the new normal: NATO fighting the wrong battle in Afghanistan

[rodeodance]

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HK04Df02.html
Nov 4, 2006


NATO fighting the wrong battle in Afghanistan
By M K Bhadrakumar

The pre-dawn attack on the Zia-ul-Uloom madrassa in Pakistan's Bajour tribal region on Monday killing 80 people, mostly students, is bound to impact on the course of the Afghan war. No matter the repeated assertions by Islamabad to the contrary, widespread suspicions of US involvement in the attack have arisen.

The incident offers "proof" to those who clamor for Pakistan doing "more" that indeed Islamabad is going the extra league in the "war on terror". White House spokesman Tony Snow was quick to lavish praise on President General Pervez Musharraf for showing "courage and determination". If Musharraf is indeed standing in for a botched-up US military operation, the White House must owe him one hell of a lot.

But it doesn't add to his domestic political credibility to be seen as unwilling to resist, or incapable of doing so, the US assault on the sovereignty of Pakistan's borders. Islamabad is to conclude an agreement on providing "logistical support" for North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces during NATO secretary general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer's first ever visit to Islamabad this month.

In fact, the agreement for transit facility was sought by NATO some six months ago, with US backing. Post-Bajour public perceptions of NATO in Pakistan cannot be favorable. But does Islamabad have a choice in the matter? Without Pakistan's support, NATO's extended supply lines to Afghanistan will run through airspace largely under Russian control. That is an unbearable dependence on Moscow's political goodwill - incompatible with NATO's further expansion into the territory of the former Soviet republics.

All this makes the umbilical cord tying Musharraf to the Bush administration that much more difficult to sever.



............M K Bhadrakumar served as a career diplomat in the Indian Foreign Service for more than 29 years, with postings including ambassador to Uzbekistan (1995-98) and to Turkey (1998-2001).

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NATO takes the fight to Pakistan (Nov 2, '06)

US's Afghan policies going up in smoke (Nov 1, '06)

Afghanistan: Why NATO cannot win (Sep 30, '06)

[aquart]

1. Another place we need to leave.