Author: David Makovsky
Publication: US News and World
Report online
Date: September 24, 2001
URL: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/010924/010924/misc/24world.b.htm
Pakistani military ruler Gen. Pervez
Musharraf spoke soothing words, promising Washington his country's "unstinted
cooperation in the fight against terrorism." But political analysts counsel
caution. It isn't the first time that Islamabad, an U.S. ally during the
Cold War, has promised Washington that it would exploit its links to the
Taliban and cough up Osama bin Laden.
As it launches its offensive to
root out terrorists and punish their supporters, the Pentagon has a wish
list for Musharraf. Pakistan is unlikely to approve American bases on its
soil though it may permit over flights. It appears undecided on sharing
intelligence on the Saudi-born fanatic's operations. "Pakistan is bin Laden's
patron and may not have the political will to buck [him]," says Ray Takeyh
of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
Strong ties. The multimillionaire
terror monger was allowed to use Pakistan as a base for six years during
the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and he has maintained personnel and
storage bases and a communication network. It is an arrangement of mutual
benefit. Retired Pakistani general's profit by selling him millions of
dollars' worth of weapons. He and his Taliban hosts have also provided
perhaps 40 percent of the mujahideen foot soldiers fighting Pakistan's
long-simmering conflict with India in Kashmir. Bin Laden has also become
a financial patron of Pakistan's numerous Islamic religious seminaries,
boosting adulation among the faithful and winning new adherents to his
brand of radical Islam.
In return, sources say, Pakistan
has provided bin Laden's agents with travel documents. And a Pakistani
military hospital has treated him on more than one occasion for kidney
problems.
Such a cozy and profitable relationship
with the prime suspect in the world's most notorious act of terrorism gives
Islamabad reason to fear American wrath. With the United States vowing
hostilities against any state supporting terror groups, Pakistan finds
itself squarely in the cross hairs. Beyond direct military action, the
United States has other weapons: It can isolate Pakistan diplomatically,
try to halt much-needed loans from the International Monetary Fund, or
even intervene on India's behalf in the Kashmir conflict.
Takeyh of the Washington Institute
believes that Pakistan faces difficult and complex choices, with little
room for compromise. Bin Laden's connection to Pakistan's religious associations,
intelligence services, and senior military officers is so intimate that
even if Musharraf is willing to cooperate with the United States, he would
be obstructed at every level. Says the Near East expert: "America's longtime
Cold War ally is both ideologically and strategically invested in the vitality
of bin Laden's terror network."
