(NSI News Source Info) February 22, 2009: I've just got back from a fascinating briefing at the Pakistan High Commiss
ion in Singapore, during which a senior diplomat claimed that pro-Taliban fighters were attacking the Pakistani army with an advanced assault rifle that is normally only used by the SAS.
The diplomat said that he didn't know what the rifle was called but cited its use as an example of how the Pakistan army is being outgunned by fighters from Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a pro-Taliban umbrella group based in the North West Frontier Province, on the border with Afghanistan.
The diplomat added that MI6 agents and several foreign journalists had been shown the weapons in question but that the Pakistani army still had no idea who was providing the militants with such advanced hardware.
It's important to point out that I'm not a military expert and I have no way of verifying his claim. The diplomat was trying to explain the immense difficulties that Pakistan faces in trying to defeat these militants, who he said received much better salaries than the government soldiers.
Despite backing the principle of American support for Pakistan's fight against terrorists in the border regions, diplomats at the briefing said that the regular missile attacks by unmanned US drones were "undermining our credibility" with the local population.
Although the drone attacks are intended to take out "high-profile" targets, they often cause civilian casualties and one diplomat said that "this collateral damage is adding more recruits to Al-Qaeda and the Taliban".
The Pakistani officials said it would be better if the US worked with the Pakistani army and intelligence personnel, who have better on-the-ground knowledge, rather than acting alone.
It is evident that there are many tensions between the Pakistani government and the US and it is not obvious that the arrival of Barack Obama in the White House will necessarily help to ease them.
Several times during the election campaign, Obama vociferously defended America's right to take unilateral military action against suspected terrorists within Pakistan's borders. Obama often appeared more fervent on the issue than George W. Bush.
However, the diplomats stressed that, with the appointment of seasoned diplomat Richard Holbrooke as America's special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, there had been a clear change of tone in the US administration, which was now "listening rather than dictating".
The main thrust of the briefing was that Pakistan should be seen as a victim of terror and not a cause. Pakistan was ready to take the fight to the militants, while being prepared to reach compromise deals where possible, the diplomats explained.
However, with the economic crisis hitting Pakistan hard (this week the government had to ask the IMF for another $4.5bn loan, in addition to the $7.6bn rescue package it received in November), the government needs more financial aid and military assistance from the Americans to continue the fight.
ion in Singapore, during which a senior diplomat claimed that pro-Taliban fighters were attacking the Pakistani army with an advanced assault rifle that is normally only used by the SAS.
The diplomat said that he didn't know what the rifle was called but cited its use as an example of how the Pakistan army is being outgunned by fighters from Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a pro-Taliban umbrella group based in the North West Frontier Province, on the border with Afghanistan.
The diplomat added that MI6 agents and several foreign journalists had been shown the weapons in question but that the Pakistani army still had no idea who was providing the militants with such advanced hardware.
It's important to point out that I'm not a military expert and I have no way of verifying his claim. The diplomat was trying to explain the immense difficulties that Pakistan faces in trying to defeat these militants, who he said received much better salaries than the government soldiers.
Despite backing the principle of American support for Pakistan's fight against terrorists in the border regions, diplomats at the briefing said that the regular missile attacks by unmanned US drones were "undermining our credibility" with the local population.
Although the drone attacks are intended to take out "high-profile" targets, they often cause civilian casualties and one diplomat said that "this collateral damage is adding more recruits to Al-Qaeda and the Taliban".
The Pakistani officials said it would be better if the US worked with the Pakistani army and intelligence personnel, who have better on-the-ground knowledge, rather than acting alone.
It is evident that there are many tensions between the Pakistani government and the US and it is not obvious that the arrival of Barack Obama in the White House will necessarily help to ease them.
Several times during the election campaign, Obama vociferously defended America's right to take unilateral military action against suspected terrorists within Pakistan's borders. Obama often appeared more fervent on the issue than George W. Bush.
However, the diplomats stressed that, with the appointment of seasoned diplomat Richard Holbrooke as America's special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, there had been a clear change of tone in the US administration, which was now "listening rather than dictating".
The main thrust of the briefing was that Pakistan should be seen as a victim of terror and not a cause. Pakistan was ready to take the fight to the militants, while being prepared to reach compromise deals where possible, the diplomats explained.
However, with the economic crisis hitting Pakistan hard (this week the government had to ask the IMF for another $4.5bn loan, in addition to the $7.6bn rescue package it received in November), the government needs more financial aid and military assistance from the Americans to continue the fight.
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