Speaking to the CNN upon their return home from last week's visit to Pakistan, Senators Joe Lieberman and John McCain expressed satisfaction over Pakistan's commitment to the war against terrorists. Lieberman, who is also Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security, said that Pakistan is a full-partner in the war on terrorism.
And that Pakistanis are beginning to understand the US position that the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban are inter-linked; and to defeat one, it is also important to fight the other. As expected, the Senator did not merely show appreciation he also made the usual 'do more' demand. He was more circumspect, though, in making the demand as he said "there's a possibility that we'll see some more movement in North Waziristan".
Indeed, the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban are inter-linked, which is hardly surprising given that the Pushtoons living on both sides of the Durand Line share tribal affinities. What happens on the Afghan side affects those inhabiting tribal areas across the border.
Yet, there cannot be an exact convergence of the US and Pakistani interests and objectives. This country's key concern is, and should be, to defeat the local Taliban, who have been carrying out suicide attacks against ordinary people, as well as symbols of state authority. But it is not for Pakistan to try and overwhelm the Afghan Taliban.
For one thing, it is an unpopular cause with its people. For another, Pakistan has to live with the consequence of the fighting long after the US departs from the region. It is no secret that the US and its allies are not winning the war in Afghanistan. As a result, their own objective has changed from an all-out victory to rooting out al Qaeda.
For quite sometime, the US has been in negotiations with the Afghan Taliban in order to find a face-saving exit. Its stated policy is to talk to the moderate Taliban and train and equip the Afghan Army to take over defence of the Kabul government. Negotiations have also been going on with the radical Taliban leader, Mullah Omar, via Saudi mediation.
But the outcome cannot be very promising, as long as the Taliban know they are winning the war - as they are. Hence the Obama administration's decision to put pressure on the Afghan Taliban leadership through a troop surge and increased frequency of drone attacks on the other side of the border. The US would also like to see Pakistan extend its military operations to North Waziristan where some Afghan Taliban are suspected to be camping.
But Pakistan needs to decide its course of action based on its own security and political concerns. It must fight the local Taliban, but taking on Afghan groups may be both difficult and counter-productive at a time when the US is looking for a negotiated settlement of the situation. Pakistan Army should go into North Waziristan only if our internal security so requires.
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