Has Pakistan outdone the US, yet again?

America considers the Pakistan Army a “mercenary force”. The United States has decided to hold back a third of its annual $2.7 billion military aid to Islamabad, after it refused to act on some of its specific demands.

America hardening its position against its wavering ally was long expected. For almost two years now, America has been publicly putting pressure on Pakistan to take decisive action against al-Qaeda and Taliban operating from its soil.

The downturn in America-Pak relationship began with the capture of CIA agent Raymond Davis. However, the discovery of Osama bin Laden inside Pakistan frayed the relations. In the aftermath of Osama’s killing, America had given Pakistan ‘time till July’ to capture top five al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders, including Mullah Omar.

Most importantly, America wanted Pakistan to launch a military operation in North Waziristan against the Haqqani network; the deadline coincided with the date of withdrawal of the NATO and American forces from Afghanistan.

Earlier, Ilyas Kashmiri was supposed to have been killed in a Drone attack. The exaggerated death reports may eventually prove to be false as US intelligence is yet to fully confirm the news, either way.

Adding to the US’s exasperation, Pakistan’s military except conceding few minor demands— returning the remains of the crashed stealth helicopter and allowing CIA to visit Osama’s Abottabad compound  and also providing access to the captured wives of bin Laden — Pakistan has declined to accept any of the major demand.

Pakistan, denying the presence top al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders on its soil, had asked to “provide us the intelligence and we will act”. This might be a convenient excuse.

But Pakistan’s reluctance to launch an operation against the Haqqani networks seems to have convinced the Americans about Pakistan’s dual policy, hence the suspension of military aid. Leaving aside the diplomatic niceties, the outspoken new

Defence secretary Leon Panetta blasted, “They’ve got to help us be able to go after some of the targets we’ve assigned them... we’re not going to give out a blank cheque until they show that this is a two-way relationship.”

The Pakistan Army has thrived largely on American aid and its military hardware, suspension of the vital feeding line will obviously hamper its operational capabilities. By punching hard where it hurts the most, Americans wanted to put pressure on Pakistan. The suspension of the military aid seems to have an opposite effect; the Pakistan army has hardened its position.

The unilateral operation to kill Osama disregarding Pakistan’s sovereignty had further accentuated the anti American feelings. The rumblings were even felt within the senior ranks of Pak army — a senior Brigadier posted in GHQ was arrested for showing dissent and the lower ranks are reluctant to fight against the Taliban.

The army, under pressure from within and outside, reacted contemptuously to the latest American move. While affirming to continue operations against the Taliban, a military spokesman boasted: “The army in the past as well as present has conducted successful military operations using its own resources without any external support whatsoever.”

However, defence minister Ahmad Mukhtar revealing the mercenary nature of the relationship stated, “If the Americans refuse to give us money, then okay, I think the next step is that the government or the armed forces will be moving from the border areas”, Pakistan has deployed about 100,000 troops along the Afghan border.

The endgame is nearing in Afghanistan. Pakistan considers it as its sphere of influence and wants to maintain a tight grip on future events taking shape in Kabul. America is desperately trying to cut a deal with the Taliban, directly. But America is in a hurry to leave, some of the American forces have already left Afghanistan, and the transaction is underway.

The Taliban have gained momentum, the impending plans of American withdrawal have emboldened the Taliban. On July 18, the international forces handed over control of Bamiyan province to Afghan police, in the evening senior adviser to Afghan President Jan Mohammad Khan was killed in Kabul.

Earlier Ahmed Wali Karzai a controversial warlord and half-brother of President Karzai, was killed in Kandahar. America is caught in the mess, Pakistan finding space wants to deepen its stranglehold in the future affairs of Afghanistan.

Last week, ISI chief Shuja Pasha for the first time after the Osama raid visited Washington, ostensibly to repair the near broken ties. The reports emanating from American capital suggests that ISI chief’s visit has gone well. He has been assured by the Americans that “they not only recognised their interests in Afghanistan but also want them to play a larger role.”