OpEdNews was the first news organisation to bring the fact to the fore that the United States played a positive role in averting an army coup in Pakistan, which looked imminent after the tension heightened with the announcement of a long march on Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, by the lawyers and some of political parties. There was a time when it looked like the army had taken over power.
The credit goes to US President Barack Obama as he kept himself involved till the last moment. Actually Pakistan is the frontline state against the war on terror. Therefore, its stability is a must for winning this war. His team has played a positive role.
Now the people of tribal areas situated on Pak-Afghan border have been expecting the same positive role from the US administration. There will be no denying the fact that Pakistan can lead the war on terror to its logical conclusion if it desires to. According to them, Pakistan must be pressed to introduce democracy in tribal areas and evolve a system of goverance for them. They see no reason for keeping these areas lawless. There must be rule of law.
The Obama administration's hopes of stabilizing Pakistan increasingly rest on the strong bond between military chiefs Adm. Mike Mullen and Gen. Ashfaq Kayani.
According to a report published in Wall Street Journal, the two men spoke daily during the recent political crisis, in which growing opposition protests threatened to undermine the government until Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari also under pressure from Gen. Kayani and senior U.S. officials made significant concessions.
During the crisis. Gen. Kayani assured Adm. Mullen, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, that he wasn't contemplating a military coup, according to U.S. officials.
These officials said Adm. Mullen trusted the assurances -- but they acknowledged that some senior U.S. military officials harbor doubts about Gen. Kayani's capabilities and intentions.
He and Adm. Mike Mullen have developed a bond that U.S. officials say aids efforts to ensure Pakistan's stability and its support in fighting militants along the border with Afghanistan.
Gen. Kayani ultimately helped resolve the crisis by mediating between Mr. Zardari and his chief rival, Nawaz Sharif, U.S. and Pakistani officials said.
The relationship offers potential dividends for both countries. American officials want Islamabad to take stronger steps against the militants working to destabilize Pakistan and Afghanistan, and need Gen. Kayani's help as an ally in the fight, which they say he supports. Pakistan wants to continue receiving American financial aid and military assistance, which requires maintaining close ties with Adm. Mullen's Pentagon.
Source: thenews.com.pk
