Syed Saleem Shahzad, using Pakistani sources, has written an article with dramatic allegations in the Asia Times. Shahzad claims that the US, through Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and the Pakistan military cut a deal to “resolve” the post-election Afghanistan situation: challenger Abdullah Abdullah would withdraw, allowing Hamid Karzai to serve another term, and negotiations would begin with the Taliban:
Abdullah Abdullah, who this week withdrew from the presidential election runoff in Afghanistan, thereby handing victory to the incumbent, Hamid Karzai, did so under pressure from the United States, Asia Times Online has learned.
In exchange for the pullout of the non-Pashtun Abdullah, Pakistan’s military has agreed to actively mediate between Washington and the Taliban over a reconciliation plan that will allow the US to exit from Afghanistan, as it is doing in Iraq, with a semblance of success.
A senior Pakistani diplomat involved in backchannel negotiations on Pakistan, Afghanistan and US relations told Asia Times Online on the condition of anonymity that the deal over Abdullah, whom Islamabad considers to be pro-India, was made during the three-day visit to Pakistan last week of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The “lasting commitment” Washington war-time summit/photo-op between United States President Barack Obama and the AfPak twins, “Af” President Hamid Karzai and “Pak” President Asif Ali Zardari was far from being an urgent meeting to discuss ways to prevent the end of civilization as we know it. It has been all about the meticulous rebranding of the Pentagon’s “Long War”.
In Obama’s own words, the “lasting commitment” is above all to “defeat al-Qaeda”. As an afterthought, the president added, “But also to support the democratically elected, sovereign governments of both Pakistan and Afghanistan.” To have George W Bush’s man in Kabul and former premier Benazir Bhutto’s widow defined as “sovereign”, one would be excused for believing Bush is still in the White House. Read the rest of this entry »
The spin is in. The allies (NATO) and no-longer-allies (Afghan President Hamid Karzai, in a phone call from Barack Obama) have been briefed. So today, in time for Hillary Clinton’s showcase conference on Afghanistan at The Hague and the NATO summit over the next two weeks, the grand Obama strategy on Pakistan and Afghanistan will be unveiled.
STEP 1. TO THE CORE IN PAKISTAN
That’s right. All the early-Administration scrapping over Afghanistan — how many troops? nation-building or no nation-buiding? Karzai or no Karzai? — is still significant but it’s not the priority in this plan. Read the rest of this entry »
Just over 48 hours after the culmination of the Long March, with the Government’s restoration of Pakistani Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, and the story has dropped out of American newspapers. But, of course, this weekend’s events were only the beginning of a new, important stage in Pakistani and regional politics.
For many, it is the beginning of hope. Perhaps, after the expression of popular protest, the legal system can be resurrected and placed above personal and party manipulation. Perhaps there can be a scrutiny which would produce a meaningful democracy rather than today’s well-connected politician who ascends to the highest office through connections rather than ability and integrity.
In no way do I want to demean that hope, but it moves alongside, and arguably trails behind, more immediate negotiations and manoeuvres after the drama of the last week. Read the rest of this entry »
12 noon GMT: Imran Khan, the leader of the Tehrik-i-Insaf (Pakistan for Justice) party, has told the media that Supreme Court Chief Justice Chaudhry was “restored by the power of the masses”. He called for cases of detentions and missing persons to be pursued by the courts.
10:15 a.m. GMT: Scenes of celebration and dancing at Iftikhar Chaudhry’s house. Dawn reporter Musadiq Sanwal writes, “Only thing everybody is saying is that this is beginning of a revolution and they expect a lot more to happen.
On the political front, Gillani confirmed the news that the Government will pursue a review of the court ruling that disqualified the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (N), Nawaz Sharif, and his brother Shahbaz, the Governor of Punjab, from public office.
Sharif reacted with the statement, “We are now calling off this long march,” saying that the decision was made after discussions with lawyers and other political leaders such as Imran Khan. He continued, “Very soon we will play our role in implementing real democracy in this country.” Read the rest of this entry »
Gillani is currently meeting President Zardari and General Ashfaq Parvez Kiani, the head of Pakistan’s military, at the President’s residence.
8:30 p.m. Rumours continue to fly: Gillani talking to Zardari by phone, Pakistan Muslim (N) leadership of Shahbaz Sharif to be restored in Punjab province, Saad Hamid to be declared new Chief Justice. Read the rest of this entry »
4:30 p.m. GMT: It appears that the Zardari Government is trying to reach a settlement with the Pakistan Muslim League (N) party of Nawaz Sharif by announcing that it would file a review petition in the Supreme Court against the disqualification of Sharif and his brother Shahbaz from public office. The PML (N) is not conceding ground, however, on its demand for the restoration of deposed judges. Read the rest of this entry »
And now an enlightening tale of the Internet and how to substitute an exaggeration for the real story:
This morning there are stories flying around the Web that Admiral Mike Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, may have stopped a military coup in Pakistan through a series of phone call to General Ashfaq Pervez Kiani, through a series of phone calls.
It is being reported by more reliable sources like Al Jazeera that Kiani and President Asif Ali Zardari have clashed in the last 24 hours, but Mullen didn’t intervene to stop a military takeover. Here’s how the rumour, and distortion, started.
On Thursday night, Mullen was interviewed by Charlie Rose of the US Public Broadcasting System. Here’s the video and transcript of the key exchange in the discussion:
Syed Saleem Shahzad, using Pakistani sources, has written an article with dramatic allegations in the Asia Times. Shahzad claims that the US, through Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and the Pakistan military cut a deal to “resolve” the post-election Afghanistan situation: challenger Abdullah Abdullah would withdraw, allowing Hamid Karzai to serve another term, and negotiations would begin with the Taliban:
The spin is in. The allies (NATO) and no-longer-allies (Afghan President Hamid Karzai, in a phone call from Barack Obama) have been briefed. So today, in time for Hillary Clinton’s showcase conference on Afghanistan at The Hague and the NATO summit over the next two weeks, the grand Obama strategy on Pakistan and Afghanistan will be unveiled.
Just over 48 hours after the culmination of the Long March, with the Government’s restoration of Pakistani Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, and the story has dropped out of American newspapers. But, of course, this weekend’s events were only the beginning of a new, important stage in Pakistani and regional politics.
12 noon GMT: Imran Khan, the leader of the Tehrik-i-Insaf (Pakistan for Justice) party, 
9:05 p.m. Geo News reports 
4:30 p.m. GMT: It appears that the Zardari Government is trying to reach a settlement with the Pakistan Muslim League (N) party of Nawaz Sharif by announcing that it would file a review petition in the Supreme Court against the disqualification of Sharif and his brother Shahbaz from public office. The PML (N) is not conceding ground, however, on its demand for the restoration of deposed judges.
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