Pakistan Violence Versus Stability

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Final Draft: 25 July 2011

ii | pakistan: violence vs. stabilitya national net assessment
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anthony h. cordesman and varun vira| iii

contents

List of Figures
Acknowledgments
Executive Summary
The Challenges of Internal Violence
The Challenges of External Relations
Instability as a Self-Inflicted Wound
The Broader Cost of Pakistani Instability

1. SETTING THE STAGE 1
Pakistans Political Landscape 1
Civilian Governance with Military Preeminence 1
The Uncertain Role of the ISI 4
Military Rule Lite 6
Stability Problems within the Army 8
Nuclear Safety 11
Semi-Dysfunctional Civilian Government 14
A Continuing History of Failed Civil Politics and Governance? 14
A Background of Modern Feudalism 17
Appeasement in the Face of Extremism 18
Faltering Progress toward Reform 19
Weak Police and Rule of Law 20
Rise of Religious Extremists 24
The Grim Legacies of Zia and Musharraf 25
The Wrong Kind of Movement toward Political Unity 27
But Extremists Remain a Threat to Extremists 28
Religious Extremism and Anti-American Populism 29
Demographics, Economics, and Education 30
The Struggling Economy 32
Educating a Nation for Failure 34
Madrassa Education versus Secular Failure 37
Symptoms of a Failed State: Forcing Private as the Substitute for Public Education 38
2. The Current Crisis: Patterns of Militancy and Violence 41

iv | pakistan: violence vs. stabilitya national net assessment
The State of Militancy 41
3. The Pashtun Belt and Beyond 49
A Shattered Political and Economic Landscape 50
Administrative Systems 50
The Weakening of Traditional Structures 51
Chronic Underdevelopment 52
The Militant Landscape 57
The Pakistani Taliban and Local Affiliates 58
The Afghan Taliban 63
The Haqqani Network 65
Transnational Groups and Al-Qaeda 69
The Growing International Role of Lashkar-e-Taiba 71
Criminal Groups 72
Pakistani Military Operations and Counterinsurgency 73
Tactical Success; Questionable Strategic Impact 73
Inadequate Initial Performance 74
Growing Tactical Capabilities 80
The Strategic Future 84
IV. The Situation in Balochistan 89
The Threats 89
Efforts at Reform 90
The Resource Curse 93
Uncertain and Unstable Politics 94
The Separatist Rebellion 96
Reconciliation Attempts Fail to Address Core Grievances 102
Strong Military; Weak Police and Governance 104
The Taliban Sanctuary and Its Impact on NATO 105
Drugs and Interactions with Criminal Networks and Powerbrokers 109
v. The South Punjab and the Rise of the Punjabi Taliban 113
Failing the People While Playing Self-destructive Games 114
The Punjabi Taliban 118
Lack of Law Enforcement Capability and Political Will 120
vi. Karachi: Threatening the Economic Engine 123
The Internal Sources of Violence 124
A Taliban Financing and Operational Hub 126

anthony h. cordesman and varun vira| v

Rising Levels of Taliban Violence 127
The Madrassa Factor 129
Vulnerable Shiites 131
vii: External Relations: The United States 133
Uncertain US Goals and Progress 138
A Turbulent History of Relations 139
Victimhood 142
Overcoming Public Hostility 143
The India Factor 144
Competition over the Afghan Future 145
US Military Involvement in Pakistan 148
Drone Strikes 148
Intelligence Cooperation and Conflict 152
Covert US Operations inside Pakistan 154
The Backlash from Ground Force Raids 156
Military Sales and Assistance 159
Coalition Support Funds 161
Foreign Military Financing 162
Section 1206 (Global Train and Equip) Funds and Pakistan Counterinsurgency
Fund/Counterinsurgency Capability Fund (PCF/PCCF) 163
Economic Aid and Civilian Assistance 163
US Leverage 168
viii. The Cost to Pakistan of its Conflict with India 170
The Conventional and Nuclear Military Balance 170
The Endless Kashmir Issue 174
The Kashmiri Jihad 174
The Militant Landscape The Pro-Independence and Pro-Pakistan Split 178
State-sponsored Terrorism? The Lashkar-e-Taiba as a Threat to Both India and Pakistan 182
Pakistani-Indian Competition in Afghanistan 186
ix. Sino-Pakistani Relations 190
Hedging India 191
Mercantilism: Ports, Oil and Resources 194
The Strategic Future 196
x. Pakistani-Iranian Relations 198

vi | pakistan: violence vs. stabilitya national net assessment
An Uncertain History of Relations 198
Baloch Separatism 200
Pipelines and Ports 200
xi. Conclusions 202

About the Authors 203

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anthony h. cordesman and varun vira| vii

List of Figures
Figure 1.1: Trends in Pakistani Population (19502050) 31
Figure 1.2: Pakistans Youth Bulge in 2010 31
Figure 1.3: Key Educational Statistics 35
Figure 1.4: Education Funding (20052010) 36
Figure 1.5: Educational Institutions by Province 36
Figure 1.6: Central Boards of Madrassas in Pakistan 38
Figure 1.7: Provincial Public-Private Breakdowns in Educational Sector 40
Figure 2.1: Attacks in 2010 by Type 41
Figure 2.2: Militant Attack Levels by Province: 20082010 42
Figure 2.3: Density of Terrorist Incidents in Pakistan (2007-2010) 43
Figure 2.4: Militant Lethality by Province in 2010 43
Figure 2.5: Militant Attacks by Weapon 44
Figure 2.6: Militant Attacks by Target (Human) 45
Figure 2.7: Militant Attacks by Target (Facility) 45
Figure 2.8: NATO-Related Attacks 46
Figure 2.9: Militant Groups in Pakistan 47
Figure 3.1: Literacy Rates 55
Figure 3.2: Educational Enrollment 55
Figure 3.3: Population Per Hospital Bed 56
Figure 3.4: Annual Development Program (ADP) Funding Allocation for FATA 56
Figure 3.5: Tribes and Insurgent Groups in the FATA 59
Figure 3.6: Growth in Force numbers in FATA (2002-2010) 76
Figure 3.7: Major PAKMIL Offensives (20082011) 77
Figure 3.8: Force Deployments in the FATA 78
Figure 3.9: Pakistani Security Force Casualties in 2010 79
Figure 3.10: Security Forces to Militant Casualty Ratio in 2010 79
Figure 3.11: Percentage of Population Displaced Per Agency 83
Figure 3.12: Perceptions of Powerbrokers in FATA (New America Foundation Poll) 87
Figure 3.13: Public Opinion on FATA Security Providers 87
Figure 3.14: FATA Public Support for Military Operations 88
Figure 3.15: Pakistan Security Force-to-Militant Casualty Ratio (20072010) 88
Figure 4.1: Human Development Statistics for Balochistan 91
Figure 4.2: Violence in Balochistan 100
Figure 4.3: Force Composition in Balochistan 101
Figure 4.4: NATO Supply Routes through Pakistan 108
Figure 4.5: NATO Related Attacks in Balochistan 109
Figure 4.6: Major Pakistani Drug Trafficking Routes 112
Figure 5.1: Human Welfare in South Punjab as Compared to State Average 115
Figure 5.2: State Development Funding in South Punjab 115
Figure 5.3: Government Investment in South Punjab Relative to Province 116

viii | pakistan: violence vs. stabilitya national net assessment
Figure 5.4: Industrial Base of South Punjab (number of factories) 116
Figure 5.5: Attacks inside the Punjab 122
Figure 6.1: Terrorist Violence in Karachi (2008-2010) 123
Figure 6.2: Targeted Killings in Karachi 126
Figure 6.3: Radical Madrassas in Karachi 132
Figure 7.1: Pakistans Different Strategic Priorities 137
Figure 7.2: U.S. Approval Rating (2000-2010) 140
Figure 7.3: U.S. Assistance to Pakistan (1948-2010) 142
Figure 7.4: Pakistani Grand Strategy in Afghanistan 146
Figure 7.5: The Potential Strategic Train Wreck 146
Figure 7.6: US Drone Strikes by Targeted Militant Groups (July 12, 2011) 151
Figure 7.7: Militant-to Civilian Casualties in US Drone Strikes (July 6, 2011) 151
Figure 7.8: Direct Overt US Aid and Military Reimbursements to Pakistan, FY20012011 160
Figure 7.9: Civilian Assistance to Pakistan 165
Figure 7.10: The Risks of Escalating Competition 169
Figure 8.1: Indo-Pakistani Military Manpower 172
Figure 8.2: Indo-Pakistan Military Balance 172
Figure 8.3: India-Pakistan Strategic Picture 173
Figure 8.4: Trends in Violence in J&K 176
Figure 8.5: Cross-Border Infiltrations 177
Figure 8.6: Pakistans Strategic Objectives in Afghanistan 188
Figure 8.7: Indian Strategic Objectives in Afghanistan 189
Figure 9.1: Chinese Assistance to Pakistani Nuclear and Missile Facilities 192

anthony h. cordesman and varun vira| ix

acknowledgements

This book is largely the product of research and writing by Varun Vira, who carried out this
project under the direction and guidance of the Burke Chair.
It draws on a wide range of sources. These are cited in detail, but U.S. experts who cannot be
cited by name or organization provided some information. Their work played a critical role in
shaping the framework of analysis and several key judgments in this analysis.
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x | pakistan: violence vs. stabilitya national net assessment
executive summary

As the events surrounding the death of Osama Bin Laden make all too clear, Pakistan is passing
through one of the most dangerous periods of instability in its history. This instability goes far
beyond Al Qaida, the Taliban, or the war in Afghanistan. A net assessment of the patterns of
violence and instability indicate that Pakistan is approaching a perfect storm of threats, including
rising extremism, a failing economy, chronic underdevelopment, and intensifying domestic and
external wars, resulting in unprecedented political, economic, and social turmoil.
The Burke Chair at CSIS has developed a net assessment of these threats and areas of internal
violence in depth; and does so within in the broader context of the religious, ideological, ethnic,
sectarian, and tribal causes at work; along with Pakistans problems in ideology, politics,
governance, economics and demographics.
The assessment shows that these broad patterns of violence in Pakistan have serious implications
for Pakistans future, for regional stability, and for core US interests. Pakistan remains a central
node in global terrorism. Osama Bin Laden was killed deep inside Pakistan, and there remain
questions on the presence of other major terrorists and extremists like Mullah Omar and his
Quetta Shura Taliban.
Pakistan pursues its own agenda in Afghanistan in ways that provide the equivalent of cross-
border sanctuary for Taliban and Haqqani militants, and prolong the fighting causing serious US,
ISAF, and Afghan casualties. At the same time, Pakistan cooperates with the US in dealing with
some aspect of these threats, and faces a growing threat from its own domestic terrorist and
extremist forces.
Al Qaida and the Taliban are only part of the story. There are many other movements and
tensions that feed violence and extremism in Pakistan; many of which grow out of a government
that has consistently failed to meet the needs of Pakistans people over a period of decades.
Tremendous shortfalls in the Pakistani governments capacity and willingness to provide for its
citizens interact in ways that encourage separatist movements and a rising tide of violence.
These failures in Pakistani governance and development interact with a growing wave of Sunni-
Deobandi radicalization that manifests in anti-state violence and sectarian intolerance. A
significant resulting uptick in terrorist violence has been accompanied by a gradual perversion of
the Pakistani social fabric, intimidating secularism to the benefit of militant Islam.
Despite these dangers, Pakistan is not a hopeless case. The country is not yet in terminal decline,
if only because of its vigorous civil society and its talented secular elite. Nevertheless, a wide
gap exists between Pakistani rhetoric and reality, and its leaders, military, and politicians fall far
short of meeting their peoples needs.
Entrenched organizational interests including those of political, and security elites, as well as
religious radicals, resist effective reform . Successful reform efforts require a far better planned
and managed stabilization strategy that addresses all of the various causes of extremism and
violence and actually executes such plans in ways that implement real, large-scale reforms.
As this analysis shows, the links between Pakistans conflicts and their causes mean that
selective attempts to redress grievances cannot fundamentally alter or reverse Pakistans

anthony h. cordesman and varun vira| xi

problems and cannot bring its people security and stability. Pakistan cannot succeed if its civilian
leaders, and security forces continue to rely on internal security, counterterrorism, and
counterinsurgency important as improvement in these activities remain. Pakistan can only
move forward if its leaders also focus on investing in its peoples welfare and addressing their
core grievances.
Pakistan must give priority to its internal needs over dealing with perceived external threats.
Pakistan continues to prioritize strategic competition with India, in ways that creates growing
problems in Afghanistan and strengthen internal extremists. To this struggle, Pakistan devotes an
inordinate amount of its attention and resources, and does so at the direct expense of the welfare
and future of its people.
The Challenges of Internal Violence
Pakistan faces the convergence of various localized conflicts that were once insulated from each
other. A massive growth in militancy in the Pakistani-Afghan border area interacts with growing
threats in the heartland of the Punjabi, Sindhi, and Baloch interior. Pakistans growing instability
does not have one cause or center of gravity: it has many.
The war in Afghanistan has moved al-Qaeda into Pakistan along with the Taliban, Haqqani
network, and Hekmatyars forces . At the same time, Pakistan faces a combination of separatist
pressures in Baluchistan and the Sindh as well as foreign and domestic neo-Salafi threats that
have growing ties to al-Qaeda. These threats include the continuing violence in the Federally
Administered Tribal Agencies (FATA) and the neighboring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK).
Insurgent momentum shows few signs of having been decisively reversed despite increasingly
robust Pakistani military (PAKMIL) operations. Improved counterinsurgency efforts have had
some successes in certain tribal agencies, but gains are likely to be ephemeral, as many of the
root causes of militancy remain unaddressed, including political, administrative, and economic
stagnation.
A diverse array of militant actors including core command nodes of al-Qaeda, continue to
operate inside the tribal areas. They maneuver in support of distinct organizational priorities,
including the global jihad, regional jihads in Afghanistan and Kashmir, as well as domestic anti-
state and sectarian agendas. They collaborate on operational, ideological, and fundraising axes.
Their combined activities have uprooted many of the traditional modes of tribal governance,
complicating efforts to restore stability. Pakistani military operations have compounded these
problems. The selective counterinsurgency approach adopted by the military has attempted to
delineate between groups actively hostile to Pakistani interests, and those like the Haqqani
Network, the Quetta Shura Taliban and the Lashkar-e-Taiba -- that may have future strategic
utility in reestablishing Pakistans sphere of influence and helping contain its external enemies.
Senior US officials and officers have made all too clear along with some Pakistani and Afghan
experts that some elements of the Pakistani government and security forces are supporting
groups that are actively at war with the United States and Afghanistan. This strategy is causing a
steady deterioration in US-Pakistani relations, and complicating the prospects for future US aid.
It also is helping strengthen extremists who may ultimately become an active threat to Pakistan.

