An Essential Partner
㰀倀㸀㰀䘀伀一吀 猀椀稀攀㴀ⴀ㸀䈀礀 刀漀戀攀爀琀 伀愀欀氀攀礀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀匀愀琀甀爀搀愀礀Ⰰ 匀攀瀀琀攀洀戀攀爀 ㈀㈀Ⰰ ㈀ 㬀 倀愀最攀 䄀㈀㤀 ഀ
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The cataclysmic terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 have initiated what Secretary 漀昀 匀琀愀琀攀 䌀漀氀椀渀 倀漀眀攀氀氀 栀愀猀 爀椀最栀琀氀礀 琀攀爀洀攀搀 愀 挀愀洀瀀愀椀最渀 琀漀 搀攀昀攀愀琀 琀栀攀 攀渀攀洀礀 漀昀 ഀ civilization, not just of this country. The primary and possibly decisive battle 漀昀 琀栀椀猀 挀愀洀瀀愀椀最渀 栀愀猀 愀氀爀攀愀搀礀 戀攀最甀渀 椀渀 䄀昀最栀愀渀椀猀琀愀渀 愀渀搀 倀愀欀椀猀琀愀渀 眀椀琀栀漀甀琀 愀 猀栀漀琀 愀猀 ഀ yet fired. It will be protracted, nasty and confusing, as much political and 瀀猀礀挀栀漀氀漀最椀挀愀氀 愀猀 洀椀氀椀琀愀爀礀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀栀愀瀀猀 洀漀爀攀 猀漀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ
Pakistan will be absolutely essential for success. It must provide the 瀀爀椀渀挀椀瀀愀氀 戀愀猀攀 漀昀 猀甀瀀瀀漀爀琀Ⰰ 愀猀 椀琀 搀椀搀 椀渀 琀栀攀 猀甀挀挀攀猀猀昀甀氀 愀渀琀椀ⴀ匀漀瘀椀攀琀 眀愀爀 漀昀 琀栀攀 ഀ 1980s. Much more important, it must provide its very special knowledge of 䄀昀最栀愀渀椀猀琀愀渀⸀ 吀栀甀猀 昀愀爀 琀栀攀 唀渀椀琀攀搀 匀琀愀琀攀猀 愀渀搀 倀愀欀椀猀琀愀渀Ⰰ 椀渀 挀漀渀挀攀爀琀Ⰰ 栀愀瘀攀 戀攀攀渀 ഀ successful in the opening moves of a long, long campaign.
㰀倀㸀匀椀渀挀攀 琀栀攀 攀渀搀 漀昀 琀栀攀 䄀昀最栀愀渀 眀愀爀Ⰰ 爀愀搀椀挀愀氀 䤀猀氀愀洀椀挀 昀漀爀挀攀猀 栀愀瘀攀 攀猀琀愀戀氀椀猀栀攀搀 ഀ connections to terrorist groups and individuals in other Muslim countries, and 琀漀 挀攀氀氀猀 椀渀 䔀甀爀漀瀀攀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 圀攀猀琀攀爀渀 䠀攀洀椀猀瀀栀攀爀攀⸀ 伀猀愀洀愀 戀椀渀 䰀愀搀攀渀 愀渀搀 栀椀猀 愀氀 儀愀攀搀愀 ഀ movement, based in Afghanistan with the protection of the Taliban, assumed 氀攀愀搀攀爀猀栀椀瀀 漀昀 琀栀椀猀 氀漀漀猀攀Ⰰ 昀愀爀ⴀ昀氀甀渀最 渀攀琀眀漀爀欀Ⰰ 最愀瘀攀 椀琀 最爀攀愀琀攀爀 昀漀挀甀猀 愀渀搀 氀攀琀栀愀氀椀琀礀 ഀ and directed it against the United States.