- US Removes Evidence That President Musharraf Lied To
The Pakistani People
-
- U.S. Centcom cleans its web site of incriminating evidence
that suggests,
- President Musharraf may well be a CIA asset.
-
-
- The article below explores the costs borne by Pakistan
for General Pervez Musharrafâs, assistance to the U.S. in its war
against Afghanistan. It uses a report published by U.S. Central Command
(Centcom) as the source of its information.
-
- The report highlights the fact that General Pervez Musharraf,
has lied to the Pakistani people about the financial cost Pakistan suffered
as a consequence of its support of the US attack on Afghanistan.
-
- The source report which was originally published here
<http://www.centcom.mil/operations/Coalition/Coalition_pages/pakistan.htm>
- http://www.centcom.mil/operations/Coalition/Coalition_pages/pakistan.htm
has since, been removed from the US Centcom web site.
-
- A copy of the original report may be viewed by
- <http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/pakistan-uscentcom.htm>clicking
here.
-
- US Centcom Reveals Startling Data about Pakistan's Role
in Attacks on Afghanistan
-
- By Shaheen Sehbai
-
- WASHINGTON -- The US Central Command (Centcom) has provided
startling official data of what General Pervez Musharrafâs Pakistan
did for the US in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) against Afghanistan,
allowing 57,800 US air attacks from Pak soil with the Pakistan economy
suffering a staggering loss of US$ 10 billion.
-
- 05/19/03: (South Asia Tribune) This is the first official
estimate of losses suffered by Pakistan, given by the US military high
command and analysts say these figures could now be used extensively by
the anti-American political forces in Pakistan to pressurize General Pervez
Musharraf and his Government to explain his Taliban U-Turn and justify
what Pakistan received in return.
-
- With the upcoming visit of General Musharraf to the White
House in Washington, or to Camp David in Maryland, as some Pakistani diplomats
are now trying, this data will strengthen his case for more US aid as the
Afghan situation has not yet fully settled as envisaged by the US. Pakistan's
strategic and military help is still a key factor in containing the anti-US
elements.
-
- The Centcom figures are far in excess of what Pakistani
Government officials and experts have been claiming, the highest claim
being US$ 2-3 billion. In contrast, what the US has offered to Pakistan
so far, a US$ 1 billion write-off of loans, looks like as spoon of tomato
ketchup in place of a full fledged state banquet.
-
- "This is a goldmine of political ammunition for
the religious right wing forces, like the MMA, to blast the US and the
Musharraf Government," one analyst said.
-
- These figures have been revealed in a detailed review
of Pakistanâs role in the operation and are specifically mentioned
under the title ãEffects of Operation Enduring Freedom on Economy
of Pakistanä at the US Centcom web site, a huge resource about the
US and coalition activities under the Command.
-
- The Web site is still not complete but it gives a list
of all the countries which contributed in the international coalition,
51 states named so far. Each country has been assigned a full page and
details of that country's efforts and contributions have been listed. After
Canada, Pakistan has the most data on the page. Many country pages, including
that of Saudi Arabia, are still under construction. The web site is, however,
up to date on all other Centcom activities.
-
- ãOperation Enduring Freedom adversely affected
the already fragile economy of Pakistan. Major losses were caused to the
civil aviation, tourism, investment and shipping due to rise in the rates
of insurance,ä the Centcom site data says.
-
- ãBesides this, Pakistani exports also suffered
adversely and foreign investments experienced a visible decline. According
to a rough estimate, Pakistanâs economy suffered a loss of over US$
10 billion since October 2001,ä it adds. <http://www.centcom.mil/operations/Coalition/Coalition_pages/pakistan.htm>Click
to View Pakistan Data on Centcom Web site
-
- But more mind boggling are the other stats revealed by
the Centcom about use of Pakistani
-
- air and ground space and facilities provided for Operation
Enduring Freedom (OEF). For instance the Centcom data reveals that:
-
- - Pakistan provided five air bases/airfields. However
in emergency planes could land anywhere in Pakistan.
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- - On the average 400,000 liters of fuel per day was provided
to US.
-
- - A total of 57,800 sorties were generated from Pakistanâs
air space/soil.
-
- - In order to facilitate launching of air ops into Afghanistan,
Pakistan provided 2/3rd of its air space as air corridor to the US/Coalition
Forces. By so doing, Pakistan had to reschedule/ redirect many of its commercial
flights.
-
- - Pakistan Navy provided landing facility to the US/Coalition
ships at Pasni.
-
- - At sea, Pakistan Navy operations/training were curtailed
in order to accommodate and facilitate the operations of US/Coalition Naval
Forces.
-
- - According to the US Marine Corps Gazette of June 2002,
the Coalition Naval Operations at Pasni were the largest amphibious operations
in size, duration and depth that the Marine Corps had conducted since the
Korean War.
-
- - In all, 8,000 Marines, 330 vehicles and over 1350 tons
of equipment/logistic were off loaded at the beach and later flown to Kandahar
from Pasni.
-
- Besides these, in the War against Terrorism, according
to the Centcom data, up to October 2002, the US side made 2,160 requests
(of different nature) to Pakistan of which action on 2,008 was completed.
Likewise 99 raids were conducted, 420 foreign nationals were apprehended
of which 332 were handed over to the US, 34 were sent to other countries,
38 were released and 16 were under interrogation.
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- Details of Pakistan Army operations in the Tribal areas
of Pakistan have also been provided at the Web site. Some of the data appears
to have been provided to Centcom by the Pakistan Government and narrates
the compulsions of the Pakistan Army in operating along the Pak-Afghan
border.
-
- ãTora Bora operations provided a window of opportunity
to penetrate these areas which was capitalized by quickly moving the Army
in Tirah Valley which captured 250 Al Qaida/Taliban fleeing into Pakistan.
Later the Pak Army along with FC extended its operations to Miran Shah
and Wana.
-
- ãIn return, tribals have been offered a sizeable
development package. The region, being remote and under developed warrants
bringing it at par with rest of the country in terms of provision of basic
facilities like communication infrastructure, health, education and employment
opportunities. Same analogy is being followed in North Waziristan Agency/South
Waziristan Agency (NWA/SWA) to prevent slipping in of Al Qaida/Taliban
into our territory.ä
-
- ãIn spite of ominous threat on Eastern Border,
Pakistan is maintaining a sizeable portion of her strategic forces on Western
Border. This clearly speaks of our resolve to support coalition operations
against Al Qaida/Taliban elements,ä it says.
-
- The compulsions mentioned include: Shortage of manpower,
technical equipment and funds; Threats of war from India due to unresolved
Kashmir dispute despite UN resolutions and Indian/international commitments
even after 54 years; Constitutional restraint of operations in the FATAs
(Federally Administered Tribal Areas); Domestic sensitivity to allow operations
within Pak territory by foreign soldiers; and Cultural and religious sensitivities.
-
- Figures of Pakistani deployment of Forces reveal initially
two Army corps along with large contingents of FC troops (para military)
were deployed along Western border including some of the areas hitherto
considered as no go tribal areas. A total of 60,000 regular troops and
55,000 paramilitary personnel were employed on sealing of western border,
internal security duties and protection of various bases being used by
US/Coalition Forces. Later bulk of the regular formations was shifted towards
the eastern border due to Indian Military build up.
-
- Because of very effective security arrangements ensured
by Pakistan, not a single breach of security has occurred around the bases
in use by Coalition Forces.
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- Report compiled with the assistance of <http://www.informationtimes.com/>
- http://www.InformationTimes.com & South Asia Tribune.
- <http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article3444.htm>
- http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article3444.htm
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