xii | pakistan: violence vs. stabilitya national net assessment
These conflicts have been augmented by violence and tensions inside the rest of Pakistan. In
south Punjab, a historical hotbed of militancy, various groups once tethered to state policy have
begun to splinter and migrate to the tribal areas. These groups have considerable combat
experience and knowledge of the weapons and technologies needed for asymmetric warfare.
They have joined tribal militant groups, and assisted them in bringing terrorist violence into the
previously insulated urban centers of the Punjab and the Sindh.
In Karachi, the economic engine of Pakistan, ethno-sectarian violence has risen to new levels
with the real danger of a slide back into the communal violence of the early 1990s. Such a
reversal would be catastrophic for national stability, exacerbating already chronic economic
woes, whilst providing fodder for the sectarian and ethnic drivers of conflict in Pakistan. This
violence has been augmented by the ingress of Taliban militants in search of urban sanctuary and
access to funding and logistical networks.
In Baluchistan, a fifth separatist insurgency has become more active since 2004, and is closely
linked and influenced by regional geopolitics. The Baloch insurgency is distinct from other
conflicts, primarily in that Sunni-Deobandi philosophies play little role, but it nonetheless
benefits from many of the same drivers, including widespread impoverishment, chronic
underdevelopment and alienation from mainstream Pakistan.
The Challenges of External Relations
Pakistans focus on the challenge from India affects virtually every aspect of its external
relations. This plays out in Afghanistan in the form of a competition for influence over the
Afghan government where Pakistan attempts to use its ties to the Afghan Taliban, Haqqani
network, and other movements to limit Indian influence, ensure its influence over the future of
Afghanistan, and to limit any threat of Pashtun independence movements.
The result is the many of Pakistans leaders, senior officials, and politicians have a
fundamentally different perception of Pakistans national interest from the US focus on Afghan
security and stability. These divergent interests are the reality behind the rhetoric of ally and
strategic partner and have led to constant tension with the US, particularly as a result of
continuing cross-border violence into Afghanistan.
The Indo-Pakistani border remains one of the most threatening areas on the planet, and is linked
on both sides to the deployment of long-range missiles and nuclear weapons. Cross-border
violence can escalate into large-scale war, particularly in the aftermath of terrorism originating
from Pakistan. Many Kashmiri militant groups have splintered, as in south Punjab, and the
growing risk of militant proxies operating autonomously, perhaps to divert Pakistani military
attention away from the tribal areas, cannot be discounted.
The result is that Pakistans concern with the threat from India diverts massive amounts of
resources and security forces away from far more serious internal problems and threats.
Pakistans current policies not only feed a major arms race with India, and tensions with
Afghanistan and the US, they also waste critical resources in the name of security, to the extent
that they have become a threat to the state and the future of the Pakistani people.

anthony h. cordesman and varun vira| xiii

Instability as a Self-Inflicted Wound
Pakistans critical need to focus on its internal needs and security becomes clear from the
detailed analysis of violence in Pakistan in the full text of this net assessment. This violence is
driven by a mix of ideology, religion, politics, governance, economics, and demographics, with
all the ingredients that have caused instability in Middle Eastern regimes. The drivers of conflict
are shaped by a systemic malaise that includes weak and underdeveloped governance institutions
that are hobbled by the omnipresent specter of a military coup, and incentivize the maximization
of rents instead of efficient representation.
Economic mismanagement, and chronic underdevelopment in building up the nations base of
human capital, have perpetuated deep inequalities and assisted in the alienation of large segments
of the population. Demographics are an additional problem, and population pressures are
compounded by a severe and growing youth bulge. Social services, including the provision of
core goods such as education, employment and health are already inadequate, and integrating
increasing population figures has worrying implications for future instability.
Other key underlying causes of violence and instability include a dysfunctional civilian
government that is all too often mired in internecine squabbling, self-seeking service politics,
and the willingness to exploit ethno-sectarian divides for political gain. Strong organizational
resistance continues to impede reform. Corruption, nepotism and favoritism, power brokers,
entrenched feudal interests, and a marked civil-military imbalance continue to lead Pakistani
elites to give their own interests priority over those of the population, and help institutionalize
entrenched patronage networks, widespread corruption, and significant structural distortions in
tax collections.
Pakistan has made some efforts to rectify these shortfalls in governance. The 18
th
Amendment
package of constitutional reforms passed by the new civilian government in August 2010
included dilution in the powers of the executive and an expansion in the autonomy and
representation of provincial interests. A greater emphasis on human security has also led to
increased allocations in critical sectors such as education and employment.
Yet, these efforts have faltered, Far too many reform programs end up remaining rhetorical
exercises in political opportunism, with the government making only superficial attempts to
rectify deep-rooted structural problems. Where it has spent money, Pakistan and its donors have
placed too much emphasis on allocating resources with too little on ensuring a meaningful
outcome.
Money alone is no guarantee of success, particularly when entrenched corruptions and
inefficiencies in the bureaucratic system provide diminishing returns to investments. Developing
a focused set of metrics to accurately capture progress will be essential, and should reorient focus
away from quantity to quality. Simply building schools in the tribal regions for example, has no
bearing on the number of educated graduates if the schools lack capable teachers, better
curriculums and more relevance to the labor market.
The Broader Cost of Pakistani Instability
Pakistan is a pivotal regional player, whose problems affect the security of other countries in the
region, and that of the United States. It has the potential to be either a major disruptive force or a

xiv | pakistan: violence vs. stabilitya national net assessment
major source of stability, in assisting end to violence in Afghanistan, in assisting in the peaceful
rise of India, and helping constrain Irans bid for Middle Eastern hegemony.
At present, Pakistan is on a downward course. Its leadership is not adequately addressing either
the causes of Pakistan's internal violence, or the needs of its people. Its politics are corrupt and
self-serving, and far too many indicators reflect its failure to adopt policies that serve popular
needs or meet popular expectations. It is playing a form of the great game which forces it to
confront India on a region-wide basis and into a nuclear arms race. It has unleashed levels of
religious extremism that not only threaten its Shiite minorities but also its moderate Sunni
majority . At the same time, it continues a long history of shifting the blame for its own actions
to other states, and relying on political rhetoric as a substitute for effective action.
These presents major problems for the United States both in finding some favorable outcome to
the Afghan conflict, and in helping to create some form of regional stability in South Asia a
greater US strategic interest than the future of Afghanistan and Central Asia. However, US
options are limited. US military intervention inside Pakistan is deeply resented by both the
Pakistani people and its leadership elite. US military assistance has so far won only grudging and
limited support, and economic assistance has failed to win broad support or achieve any major
objectives. Cross-border sanctuaries, which are tolerated by at least some elements of the
Pakistani security establishment, remain significant havens for Taliban insurgents.
At the same time, the US, its allies in ISAF, and the Afghan government need every bit of
military, and counterterrorism cooperation from Pakistan they can get. Even limited Pakistani
intelligence support is crucial in providing them with an understanding of militant dynamics, and
they remain dependent on a logistic tail that transits through Pakistan. Moreover, Pakistani
military action along the Afghan border helps degrade insurgent forces and sanctuaries.
Pakistans leverage in dissuading American pressure is further increased by the fact that the US
is deeply unpopular in Pakistan, and collusion, or worse subservience to its interests, is resented
by large segments of the population. This creates major problems for both the US and Pakistan in
finding some practical way to create a truly effective strategic relationship. It makes the success
of economic and military aid uncertain, and sharply restricts the future ability for the US to
transform its role from one of constant pressure on Pakistan to that of a real strategic partner.
The fundamental realities of Pakistans external relations are all too similar to those of its
internal problems. Only Pakistan can save Pakistan. This can never happen as long as its
leadership elite pursue policies where their definitions of victory fail the nation and its people,
and really mean defeat.
i
1. SETTING THE STAGE
It is all too easy to focus on Pakistans political problems or internal violence, but these are as
symptomatic of the nations problems as they are the cause. Pakistans growing patterns of
terrorism, insurgency and violence must be considered in the context of its overall political
landscape, key problems like poverty and employment, challenges like demographics and
education, and limits to the quality of governance and the reform of the security sector.
Pakistans Political Landscape
Instability in Pakistan is shaped by a dysfunctional political structure, which has become a three-
way battle between the generals, the mullahs, and civilian political parties. Three years after the
end of military rule in 2008, a new civilian government is in power, but is increasingly
unpopular. Like its predecessors, it has suffered from weak and often self-serving leadership,
struggles between opposing political parties, and the inability to make serious improvements in
the lives of ordinary Pakistanis. These failures, and its inability to bring political corruption to
acceptable levels, have led to increasing unpopularity a decline reinforced by the governments
failures during flood relief operations in 2010.
Despite civilian rule, the military continues to have primacy in national affairs, and controls key
aspects of foreign and security policy. Its preeminence has major impact on the federal budget,
forcing Pakistan to limit civil expenditures and development.
Today, Pakistans population is caught in the middle of tensions and violence between the
military and religious radicals, as well as between growing regional, ethnic, and sectarian
tensions. Religious extremism is on the rise. This is increasingly manifested in acts of violent
terrorism, but also by a far more insidious radicalization of society, vividly illustrated by the
assassinations of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer and Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti in
early 2011, in reaction to their attempts to reform Pakistans highly controversial blasphemy
laws. The level of support for these assassinations shocked and intimidated secular progressive
elements in Pakistan, and highlighted the impact of the religious parties on the street despite
their previous failures to win broad support in elections.
Civilian Governance with Military
Preeminence
Analysts often paraphrased Voltaire to declare that while many states have an army, Pakistans
army has a state.
1
Such beliefs have merit. The Army has primacy in Pakistan; it has ruled
Pakistan for over half its existence and has never yet allowed a civilian government to complete
its term. It acts as the primary guarantor of Pakistans stability and remains the countrys most
powerful institution, with its power largely untouched despite the rise of a new civilian
government.