㰀倀㸀唀渀昀漀爀琀甀渀愀琀攀氀礀Ⰰ 猀甀挀挀攀猀猀椀瘀攀 倀愀欀椀猀琀愀渀椀 爀攀最椀洀攀猀 眀攀爀攀 渀漀琀 眀椀氀氀椀渀最 琀漀 挀漀渀昀爀漀渀琀 琀栀攀 ഀ growing menace of Islamic radicalism to their own country, fearing its popular 猀甀瀀瀀漀爀琀⸀ 吀栀攀 吀愀氀椀戀愀渀 眀愀猀 猀攀攀渀 愀猀 甀猀攀昀甀氀 椀渀 䄀昀最栀愀渀椀猀琀愀渀Ⰰ 攀瘀攀渀 愀猀 椀琀 瀀甀琀 搀漀眀渀 搀攀攀瀀 ഀ roots in Pakistan. Bin Laden has also provided important support for the 猀琀爀甀最最氀攀 眀椀琀栀 䤀渀搀椀愀 漀瘀攀爀 䬀愀猀栀洀椀爀Ⰰ 琀栀攀爀攀戀礀 椀渀最爀愀琀椀愀琀椀渀最 栀椀猀 洀漀瘀攀洀攀渀琀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 ഀ Pakistani army and public.㰀倀㸀倀爀攀猀椀搀攀渀琀 倀攀爀瘀攀稀 䴀甀猀栀愀爀爀愀昀✀猀 猀琀爀漀渀最 猀瀀攀攀挀栀 椀渀 琀栀攀 昀愀挀攀 漀昀 瀀漀瀀甀氀愀爀 䤀猀氀愀洀椀猀琀 ഀ protest shows that he has finally drawn the battle lines inside Pakistan and 䄀昀最栀愀渀椀猀琀愀渀 愀猀 眀攀氀氀 愀猀 最氀漀戀愀氀氀礀⸀ 䈀椀渀 䰀愀搀攀渀✀猀 氀漀渀最ⴀ琀攀爀洀 猀琀爀愀琀攀最礀 椀猀 琀漀 眀爀愀瀀 ഀ himself in the cloak of Islamic purity. He will try to use Islam to mobilize the 洀愀猀猀攀猀 琀漀 猀甀瀀瀀漀爀琀 栀椀猀 洀漀瘀攀洀攀渀琀 愀最愀椀渀猀琀 琀栀攀 唀渀椀琀攀搀 匀琀愀琀攀猀Ⰰ 漀瀀瀀漀猀攀 䴀甀猀栀愀爀爀愀昀 愀渀搀 ഀ threaten other Muslim members of the coalition. Terrorism and politico-religious 瀀爀漀瀀愀最愀渀搀愀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 栀椀猀 眀攀愀瀀漀渀猀⸀ 䈀椀渀 䰀愀搀攀渀✀猀 洀漀猀琀 椀洀瀀漀爀琀愀渀琀 琀愀挀琀椀挀愀氀 漀戀樀攀挀琀椀瘀攀 ഀ has been to try to ensure the continued protection of the Taliban, so that any 唀⸀匀⸀ 愀琀琀愀挀欀 甀瀀漀渀 栀椀猀 漀爀最愀渀椀稀愀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 洀愀椀渀氀礀 渀漀渀ⴀ䄀昀最栀愀渀 䴀甀猀氀椀洀猀 眀椀氀氀 猀氀椀瀀 椀渀琀漀 愀 ഀ much broader war with Afghans and Muslims. This is what happened to the Soviets 眀栀攀渀 琀栀攀礀 昀漀甀最栀琀 愀 搀椀猀愀猀琀爀漀甀猀 眀愀爀 椀渀 䄀昀最栀愀渀椀猀琀愀渀 椀渀 琀栀攀 㤀㠀 猀⸀ 吀栀椀猀 椀猀 眀栀愀琀 琀栀攀 ഀ United States must avoid.㰀倀㸀匀攀挀爀攀琀愀爀礀 倀漀眀攀氀氀 栀愀猀 戀攀攀渀 眀漀爀欀椀渀最 栀愀爀搀 琀漀 挀漀甀渀琀攀爀 琀栀椀猀 猀琀爀愀琀攀最礀 戀礀 戀甀椀氀搀椀渀最 愀 ഀ solid core of Islamic states for the coalition, much as was done for the Gulf 圀愀爀⸀ 䴀甀猀栀愀爀爀愀昀 栀愀猀 戀攀攀渀 眀漀爀欀椀渀最 栀愀爀搀 琀漀 挀漀甀渀琀攀爀 戀椀渀 䰀愀搀攀渀✀猀 琀愀挀琀椀挀猀 戀礀 猀攀渀搀椀渀最 愀 ഀ senior delegation and an ultimatum to the Taliban in order to strip away Afghan 愀渀搀 䤀猀氀愀洀椀挀 