New US Military Strategy

For the first time in seven years, the United States has announced a revised military strategy. In the new strategy, the United States has expressed determination to continue cooperation with Pakistan to eliminate Al-Qai'da and other militant forces. Under the new strategy, the United States has also assured cooperation to solve problems with Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam.

A statement issued by the Pentagon in this connection states that Al-Qai'da's senior leadership is present in Pakistan and planning to attack the United States and its allies. The statement also says that terrorism has now become an international threat and joint measures will have to be taken to deal with it.

The new strategy has been prepared by Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. It points out steps how US interests can be safeguarded all over the world. It may be added that the United States had earlier released national military strategy in 2004.

Encouraging Policy
The revised strategy is encouraging, as it expresses determination to continue cooperation with several countries, including Pakistan. The global cooperation is the best strategy to overcome the menace of terrorism. It is a fact that terrorism can be eliminated and a peaceful international society established only if concerted efforts are made against the monster. However, the US insistence that senior Al-Qai'da leadership is present in Pakistan is not correct. Pakistan has stated on several times that although terrorists are present in the country in shape of extremists and the Taliban, and Al-Qai'da supporters may also be hiding here; but Al-Qai'da leadership is not present on its soil. But, in spite of this, US insistence in this regard is regrettable.

What else can be a bigger proof of the presence of terrorists in Pakistan that acts of terrorism are frequently taking place in the country causing huge loss of life and property? It was just on 9 February that four bomb explosions took place in Gujranwala (a town in Punjab Province). However, only one person was injured in the explosions. A day later, a suicide attack in Mardan (a town in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa Province) killed 35 persons and injured several others. Therefore, how it is possible for Pakistan, which itself is a victim of terrorism, to provide shelter to Al-Qai'da on its soil? Hence, the US Administration should know all ground realities before hurling such allegations on Pakistan, so that such statements could not lead to creating differences between the two countries.

Interests of International Community
However, the fresh US strategy rightly states that terrorism has become a global threat now and concerted efforts will have to be made to deal with it. Therefore, the United States should, through its new strategy, mobilize the international community to deal with the menace. For this purpose, it is necessary that those countries, which are playing a role in the war on terror, should be fully supported, so that the financial losses they are suffering in this regard could be made up to some extent.

However, in the new strategy, it cannot be acceptable for the international community that US interests must be safeguarded across the world. This strategy can cause dissent among world nations; therefore, instead of protecting the interests of only the United States, the interests and protection of the entire international community should be ensured as a whole. And being the world superpower, the biggest responsibility in this regard lies on the United States.

General Kayani's Washington Visit and US-Pak Cooperation

At present, the entire Pakistan is under the threat of terrorism, which appears to be without end. However, far way from this bloodshed, some decisions are being taken in Washington and the GHQ (General Headquarters) in Rawalpindi that will determine the future of Pakistan in the days to come.

In pursuit of its political objectives, the United States is attempting to devise a broader strategy for the war against terror under which the Pakistani military will get the opportunity to play the leading role. The main goal of this strategy is to bring down the Taliban and Al-Qa'ida and also to eliminate the Pakistani groups associated with this network. The primary focus of this strategy is to isolate Taliban's supreme commander Mullah Omar in order to force him to negotiate with the United States and pave the way for the US withdrawal.

Pakistan will hold a key position in this whole planning and the last month's arrest of Mullah Omar's deputy Mullah Beradar is part of the same planning. The Pakistani military will play a central role in this whole plan, and General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani's visit to the United States was meant for the same purpose. That is why General Kayani, the Pakistan Army chief, is the main focus of the US attention.

56-Page Document
The main point of the strategic dialogue between the United States and Pakistan held in Washington was to guarantee Pakistan's role in the Afghan conflict and take decisions to eradicate the terrorism network. It has become clear after this dialogue that the United States wants to withdraw from Afghanistan and it requires Pakistan's assistance in this regard.

Pakistan was aware of what did the United States want. Therefore, a 56-page document was prepared after consultation with the military officials, which talked about what Pakistan wants from the United States and the concerns that are prevalent in Pakistan with reference to the United States. This document was handed over to the United States before the strategic dialogue. Pakistan mentioned the sacrifices, which it has given in the war against terror and also put forward its demands before the United States.

These demands include the transfer of nuclear technology from the United States to Pakistan, acknowledgment of Pakistan's status of a Muslim nuclear power, Pakistan's involvement in talks regarding the future of Afghanistan and the US funding for water projects to resolve the power crisis in Pakistan. In addition to these, issues like additional aid for Pakistan under the coalition support fund, release of blocked funds, supply of drone technology to Pakistan, pressure on India to resolve the Kashmir issue, and the US intrusion in the matter concerning blockage of Pakistani water were also talked about in this 56-page document.