1
Anatol Lieven, All Kayanis Men, National Interest, May 1, 2010.

2 | pakistan: violence vs. stabilitya national net assessment
The Pakistani military is run from General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, and is the most
organized and functional organization in Pakistan. It is far more than a large and well-equipped
fighting force, and maintains extensive landholdings and a significant business portfolio from
factories to bakeries, which all when all told may comprise as much as 3 10 percent of the
entire economy.
2

Many analysts continue to believe that the Army is the glue holding Pakistan together without
which Pakistan would disintegrate into anarchy.
3
However, the Armys preeminence is also
widely regarded to have restricted the growth of democratic institutions, ensured that the narrow
interests of military elites drive foreign and security policy, and consumed a large share of
resources needed for civil development.
The Army has indicated that it does not desire formal power. The Musharraf era damaged the
armys public standing, and the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Kayani has
shown deference to the civilian government and consistently voiced his opposition to military
intervention in domestic politics. Kayani is often lauded as a quiet, professional soldier [with]
a policy of keeping the army out of politics.
4
This is a view believed to be shared by his US
military counterparts, including General David Petraeus, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff Admiral Mike Mullen.
5

At the same time, formal power is unnecessary as no civilian leader or party can afford to
challenge the military. The armed forces have de facto control of key budgetary allocations, with
defense expenditures in FY20102011 officially making up at least as much as 13.5 percent of
all budget outlays for the period,
6
and recently perhaps increased by an additional 11.4%.
7
These
significant burdens on the economy are exercised without any transparency. The year 2008
marked the first year where the armed forces broke down their annual requirements
8
, instead of
submitting a single, incontestable line entry for their annual demands.
9

The Armys leadership also has strong continuity. In July 2010, Kayani was offered a three-year
extension in his tenure of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) beginning November 2010 by the civilian
government. The event, while unprecedented, was hardly a reflection of improving civil-military
relations. The military high command is likely to have deemed continuity in a time of war
essential, rendering civilian opinions irrelevant, and the US is believed to have strongly backed
the extension.
10

2
Ayesha Siddiqua, Military Inc: Inside Pakistans Military Economy, (London: Pluto Press, 2007).
3
Dr. Suba Chandran, Reading Pakistan: Is the Military the Only Glue? Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies, April 7,
2011. Available at http://www.eurasiareview.com/reading-pakistan-is-the-military-the-only-glue-analysis-07042011/
4
Shuja Nawaz, Kayani and Pakistans Civil-Military Relations, Atlantic Council, July 23, 2010. Available at
http://www.acus.org/new_atlanticist/kayani-and-pakistans-civil-military-relations
5
Masood Haider, US sees Gen Kayani as safer bet, Dawn, March 21, 2009. Available at
http://archives.dawn.com/archives/90920
6
Jon Grevatt, Pakistan increases defense budget by 17%, Janes, June 9, 2010. Available at
http://www.janes.com/news/defence/jdi/jdi100609_1_n.shtml
7
Govt raises defense budget by 11.4%, Daily Times, June 4, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/laFrIP
8
Nirupama Subramanian, Pakistan: Debate on Defense Spending, The Hindu, June 17, 2008. Available at
http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/17/stories/2008061755610900.htm
9
Irfan Husain, The Heart of the Matter, Dawn, January 22, 2011. Available at http://www.dawn.com/2011/01/22/the-heart-
of-the-matter.html
10
Kayanis extension good news for US admin, AFP, July 25, 2010. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/30884/kayanis-
extension-good-news-for-us-admin/

anthony h. cordesman and varun vira| 3

In addition to reinforcing the armys preeminence, the extension is believed to have important
effects in enhancing military control over civilian politics. The extension now means that
Kayanis term will include overseeing the National Assembly elections, which are likely to be
held in early 2013, an effect that necessitates that both major political parties, the incumbent PPP
and the opposition PML-N stay in the armys good graces.
11

Shuja Nawaz, a leading analyst on the Pakistani military also comments on its effects on the
military command structure. He points out that nearly a dozen three-star generals will now retire
before the expiration of Kayanis term, leading to an age and service gap between Kayani and
his corps commanders [that] in another two years will be quite large as he digs down the rank
orders. This is likely to exacerbate Pakistans already steep pyramidal command structure, as
few junior officers will be willing to challenge the views of such a senior chief.
12

The Army is widely popular amongst Pakistanis, and its shortcomings are often forgotten. It has
often recovered from public anger quicker than many anticipated, as after the disastrous 1971
War with India. Furthermore, the Army has intervened almost exclusively with the popular
support of Pakistanis eager to seek relief from kleptocratic civilian elites, as during the 1999
Musharraf takeover. Similarly, by mid-2010 the Army appeared to have restored its prestige,
with a full 94% of polled Pakistanis believing that the military was a positive influence on
Pakistans direction.
13
In the wake of the US raid inside Pakistan in May 2011 that violated
Pakistani sovereignty to kill Osama Bin Laden, the Army has again entered a period of
significant public criticism.
The prominent position of the Army helps explain why the US has placed high value on its
military-to-military relationships in Pakistan, and believes them to be its surest bet for long-term
continuity in Pakistans volatile political landscape. At the same time, the US government and
military have shown a growing frustration with the Pakistani Armys inability (or failure) to hold
cleared territory against the militants they claim to defeat; and at the continuing collusion of the
Pakistani Army and its Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence (more commonly known as
Inter-Services Intelligence or ISI) with Taliban, Haqqani and other militants that use Pakistan as
a sanctuary in attacking Afghanistan.
14

This frustration is matched on the Pakistan side. Kayani has made it clear that he neither is, nor
wants to be seen as, an American proxy. Under his tenure, the Pakistani Army has increasingly
focused on operations in the tribal areas, although Kayani himself has reiterated his continued
intention to ensure that the Pakistani Army remains India-centric.
15
Kayani has also displayed
increasing impatience with US criticism, condemning a drone attack in March 2011, which killed

11
R. Banerji, Kayani and His Generals, Center for Land Warfare Studies, December 29, 2010. Available at
http://www.claws.in/index.php?action=master&task=712&u_id=36
12
Shuja Nawaz, Kayani and Pakistans Civil-Military Relations, Atlantic Council, July 23, 2010. Available at
http://www.acus.org/new_atlanticist/kayani-and-pakistans-civil-military-relations
13
Asif Ali Zardari fares poorly, Kayani more popular: poll, Pakistan Daily, August 2, 2010. Available at
http://www.daily.pk/asif-ali-zardari-fares-poorly-kayani-more-popular-poll-19394/
14
Report on Afghanistan and Pakistan, March 2011, White House,
15
Pakistan Army will remain India-centric: Kayani, Economic Times, February 4, 2010. Available at
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/pakistani-army-will-remain-india-centric-
kayani/articleshow/5535827.cms

41 alleged civilians, in unusually strong language as intolerable and unjustified [and] in
complete violation of human rights.
16

The Uncertain Role of the ISI
Military intelligence is a key component of the militarys strength and has a major political and
foreign policy role. The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is the deep state in Pakistan tasked
with the overarching remit to ensure that Pakistan remains a security state.
17
The
organizations continuing central importance in advancing military strategy has been reflected in
the unusual one-year extension in tenure granted to Lt. Gen. Shuja Pasha in March 2011,
18
in
complement to the extension of COAS Kayanis term.
Pasha and Kayani dominate Pakistani strategic thinking, including the militarys continued India-
centric focus, its increased interest in combating the Pakistani Taliban while maintaining its
relationships with the Afghan Taliban and other militant groups perceived as strategic proxies of
continuing utility. The ISI also maintains an extensive network of informants, pervasive across
society and ranging from upper echelons of governance to lowly informants watching the
lobbies of the countrys hotels.
19

From its headquarters in Aapbara, in Islamabad, the ISI operates both internally to resist civilian
control, and externally to project the militarys power across Pakistans borders. Its internal
influence is generally considerably higher during periods of military rule, such as during the
Musharraf and Zia era when it was the primary conduit to organize religious political coalitions
to hedge against mainstream parties, and militant groups to conduct proxy war on its behalf.
Allegations of ISI complicity in various insurgent and terrorist attacks continue today, most often
in attacks on coalition forces in Afghanistan and on Indian interests.
The ISI is best known for its links to militant groups, although there is considerable uncertainty
as to the magnitude of these relationships. The ISI itself, and its supporters inside Pakistan,
allege that is an intelligence agency just like any other that works only to ensure the defense of
Pakistan.
20
US intelligence officials in contrast have alleged close ties between the ISI and
Taliban elements,
21
but there is likely some truth to a senior Pakistani officials frustrated retort
that honestly, they see ISI behind every bush.
22
Some also allege that the ISI operates as a
rogue organization, answerable to no one. Former US ambassador to Pakistan William Milam

16
Pakistan Army Chief in US Drone Outburst, BBC News, March 17, 2011. Available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-
south-asia-12779232
17
South Asia: On the High Ground, Financial Times, February 28, 2011. Available at http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1d6cfaac-
4377-11e0-8f0d-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1Iu0eTPCw
18
Jane Perlez, Spy Chief in Pakistan to Stay on Another Year, New York Times, March 11, 2011. Available through Lexis
Nexis.
19
20
21
Mark Mazzetti and Eric Schmitt, CIA outlines Pakistan Link with Militants, New York Times, July 30, 2008. Available at
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/30/world/asia/30pstan.html
22
Julian Barnes, Matthew Rosenberg and Habib Khan Totakhil, Pakistan Urges on Taliban, Wall Street Journal, October 5,
2010. Available at
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704689804575536241251361592.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTTopStories


disagrees, stating that, I do not buy the thesis that the ISI is a rogue organization. It is a
disciplined army unit that does what it is told, although it may push the envelope sometimes.
23

Some element of collusion between the Army, ISI, and Afghan insurgents is almost certain,
although estimates vary greatly, and recent developments have heightened concerns. The
circumstances surrounding the successful US attack on Osama Bin Laden on May 2, 2011 have
led many analysts to ask how Bin Laden was able to find sanctuary in the garrison city of
Abbottabad. This city is the location of Pakistans most prestigious military academy, and home
to at least three Army regiments and thousands of troops.
24

In fact, a week before Bin Laden was killed, as Kayani spoke of breaking the back of
terrorism, he spoke within a mile of where Bin Laden was hiding.
25
The scale of Bin Ladens
compound is also cause for worry, consisting of 12-foot-high walls and two security gates,
increasing skepticism that it could have existed, particularly within the upscale Bilal Town
colony of Abbottabad, without some element of the Pakistani military and ISI having knowledge
of his location.
26
Some analysts feel it either demonstrated either extreme incompetence on the
part of the ISI, or is evidence that elements in the Army and government cooperate with a much
wider range of Islamist extremists than just the Afghan Taliban.
27
It is uncertain which prospect
is more worrying.
Allegations of ISI collusion with militants are not uncommon. Some analysts, such as Matt
Waldman, a researcher with the London School of Economics, have alleged extensive
cooperation at both the operational and strategic level between the ISI and the Afghan Taliban,
including ISI representation as observers during meetings of the Quetta Shura, the senior most
leadership council.
28
The veracity of these claims cannot be easily proven, but regardless, given
the long relationships cultivated from the Soviet jihad, it is believed that at least some ISI
officers, both retired and serving continue to maintain a sense of identification with their proxies.
Retired ISI chief Hamid Gul is an example. Now a prominent media personality, he has
expounded on his various beliefs, including allegations that the Mossad perpetrated 9/11, that the
US actively seeks to destabilize Pakistan because it is a Muslim nuclear state, as well as
advocacy for an Islamist state a global village under divine order presumably led by the
Taliban, who represent Islam in its purest form.
29
Anatol Lieven, another Pakistani military
researcher, recounts the multitude of stories in 2007-08 of individual ISI officers intervening to

23
Jayshree Bajoria, The ISI and Terrorism: Behind the Accusations, Council on Foreign Relations, July 26, 2010. Available
at http://www.cfr.org/pakistan/isi-terrorism-behind-accusations/p11644
24
Jane Perlez, Bin Ladens death likely to deepen suspicions of Pakistan, New York Times, May 2, 2011. Available at
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/03/world/asia/03pakistan.html
25
Tim Lister, Abbottabad: The Military Town where Bin Laden Hid in Plain Sight, CNN, May 2, 2011. Available at
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/05/02/bin.laden.abbottabad/
26
Bill Dedman, US tracked couriers to elaborate Bin Laden compound, MSNBC, May 2, 2011. Available at
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42853221/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/
27
Chris Allbritton and Rebecca Conway, In Pakistan, en embarrassed silence on killing of Bin Laden, Reuters,May 2, 2011.
Available at http://reut.rs/jZMXxK
28
Matt Waldman, The Sun in the Sky: The Relationship between Pakistans ISI and Afghan Insurgents, LSE Crisis States
Center, June 2010. Available at http://www2.lse.ac.uk/internationalDevelopment/research/crisisStates/Home.aspx
29
Arnaud de Bochgrave, UPI Commentary With Hamid Gul, United Press International, July 28, 2010. Available at
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Analysis/de-Borchgrave/2010/07/28/UPI-interview-with-Hamid-Gul/UPI-60031280349846/

rescue Taliban militants from arrest, too many, and too circumstantial, for these all to have been
invented.
30

Military Rule Lite
Many feel Kayani is doing his best to limit military intervention in civil governance, to continue
the professionalization and modernization of the military, and to limit the risk of a military coup.
Kayani has sought to refocus the Army away from politics, and reversed many of Musharrafs
policies, including barring officers from meeting with politicians without express permission,
and ordering all officers who held posts in civilian agencies to immediately resign their
positions.
31

At the same time, some of his statements provide a warning that the army may still feel it is the
ultimate option whenever civil governance falters or fails. Kayani has likened past military coups
to temporary bypasses that are created when a bridge collapses on democracys highway. After
the bridge is repaired, then theres no longer any need for the detour.
32

These words are disturbing precisely because their rhetoric departs so much from the past reality.
Each previous period of military rule further weakened civilian institutions, and conditioned
political elites to maximize rents during their brief tenures instead of focusing on governance.
Similarly, military rulers have often heavily militarized the bureaucracy, and staffed civilian
institutions with military officers to ensure control, at the cost of efficiency. Former military
dictator, General Zia ul-Haq is often seen as the symbol of a destructive military intervention,
but Musharraf also introduced quotas for military representation in the civil service, appointed
army officials to key civilian positions including agriculture, education and medicine, and
created army monitoring teams to control and influence civilian institutions.
33

Despite some positive moves by Kayani to limit the armys role in civilian governance and
politics, it continues to have primacy in many sectors of decision-making, most notably in all
levers of security and foreign policy. It continues to deeply resent any civilian attempts to intrude
on this monopoly.
Upon his election, and in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks in 2008, the Zardari government
made improving relations with India a central strategy, an effort the army sharply undercut.
Hours after PM Gilani issued a decree ordering the ISI to be brought under the control of the
Ministry of the Interior, his government was forced to rescind the order after the Army signaled
its displeasure.
34
The Army similarly rebuffed Zardaris offer to send the ISI to India to

