PAK VIEWS TOWARD U.S. SINK EVEN FURTHER
A recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center has found that Pakistani perception of the United States seems to have struck a nadir, with ever fewer Pakistanis approving of America’s leaders, policies and overall relations with Pakistan. The report found that three fourths of Pakistanis considered the U.S. an enemy, a figure that has increased from 69% last year and 64% in 2009. Pakistan was the only country out of the 15 surveyed where President Obama’s favorable ratings are no better than those of President Bush during his final year in office. Only 13% of Pakistanis believe the U.S.-Pakistan relationship has been strengthened in recent years, 16% lower than in 2011. Assessments of future prospects also appear dim, with only 45% of Pakistanis believing that it is important to improve ties with the U.S. - a sharp fall from the 60% that held such a view only last year. Even humanitarian and financial aid from the U.S. are less popular: down to 50% approval from over 70% in 2009. The approval rate for American drone strikes carried out even with Pakistani collaboration was 17%. (Pew Global Attitudes Project June 27 2012)
TERROR SUSPECT LINKS ISI TO MUMBAI ATTACK
Authorities in the Indian capital of Delhi took custody this week of an Indian national believed to be a key architect of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and active member of the Pakistani terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba . The suspect, Sayed Ansari, who also goes by the alias Abu Jundal, was handed over to Indian law enforcement officials after he was detained in Saudi Arabia. During the course of being interrogated by a special cell of the Delhi police, Jindal confessed that officials from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence were presiding over the Karachi control room from where he relayed commands to Pakistani terrorists in Mumbai as they carried out their 3 day siege on the city in November 2008 that left nearly 170 dead. Jindal also claimed that Pakistan exerted pressure on Saudi Arabia to prevent him from being taken into Indian custody. Reports indicate that it was backroom negotiations between India, America and Saudi Arabia that ultimately ensured his transfer to Delhi. Jindal further revealed that his organization has been training recruits in maritime warfare in Pakistan and that he was sent to Gulf nations to recruit members for another attack against India. Jindal’s revelations have already led to a heated diplomatic exchange between officials of India and Pakistan as Indian security agencies vie for access to the suspect. (India Today June 27 2012; Los Angeles Times June 28 2012; NDTV June 28 2012)
BHUTAN, CHINESE PREMIERS IN HISTORIC MEET
In the first-ever meeting between premiers of their two countries, Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigmi Thinley and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabo met for the first time at the sidelines at the Rio+20 Sustainable Development Conference held in Brazil in June. The two expressed a mutual desire to establish diplomatic ties and emphasized the importance of a harmonious relationship marked by cooperation and resolution of their border dispute (Bhutan and India are the only two countries that carry outstanding border disputes with China). The move carries major regional implications as the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan lies between major Asian rivals India and China. Bhutan has traditionally been an Indian bastion, receiving large amounts of military and economic assistance in return for a measure of Indian control over its foreign relations. Bhutan’s relationship with China, on the other hand, has historically been fraught with challenges after China’s military occupation of Tibet in 1959 and the failure of 19 rounds of negotiations to resolve their border dispute. The meeting comes at a time Bhutan is expanding its diplomatic outreach to Myanmar and others in the region, signaling the opening up of a foreign policy that has long been characterized as hermetic and tightly-controlled by New Delhi. (The Hindu June 22 2012; World Politics Review June 27 2012)
ADMIN MULLED U.S.-AFGHAN JOINT RAIDS INTO PAKISTAN
U.S. military and defense officials reportedly considered conducting clandestine joint U.S.-Afghan strikes in Pakistani territory to combat elements of Al Qaeda and the Haqqani Network that Pakistani forces have refused to confront. The proposal, revealed by former U.S. officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity, was struck down after considering the adverse impact such raids would have on U.S.-Pakistan ties. Similar proposals were repeatedly brought up over the course of the America’s engagement in Afghanistan and the idea received fresh attention after the bombing of U.S. forward base Salerno on June 1. However, U.S. officials have assessed that the diplomatic consequences of the proposed operations continue to outweigh their benefits. Though the same sources confirmed that top CIA officials and Senior U.S. military commander General George Allen were party to the discussions, the general’s spokesperson denied he had ever intended to “push for cross-border cooperation.” (Fox News June 22 2012)