Resolving Disputes With India
Pakistan demanded of the United States to supply gunship helicopters, spy planes, and other warfare equipment to be used in fight against the Taliban and requested for increased cooperation between the intelligence agencies of the two countries. In addition to this, concerns were raised over India's military preparation and procurement of weapons from the United States. Pakistan also requested Washington to play a direct role in restoring the peace process between India and Pakistan that has been brought to a standstill after the Mumbai attacks in November 2008.

The main point of this document was to ensure Pakistan's safety on the eastern borders. It has further stated with regard to issues that Pakistan's strategic interests will continue to clash with the US strategic interests in the region, and Pakistan will only be able to take limited action against the Taliban until Pakistan's safety is guaranteed on its eastern borders.

This document has left the US officials in jeopardy. The document was debated in the US Department of State and it was decided where to favor Pakistan and where not to. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi led the delegation consisting of Defense Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, chief of the Army staff, senior advisers and secretaries of different ministries. However, the US delegation consisted of Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and other high-ranking officials.

These negotiations took place in a pleasant atmosphere. The United States accepted most of Pakistan's demands. However, the United States refused to accept some, for instance, it refused to play a role in resolving the water dispute with India, and said that this dispute between the two countries was 50-year-old. The United States has accepted Pakistan's demand to ensure that the Pakistani products have access to the US markets. The US ambassador to Islamabad has also ruled out the possibility of civil nuclear agreement with Pakistan, which shows that the United States is not providing civil nuclear technology to Pakistan.

Pakistan's Security Needs
The biggest achievement of this dialogue is the assurance given to the military leadership by the US officials that the United States will fulfill its vows regarding Pakistan's security needs, and will provide latest equipment as well as drone technology to Pakistan. This assurance was given during General Kayani's meeting with Robert Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen.

According to a statement issued by the Pentagon, bilateral defense issues were the main focus of General Kayani's meeting with Robert Gates and Mike Mullen. The US defense secretary assured General Kayani that the United States will fulfill Pakistan's security requirements in the war against terror on urgent basis, ensure that drone technology and modern equipment and weapons are provided to Pakistan, and all promises are fulfilled. General Kayani talked about the needs of the Pakistani security forces, regional security and stability, new US Afghan policy, and outcome of the Helmand Operation to this point during this meeting with Robert Gates.

US Withdrawal From Afghanistan
According to a senior US military official, who was part of the recent meetings with General Kayani and other Pakistani officials, Pakistan knows that there is not much time left for the United States to directly assist Islamabad. He claimed that General Kayani focused all of his attention on establishing cooperation between the Pakistani and Afghan Governments at a time when the United States is reducing the number of troops and investment in Afghanistan. Most importantly, India has rejected the idea of any third-party mediation in the decade-old disputes between India and Pakistan.

It will not be wrong to declare these negotiations as a success for Pakistan. The United States is currently in a weak position and hence it is possible to make it accept some other demands as well. The United States should pay a price for withdrawal from Afghanistan. Perhaps this is the reason why attempts are being made by the United States to make General Kayani the most powerful personality in Pakistan's military history, so that he can improve the political situation in Pakistan without doing any harm to the present democratic system.

US Objectives
The US objectives are behind this whole planning and since Pakistan's military has to play the most important role in this whole planning, attempts are being made to improve and strengthen relations with the military.

Even the extremist groups are not unaware of this planning and they are preparing to play the final round of their fight. The biggest target of the extremists is the Pakistani military and that is why there has been a rise in attacks on the military. The Pakistani military also knows that the next face of the Afghan war will not be short of resistance. Let's see who will play the cards right in this game.

End to Atomic Weapons and Obama's Deception

Recently, US President Barack Obama announced to rid the world of atomic weapons at a meeting of the United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) head of states. A resolution was unanimously adopted, which called for tighter controls on atomic materials to prevent them from being stolen or used for military purposes. The resolution also entailed plans to ban all vulnerable atomic weapon materials and to take effective measures to stop its smuggling, procurement or theft. This historical resolution made it compulsory for the countries transferring atomic technology to other countries to have their atomic facilities inspected by the United Nations. If they withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), they would have to return the technology.

Eliminating Atomic Weapons
Obama also said that the UNSC must play its part in implementing these plans. Thus, Iran and North Korea would have to comply with these resolutions. Japan welcomed this resolution adopted by the UNSC and reminded of its calls to eliminate the atomic weapons since the day it was attacked.
It must be remembered that the United States developed the atomic weapons and tested them on the yellow Japanese race. These weapons were used on Hiroshima on 6 August, which killed 140,000 persons; some of them died immediately and others in a few weeks time. But this did not quench the thirst for blood of the US beasts. They carried out another attack on Nagasaki, this time killing 70,000 persons.
This fact must be considered that there were no military bases or military installations in these cities. There were only citizens living in these cities. Despite this, these cities were targeted, which is a heinous crime and genocide. These attacks were carried out by the country, which calls itself a follower of Jesus Christ, but in reality believes in crusade. Since the time the United States got its hands on the atomic weapons, it started dreaming about conquering the world. But the Soviet Union came face to face with it.