30
31
Mark Sappenfield, Musharraf Successor Kayani Boosts Pakistan Armys Image, Christian Science Monitor, February 5,
2008. Available at http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-South-Central/2008/0205/p04s02-wosc.html
32
Christine C. Fair, Why the Pakistan Army is Here to Stay: Prospects for Civilian Governance? (February 1, 2011). Available
at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1753766
33
Griff Witte, Musharrafs Military Reaches Deep Into Pakistani Society, Washington Post, June 27, 2007. Available at
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/26/AR2007062601826.html
34
Saeed Shah, Gilanis Humiliating About Face, The National, July 28, 2008. Available at
http://www.thenational.ae/news/worldwide/south-asia/gilanis-humiliating-about-face?pageCount=0


collaborate with the Mumbai investigation, and refused to reduce the nuclear-alert status as a
goodwill gesture to reduce tensions with India.
35

An embassy cable released by Wikileaks -- dated one day before the Mumbai attacks, -- noted
that Kayani was the sole obstacle preventing an Indo-Pakistan deal on Kashmir, claiming that
Zardari and Singh were ready, and there was text on paper
36
The army also publicly
campaigned against the Kerry-Lugar Bill, a US economic assistance package, because it felt the
bill had conditions hostile to its interests that were tied to the flow of US aid.
37
The Army also
played a key role shaping talks with the US in Islamabad in March 2010, including setting the
agenda, summoning heads of civilian institutions to Army headquarters to discuss details, and
presiding over meetings with federal secretaries.
38

In recent times, the army has begun to more actively interfere in domestic affairs in reflection of
its frustration with the civilian government. There have been persistent rumors of Kayanis
disdain for leading civilian politicians, and a Wikileaks cable dated from 2009 included an
account of Kayani informing the US embassy of his desire to force the ouster of President
Zardari, a move seemingly obstructed solely by the fact that Kayani dislikes Nawaz far more
than he mistrusts Zardari.
39
There have also been reports that senior politicians operate in fear
of army retribution, including President Zardari himself who recounted to former British Prime
Minister Gordon Brown his fears that Kayani might take me out.
40

Military frustration with the civilian government has many legitimate causes, and no one in the
West should forget that people in the developing world have every reason to define legitimacy
by how well leaders govern, rather than by the way in which they are selected. During the March
2009 political standoff between the incumbent Zardari-led PPP government and the opposition
PML-N party for example, large-scale protests paralyzed Pakistan, and required Kayanis
personal involvement to push Zardari to accept key opposition demands, such as the
reinstatement of the popular Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.
41
Such
interventions appeared to be welcomed by the population, with Kayanis approval ratings
reaching 61% in mid-2010, compared to a mere 20% for Zardari.
42

The situation grew worse during and after massive floods later in 2010. During relief efforts,
Kayani was the most visible public figure, and the Army was conspicuously involved in relief
efforts in the field. In contrast, President Zardari initially continued a visit to his chalet in France,

35
Zardari agrees to send ISI chief to India after 26/11, NDTV, December 2, 2010. Available at
http://www.ndtv.com/article/wikileaks-revelations/zardari-agreed-to-send-isi-chief-to-india-after-26-11-70035
36
Kayani last obstacle to Kashmir deal, Hindustan Times, April 4, 2011. Available at http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-
Feed/newdelhi/Kayani-last-obstacle-to-Kashmir-deal/Article1-681212.aspx
37
Kayani Behind Conflict on Kerry-Lugar: Wikileaks, Dawn, November 30, 2010. Available at
http://www.dawn.com/2010/11/30/gen-kayani-pitched-conflict-on-kerry-lugar-bill-wikileaks.html
38
Janes Perlez, Army chief driving Pakistans agenda for Washington talks, New York Times, March 22, 2010. Available
through Lexis Nexis.
39
Wikileaks: Punjab, ISI and a Distracted President Trouble Pakistan, NDTV, December 2, 2010. Available at
http://www.ndtv.com/article/wikileaks:-india-cables/wikileaks-punjab-isi-and-a-distracted-president-trouble-pakistan-69960
40
Wikileaks US Diplomatic Cables: Key Pakistan Issues, BBC, December 1, 2010. Available at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/world-south-asia-11886512
41
Zahid Hussain and Matthew Rosenburg, Pakistan Military Chief Tries to Mediate Standoff, Wall Street Journal, March 14,
2009. Available at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123695719691520181.html
42
Asif Ali Zardari fares poorly, Kayani more popular: poll, Pakistan Daily, August 2, 2010. Available at
http://www.daily.pk/asif-ali-zardari-fares-poorly-kayani-more-popular-poll-19394/

and the civil aid effort was often ineffective or corrupt, and gave priority to the wealthy and the
power brokers.
43

Poor civil performance in the reconstruction phase that followed caused considerable additional
popular anger with the government. It may have been part of the reason Kayani intervened in
September 2010 to demand that President Zardari trim his cabinet, including several key
loyalists.
44
Zardaris cabinet included several members facing corruption and criminal charges
and was widely perceived as emblematic of government waste and corruption. Zardari
maintained a politely defiant stance and the government initially responded by maintaining that
the Armys demands were unconstitutional
45
, but within a few months, it had begun moves to
trim the cabinet, and framed it as a cost-cutting exercise to foster better governance.
46

Stability Problems within the Army
There are reasons to question the long-term internal unity and cohesion of the Army, which is
not immune to the wave of religious radicalization sweeping the Pakistani social structure.
Former Pakistani dictator, General Zia-ul-Haq did much to trigger the forces that led to such
movements, and they have been augmented in the post-9/11 era. There have been serious
instances in recent times where the security forces have showed the impact of such
radicalization, notably the assassination of Punjab governor Salman Taseer by a member of his
own elite counterterrorist police force. Similarly, Faisal Shahzad, the would-be Times Square
bomber was associated with a major in the Pakistani Army who allegedly served as a go-
between for Shahzad and the Taliban.
47

In May 2011, an attack on a major naval base in Karachi destroyed two of Pakistans fleet of
three P-3C Orion anti-submarine warfare aircraft and was alleged to have been conducted with
inside help. Al-Qaeda affiliated militants were able to enter the base and destroy the aircraft
within 20 minutes,
48
and appear to have had a good working knowledge of the base and its
response protocols.
49
Since then a former Navy commando has been arrested on suspicions of
having helped conduct the attack,
50
and an internal investigation is reported to have unearthed
evidence of collusion between navy officers working at the base and the terrorists.
51

43
Zardari visits French Chateau as Floods Rage, The Nation, August 4, 2010. Available at
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/04-Aug-2010/Zardari-visits-French-chateau-
as-floods-rage
44
Declan Walsh, Pakistan Army Chief Demands Removal of Zardari Loyalists, Guardian, October 1, 2010. Available at
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/01/pakistan-army-chief-zardari-loyalists
45
Junaid Qaiser, President Zardari Rejects Unconstitutional Demand by the Army Chief, LUBP, October 11, 2010. Available
at http://criticalppp.com/archives/25592
46
Karen Bruilliard, Pakistan Cabinet Resigns in Cost-Cutting, Washington Post, February 9, 2011. Available at
47
Faisal Shahzad Probe Earns Pakistan CIA Visit, CBS News, May 19, 2010. Available at
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/19/world/main6499127.shtml
48
Imtiaz Ahmed, Preplanned and Precise: How the Terrorists Engaged the Naval Base, Hindustan Times, May 23, 2011.
Available at http://bit.ly/mrVt1z
49
Syed Saleem Shahzad, Al-Qaeda had Warned of Pakistan Strike, Asia Times, May 27, 2011. Available at
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/ME27Df06.html
50
Asad Kharal and Salman Siddiqui, Mehran Attack Probe: Former Navy Commando, Three Others Detained, Express
Tribune, May 31, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/k3q79G
51
Finally, report admits inside job in Mehran attack, Express Tribune, June 30, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/jeFUEN


Others have alleged more extensive militant penetration of military institutions and units.
Investigative Pakistani reporter Syed Saleem Shahzad for example reported on considerable
militant, and particularly al-Qaeda, infiltration into the ranks of the armed forces, particularly the
Navy.
52
Soon after the article, Shahzad was found tortured and killed in the Punjab, a crime
senior US military officials and many in Pakistan, have attributed to an ISI cover up.
53

Other radical Islamist groups that do not necessarily have strong links with terrorist or militant
groups may also exert influence. The most notable is the Hizb ut-Tahir (HuT), which does not
overtly advocate terrorism or violence, and strongly denies any connection with terrorism and
militancy, but shares many radical ideological positions with transnational terrorist groups, and
has a strong presence amongst the Pakistani diaspora, particularly in the UK. In December 2009,
Seymour Hersch, a prominent US journalist quoted a senior Obama Administration official as
saying that the group had penetrated the Pakistani military and now have cells in the Army,
54

and in June 2011, the Army arrested a Brigadier General on reported association with HuT, the
most senior such arrest to date.
55
There have been other arrests of HuT affiliated members of the
military, including Col. Shahid Bashir, a former commanding officer of the Shamsi airbase
56

from where US drones reportedly flew. Bashir allegedly transferred sensitive information to
terrorist groups and incited fellow soldiers to commit terrorist acts.
These recent manifestations can be traced back to the Zia-era Islamization of the state and the
military. Subsequent leaders have reversed many of his policies, although some continue. For
example, today one Islamic chaplain, or long beard, is attached to every battalion, a holdover
since the 1980s.
57
The Army is also believed to increasingly consist of more religious elements
amongst its rank and file, although as retired moderate-Islamist Colonel Abdul Qayyum attempts
to explain, At heart the vast majority of the army are nationalists, and take whatever is useful
from Islam to serve what they see as Pakistans interests. The Pakistani Army has been a
nationalist army with an Islamic look
58

In aggregate, most observers agree that much of the Pakistani Army remains a professional and
well-disciplined force that follows orders in spite of isolated incidents. Many in the Army
perceive themselves as a breed apart, part of a military family different from (and vastly
superior to) civilian society [with] contempt for the feudal political class.
59
This loyalty and
camaraderie is a reflection of the unprecedented social mobility an army career offers to
members of the lower and middle classes from where it recruits for its enlisted men. Anatol
Lieven has examined the personal histories of the various COASs in Pakistani history, and
summarizes their history by saying that, some were rich, others poor, some secular others

52
Syed Saleem Shahzad, Al-Qaeda had Warned of Pakistan Strike, Asia Times, May 27, 2011. Available at
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/ME27Df06.html
53
Pakistani journalists defiant at reporters burial, Associated Press, June 1, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/lJ3n3a
54
Seymour M. Hersch, "Defending the Arsenal," New Yorker, November 16, 2009
55
Tim Lister and Aliza Kassim, Arrest of Pakistani officer revives fear of extremism within military, CNN, June 22, 2011.
Available at http://bit.ly/pqbnDW
56
Amir Mir, Islamists break Pakistans military ranks, Asia Times, June 24, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/ljWYLJ
57
Arnaud de Bochgrave, Gulled by Gul, United Press International, December 3, 2009. Available at
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Analysis/de-Borchgrave/2009/12/03/Commentary-Gulled-by-Gul/UPI-90901259850600/
58
59
Ibid.

religious and some conspiratorial others loyal. Yet all have been first and foremost military
men.
60

The United States role in counterterrorism and in the Afghan War contributes to internal
problems within the Army. A Wikileaks cable dated from 2008 detailed a strong anti-American
bias in classes at the National Defense University for senior officers. An American officer who
attended classes at the academy estimated that less than a third of his class was secular and over
a third were religiously devout with secular students pressured to appear more religious than they
actually were. Various misperceptions about US policies and cultures were infused into
lectures. The cable also noted that in contrast, perceptions about the Chinese were extremely
positive.
61

The Armys limited cooperation with the American campaign in Afghanistan has resulted in
significant problems. Initial operations in the FATA were widely interpreted in the ranks as
subservience to the US, which caused deep consternation. An uncertain willingness to fight
fellow Muslims led to several humiliating incidents, including the surrender of over 200 soldiers
to a small group of militants in September 2007.
62
Earlier operations in 2004 had led to
desertions amongst the paramilitary Frontier Corps, and incidences where helicopter pilots
refused to bomb targets.
63

Some soldiers found they were dishonored in their local communities, which is not surprising
given the fact that the army and the militants recruit from the same areas, particularly in the
Punjab. Lieven points to this trend as one of the most dangerous, pointing out that when men
from a high-status institution such as the army have trouble finding suitable brides for example,
it points to a significant change in their perceived role in society.
64
The military has made a
concerted effort to address these issues, and has been helped by the growing alienation of many
Pakistanis from militants after their brutalities in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) in 2007-08.
Unfortunately, the successes of 2009, gave way to a war of attrition in 2010, which led many of
those in combat zones or displace by the fighting to feel the Army had failed them and has
caused at least some renewal of the tension between the Army and the people.
This gulf between US and Pakistani military perceptions is particularly important. No internal
actor, including the Taliban, is strong enough to take on the military, and no regional actor,
including India, is either capable of or willing to take on and destroy the army in an extended
campaign. As Lieven notes, the tipping point is only likely to come if Washington ever
undertakes actions that persuades ordinary Pakistani soldiers that their only honorable course is
to fight America, even against the orders of their generals and against dreadful odds, the armed
forces would crumble.
65

