based in Pakistan and supported by Pakistani Intelligence Services, India has acted with tremendous restraint to keep the hope alive for possible eventual peace between the two countries.
Pakistan has received tens of billions of dollars from the U.S. in exchange for their cooperation against Al Qaeda and Taliban. However, many observers believe that while Pakistan pocketed the aid money, it has partnered with the U.S. only half-hearted. At times, they have appeared to play both sides, helping the U.S. against Al Qaeda while using terrorist organizations against India and Afghanistan. The U.S. policy has proven to be a failure because terrorists are gaining near the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Also, the U.S. policy of looking the other way every time Pakistan used terrorism against India and Afghanistan has only encouraged more terror acts against these countries.
President-elect Obama needs to do a comprehensive review of the U.S. policy towards Pakistan and take the following actions:
- Suspend all financial and military aid to Pakistan. Any future aid should be tied to specific benchmarks with regard to their help in our war on terror. We should insist that they dismantle Intelligence Services organization that itself seems to be engaged in terrorism against India and Afghanistan. We should also insist that they shut down their religious school system that is a breeding place of future would-be terrorists.
- Offer comprehensive assistance to India in counter-terrorism tactics and intelligence sharing, and better protecting their borders to prevent terrorist infiltrators. We should seek a closer strategic relationship with India, economically, militarily, and diplomatically.
- Develop a strategic plan to seize Pakistan's nuclear bombs and nuclear capable missiles, and destroy their WMD labs. It's a matter of time that these weapons and technologies will fall in the wrong hands and used against us. We must be prepared with a plan to take control of Pakistan's WMD.
- If Pakistan doesn't meet our demands, we should isolate Pakistan diplomatically and economically. We should restrict visas to Pakistani citizens and limit trade with Pakistan.
