09-24-2006, 11:40 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Bluff and bluster </b>
The Pioneer Edit Desk
It can't carry Musharraf too far
Is too much being read into Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's belligerent posturing prior to his meeting with US President George W Bush in Washington, DC on Friday? While his claim that then US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage had threatened Pakistan with dire consequences in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks - "Be prepared to be bombed. Be prepared to go back to the Stone Age" - unless he joined the war against terrorism triggered reams of analysis, it is entirely possible that the comments were nothing more than a publicity gimmick for his book, In the Line of Fire, due for release on Monday.<b> It is true that media reports of Gen Musharraf's claim, made to CBS, followed Mr Bush's interview to CNN during which he indicated that he would not hesitate to send American troops into Pakistan to hunt down Osama bin Laden</b>. But it is not clear when CBS recorded its interview of Gen Musharraf; what is, however, known is that the publishers of In the Line of Fire arranged for the interview with an eye to promoting the book. Be that as it may, the fact remains that Mr Bush's meeting with Gen Musharraf took place against the backdrop of both trying to browbeat the other, only to appear in public after their chat as members of a mutual admiration club. Yes, diplomacy demands civility during a joint press conference addressed by two heads of state. <b>But what was witnessed on Friday bordered more on back-slapping bonhomie than civility and stood out in sharp contrast to the chill that marked Mr Bush's visit to Pakistan earlier this year</b>. It also runs contrary to the mounting concern in the American, European and Afghan capitals about Islamabad's wavering commitment to crush Taliban and Al Qaeda remnants now operating out of Waziristan.
For quite some time now, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has been complaining to the US about Pakistan's unwillingness to contain, leave alone eliminate, Taliban and Al Qaeda activists who had taken refuge in Waziristan after being driven out of Afghanistan by the US-led multinational forces. With every passing day, Osama bin Laden's loyalists have been striking deeper into Afghan territory with increasing impunity and deadly effect. American commanders based in Afghanistan have endorsed Mr Karzai's assessment on more than one occasion. What has set alarm bells ringing is the Pakistan Government's recent deal with tribal leaders in Waziristan that virtually marks the end of Gen Musharraf's participation in the US-led war against terrorism. The Pakistan Army chief has denied a sellout, but there are not many takers for his glib talk. Mr Bush cannot but be aware of the rapidly changing perception about his blue-eyed boy in Islamabad and it would not be incorrect to assume that the one-on-one meeting between them that preceded the joint press conference was dominated by a fair amount of tough-talking. When Mr Karzai meets Mr Bush on Tuesday, he is bound to repeat his litany of charges against Gen Musharraf that remain unaddressed. <b>The West's 'steadfast ally' in the war against terrorism is bound to repeat his pledge of allegiance and reiterate his commitment. But unless he begins to deliver, he will sooner than later run out of time: Bluff and bluster are useful tactics but they can never qualify as strategy.</b>
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The Pioneer Edit Desk
It can't carry Musharraf too far
Is too much being read into Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's belligerent posturing prior to his meeting with US President George W Bush in Washington, DC on Friday? While his claim that then US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage had threatened Pakistan with dire consequences in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks - "Be prepared to be bombed. Be prepared to go back to the Stone Age" - unless he joined the war against terrorism triggered reams of analysis, it is entirely possible that the comments were nothing more than a publicity gimmick for his book, In the Line of Fire, due for release on Monday.<b> It is true that media reports of Gen Musharraf's claim, made to CBS, followed Mr Bush's interview to CNN during which he indicated that he would not hesitate to send American troops into Pakistan to hunt down Osama bin Laden</b>. But it is not clear when CBS recorded its interview of Gen Musharraf; what is, however, known is that the publishers of In the Line of Fire arranged for the interview with an eye to promoting the book. Be that as it may, the fact remains that Mr Bush's meeting with Gen Musharraf took place against the backdrop of both trying to browbeat the other, only to appear in public after their chat as members of a mutual admiration club. Yes, diplomacy demands civility during a joint press conference addressed by two heads of state. <b>But what was witnessed on Friday bordered more on back-slapping bonhomie than civility and stood out in sharp contrast to the chill that marked Mr Bush's visit to Pakistan earlier this year</b>. It also runs contrary to the mounting concern in the American, European and Afghan capitals about Islamabad's wavering commitment to crush Taliban and Al Qaeda remnants now operating out of Waziristan.
For quite some time now, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has been complaining to the US about Pakistan's unwillingness to contain, leave alone eliminate, Taliban and Al Qaeda activists who had taken refuge in Waziristan after being driven out of Afghanistan by the US-led multinational forces. With every passing day, Osama bin Laden's loyalists have been striking deeper into Afghan territory with increasing impunity and deadly effect. American commanders based in Afghanistan have endorsed Mr Karzai's assessment on more than one occasion. What has set alarm bells ringing is the Pakistan Government's recent deal with tribal leaders in Waziristan that virtually marks the end of Gen Musharraf's participation in the US-led war against terrorism. The Pakistan Army chief has denied a sellout, but there are not many takers for his glib talk. Mr Bush cannot but be aware of the rapidly changing perception about his blue-eyed boy in Islamabad and it would not be incorrect to assume that the one-on-one meeting between them that preceded the joint press conference was dominated by a fair amount of tough-talking. When Mr Karzai meets Mr Bush on Tuesday, he is bound to repeat his litany of charges against Gen Musharraf that remain unaddressed. <b>The West's 'steadfast ally' in the war against terrorism is bound to repeat his pledge of allegiance and reiterate his commitment. But unless he begins to deliver, he will sooner than later run out of time: Bluff and bluster are useful tactics but they can never qualify as strategy.</b>
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