60
61
Wikileaks Cable 153436 [December 5, 2008]: Training Pakistans Next Generation of Military Leaders, The Hindu, May
25, 2011. Available at http://www.thehindu.com/news/the-india-cables/the-cables/article2045607.ece
62
Bill Roggio, Taliban Parade Captured Pakistani Soldiers in South Waziristan, Long War Journal, October 11, 2007.
Available at http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2007/10/taliban_parade_captu.php
63
Pakistan Crisis Hits Army Morale, BBC News, September 13, 2007. Available at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6978240.stm
64
65


Today, this worry is particularly acute. There is believed to be widespread anger in the ranks at
the high commands inability to prevent the US incursion into Abbottabad. General Kayani is
believed to have faced tough questions and criticism by military officers during town halls held
at garrisons across the country. Many are reported to have demanded to know why Pakistan did
not retaliate, while others demanded that Pakistan immediately suspend cooperation with the
US.
66

As a result, even mutually beneficial actions come with problems. Pakistani military officials
tolerate some aspect of the drone campaign in the FATA area, and find it useful in dealing with
the militants and extremists that pose a threat to the Army and Pakistans ruling elite. At the
same time conscious of public sentiment, they want far more direct control over every aspect of
US operations in Pakistan, and to limit the role of US trainers and special forces. There is also
likely unanimous consent opposing any expansion of US military activity in Pakistan, including
into provinces such as Balochistan or the KPK. Any such unilateral action by the US is likely to
constitute a red line for many in the army.
The Army also strongly opposes any cross-border incursions by US and ISAF ground forces and
helicopters into Pakistan. An alleged incursion in September 2008 incurred great anger in
Pakistan, and resulted in the issuing of orders for soldiers to open fire on any NATO forces
attempting to cross the border according to a military spokesman.
67
A similar helicopter-borne
raid in end September 2010 ended up killing three Pakistani border guards and injuring another
three, which resulted in fierce condemnation of the attack and the closure of border crossings to
NATO supply trucks.
68
As yet, the Pakistani government has not undertaken similar actions after
the US raid on the Bin Laden compound, but the operation has clearly rankled amongst both
senior Army leaders and leaders in the Pakistani government.
Nuclear Safety
Pakistan has a rapidly expanding nuclear arsenal. Details are hard to come by, but in early 2011,
US intelligence officials estimated that Pakistan had increased its deployed nuclear weapons to
between than 110200, compared to about 7580 at the time President Obama took office.
69
The
Pakistani arsenal is the fastest growing in the world, and in April 2011 satellite imagery exposed
a new nuclear facility in Khushab, which may come online around 2013.
70
This rapid growth
combined with the level of violence sweeping Pakistan, has raised major concerns over the
safety of nuclear installations, and the potential for fissile materials to fall into the wrong hands.
Pakistans nuclear arsenal is a program of extreme sensitivity, and is seen by many, if not most,
segments of society as the ultimate safeguard against Indian aggression. As a result, any
intrusion into Pakistani nuclear affairs is deeply resented, to the extent that much of the US

66
Karin Bruilliard, Anger Simmers in Pakistani Army over Bin Laden Raid, Washington Post, May 19, 2011. Available at
http://wapo.st/iMcK6v
67
Bill Roggio, Pakistani Forces Ordered to Open Fire on US Forces Crossing the Border, Long War Journal, September
16, 2008. Available at http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/09/pakistani_forces_ord.php
68
Zeeshan Haider, Pakistan Halts NATO Supplies After Border Attack, Reuters, September 30, 2010. Available at
http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/09/30/us-pakistan-security-idUSTRE68T1SQ20100930?pageNumber=1
69
David Sanger and Eric Schmitt, Pakistani nuclear arms pose challenge to US policy, New York Times, January 31, 2011.
Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/01/world/asia/01policy.html
70
Andrew Bast, Pakistans Nuclear Surge,Newsweek, May 15, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/lEB4Xj

military presence in the region is seen by many Pakistanis as a ploy to defang the countrys
nuclear capability. It is noteworthy that in the aftermath of the US raid that killed Bin Laden,
COAS Kayani specifically spoke of the countrys nuclear assets; Unlike an undefended civilian
compound, our strategic assets are well protected, and an elaborate defensive mechanism is in
place.
71

In fairness, Pakistan has mobilized an extensive security apparatus, numbering between 12,000-
15,000 personnel to protect these assets. The National Command Authority (NCA) formulates
nuclear policy and is the key decision-making body for the employment and development of
strategic systems. The Strategic Plans Division (SPD), which is subordinate to the NCA,
formulates nuclear policy, strategy, doctrine, and operational plans for deployment and
employment.
72

Pakistani military officials have been adamant that these forces are well trained, carefully vetted,
and subjected to intense safeguards. Pakistan is believed to have copied best practice from the
US, is thought to have developed a Permissive Action Link system that electronically locks
nuclear weapons, and is thought to have dispersed missiles and components.
73
Yet, US assistance
can only go so far given Pakistani sensitivity, and it is believed that there are several other
undisclosed secret sites where standards may differ.
Pakistani officials have claimed that a direct assault on nuclear facilities is unlikely. Former
President Musharraf himself once stated that, If you want to get into a firefight with the forces
guarding our strategic assets, it will be a sad day.
74
This is likely true, but the growth in militant
operational expertise has consistently surprised even veteran Pakistan observers. The modalities
of recent attacks, such as on the Pakistani Armys GHQ and on the PNS Mehran naval base, add
up to a virtual blueprint for a successful attack on a nuclear weapons facility, according to
analyst Shaun Gregory.
75
These include tactical expertise, access to relevant equipment and
information and a proven ability to penetrate multiple layers of security.
Safety concerns have grown particularly acute in recent years, as militant violence has expanded
into the interior. Most of Pakistans nuclear sites are believed to be close to militant operating
areas in the FATA and KPK, as they were designed with India in mind, and kept away from the
border.
76
Several facilities have already come under attack, although not yet in ways that seek to
breach and acquire nuclear materials. In August 2008, a coordinated suicide attack killed 70 at
the gates of the Wah Cantonment Ordnance Complex, which is believed to be a major storage
and maintenance site for Pakistans nuclear weapons.
77
There have also been attacks targeting
personnel and their families at the Sargodha and Kamra air bases in the Punjab, both of which
are suspected of being affiliated with the nuclear weapons program.
78

71
Yochi Dreazen, Fear that US Can Grab Nuclear Arsenal Heightens Pakistani Anger, National Journal, May 9, 2011.
Available at http://bit.ly/mQmx2M
72
IISS Military Balance 2011
73
Factbox: Pakistans Nuclear Capability, Reuters, May 5, 2011. Available at http://reut.rs/md1fSp
74
Andrew Bast, Pakistans Nuclear Surge,Newsweek, May 15, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/lEB4Xj
75
Shaun Gregory, Terrorist Tactics in Pakistan Threaten Nuclear Weapons Safety, CTC Sentinel, June 1, 2011.
76
Jonathan Marcus, After Karachi: Is Pakistans Nuclear Arsenal Safe? May 23, 2011. Available at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13507767
77
Khalid Iqbal, Wah Cantonment Suicide Attack, The News, September 19, 2008. Available at http://bit.ly/mu50d0
78
Bill Roggio, Al Qaeda, Taliban targeting Pakistani nuclear sites, Long War Journal, December 11, 2007. Available at
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2007/12/al_qaeda_taliban_tar.php


Similarly, the May 2011 attack on PNS Mehran highlighted militants ability to infiltrate
extremely secure locations. Mehran itself is located only about 15 kilometers away from the
Mansoor Air Base, another presumed stockpile.
79
In the wake of the Mehran attack and media
speculation on nuclear safety, a Pakistani Taliban spokesman declared that they had no intentions
of attacking Pakistans nuclear arsenal, although such statements are difficult to take at face
value.
80

More worrisome however is the fear of infiltration through the security forces or other technical
personnel, concerns shared by many Pakistanis. Pervez Hoodhboy, a prominent Pakistani nuclear
scientist, has publicly expressed concerns in the wake of high-profile attacks saying, What is the
proof that nuclear installations or weapons stocks would be exempt from this [infiltration by
militant sympathizers]? My worry is not limited to nuclear arsenals because places that deal with
fissile materials can also be similarly infiltrated.
81

The most worrying such incident was the uncovered of the Abdul Qadeer Khan network. Khan,
the father of Pakistans bomb is believed to have sought to proliferate nuclear technology to
several rogue countries including Iran, North Korea, and Libya. His popularity in Pakistan
resulted in a pardon by President Musharraf in 2004 after a televised confession, but he was
placed under house arrest. In 2009, all restrictions against Khan were lifted. Released Wikileaks
cables confirmed that the US has continued to intensely monitor and scrutinize suspected
Pakistani nuclear activity, including exerting pressure on Chinese suppliers, and efforts to divert
suspicious shipments.
82

The Pakistani military has been adamant that the Khan network was a one-man operation, but
in mid-2011 reports have emerged suggesting that Khan facilitated payments between the North
Koreans, and senior Pakistani military officials including retired military chief Jehangir Keramat
and Lt. Gen Zulfiqar Khan the first such formal accusations of nuclear-related corruption. Both
men have denied the reported transfer of about US$3 million in cash and jewels, but senior
Western officials reportedly support the claims.
83

There is also growing worry over the potential for a rogue commander to proliferate his charge, a
matter that is particularly worrisome as Pakistan announces its intentions to deploy tactical
nuclear systems onto the battlefield as deterrence against India.
84

79
Focus is back on Pakistans Security, Gulf News, May 24, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/ih51Om
80
Matthew Rosenberg and Owais Tohid, Taliban say they wont hit nuclear arsenal, Wall Street Journal, May 26, 2011.
Available at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303654804576345331283515312.html
81
Rob Crilly, Pakistan cant protect Islamic arsenal from Islamic terrorists, The Telegraph, June 27, 2011. Available at
http://tgr.ph/ki1XEj
82
Sultana Saifi, Intense US monitoring of Pakistans nuclear and missile programmes, Dawn, May 25, 2011. Available at
http://www.dawn.com/2011/05/25/intense-us-monitoring-of-pakistans-nuclear-and-missile-programmes.html
83
R. Jeffrey Smith, Pakistans nuclear bomb maker says North Korea paid bribes for know-how. Washington Post, July 7,
2011. Available at http://wapo.st/qHKfZM
84
How Pakistans Nuclear Weapons Could be Jeopardized, Reuters, June 1, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/mq5M9u

Semi-Dysfunctional Civilian Government
In over 60 years of independence, no democratically elected Pakistani civilian government has
yet served out its full term, and been replaced by another. This history underlines the challenges
facing President Zardaris Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)-led incumbent government, and any
US-supported democratization strategy. It also helps explain the deep damage that has been
wreaked upon civilian institutions by repeated periods of military rule.
The military, however, cannot fully be wholly blamed, as it has generally responded to a failing
and dysfunctional civil governments and politics, and often taken power with extensive popular
support, driven by the populations disenchantment with its civilian rulers.
No modern political leader of Pakistan has consistently put the nations interests before family,
party, and power. Civilian political elites have been conditioned to focus on maximizing rents
during their brief tenures, instead of focusing on issues of governance, and today corruption and
entrenched feudal interests remain strong. Class, ethnicity, and religion continue to be
instruments of marginalization, and access to political and economic power continues to rest in
the hands of the urban middle-classes of the Punjab (and the Sindh) breeding provincial
alienation, particularly in the periphery.
Despite all these problems, it should not be ignored that Pakistans civilian government is still in
its infancy, yet has registered several important strides in recent years including constitutional
reforms to empower civilian institutions and encourage provincial autonomy. In many instances,
however, they are driven by an inability of elites to ignore public demands, than initiative on
their own part.
A Continuing History of Failed Civil Politics and
Governance?
The military would not -- and could not -- have seized power so repeatedly if it were not for the
consistent failure of civilian governments to better the welfare of their citizens. Benazir Bhutto
and Nawaz Sharif, the predecessors to Musharrafs coup, presided over the lost decade of the
1990s, their tenures marked by plummeting economic growth, rising poverty levels and
widespread allegations of corruption, all of which helped mute criticism to the military coup.
This trend may be repeating. Three years into the PPP-led coalition civilian government, and
many Pakistanis are already fed up. In mid-August 2010, a poll conducted by the Pew Global
Attitudes Project found that only 14 percent of Pakistanis were satisfied with national
conditions.
85
71 percent had an unfavorable impression of the civilian government, in contrast to
the military, which had recovered its national standing as the most trusted institution, with an 84
percent favorability rating.
86

On the surface, these polling results seem unfair. Halfway through its term, the civil government
has made or tried to make several important reforms. The independence of the judiciary has

85
Mid-Term Assessment of the Quality of Democracy in Pakistan: March 25, 2008 September 24, 2010, Pak Instituteof
Legislative Democracy and Transparency, September 2010. Available at
http://www.pildat.org/Publications/publication/SDR/PILDATMidTermDemocracyAssessmentReportSeptember2010.pdf
86
Ibid.


improved, the media has grown freer and more vibrant, constitutional amendments have removed
the concentrated powers Musharraf put in the hands of the executive, the provinces have gained
greater autonomy, and some important electoral reform initiatives have been implemented.
87

