The friend between two foes

Even as US President Barack Obama makes a trip to India for its Republic Day celebrations this January, tongues are wagging about the support shown by America to India’s arch rival Pakistan.

The US Secretary of State John Kerry will visit Pakistan this month, shortly after he visits India for the Vibrant Gujarat summit, which begins in Gandhinagar on January 11, ahead of President Barack Obama’s visit on January 24.

Kerry will lead the Strategic Dialogue in Islamabad later in January, the Pakistan Foreign Ministry announced this week.

Despite the fact that both the LeT and JeM have resurfaced visibly in the past year in Pakistan and the founders of both, Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar, have held public rallies in the country in 2014, Kerry signed off on a certification that the Pakistan government “prevented al-Qaeda, the Taliban and associated terror groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad from operating in the territory of Pakistan” for the year.

This also comes after the Indian Coast Guard claimed to have intercepted a boat from Pakistan which was carrying explosives. The boat made suspicious moves into the Indian waters and four men inside the boat blew it off after being intercepted. Although Pakistan maintains no boat left its shores, the Indian government stood by its intelligence reports.

 

Pak gets thumbs up

The certificate that the US had signed is to disburse funds under the Kerry-Lugar Bill for civilian aid to Pakistan that was co-authored by Kerry in 2009. This year’s grant of $532 million to Pakistan will be disbursed shortly, as the Congress gave its nod to President Obama, the US Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson disclosed.

According to official agency APP, Olson met Pakistan’s Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to finalise the agenda for Kerry’s upcoming visit. Significantly, the Kerry-Lugar Bill lapsed in September 2014, but only about half of the $7.5 billion outlay has been disbursed so far.

According to Section 203 of the Bill, which is formally called the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act (S.1707), there are limitations on clearing the annual $1.5 billion assistance to Pakistan based on actions in the “preceding financial year.”

The authorisation required that the Pakistan government and military “ceased support” to extremist and terror groups, that they have “prevented” groups like the LeT and JeM from operating in Pakistan, and carrying out attacks against its neighbours, while dismantling their bases in Muridke, FATA and Quetta.

 

Terrorism and Pak

Pakistan has been accused of giving its territory to terrorists who attack neighbours like India and Afghanistan. But recently, the gruesome attack on Pakistan’s school by Taliban left the government and its military leaders in shock. They pledged to go after every militant which seeks refuge in its terrain and shun their notion of good Taliban and bad Taliban.

It should be noted that the attack came in retaliation of Pakistan’s operation Zarb-e-Azb against terrorists in the North Waziristan region. Many have been killed but some have also managed to flee to Afghanistan, according to reports.

India, after the school attack, said that the two neighbours need to join hands to counter terrorism which works to destroy innocent lives. However days after they found themselves in the midst of cross-border firing and accusations of leading the ceasefire violations.

While Obama makes his journey to India many will watch to see if the most powerful man gives support to the nation which has continually accused Pakistan of ill-motives or abstain from aligning with either.

Officials clearly see this visit as reflective of the serious efforts made by the Obama administration to not only strengthen India-US relationship but also to send a message to the countries of the region and other major international players.