US misdeeds in Pakistan unmasked

ISLAMABAD: The involvement of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States with Raymond Davis, who is facing trial for killing two Pakistanis in Lahore on January 27, is beyond any shadow of doubt and the post-incident conduct of the CIA has virtually put its partnership with the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) into question.

Many Pakistanis believe this case has exposed the CIA misdeeds in a country, which has been strong US ally since the so-called war on terror was launched and has offered far more sacrifices than the rest of the allies in this war offered collectively.

“The approach of CIA towards the partnership through pressure is only counterproductive and will result in isolation of CIA in an operational environment where its performance has been found wanting and has raised more questions than answers,” said an official source, requesting anonymity keeping in view sensitive nature of the issue.

“Irrespective of the commonality of objectives in the war on terror, it is hard to predict if the relationship between the two intelligence services will ever reach the level at which it was prior to the Davis episode,” the source cautioned. “The onus of not stalling this relationship between the two agencies now squarely lies on CIA,” he added.

The source said that the ISI and CIA enjoy a very close and professional relationship which has grown stronger over the years and like any relationship there are always some ups and downs but to say that they are the worst since 9/11 is not correct and neither are they alarming.

“Pakistan is doing all that is within it means and capacity to combat the menace of terrorism and our track record speaks for itself. Drone attacks are an autonomous CIA operation and Pakistan or ISI has never provided any information for the drone strikes,” he said.

The source said Pakistan is fully engaged in operations against the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in South Waziristan Agency and does not have the wherewithal or the capacity to simultaneously undertake operation in North Waziristan Agency, which would hopefully be tackled only once gains in South Waziristan Agency have been consolidated.

“The insinuations of ISI helping in relocating and protecting the Haqqanis are nothing but insinuations. Such stories to the best of our knowledge are leaked to the media with the connivance of CIA,” the source said. “It is regrettable that CIA leadership on many occasions has failed to show respect to the relationship of the two agencies and has acted with arrogance towards ISI, which has resulted in weakening the relationship on which it is entirely dependant,” he lamented.

The source said it is unfortunate the CIA leadership fails to understand that the ISI works for, and would continue working for, the national interest irrespective of the desires of CIA.Several reports have already claimed that the information gleaned from Davis and pieces of evidence recovered from him suggest he was on contact with the elements within the TTP, which has claimed almost every terror act in Pakistan. This case has made many Pakistanis, who have suspected the US involvement in destabilising the country, certain that it is the United States which is playing the role of a foe in the garb of an ally.

Although there have been many instance where Pakistan was provided a chance by the US to easily quit the alliance against terrorism, this case is strongest among them. It is, however, up to the Pakistani leaders that whether take some bold steps to save the country from further turmoil by throwing the CIA operatives out of the country or not. If the Pakistani leadership failed to act even now, the country and its people would continue suffering colossal losses like it has been suffering ever since it joined the US war on terror.