猀甀瀀瀀漀爀琀 昀漀爀 戀椀渀 䰀愀搀攀渀 愀渀搀 栀椀猀 最愀渀最⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀThe process will take time and will evolve in a convoluted manner, but we 猀栀漀甀氀搀 渀漀琀 猀攀挀漀渀搀ⴀ最甀攀猀猀 倀愀欀椀猀琀愀渀✀猀 氀攀愀搀攀爀猀栀椀瀀 漀渀 栀漀眀 琀漀 眀椀渀 琀栀椀猀 椀洀瀀漀爀琀愀渀琀 最愀洀攀⸀ ഀ The unprecedented decision of the Grand Council of the Afghan ulema indicates 猀椀最渀椀昀椀挀愀渀琀 瀀爀漀最爀攀猀猀 椀渀 甀渀搀攀爀挀甀琀琀椀渀最 琀栀攀 吀愀氀椀戀愀渀 氀攀愀搀攀爀猀栀椀瀀 愀猀 椀琀 爀攀樀攀挀琀攀搀 戀椀渀 ഀ Laden's move for Islamic protection. The next step is to further erode bin 䰀愀搀攀渀✀猀 猀甀瀀瀀漀爀琀 愀渀搀 琀漀 瀀爀攀瀀愀爀攀 琀漀 琀愀欀攀 猀洀愀爀琀 洀椀氀椀琀愀爀礀 愀挀琀椀漀渀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ
The Taliban is not a tight-knit organization. Pakistan and other Muslim 挀漀甀渀琀爀椀攀猀 挀愀渀 瀀攀爀猀甀愀搀攀 愀 猀甀戀猀琀愀渀琀椀愀氀 渀甀洀戀攀爀 渀漀琀 琀漀 搀椀攀 昀漀爀 愀 渀漀渀ⴀ䄀昀最栀愀渀 ഀ criminal. At the same time, with Pakistan's help, we can begin to fix accurately 琀栀攀 氀漀挀愀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 琀栀攀 攀渀攀洀礀 昀漀爀挀攀猀 愀渀搀 搀攀瘀椀猀攀 琀栀攀 戀攀猀琀 琀愀挀琀椀挀猀 琀漀 猀洀漀欀攀 琀栀攀洀 漀甀琀⸀ ഀ In doing so, the U.S. military profile in Pakistan should be as low as military 攀昀昀攀挀琀椀瘀攀渀攀猀猀 眀椀氀氀 愀氀氀漀眀Ⰰ 眀椀琀栀 愀 栀椀最栀 瀀爀漀昀椀氀攀 昀漀爀 䤀猀氀愀洀椀挀 猀琀愀琀攀猀⸀ 圀栀攀渀 琀栀攀 ഀ United States strikes, the action should be selective, precise, decisive and 爀愀瀀椀搀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 愀挀挀漀洀瀀愀渀椀攀搀 戀礀 愀 䴀甀猀氀椀洀ⴀ氀攀搀 椀渀昀漀爀洀愀琀椀漀渀 挀愀洀瀀愀椀最渀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ
An important element of the coalition's Afghan strategy should be to remove 琀栀攀 眀椀搀攀ⴀ爀愀渀最椀渀最 猀愀渀挀琀椀漀渀猀 琀栀愀琀 栀愀瘀攀 栀愀搀 渀漀 攀昀昀攀挀琀 甀瀀漀渀 琀栀攀 吀愀氀椀戀愀渀Ⰰ 栀攀氀瀀 琀栀攀 ഀ desperate population now and promise to help rebuild the country later, when it 栀愀猀 愀 猀攀渀猀椀戀氀攀 最漀瘀攀爀渀洀攀渀琀⸀ 唀爀最攀渀琀 栀攀氀瀀 椀猀 渀攀攀搀攀搀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 ⸀㔀 洀椀氀氀椀漀渀 䄀昀最栀愀渀 ഀ refugees, who could destabilize Pakistan at a critical moment. Many Afghans 眀漀甀氀搀 爀攀猀瀀漀渀搀 琀漀 猀甀挀栀 愀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 愀瀀瀀爀漀愀挀栀 戀礀 愀戀愀渀搀漀渀椀渀最 漀爀 愀挀琀椀瘀攀氀礀 漀瀀瀀漀猀椀渀最 琀栀攀 ഀ Taliban and bin Laden. Moreover this is needed for the long-term objective of ∀搀爀愀椀渀椀渀最 琀栀攀 猀眀愀洀瀀⸀∀ 㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ
It is also extremely important that Pakistan, the vital base of operations, 戀攀 爀攀椀渀昀漀爀挀攀搀 椀渀 椀琀猀 挀愀瀀愀戀椀氀椀琀礀 琀漀 洀攀攀琀 挀栀愀氀氀攀渀最攀猀 愀琀 栀漀洀攀 愀渀搀 瀀爀漀瘀椀搀攀 猀甀瀀瀀漀爀琀 ഀ for the international campaign. This was well understood in the 1980s, when the 唀渀椀琀攀搀 匀琀愀琀攀猀Ⰰ 䴀甀猀氀椀洀 猀琀愀琀攀猀 愀渀搀 漀琀栀攀爀猀 瀀爀漀瘀椀搀攀搀 氀愀爀最攀ⴀ猀挀愀氀攀 攀挀漀渀漀洀椀挀 愀渀搀 猀漀挀椀愀氀 ഀ as well as military assistance plus Islamic endorsement for Pakistan so it could 眀椀琀栀猀琀愀渀搀 琀栀攀 琀栀攀渀ⴀ洀椀最栀琀礀 唀匀匀刀⸀ 吀栀攀 猀愀洀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀椀瀀氀攀 愀瀀瀀氀椀攀猀 琀漀搀愀礀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ
An essential part of this reinforcement will be ending a decade of 挀漀甀渀琀攀爀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀瘀攀 猀愀渀挀琀椀漀渀猀 琀栀愀琀 栀愀瘀攀 猀攀爀椀漀甀猀氀礀 愀昀昀攀挀琀攀搀 倀愀欀椀猀琀愀渀✀猀 猀漀挀椀攀琀礀Ⰰ ഀ economy and army, facilitating the rise of Islamic fanaticism. Appropriate forms 漀昀 唀⸀匀⸀ 愀猀猀椀猀琀愀渀挀攀 猀栀漀甀氀搀 戀攀 爀攀猀甀洀攀搀 攀砀瀀攀搀椀琀椀漀甀猀氀礀⸀ 䄀琀 琀栀攀 猀愀洀攀 琀椀洀攀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 ഀ Musharraf regime should be held to account in even more seriously pursuing 攀挀漀渀漀洀椀挀Ⰰ 猀漀挀椀愀氀 愀渀搀 瀀漀氀椀琀椀挀愀氀 爀攀昀漀爀洀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ
The writer is a former ambassador to Pakistan and a visiting fellow at 琀栀攀 一愀琀椀漀渀愀氀 䐀攀昀攀渀猀攀 唀渀椀瘀攀爀猀椀琀礀⸀㰀⼀䔀䴀㸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ
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