By NNN-APP
Washington : President Pervez Musharraf has always been very clear that the US troops could not operate unilaterally on Pakistani soil and instead called for coordinated efforts, former US ambassador to Pakistan Wendy Chamberlin said.
Chamberlin, who served as US ambassador in Islamabad in 2001-02 told Fox News channel that when Pakistan had joined the international coalition in the wake of 9/11 terrorist attacks, President Pervez Musharraf had expressly stated that US troops could not operate unilaterally on the Pakistani side of border.
“It was understood and he (Musharraf) told me very clearly as ambassador to Pakistan that US combat troops could not operate unilaterally in Pakistan and it (fight against terrorism) must be done in a coordinated way,” Chamberlin said recalling her conversation with President Musharraf.
Chamberlin, who now heads a Washington-based think tank, The Middle East Institute, was commenting on President Musharraf’s expression of strong opposition to the notion of a unilateral US action against any terrorists who may be hiding on Pakistani side.
She noted Musharraf’s maintaining a consistent position on the issue all along.
“And [President Musharraf] said he would support his own people, protect his own borders and provide for the sovereignty of Pakistan but not with unilateral operations from a foreign force,” she said.
The seasoned diplomat noted that President Musharraf’s “number one responsibility to his citizens is to protect them, protect their security and to protect the sovereignty of his government. Any threat, any suggestion that would be violated, he has to oppose as a president.”
Asked if President Musharraf’s stance would hurt the US efforts if it had actionable intelligence on whereabouts of al-Qaeda leaders and was on the cusp of getting them, she replied “it would not”.
She backed up her argument by citing Pakistan’s successful counter-terrorism actions carried out over the years.
“No, I don’t think. In fact, we can base this on some solid historical facts. The Pakistani army and police forces have worked very closely with us over the years where we had actionable intelligence, and they have been successful, frankly, in wrapping up a number of al-Qaeda terrorists.”
Wendy Chamberlin said the US and Pakistan should act in unison in pursuing al-Qaeda terrorists as the two allies face a common enemy.
“Pakistan and the United States share the same enemy, they both are after al-Qaeda, al-Qaeda has threatened his (Musharraf’s) life, we know terrorist acts inside Pakistan, we are together on this.”
She said, “Going after al-Qaeda, we can do it together.”
Some US presidential candidates have indicated in their campaigns that they would favour unilateral strikes against terrorist hideouts in the case of having actionable intelligence. But on Friday, the US administration officials reaffirmed to work cooperatively with Pakistan in fighting terrorism, respecting its sovereignty.