By Steve Hynd
American military types and COINdinista gurus have been saying for a few months now that Pakistan really does need to learn how to do proper counter-insurgency operations. US taxpayers are about to foot a $400 million bill to help them do that.
Well, a couple of days ago McClatchy ran a report which passed under most folks radar which suggests the US generals and COIN afficiandos didn't really think through what COIN in Pakistan's own national interest might look like.
A new Islamic militia leader has emerged in Pakistan to openly challenge al Qaida-affiliated warlord Baitullah Mehsud for the first time from within his own tribe, marking the start of a bloody confrontation in the wild Waziristan region that could have profound consequences for both Pakistan and the West.
In his first interview with a Western news organization, Qari Zainuddin told McClatchy this week that he'd wipe out Mehsud and rescue Pakistan from a reign of terror that has pushed the nuclear-armed U.S. ally toward collapse.
...victory will not mean any lessening of efforts to expel Westerners from neighboring Afghanistan, Zainuddin said. He pledged to send his forces into Afghanistan once Mehsud is vanquished...Zainuddin, who described himself as "real" Taliban , reportedly has gathered as many as 3,000 armed followers and is being secretly backed by the Pakistan state against Mehsud.
It's a Pashtun Awakening, even bringing in several of Mehsud's own tribal chiefs against him. But Zainuddin is "real" Taliban, so he would still go after the US in Afghanistan, even while he is backed by the Pakistani military.
Sounds like the Pakistanis do know how to do COIN after all...they just don't have American interests at heart while they're doing it. But they'll have American money.
Seems like the tribal chiefs want to back Zainuddin, but they don't trust the Pakistani government and military.
ReplyDeleteOn the one hand. . .Zainuddin. . . is being secretly backed by the Pakistan state against Mehsud's.On the other. . .Around a dozen Mehsud tribal chiefs, in separate meetings, told McClatchy that they supported Zainuddin but were afraid to speak publicly. Their fears were compounded by a deep suspicion of the Pakistani state and especially the army, which has made clandestine deals with Mehsud in the past. ...
"We want to stand with Zainuddin but we don't trust the government. Three times in the past, they have made deals with Baitullah Mehsud. Generals have gone and eaten dinner with him. We are scared that the generals will make up with him again."