However little has changed for the average Pakistani, particularly Pakistani youth and those
outside the relatively small middle class. Dysfunctional transitional democracy may be favorable
to military rule for many of the more affluent urban secularists who make up Pakistans
chattering class, but not all Pakistanis have that luxury of caring about the distinction when their
everyday life grows worse by the day.
Attempts to calculate the wealth of political elites illustrate their distance from the poor. Income
and asset declarations in 2010 were little more than a tragic joke, appearing to show that many
powerful senators are no richer than ordinary Pakistanis. This provoked a Pakistani newspaper to
sarcastically lament, We never knew that those who travel in expensive vehicles and live in
royal palace like homes are actually so poor!
88
A study by PILDAT, a local transparency group,
in 2002-03 instead estimated that the average net worth of a member of the National Assembly
was PKR199.83 million (roughly US$2.7 million), and the richest Senator at the time was worth
a whopping PKR590 billion (roughly US$700 million)
89
in a country where about a quarter of
the population subsists below the $1.25 a day poverty line.
The failure to pay fair taxes is another critical issue. Pakistan has one of the worlds lowest tax-
to-GDP ratios and it is estimated as few as 2% of Pakistans 170 million people pay tax.
90

Political elites routinely escape paying taxes on their significant incomes, while poorer people
have fewer avenues to escape the tax collector. Many Western politicians, including British
Foreign Minister David Cameron, and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have noted that
such graft severely complicates external assistance. Clinton, in particular stated, This is one of
my pet peeves Pakistan cannot have a tax rate of 9 percent of GDP when landowners and all
the other elites do not pay or pay so little its laughable. And when theres a problem, everybody
expects the US to come in and help.
91

The promises of civil political parties also are often little more than exercises in hollow political
opportunism. The PPP rose to power on the platform of Food, clothing, shelter to every poor
family in Pakistan, but food shortages, energy crises, and price increases are all everyday
realities that exacerbate the divides between the population and their unaccountable and
kleptocratic civilian overlords who live in luxury.
92
70 percent of people today believe that the
current civilian government is more corrupt than its military-run predecessor,
93
partly stemming
from the low regard with which many Pakistanis hold President Zardari. Known as Mr. Ten

87
Ibid.
88
Sikander Shaheen, Pakistans penniless ruling elites, The Nation, March 12, 2011. Available at
http://nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Regional/Islamabad/12-Mar-2011/Pakistans-penniless-
ruling-elites/1
89

90
How Rich are Pakistans MNAs? PILDAT, August 2007. Available at http://www.pildat.org/%5Cevents%5C07-11-
15%5Cpdf%5CRich_Pakistani_MNAS.pdf
90
Sabrina Tavernise, Pakistans Elite Pay Few Taxes, Widening Gap, New York Times, July 18, 2010. Available at
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/19/world/asia/19taxes.html
91
Clinton warns Pakistan to make the rich pay, AFP, September 30, 2010. Available at
http://tribune.com.pk/story/56061/pakistan-must-tax-its-elite/
92
Ibid.
93
Global Corruption Report 2010, Transparency International, Available through http://www.transparency.org/

Percent, for the widespread allegations of corruption during his wifes tenure as Prime Minister,
Zardari once jokingly commented that he only lives in two places in Pakistan - the prime
ministers house or a prison cell.
94

As a result, few Pakistanis have faith in democratic governance. The country has the lowest voter
turnout in South Asia, and in July 2010, only 3% of Pakistanis with a post-graduate education
expressed an interest in politics as a career.
95

The dysfunctional character of Pakistani civil politics reinforces these underlying causes of
popular disaffection. Political competition is fierce in Pakistan and focuses on family, party, and
service politics in ways which often complicates the ability to rule and which can make Pakistan
appear to lurch from one crisis to another. The two major political parties, the incumbent PPP,
and the opposition Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz Group (PML-N) run by the Sharif brothers
from Punjab, constantly vacillate between professions of undying unity, and aggressive, often
violent competition.
Pakistani political parties remain divided along ethnic and linguistic lines. Only the PPP and
PML-N can truly be regarded as national parties, and they too have the majority of their powers
concentrated in the Sindh and the Punjab respectively. Others, such as the Awami National Party
(ANP) are popular mostly amongst the Pashtuns, and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)
amongst the Mohajirs of Karachi. These divisive politics have often necessitated weak political
coalitions, with various actors accountable only to narrow constituent interests. This severely
limits the ability to govern effectively, particularly on the many controversial issues that divide
Pakistanis today. Vicious turf battles are common for political parties, as seen in the violence in
Karachi today.
In March 2009, the army had to intervene to mediate between the Sharifs and President Zardari,
after large-scale protests by the PML-N paralyzed Pakistan, and threatened to topple the
government. Pressure from the Army forced Zardari to relent on key opposition demands
including lifting the recent ruling on Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharifs ineligibility for electoral office
nationally and in the Punjab, as well as reinstating the popular Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.
96

The ban, which ostensibly was caused by the Sharifs previous criminal convictions, was
regarded as a political move orchestrated by Zardari, while on the Chief Justice situation, Zardari
had vacillated for fears that the Supreme Court under Chaudhry may choose to prosecute him on
corruption charges.
97

Coalition politics further complicate governance. In January 2011, the government almost
collapsed again, when the MQM, a junior coalition partner, briefly withdrew from the

94
Owen Bennett-Jones, Zardaris Heavy Political Baggage, BBC News, August 6, 2010. Available at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8889000/8889056.stm
95
Mid-Term Assessment of the Quality of Democracy in Pakistan: March 25, 2008 September 24, 2010, Pak Instituteof
Legislative Democracy and Transparency, September 2010. Available at
http://www.pildat.org/Publications/publication/SDR/PILDATMidTermDemocracyAssessmentReportSeptember2010.pdf
96
Dean Nelson and Javed Siddiq, Pakistan Faces New Political Crisis as Nawaz Sharif Banned from Office, The Telegraph,
February 25, 2009. Available at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/4808128/Pakistan-faces-new-
political-crisis-as-Nawaz-Sharif-banned-from-office.html
97
Cyril Almeida, MQM Withdrawal: Tactical Ploy or Change in Strategy? Dawn, December 29, 2010. Available at
http://www.dawn.com/2010/12/29/mqm-withdrawal-tactical-ploy-or-change-in-strategy.html


government over opposition to the phasing out of fuel subsidies, a move demanded by the IMF.
98

The MQM has since quit the coalition and joined the opposition PML-N, but the PPP retains the
majority as of July 2011.
There remain significant obstacles to the governments ability to complete its term in 2013. In
early April 2011, the Zardari government continued to face blistering criticism by opposition
leaders over the release of suspected American spy, Raymond Davis.
99
The government has still
been relatively ineffective in dealing with the aftermath of the flood, and with the impact of local
fighting on civilians. It faces a major crisis from rising food and fuel prices, and faces a very
uncertain global economy, and problems in ensuring the flow of foreign aid. Governance does
not seem to be improving relative to the pressures caused by population growth and the nations
youth bulge, and party politics remain as self-seeking and destructive as in the past.
A Background of Modern Feudalism
Some, if not many, of Pakistans political elites are also unpopular as they are regarded as
extensions of predatory local power structures, and complicit in a form of near feudalism.
President Zardari, Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif, and various members of the National Assembly
are members of this feudal class,
100
maintaining undisputed political and economic control over
vast swathes of Pakistan. The disparities between these wealthy landowners and the landless
peasantry whose lives they dominate is often shocking, the magnitude best conveyed in the fact
that 2% of Pakistanis control 45% of land in a country where the majority of people, particularly
in rural areas are involved in agriculture.
101

So far, change is limited. A fairly typical feudal family, such as the Jatoi clan in rural Sindh can
still own 30,000 acres of prime agricultural land, despite having lost 45,000 acres in the 1958
land-redistribution program, and still retain the allegiance of 400500 lesser landlords and an
estimated 1200 armed loyalists.
102
In contrast, it is estimated only 37% of Pakistans rural
residents own the land they farm, those too mostly in small family plots barely enough for
subsistence farming.
103
Most of the rest, including an estimated 1.8 million people estimated to
be in debt bondage, work the fields for no pay,
104
while others are engaged in classic

98
Nancy Birdsall, Wren Elhai and Molly Kinder, Pakistans Political Crisis: The Limits of US Leverage, Foreign Policy,
January 20, 2011. Available at
http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/01/20/pakistan_s_political_crisis_the_limits_of_us_leverage
99
Omer Farooq Khan, Uproar in Pakistan Over Release of CIA Contractor Raymond Davis, Times of India, March 17, 2011.
Available at http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-17/pakistan/29138210_1_raymond-davis-ppp-led-lahore-high-
court
100
Mahjabeen Islam, Could Pakistan Floods Wash Away Feudalism? New American Media, September 27, 2010. Available
at http://newamericamedia.org/2010/09/could-pakistan-floods-wash-away-feudalism.php
101
Pakistan: Priorities for Agriculture and Rural Development, World Bank, http://go.worldbank.org/KQ3CN5O0J0
102
John Lancaster, Pakistans Modern Feudal Lords, Washington Post, April 8, 2003. Available at
http://www.landandfreedom.org/news/040803.htm
103
Kamran Haider, Pakistan feudalism boosts Taliban cause, Reuters, October 25, 2010. Available at
http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/10/25/us-pakistan-land-idUSTRE69O1MA20101025
104
Absence of land reform entrenches poverty activists, IRIN, September 28, 2009. Available at
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=86319

sharecropping, where two thirds or more of their revenues go to landlords in debt and accrued
interest repayments.
105

Feudal lords are often been accused of abuses, including systematic attempts to deprive the
peasantry of education to keep them shackled in poverty or maintaining armed militias and
operating private prisons.
106
Relief teams operating deep in rural areas also found unexpectedly
large incidences of malnutrition,
107
an example of the extreme poverty many landless peasants
continue to face even before the impact of the floods.
During the 2010 floods, this predatory behavior was on display, according to reports. For
example, in Muzzaffaragarh, in the Punjab some 400,000 acres were flooded, 51 people killed,
many displaced and 337 schools destroyed when the Indus River overflowed because the local
government refused to follow protocols and blow up a barrage designed to divert water to a
designated flood basin. Local feudal elites in this case the Hinjra and Khosa clans were
surreptitiously farming the basin and reportedly pressured the government to breach protocol to
protect their crops.
108

Appeasement in the Face of Extremism
In the face of rising religious extremism, Pakistans political leadership has shown far too little
courage, often choosing appeasement, over principle. The silence in the aftermath of the
assassinations of two prominent liberal lawmakers - Salman Taseer, the governor of Punjab, and
Shahbaz Bhatti, the Minorities Minister has been deafening and has allowed the intimidation of
all but the most courageous of progressive politicians and activists. Few government officials
attended the funerals,
109
and some such as Interior Minister Rehman Malik have publicly sided
with the religious right, including Maliks declaration that, I will shoot a blasphemer myself.
110

Even before their assassinations, Salman Taseer, Shahbaz Bhatti and another legislator Sherry
Rehman, were some of the only supporters of reform. They were afforded virtually no support
from their own parties,
111
and today, Sherry Rehman, the last still alive, is bunkered down in her
Karachi home and has since withdrawn her amendment proposal.
112
The Ministry of Religious
Minorities, which was headed by Bhatti now appears set to be demolished
113
and religious

105
Kamran Haider, Pakistan feudalism boosts Taliban cause, Reuters, October 25, 2010. Available at
http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/10/25/us-pakistan-land-idUSTRE69O1MA20101025
106
Nicholas Kristof, Feudalism in Pakistan, New York Times, August 1, 2009. Available at
http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/01/feudalism-in-pakistan/
107
Floods uncover evidence of feudalisms impact on the poor, IRIN/Reuters Alert Net, February 17, 2011. Available at
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/pakistan-floods-uncover-evidence-of-feudalisms-impact-on-poor/
108
Issam Ahmed, Pakistan Floodwaters Subside as a Tide of Allegations Rise, Christian Science Monitor, September 10,
2010. Available at http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-South-Central/2010/0910/Pakistan-floodwaters-subside-as-a-tide-of-
allegation-rises
109
Declan Walsh, A Divided Pakistan Buries Salmaan Taseer and a Liberal Dream, The Guardian, January 6, 2011.
Available at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/05/pakistan-salman-taseer-liberal
110
Ahsan Butt, The Shahbaz Bhatti Assassination: Have We Already Crossed the Crossroads, Asian Correspondent, March
3, 2011. http://asiancorrespondent.com/49508/the-shahbaz-bhatti-assassination-what-if-weve-already-crossed-the-crossroads/
111
Karin Brulliard, Salmaan Taseer Assassination Points to Pakistan Extremists Mounting Power, Washington Post, January
5, 2011. Available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/04/AR2011010400955.html
112
Alex Rodriquez, Pakistan Handles Religious Extremism with Kid Gloves, Los Angeles Times, March 29, 2011. Available
at http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-pakistan-fear-20110330,0,389866.story
113
Government ministry protecting minorities to be abolished, Spero News, April 30, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/j2KDYd


minority issues have lost their national status, and are now to be decided on a provincial level
according to a recent governmental ruling.
114
The ruling marks a major setback for minority
rights in that several articles of discrimination and prejudice such as the blasphemy laws are
enshrined in national legislation.
In the aftermath of the US killing of Bin Laden, three members of the JUI-F in the parliament
offered condolences and prayers for the departed soul of Bin Laden during a parliamentary
briefing. The offenders were admittedly only three out of many, but they received only a mild
rebuke.
115
Other politicians have chosen to directly pander to Islamist extremists or the criminal
underworld for political advantage.
The Sharif brothers in Punjab for example have links to various Sunni Islamist groups, which
have influence in their voting districts. They have been linked to the rapidly anti-Shia SSP, and
have extensive dealings with the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), the humanitarian arm of the notorious
terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, both of which are designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations
by the US government, and the United Nations.
116
In fact, in FY20102011, the provincial
government under Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is reported to have allocated more than 82
million rupees to the JuD, including PKR79 million to its headquarters in Muridke and another 3
million to schools run by the organization in the Punjab.
117

