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Testifying before a Congressional panel on Afghanistan and Pakistan, former National Intelligence Officer for the Near East and South Asia Paul R Pillar said Pakistan simply shows to the US that it is going against the terrorists, while in reality it is not.
"The Pakistanis are very adept at playing these sorts of games with foreign governments -- including the US -- in doing just enough to keep us satisfied," he said.
"This has taken place for years with regard to their activity in Kashmir and the cross-border operations," said Pillar, who is now visiting professor and Director of Studies, Security Studies Program, Georgetown University.
"To be quite blunt, you know, the Pakistanis have played games with us, in terms of making perhaps more of a show of going after elements we're most concerned with in the northwest, which is not to say that they haven't done real operations and indeed have incurred substantial casualties But then have, you know, brought things to a halt and have reached these various agreements and truces, whether it's the people in Swat or elsewhere, that have fallen short of our objectives," Pillar said.
He also said there is an 'undeniable link' between the banned Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and the Pakistan Government, which has used it to serve its interests in Kashmir.
"Lashkar-e-Toiba is an Islamist Pakistani group that has gotten, certainly in the past -- and there's a question about how much it still has in the present -- cooperation and sponsorship from elements of the Pakistani Government itself, which saw it as a useful tool, particularly with regard to confronting the Indians in Kashmir and keeping an insurgency in Kashmir brewing," Pillar said.
"Since then -- and partly because of the pressure that our Government has placed on the Pakistanis not to do business with this group, which is a loathsome terrorist group that is appropriately on all of our terrorist lists and it is appropriate for us to place such pressure on the Pakistanis," he said.
The LeT shares the general ideology in many respects of al-Qaeda, although operationally they have been focused more on Kashmir and now in Pakistan itself, he said.
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Only blind and deaf can be excused from ignorance of pakistan's balatant insurgency and perpetrating terrorism in Kashmir and other parts of Inda (when they get an opportunity). US actions are so selfserving and unilateral that it will turn a blind eye to any event (Darfur, Zimbabwe etc) unless its interests are at stake. Every US diplomate coming to subcontinent does a double-speak by lauding pakistan's role as a frontier state in the so-called "war on terror" and sympathise with India as a victim when in India. What a sham and shame. The recent global financial turmoil has decimated the US dominance on global front and India and China has emerged as powers to reckon with. India shouldn't fall for any US bait any more. It was nicely and precisely said on the other comment that "US diplomats wake up only after retirement, the serving ones are still sleeping.
I am in agreement with the facts uttered by the intelligence officer Mr. Paul Pillar of USA. Pakis have just one agenda, that is, how to destroy India and its multicultural system. They don't mind destroying any thing that is a symbol of civilization including the beautiful USA. I guess we all know this. But, many of us are quite timid or ignorant about expressing our true views on Pakistan vs India vs terror. Specially, Government of India and various political parties are not thoughtful enough and forceful enough to tell Pakis that enough is enough by invoking something tangible like occupying a portion of Lahore or Sindh and not let it go no matter what, just like Pakis are doing in Kashmir - occupying 40% of our beloved land. Come on my fellow brothers and sisters, wake up ! Come on ignorant politicians, learn and act. There is no shame in being trained and take informed actions. Please, politicians, get trained on how to manage and govern and be proactive.
Finally, someone spoke the truth. US people in general lack common sense and only a group of 5% is running the country. And as we don't care what's happening in Darfur or Zimbawe, It 's not US public concern what happened in Bangladesh and later in Kashmir and Punjab. It's the time when all the nations should combine and reduce Pakistan to nill.
Oh not so fast, my dear friend.Americans wake up only after retirement, while the serving members continue to sleep.
Brother Xtians must realise that to establish seclallularism in India they have to help St. Soneeya ji, Lalloo ji, and UPA and Kangrace. Brother Xtian US is weakening secular forces in India by making anti brother Muxlim statements.
Shameful that a "SUPERPOWER" (US) makes this statement about an excuse of a country (Pakistan). US has been fully aware of Paki actions, but in till now they turned a blind eye because it suited them. Now that Paki actions are hurting the US, they do an about face and claim sudden "enlightenment". India must ignore these kind of statements and continue with isolating Pakistan, without waiting for US support.Jai Hind !!
America is not daft not to acknowledge the role of Pakistan in India and particularly in Kashmir valley.America knew how A khan was stealing nuclear secrets from Denmark and prevented that country not to take any legalaction long time before he sold the secrets with full knowledge the Pakistan govt.America dioes not want `india to become a super power as it is not an alley.It wants India to spend all the money on defence preferably buying American equppments.Anti Indian stace began since the time of Nehru.Thank god world realised what Pakistan is.What the world is witnessing is a failed state in its terminal stage.Nothing can cure it.
