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Monday, March 29, 2010

Courting Pakistan


The United States and Pakistan is the world's oddest couple, with an on-again, off-again friendship that has survived since the 1950s. Last week both sides completed a "strategic dialogue" in Washington amid fears that they were headed for another break-up. Those fears can only be countered if both the U.S. and Pakistan keep the larger goal in mind: the development of a stable, secure and prosperous Pakistan. Last week's dialogue reiterated common goals on some key issues, including energy, infrastructure, agriculture and trade. But the hard issues—the Afghan Taliban operating inside Pakistani space, the Pakistan-India conflict over Kashmir, and Islamabad's wish for a civil nuclear deal similar to the one given to India—were politely avoided in public commentary. Part of the problem is Pakistan's wariness of U.S. intentions. As the late Pakistani dictator General Zial ul Haq once explained to his ambassador in Washington, Jamsheed Marker: "Being friends with the United States is like living on the banks of a great river. Every four years it changes course, and leaves you either flooded, or high and dry!" The U.S. showers aid and attention on Pakistan when it suits its strategic interests in the region and then leaves. Pakistan meanwhile seeks security against a larger and potentially hostile neighbor to the east: India. Each pretends to meet the other's needs while papering over differences. The U.S., on its part, sees a deceptive ally in Pakistan; one which seeks aid to use it for defense against India while pretending to meet U.S. regional aims. The Obama administration is attempting to craft a new, longer-term relationship with Pakistan, and American officials travel frequently to the country and return praising the relationship effusively. But it is hard to distinguish their attempts to proclaim success for their individual missions from the reality on the ground. The passage of the Kerry-Lugar Bill that promises at least $7 billion of aid to Pakistan over five years should have been a good omen, but Pakistani military and public opposition to the bill has put a crimp in the relationship, adding to the public perception of the U.S. as an intrusive and overbearing friend. The army high command, confident after its recent successes against its internal militancy and buoyed by public approval of its actions, recently revived the dialogue with the U.S. on its terms. Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani chose to focus on high visibility, high impact projects that would meet the country's urgent energy and infrastructure needs, rather than dissipating its effect on a wide range of softer social sector projects with longer gestation periods.

Israel's Netanyahu downplays tensions with US


Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu has moved to ease tensions with the US, describing the two countries' relations as those of "allies and friends". Mr Netanyahu also dismissed reports one of his confidants called US President Barack Obama a "disaster" for Israel. The US has criticised the building of Jewish homes in East Jerusalem, which prompted the Palestinians to pull out of US-brokered indirect peace talks. The row has caused one of the worst crises in US-Israeli ties for decades. It has also led to increased tensions between Israel and the Palestinians, with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas ruling out talks with Israel unless it halts the construction of settlements in occupied territory. Some leaders at an Arab League summit in Libya echoed Mr Abbas's position in a statement on Sunday, saying negotiations could not resume unless Israel stopped all settlement building.

Obama makes 'surprise' Kabul visit


Barack Obama, the US president, has called on his Afghan counterpart, Hamid Karzai, to crack down on corruption in an effort to promote the rule of law in the country. Obama met Karzai on Sunday in Kabul shortly after arriving at the Afghan capital from the nearby Bagram airbase on a previously unannounced visit to the country. On his arrival, Obama was greeted by General Stanley McChrystal, the US commander on the ground in Afghanistan, and Karl Eikenberry, the US ambassador. Obama praised Karzai for making progress in Afghanistan, in the military campaign against Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters as well in access to improved services to Afghans. "The American people are encouraged by the progress that has been made," he said. But he also urged Karzai to "continue to make progress" on good governance, the fight against corruption and the rule of law. Karzai thanked Obama for US support and said he hopes the partnership would continue between the two countries. The White House said later that Karzai will come to Washington on May 12 for more talks.

DR Congo massacre uncovered


The Lord's Resistance Army killed about 300 people and kidnapped 250 more in a rampage in the Democratic Republic of Congo in December 2009, according to an international rights group and the UN. The previously undocumented massacre, undertaken over four-days in the remote Makombo area of DRC's northeastern Haute Uele district, was highlighted in reports by Human Rights Watch and the UN on Sunday. The killings of 321 civilians occurred between December 14 and 17, HRW said in a report after documenting the deaths in a visit to the region in February. The Ugandan anti-government group were said to have abducted 80 children among the 250 people kidnapped. "The Makombo massacre is one of the worst ever committed by the LRA in its bloody 23-year history, yet it has gone unreported for months," Anneke Van Woudenberg, HRW's senior Africa researcher, said.