By Arun Kumar, IANS
Washington : The Senate Armed Services Committee has sought a report on the effectiveness of US-funded Pakistani operations against an insurgency spreading along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Senators asked Pentagon’s top civilian and military officials for further analysis of the military aid during a hearing Wednesday, a day after the top US intelligence official described Pakistan as facing an existential crisis due to a spike in deadly terrorist attacks over the past year.
Appearing before the panel, Defence Secretary Robert M. Gates echoed concerns that Director of National Intelligence John M. (Mike) McConnell expressed Tuesday before the Senate Intelligence Committee.
“I think it’s a fairly recent development and probably (was) brought home most vividly to them by the assassination of Mrs. Bhutto, that this is a serious threat,” Gates said, referring to the assassination of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto following a Dec 27 political rally in Rawalpindi.
Senator Jack Reed asked Gates if he agrees with McConnell’s assessment that Al Qaeda, using Pakistan’s federally administrated tribal areas (FATA) as a safe haven, is growing in its capacity to attack regional US forces.
“I think that (he) is correct in saying that Al Qaeda is taking advantage of the safe havens on the Pakistani side of the Afghan border to expand and train for attacks,” he said.
“There’s clearly no doubt that they have the intent of attacking the United States, and frankly, I think that’s one of the reasons why you’re seeing a major push of equipment (into Pakistan) over the next 24 months.”
According to a Dec 24 New York Times article, Pakistan’s military relies on Washington for roughly a quarter of its entire $4 billion budget. But much of the funding appropriated to bolster the Pakistani military’s efforts against Al Qaeda and Taliban extremists is being misused, the article alleges.
Gates told the senators that US military aid has supported some 90 Pakistani army operations and allows about 100,000 troops to be positioned in Pakistan ‘s northwest region.
“Based on the information available to me, I think they are (using US funds appropriately),” he said, disputing allegations made by anonymous sources quoted in the Times article.
At Gates’ suggestion senators asked that Navy Adm. William J. Fallon, commander of US Central Command, prepare a report on the US investment in Pakistan’s army before his expected appearance before the panel in March.
Adm. Michael G. Mullen, chairperson of the joint chiefs of staff, told senators their request is timely, given that threats emanating from Pakistan are “expanding and turning inward”.
During Tuesday’s Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, director of the Defence Intelligence Agency Army Lt. Gen. Michael D. Maples raised doubts about Pakistani current operations against extremists along the Afghanistan border.
Al Qaeda is using Pakistan’s federally administrated tribal areas as a safe haven, Maples said during his testimony. Pakistani military operations have had limited effect on Al Qaeda, he said.
“However, Pakistan recognises the threat and realises the need to develop more effective counterinsurgency capabilities to complement their conventional military.”
While insurgent activity remains concentrated in Afghanistan’s southern and eastern provinces, there have been attacks in the western part of the country, the general noted.
“We believe that Al Qaeda has expanded its support to the Afghan insurgency and presents an increased threat to Pakistan, while it continues to plan, support and direct transnational attacks,” he explained.
Noting that Pakistan is a nuclear power, the general said the US military has confidence that Pakistan can safeguard its nuclear arsenal.