Faltering Progress toward Reform
As has been touched upon earlier, the civilian government has achieved some progress towards
reform, particularly in the passage of the 18
th
amendment to Pakistans constitution in April
2010. The amendment constitutes an important list of reforms, including laws to dramatically
reverse the centralization of power under the Musharraf era, expand provincial rights, and foster
bureaucratic and judicial independence.
One of the greatest obstacles to national democratic governance in Pakistan is the fact that
Pakistan has failed to establish an effective federal covenant between its constituent units.
118

Much of this is driven by the unequal benefits of citizenship across various provinces leading to
fragile associations with the state. The 7th National Finance Commission Award was a step
forward in increasing the resource control of provinces, and more equitably distributing the
federal divisible pool by increasing the shares of neglected provinces, such as Baluchistan and
the KPK.
119

114
Pakistani religious minorities unhappy about new official plans, ENI News, July 6, 2011. Available at
http://bit.ly/mYpbr6
115
Imtiaz Gul, Has Pakistans Military been infiltrated by extremists? Foreign Policy, June 21, 2011. Available at
http://bit.ly/kakLEM
116
Bill Roggio, UN declares Jamaat-ud-Dawa a Terrorist Front Group, Long War Journal, December 11, 2008. Available at
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/12/un_declares_jamaatud.php; Foreign Terrorist Organizations, US Department
of State, November 24, 2010. Available at http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/other/des/123085.htm
117
Huma Imtiaz, Illusions in Punjab, Foreign Policy, June 19, 2010. Available at
http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/06/19/illusions_in_punjab
118
Raza Ahmad, The Endemic Crisis of Federalism in Pakistan, Lahore Journal of Economics, Vol. 15, (September 2010),
pp. 15-31. Available at http://tiny.cc/78fk4
119
Mahmood Zaman, Victory for Democracy, Pakistan Ministry of Information and Broadcasting,
http://www.infopak.gov.pk/Victoryfordemocracy.pdf

Similarly, various excessive powers of the presidency were trimmed and reforms to improve the
social contract between the state and its citizenry. The 18
th
Amendment offered a greater role for
the prime minister and the parliament, abolished the concurrent legislative list that allowed
federal legislation to override provincial legislation, devolved various federal ministries, cut the
size of the cabinet, and empowered the Council of Common Interests, a constitutional body to
help resolve conflicts between the provinces and the government.
120
Judicial appointments were
also placed outside the direct control of both the president and the prime minister.
However, these reforms remain selective, and in many instances are far from having been
implemented. Provincial autonomy for example is discussed primarily in the context of the four
major provinces. It excludes the federally administered areas of Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir
and the FATA, all of which suffer various discriminations. The FATA too remains governed by
the Frontier Crimes Regulation Act (FCR), a legislative holdover from colonial times, under
which, the legal protections afforded to most Pakistanis do not apply.
121
Promises have been
made to repeal the FCR, but progress has been halting.
Weak Police and Rule of Law
Politics and governance cannot be separated from the practical conduct of the rule of law and any
review of the security problems in Pakistan, and its stability, must consider the impact of the
police, the courts, and the rule of law. Similarly, security and counterinsurgency operations
cannot be assessed simply in terms of their impact on extremists, insurgents, and terrorists. The
overall impact of the legal system, and the respect the security services and military show for
human rights is critical in shaping the level of support for the government or for its violent
opposition.
Unfortunately, in Pakistans case, security operations and legal system are still a cause of
security problems as well as a cure. An index created by the World Justice Project judged
Pakistan to have the worst access to civil justice and to be the least orderly and secure of the 66
countries ranked in its Rule-of-Law index.
122

Primary internal security responsibility falls upon the police under the command of the Ministry
of the Interior. In some areas of the Punjab and the Sindh, particularly in Karachi, paramilitary
organizations such as the Rangers augment local police. In the periphery provinces of the Khyber
Pakhtunkwa, the FATA and Balochistan, paramilitary organizations such as the Frontier Corps
and the Frontier Constabulary, sometimes backed by units from the regular Army have primary
security responsibility. Declining security across the country has also led to an explosion in
demand for private-security, creating a de-facto auxiliary police force that ranges from individual
chowkidars (guards) posted outside family homes -- some armed, others not -- to extensive
security details for the rich and the powerful.

120
Impact of the 18
th
Constitutional Amendment on Federation-Provinces Relationship, PILDAT, July 2010. Available at
http://tiny.cc/hm2go
121
Wren Elhai, Yes, Governance Matters in Pakistans Tribal Areas, Center for Global Development, May 24, 2010.
Available at http://blogs.cgdev.org/mca-monitor/2010/05/yes-governance-matters-in-pakistan%E2%80%99s-tribal-areas.php
122
Mark David Agrast, Juan Carlos Botero and Alejandro Ponse, Rule of Law Index 2011, World Justice Project,. Available
at http://worldjusticeproject.org/sites/default/files/wjproli2011_0.pdf


Police capacity issues are chronic, as detailed in a recent report by the United States Institute for
Peace. On paper, combined federal and provincial law-enforcement forces (including
paramilitary forces and intelligence organizations) amounted to about 575,000 personnel, a ratio
of about one police official to every 304 people, better than the UN peacetime recommendation
of one to every 400.
123
When isolating only the police, the number may fall to about one to every
477 people.
124
Furthermore, these figures do not account for force quality, which is rife with
issues of corruption, low pay, equipment or training.
Security services are widely perceived as corrupt, over-reliant on repression, and ineffective in
the face of rising violence and militancy across the country. Corruption surveys have consistently
ranked the police as the most corrupt institution in the country,
125
with a thana (police station)
culture of abuse, violence and intimidation. Furthermore, many police stations are self-financed
to a significant extent, and rely on political patronage to secure even basic equipment,
compromising their independence and professionalism.
126
Human rights reporting is often
controversial, but the US State Department provided the following official summary of the
problems in Pakistans security apparatus in its country report on human rights released in April
2011. Selected segments from the report are reproduced below.
127

The major human rights problems included extrajudicial killings, disappearances, and torture.
Although the government initiated an investigation into an Internet video showing men in
military uniforms apparently committing extrajudicial killings, a failure to credibly investigate
allegations, impose disciplinary or accountability measures, and consistently prosecute those
responsible for abuses contributed to a culture of impunity. Poor prison conditions, instances of
arbitrary detention, lengthy pretrial detentions, a weak criminal justice system, insufficient
training for prosecutors and criminal investigators, a lack of judicial independence in the lower
courts, and infringements on citizens' privacy remained problems. Harassment of journalists,
some censorship, and self-censorship were problems. There were some restrictions on freedom of
assembly. Corruption was widespread within the government and lower levels of the police
forces, and the government made few attempts to combat the problem. Rape, domestic violence,
sexual harassment, honor crimes, abuse, and discrimination against women remained serious
problems. Religious freedom violations, as well as violence and discrimination against religious
minorities continued. Child abuse and exploitive child labor were problems. Widespread human
trafficking, including exploitation of bonded laborers by landowners; forced child labor; and
commercial sexual exploitation of children remained problems, as did lack of respect for worker
rights.
[] Police often failed to protect members of religious minorities, including Christians,
Ahmadis, and Shia Muslims, from attacks (see section 2.c.). Some members of the police
committed human rights abuses or were responsive to political interests. Frequent failure to
punish abuses created a climate of impunity. Police and prison officials frequently used the threat
of abuse to extort money from prisoners and their families. The inspectors general, district police

123
Hassan Abbas, Reforming Pakistans Police and Law Enforcement Infrastructure, USIP, February 2011. Available at
http://www.usip.org/files/resources/sr266.pdf
124
Hassan Abbas, Police and Law Enforcement Reform in Pakistan, ISPU, April 2009. Available at
http://www.ssrnetwork.net/uploaded_files/4544.pdf
125
Police Organizations in Pakistan, Human Rights Commission Pakistan, 2010.
126
International Crisis Group, Reforming Pakistans Criminal Justice System, December 6, 2010. Available at
http://bit.ly/hx604n
127
US State Department, 2010 Country Reports on Human Rights, Pakistan, April 2011,
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/

officers, district nazims (a chief elected official of a local government or mayor equivalent),
provincial interior or chief ministers, federal interior minister, prime minister, or courts can order
internal investigations into abuses and order administrative sanctions. Executive branch and
police officials can recommend, and the courts can order, criminal prosecution. These
mechanisms were sometimes used. The court system remained the only mechanism available to
investigate abuses by security forces.
The report did however note some, albeit limited, signs of improvement.
There were improvements in police professionalism during the year. As in previous years, the
Punjab provincial government conducted regular training and retraining in technical skills and
protection of human rights for police at all levels. In March the Islamabad Capital Police
established a human rights cell to encourage persons to report cases of human rights violations
either in person, through a telephone hotline, or via e-mail. Islamabad police also decided to
appoint human rights officers (HROs) and members of the community at all police stations.
HROs could visit police stations at different times and had authority to interview arrested
individuals. If a police officer was reported to be involved in torturing or detaining persons at
police stations without justification, HROs could recommend disciplinary action against the
officer involved. Provincial and federal law enforcement officers also attended a training course
that included human rights, victims' rights, and women's rights. Since 2008 SHARP has provided
training to more than 2,000 police officers in human rights.
Policing cannot be separated from the rule of law and the criminal justice system. Unfortunately
the sector also suffers very serious shortfalls. A witness protection program is virtually
nonexistent, leaving witnesses completely open to retribution, and judges and legal workers are
sometimes subjected to intimidation and targeted killings.
128
Police investigative procedures are
weak, and often lack basic evidence-gathering techniques to build strong cases. Furthermore, the
courts are completely backlogged with over 1.7 million cases pending in the subordinate and
superior courts across the country.
129

As a result, acquittals of suspects in serious crimes, including terrorism, are common, increasing
the frustration of security forces and incentivizing repressive and illegal tactics. The overall
conviction rate is believed to be as low as 5-10 percent,
130
and according to provincial court
records in the Punjab, nearly three out of four terrorism cases in 2009 and the first six months of
2010 ended with acquittals,
131
including one where a Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) leader arrested and
charged with over 70 murders, was found not guilty by the courts. In reaction to incidents such
as this, the intelligence agencies have often restored to extraordinary measures. In one case for
example, the ISI resorted to kidnapping 11 suspected terrorists from a police jail for fear the
courts were about to set them free.
132
Jails are sometimes regarded as the think-tanks of the
militant universe, with easy access to cell phones allowing militant leaders to continue planning
operations, and comingling with other militants facilitating a convergence of ideology and
tactics.
133

128
Hassan Abbas, Reforming Pakistans Police and Law Enforcement Infrastructure, USIP, February 2011.
129
Police Organizations in Pakistan, Human Rights Commission Pakistan, 2010. Available at http://www.hrcp-
web.org/pdf/Police_Organisations_in_Pakistan%5B1%5D.pdf
130
International Crisis Group, Reforming Pakistans Criminal Justice System, December 6, 2010.
131
Alex Rodriguez, Pakistani criminal system proves no match for terrorism cases, Los Angeles Times, October 28, 2010.
Available at http://lat.ms/n7Xm05
132
A Great Deal of Ruin in a Nation, The Economist, April 2, 2011.
133
International Crisis Group, Reforming Pakistans Criminal Justice System, December 6, 2010.


The same State Department report provided the following detailed assessment the legal and
criminal justice system. Selected segments from the report are reproduced below and provide a
snapshot of some of the problems facing the system.
134

Arrest Procedures and Treatment While in Detention
Police routinely did not seek a magistrates approval for investigative detention and often held
detainees without charge until a court challenged the detention. Some women in detention were
sexually abused. When requested, magistrates approved investigative detention without
determining its cause. In cases of insufficient evidence, police and magistrates sometimes
colluded to issue new FIRs, thereby extending detention beyond the 14-day period.
[] Courts appointed attorneys for indigents only in capital cases. Individuals frequently had to
pay bribes to visit a prisoner. Foreign diplomats could meet with prisoners when they appeared in
court and could usually meet with citizens of their countries in prison visits.
Denial of Fair Public Trial
[] The law provides for an independent judiciary; in practice the judiciary was often subject to
external influences, such as fear of reprisal in terrorism cases. In nonpolitical cases, the media and
the public generally considered the high court and the Supreme Court credible.
There were extensive case backlogs in the lower and superior courts, as well as other problems
that undermined the right to effective remedy and the right to a fair and public hearing. According
to the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan, as of May more than 1.1 million cases were
pending with the countrys lower courts, 150,000 cases awaited the four provincial high courts,
and 17,500 cases awaited the Supreme Court. Delays in justice in civil and criminal cases arose
due to antiquated procedural rules, weak case management systems, costly litigation to keep a
case moving in the system, and weak legal education.
The jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and the high courts does not extend to several areas that
operated separate judicial systems. In FATA, under the FCR accused persons have no right to
legal representation or bail. In specific areas noted in the Nizam-e-Adl regulation (often
informally called the Sharia law) in PATA, Sharia law is imposed, and judges, known as qazis,
are assisted by religious scholars. Azad Kashmir has its own elected president, prime minister,
legislature, and high court. The Gilgit-Baltistan Self Governance Order of 2009 instituted a
separate judiciary, legislature, and election commission for the region . Informal justice systems
that lack the legal protections of institutionalized justice systems continued, especially in rural
areas, and often resulted in human rights violations. Lower courts remained corrupt, inefficient,
and subject to pressure from prominent wealthy, religious, and political figures.
The politicized nature of judicial promotions increased the governments control over the court
system. Unfilled judgeships and inefficient court procedures continued to result in severe
backlogs at both the trial and appellate levels. Feudal landlords and other community leaders in
Sindh and Punjab and tribal leaders in Pashtun and Baloch areas continued to hold local council
meetings (known as panchayats or jirgas), at times in defiance of the established legal system.
Such councils settled feuds and imposed tribal penalties on perceived wrongdoers, including
fines, imprisonment, or even the death penalty.
As with other sectors, various reforms have been promised including increased pay, training,
regulation and support, but implementation remains far from certain.

