“The memo sent to Adm. Mike Mullen, the top U.S. military officer at the time, reportedly offered to curb support to Islamist militants from Pakistan’s military intelligence service, the ISI.” “Pakistani ambassador to US caught in controversy,” by Chris Brummitt for the Associated Press, November 17: ISLAMABAD (AP) “” The Pakistani government said Thursday that […]
Afghanistan: Report suggests “U.S. officers believed Pakistani troops were providing cover for the insurgents” in late October firefight
Funny how this keeps happening. “On Afghan-Pakistan border, suspicions reign,” by Joshua Partlow for the Washington Post, November 14: FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHARANA, AFGHANISTAN “” One Tuesday evening last month, while patrolling along Afghanistan’s border with Pakistan, American soldiers came under a flurry of gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades from the vicinity of a Pakistani military […]
Official report released in 2007 Pakistani killing of American officer, long kept quiet
A prior report on this story, referenced below, described multiple gunmen in a “complex, calculated assault,” and stated: “Pakistani officials first attributed the attack to militants, then, when pressed to investigate, to a single rogue soldier from the Frontier Corps, the poorly controlled tribal militia that guards the border region. To this day, none of […]
Haqqani network, which Pakistan refuses to confront, blamed in Kabul suicide attack on NATO bus
As of last month, Pakistan had decided not to undertake an operation against the Haqqanis for the time being, likely hoping to continue delaying until right around the time the ski slopes open in Jahannam. Speaking of unpleasantly elevated temperatures, the U.S. has reportedly rewarded Pakistan’s intransigence by “warming” to the idea of negotiating with […]
U.S. “warms to idea” of Pakistani negotiations with Haqqanis
Who benefits? The Pakistanis, who would obtain a tool for buying time indefinitely, saying they need to see the “dialogue” through, and that now is not the time (it never is) for firmer action that could upset a delicate situation. They don’t need to do much to look busy. Who else benefits? The Haqqanis, who […]
Pakistanis burn effigy of Hillary Clinton as high-level U.S. delegation tries to convince Islamabad to move against Haqqanis
Effigy craftsmanship isn’t what it used to be. One can only imagine that the contrast in private and public discourse on this visit with our “Frenemy” and Ally is particularly stark. Whether what is said after the photo-ops will get Islamabad to lift a finger (no, not that finger) is another matter altogether. “Effigy of […]
Rocket fire on the rise from Pakistan into Afghanistan: Officers allege jihadists operating in sight of Pakistani military
“Contact with the [Pakistani military] when these incidents are going on is often nonexistent. We usually can’t get a hold of these guys. When we do get a hold of these guys, they say they are not aware or can’t see it. Looking at the terrain, it is very hard to believe.” “Tensions Flare as […]
Pakistan tries to turn tables on U.S., Afghanistan, accusing them of failing to go after Pakistani Taliban leader
There would be no crisis for Islamabad if Fazlullah’s attacks were not coming back over the border, but staying on the other side. Pakistan is again attempting to avoid international pressure over its double game by trying to create the impression that, hey, everybody’s doing it. “Pakistan wants Afghan action on Taliban cleric,” by Qasim […]
Pakistan: Quit criticizing us for not fighting jihadists or we won’t be able to fight the jihadists
Shut up, the Pakistani senator explained. “Pakistan says Obama pressure on militants hurts Afghanistan,” by Augustine Anthony for Reuters, October 7: ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – President Barack Obama’s warning to Islamabad over suspected ties to militants will only fuel anti-Americanism and make it harder for Pakistan to support U.S. efforts to stabilize Afghanistan, a senior senator […]
Pakistan warns Afghanistan on alliance with India
As U.S.-Pakistani relations have been circling the drain in recent weeks over the connections between Pakistani intelligence and the Haqqani network, Pakistan made a major show of its friendship and strategic partnership with China (never mind the Pakistani connections of jihadists in China’s west). Now, as Afghanistan pushes back against Pakistan for its double game, […]