Atomic Power States
The United Kingdom, China, and France also gradually became atomic powers and a balance was struck, which is still in effect. To maintain their domination of the world, they decided not to allow any sixth party to acquire atomic weapons. So in 1968, the NPT was signed, which forbids all countries, apart from these five, to produce atomic weapons.
However, every country has full freedom to use atomic technology for peaceful purposes. The sixth clause of the NPT advises nations to immediately work toward eliminating the atomic weapons from the world.
It has been 41 years since these agreements were signed, but no progress has been made in this area. On contrary, the United States and Russia have been making hydrogen bombs and others weapons of mass destruction in order to outdo each other. All powers have continued to test these destructive weapons. The United States in Nevada, Russia in Siberia, France in Maororc Atol, and China in the Gobi Desert, polluting the sea, land and air. Both the United States and Russia have 10,000 short-range, medium-range, and long-range missiles each. The United States has even started building her bases in space from where she could hit targets on the ground. Both the United States and Russia have produced small bombs that could be fired through artilleries and machine guns. The bombs the United States used in Iraq and Afghanistan had atomic particles, which harmed humans and cattle. These are all war crimes, but no action was taken against the United States or Russia by any court?

Atomic Energy for Peaceful Purposes
In contrast, the United States stops the developing countries from using atomic energy for peaceful purposes in the name of the NPT and threatens to attack them. The best example is Iran, the country that wants to use atomic energy as an alternate to petrol required by its industries. For this purpose, Iran has constructed atomic facilities, which the United States wants to destroy.
An Iranian religious scholar has announced that use of atomic weapons is forbidden in Islam so Iran would not use it under any circumstances. Despite this assurance, the United States is accusing Iran of producing atomic weapons in secret. The US efforts have led the UNSC to pass three condemnatory resolutions against Iran. The US is also trying to get more restrictions imposed on it. George W. Bush constantly threatened to attack Iran. Obama is also saying that the time is running out for Iran so she needs to immediately halt her uranium enrichment because the world cannot wait for Iran to produce atomic weapons.
However, his deputy Joe Biden has said that Israel as an independent country has the right to take action against Iran. Israel sees Iran as a potential threat to its existence and the United States would not stand in Israel's way if she decides to do something in its interest.
This clearly shows that the United States is giving a go ahead to Israel for attacking Iran. But Obama and his deputy must know that Iran is also an independent country. It also considers Israel as a threat and has the right to do whatever she thinks is right for her defense. The United States should not stand in its way, but these Westerners are two-faced. They think they have the right for everything, but do not respect the rights of others.
If Iran poses a threat to the United States and Israel, do not the United States and Israel pose a danger to Iran? Why did the United States travel for 11,000 miles to invade Iraq and Afghanistan? Why does it has its military's central command in Qatar? Why does she have a seaport in Bahrain? Does Iran have a seaport in the Mexican Gulf? Then who poses a threat to whom; Iran to the United States or the United States to Iran? The head of the United States national intelligence agency has said that Iran had halted her atomic project in 2003. Despite this claim, Admiral Mullen believed that Iran could produce an atomic bomb in three months time (25 May). He gave this statement on 24 May. It has been four months, but his claim did not come true. This shows that Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, is a liar. He said this to pave way for an attack on Iran. If the United States or Israel decides to attack Iran, it would be disastrous for the Zionist state. The United States installations in the gulf will be destroyed. The tankers taking oil to Europe, the United States, and Japan will be blocked or burnt down.

US Atomic Policy
It was due to the US atomic policy that provided Israel with the atomic technology and know-how because of which Israel has 400 atomic weapons at present. To make matters worse, it has not signed the NPT. Iran, however, has not signed the NPT, and is also complying with it. It has also allowed the IAEA to examine its atomic power agencies. Still, Israel is not held responsible, but Iran is accused of spreading the atomic weapons. It was surprising that the IAEA urged Israel in its conference in Vienna on 18 September to let the IAEA examine its atomic facility and to sign the NPT. This resolution was narrowly passed by 49 votes for and 45 votes against. The Israeli camp denounced the decision and refused to cooperate with it. Their stance was that this organization has unfairly targeted a state, which is surrounded by hostile neighbors who threaten its survival. Obama's ambassador Glyn Davis went a step further and publicly rejected this resolution, calling it redundant. He associated it with political bias, which does not take into account the atomic complexities of Middle East.

Assessment
Someone should ask Obama why he is targeting Iran and Pakistan. Can't he see Israel's 400 atomic weapons? The resolution states that countries at the time of transferring the atomic technology must make it obvious to other countries that the UN can inspect their atomic facilities. In this case, why did the United States exempt India's atomic facilities from being inspected in the atomic technology accord?
It is easier for the United States to give advice to others, but it cannot implement it itself. For instance, the United States has not yet signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) that advocates a test ban, but says that a ban should be imposed on fissile material. In reality, the big powers want to protect their reserves of destructive weapons. They also want to stop other nations from producing them in order to maintain their domination. The atomic weapons could not be eradicated like this.