Pillar is not revealing any classified or top secret reagarding LeT. All these years Americans as well as Britons knew exactly what is going on. They choose to look the other side since India was the victim. Now their complacency is coming back to bite them making the agents to indulge in 'revelations'. Even now Kerry and Biden choose to ignore the writing on the wall and give Pakis billions of dollars!
At Last! Some one spoke in public. Of course they knew it always. But never made a public statement. Is anything changing?? Pakistan has been always considered as a strategic ally by US. Question is " Could a failed state be an ally to any country?" The present chaos in the state does not recognize any authority in the country. So, who are the leaders of Pak that US deals with????
Omigosh!It took so long for our people in charge of security to know what a small fry like me had been saying for years since Pakistan was made the major partner in fighting against terrorism.It gives me a creepy feeling to learn this very late admission.
Good. This is a slap on the face of Mr. Johm Kerry's wrong policies.Now, USA is slowly started coming to reality. If this honesty continues, it wil soon realise that, civilian govt has no power in pakistan. Indeed, pak army, ISI, cruel terrorists and narcotic smugglers are the ones who control this country. Funds from middle eastren countries and Europe must be flowing to them ALL THESE NET WORKS must be be liquidated completely by forming a honest coialtion. The root cause of all these problems is ISLAMIC JIHAD idealogy. the world will be happy with out these islamic terrorists. The use of physical force is a must and there no choice.
Mr Pillar , With whom not US of A have been playing games : India , Pakistan , Russia , China , Vietnam , Iraq , Iran , Korea , Mexico , Quba list goes on and on .
Musharraf made a monkey of Bush. He took America's money and arms and did exactly what suited him not bothering as to how American interests were harmed. Much of the rot in today's Pak is to be blamed on Mush's illegal rule.
The Paki Generals alongwith the mullahs have been milking the US since the time of Cento and the Russo aggression in Afghanistan was Allah sent opputurnity to go in for the West's jugular vein. 9/11 another Allah sent time and except for the Bush diplomacy they would have been by now renamed Islamistan. The Saudis have also been pouring billions into Pakistan under various garb for the extremists. Just wait and watch the importance of Oil is alomost over with the invention of alternate sources of energy. Now the Saudis will face the music. One shouln't be surprised that the Paki Army elements on duty in Saudia assisted the extremists. You reap what you sow is an universal logic and sooner it comes knocking the better. Iran is after Israel for no rhyme and reason and time will show the Iranians their true place. In all this the only sufferers are the innocent both women,children and the Uninterested who are not recognised any where. Nostredame for maybe chuckling in his grave.
The unholy alliance between US and Pakistan.The weak response from our own government. The common citizen of this country is paying a heavy price.It is about time India did some straight talking with US.The geopolitics of US should factor in the concerns of India, as regards to terror emanating from Pakistan.Alternately India should initiate strong and direct action against the terror camps and the host country to drive home the point to US. That we refuse to be the collateral in their war on terror with their dodgy partner Pakistan.We cannot be mute spectators and willing sitting ducks for the terror groups from Pakistan.
Its a known fact even for a common man that Pakistan government has been officially bleeding Indian state of Kashmir. The whole world in general and US in perticular has a policy of convenient speak to please both India and Pakistan. Officers of USA who once retire from the government assignments only start speaking the truth. Its a tragidy of human kind that governments servive, do business on the basis of double speak and in denial mode.
We should not forget this doublespeak of former US officials would not have been possible, without Indians like Antualy and the fellow travellers so-called secularists support terorism directly or indirectly because of vote bank. politics. For such people secularism is mouthing anti-Hindu and pro other religion statements.
Keeping a trouble alive either directly or indirectly will help no one.We will have violence may be for many decades.For lasting peace in the region, mutual cooperation in the true sense of the term may be the only answer. Until this happens we will face terrorist attacks and cosequent sufferings.Leaders of the countries facing the problem of terrorism may need to forge a sincere alliance to fight the menace together. The UNO may consider some concrete action to bring the nations together to fight terrorism.
What more USA wants to prove the involvement of Pak in nourishing terrorism in India. Now Obama adminstration must take cognisance of hidden agenda of Pak and take all the measures to counter the Pak propaganda.
Now that Mr. Pillar has retired from US intelligence he has the courage to acknowledge the Let-Pak link. Successive US administrations have done their best to close their eyes to the Pak Govt.’s nexus with terrorism as long as it does not hurt Americans. For the US, Pak is their favorite country and the main priority of every US Govt is to lavish aid to Pak, even if the Taliban is the greatest beneficiary of that US aid. No wonder Pakistanis considers terrorism as their greatest money spinning industry
It is really unbelievable how the US doesnot get the simple truths.