134
US State Department, 2010 Country Reports on Human Rights, Pakistan, April 2011, Available at
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/

Rise of Religious Extremists
Sectarian, ethnic, and regional groups are another major source of Pakistans problems.
Pakistans religious groups have played a role in politics since the inception of the state and have
often benefited from periods of strong state support. While they pursue distinct agendas in terms
of religious and civil goals, most share the same fundamental objective to increase the role of
Islam in all aspects of the state. Religion has always been central to Pakistans identity as a
secular nation founded on the basis of Islam. 96% of Pakistanis are Muslim, most of whom are
Sunnis, divided into four broad categories, the Barelvis, Deobandis, Ahle-Hadith, and the
revivalist Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) movement.
135
A recent Gallup poll released in late May 2011
showed 67% of Pakistanis favored an increased Islamization of society, and 31% wanted such
steps to happen at once.
136

Pakistans problems with religion are not being caused by anything approaching mainstream
Islam, but rather by deviant Islamist extremists. While the average Pakistani continues to take his
religion extremely seriously, and is believed to want to see it play a major role in social justice in
the public domain, he or she also sets pragmatic goals and want to look progressive in a
conservative framework.
137
Pakistans mainstream religious groups are distinguished from
extremist groups and movements like the Pakistani Taliban by the fact that they pursue a largely
peaceful attempt to Islamize the state, in contrast to the cultural revolution being waged by the
Taliban, which decries any coexistence or collaboration with the state.
There are important religious differences that divide Pakistans many religious groups. The
Deobandis and Ahle-Hadiths for example share a disdain for the shrine idolatry and the Sufi
tenets of Pakistans majority Barelvis, who comprise between 80-85% of Pakistani Muslims.
138

Over time, these divergent Sunni religious organizations have evolved over time into pressure
groups, political parties, and extremist organizations.
139
Deobandi groups are generally
perceived to be the primary drivers of extremist violence in Pakistan today, but various groups
including factions within Barelvi organizations, have had long associations with militants, from
the times of the Soviet jihad.
The two largest religious parties in Pakistan include the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and the Deobandi
Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), notably the Fazl ur-Rehman faction (JUI-F), ), which seek to
impose Islamic law through elections and maintain large networks of madrassas across
Pakistan.
140
Other religious-political parties and groups include humanitarian service providers
such as the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), which is closely linked to the Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist
group. Various other political parties and groups also maintain contacts with militant groups, for

135
The State of Sectarianism in Pakistan, International Crisis Group, Asia Report No. 95, April 18, 2005. Available at
http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/asia/south-asia/pakistan/095_the_state_of_sectarianism_in_pakistan.ashx
136
Majority of Pakistanis want government to Islamize society: Gallup Poll, Express Tribune, May 31, 2011. Available
through World News Connection.
137
Radicalization in Pakistan: Understanding the Phenomenon, Pak Institutefor Peace Studies, June 6, 2010. Available at
www.sans-pips.com
138
R. Upadhyay, Barelvis and Deobandis: Birds of the Same Feather, South Asia Analysis Group, January 28, 2011.
Available at http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/%5Cpapers44%5Cpaper4302.html
139
140
Factbox: Pakistans anti-American Islamist bloc firming up, Reuters, March 9, 2011. Available at
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/09/us-pakistan-islamists-factbox-idUSTRE72825H20110309


example - the JI to the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HM), the JUI-F to the Afghan Taliban, the JuD to
the Lashkar-e-Taiba, and the Millat-e-Islami to the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan.
141

The influence of extremists appears to be growing. A study by the International Crisis Group
notes that, Pakistans puritanical clergy is attempting to turn the country into a confessional
state where the religious creed of a person is the sole marker of identity.
142
Their growing
political role in 2010 and early 2011, has heightened fears of a growing radicalization of
Pakistani society, and was manifested in the assassinations of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer
and Shahbaz Bhatti, over their support for a Christian woman sentenced to death under
Pakistans notorious blasphemy laws.
The Grim Legacies of Zia and Musharraf
The rise in the power of Pakistans religious right is often traced back to the Zia-era during the
1980s, when General Zia, himself steeped in radical Islam, relied upon the JI and Deobandi
interpretation of religion to help impose his will upon Pakistan. His tenure witnessed the
forceful entry of extremist organization into the political life of Pakistan,
143
and state sanction
brought with it massive increases in funding and resources, including money from the state,
through zakat, and from external donors. Over thirty years this has allowed religious parties to
become well-armed and better developed in their financing, organization and propaganda
capabilities.
144

Zia was scarcely exclusive in supporting (and trying to use) extremist religious groups. Civilian
elites, including Z. A. Bhutto in the 1970s, and Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif in the 1990s
have made various compromises to the religious parties, but for todays context it is the
Musharraf-era that is the primary accelerant.
To legitimize his military dictatorship, Musharraf backed a religious coalition of five major
religious parties under the banner of the Muttahida-Majlis-e-Amal (MMA). A pan-Islamic
grouping, including Deobandis, Barelvis and Shias, the MMA swept into power in the 2002
elections, garnering an unprecedented 59 seats in the National Assembly, and controlled two of
the four provinces the NWFP (now the KPK) and Balochistan.
145

However, during their time in power, religious parties wholly failed to deliver on their promises
for change, and were soon seen to be just as corrupt and inefficient as the previous government,
and solely concerned with Islamizing state institutions.
146
By the 2008 elections, they had

141
Ibid.
142
143
Dr. Umbreen Javid, Genesis and Effects of Religious Extremism in Pakistan, International Journal of Business and Social
Science, Vol. 2, No. 7, April 2011. Available at
http://www.ijbssnet.com/journals/Vol._2_No._7;_Special_Issue_April_2011/30.pdf
144
Salman Masood, Zeal gives religious right in Pakistan the upper hand, The National, March 3, 2011. Available at
http://www.thenational.ae/news/worldwide/south-asia/zeal-gives-religious-right-in-pakistan-the-upper-hand
145
Suba Chandran and Rekha Chakravarthi, Return of the Democrats: Pakistan After Elections, Institute of Peace and
Conflict Studies, No. 61, March 2008. Available at
http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/documents/IPCS_returnofthedemocrats.pdf
146
Carlotta Gall, In Tribal Pakistan, Religious Parties are Foundering, New York Times, February 14, 2008. Available at

registered a precipitous fall in support to a mere 7 seats in the National Assembly.
147
Some
observers have used these results to downplay concern about the rise of the religious right,
pointing out that secular forces have always controlled Pakistan, and that religious parties remain
at the margins of mainstream politics, rarely sharing more than 10% of the vote.
148

However, this may understate their true influence. Pervez Hoodhboy, a prominent Pakistani
commentator notes that the religious parties represent popular discourse noting that their low
share of the popular vote is because the mullah parties are geared for street politics, not
electoral politics.
149
Hoodhboy recounts an increasingly familiar personal anecdote to support
his theory noting that in a debate between him and spokesmen from the JI and the Sunni
Tehreek, the audience composed of presumably well-educated university students thunderously
supported the clerics and loudly praised Mumtaz Qadri, the assassin of Punjab Governor Salman
Taseer.
150

Similarly, even with low official representation, religious radicals are able to heavily influence
Pakistani public life including strong influence in dictating the contents of school curriculums,
and enforcing acceptable dress and food codes.
151
This has resulted in a growth of intolerance
has forged an extreme, murderous, antipathy to freedom of expression,
152
including at
universities across the country. At the prestigious University of Punjab, a radical Islamist student
group, the Jamiat-e-Talaba has been accused of running a parallel administration, attacking
students and teachers over issues they deem un-Islamic.
153
Student groups are often associated
with religious parties, and such strong presence is not atypical today.
The most striking indicator of the growing radicalization of Pakistan was illuminated during the
furor over proposed amendments to the blasphemy laws. During the crisis over the blasphemy
laws, rallies by religious parties brought thousands onto the streets, including an estimated
40,000 even in secular MQM-controlled Karachi.
154
In the aftermath of the assassination of
Taseer, the amendments main backer, hundreds of thousands more rallied to demand the
Qadris release and demand the withdrawal of the blasphemy law. The government complied.
155

This street presence by religious radicals is not new. In February 2011, a rally by the JuD, the

147
Suba Chandran and Rekha Chakravarthi, Return of the Democrats: Pakistan After Elections, Institute of Peace and
Conflict Studies, No. 61, March 2008. Available at
http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/documents/IPCS_returnofthedemocrats.pdf
148
Omar Waraich, Pakistans Pols Paralyzed by Religious Extremism, Time Magazine, January 13, 2011. Available at
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2042522,00.html
149
Farooq Sulehria, Pervez Hoodhboy: Miracles are Needed to Rescue Pakistan, Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. XLVI,
No. 5, January 21, 2011. Available at
http://beta.epw.in/static_media/PDF/archives_pdf/2011/01/C012911_Pervez_Hoodbhoy_Farooq_Sulehria.pdf
150
Ibid.
151
Ibid.
152
Madhia Satter, Pakistans Blasphemy Laws: A History of Violence, Foreign Policy, March 2, 2011. Available at
http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/03/02/pakistans_blasphemy_laws_a_history_of_violence
153
Alex Rodriguez, Pakistan Handles Extremism with Kid Gloves, New York Times, March 29, 2011. Available at
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-pakistan-islamist-bullies-20110722,0,1371572,full.story
154
Rob Crilly, Pakistans Religious Divide on Display, The Telegraph, January 9, 2011. Available at
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/8248942/Pakistans-religious-divide-on-display.html
155
Mammoth rally demands Taseer assassins release, Blasphemy Bill Withdrawn, One India News, January 10, 2011.
Available at http://news.oneindia.in/2011/01/10/mammothpak-rally-demands-taseer-assassins-releaseblasphe.html


political wing of the notorious Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist group in Lahore drew a crowd of over
20,000 to hear speakers urge the government to establish a ministry for jihad.
156

The organized and large presence of radical Islamists is in growing contrast to Pakistans
weakened progressive and human rights activists. Most progressive legislators are now bunkered
down, fearing for their lives, while activists are increasingly confined from the streets to pockets
of the Internet and social media platforms,
157
and fearful of their security if they assemble
publicly.
The Wrong Kind of Movement toward Political Unity
The end result is that ordinary Pakistanis find themselves squeezed between a liberal and distant
elite on one side, and the religious right on the other and it is the rights offering of an
egalitarian populism on earth and just rewards in the afterlife that is winning converts.
158

The growing unity of religious movements under the banner of radical Islam presents may make
these problems worse. Pakistans majority Barelvi faith had generally been regarded as the
antidote to Deobandi Islam, which is attributed to be at the heart of religious extremism. Barelvis
have often warred violently with Deobandis, particularly in Karachi, and have lost influential
clerics to Deobandi suicide bombings.
159
However in the aftermath of the assassination, religious
parties were vocal in their support for Qadri.
A statement from Jamaate Ahle Sunnat Pakistan, one of the largest Barelvi organizations
representing over 500 mullahs read, No Muslim should attend the funeral or even pray for
Salmaan Taseer. We pay rich tributes and salute the bravery, valor, and faith of Mumtaz
Qadri.
160
They included clerics from the Sunni Tehreek, which lost their leader Maulana
Sarfaraz Naeemi to a Taliban suicide bombing in June 2009 after he spoke out against suicide
bombings.
161
Leaders of other religious groups, including the powerful Jamaat-e-Islami party
declared that, Salmaan Taseer was himself responsible for his killing. Any Muslim worth the
name could not tolerate blasphemy of the Prophet, as had been proved by this incident.
162

Veteran New York Times journalist Carlotta Gall partly attributes this radicalization to the Zia
generation having come of age.
163
The young lawyers movement for example, seen as the
vanguards of the democratic movement to overthrow former President Musharraf have also

156
Alex Rodriguez, Pakistan Handles Extremism with Kid Gloves, New York Times, March 29, 2011. Available at
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-pakistan-fear-20110330,0,389866.story
157
Salman Masood, Pakistanis Rally in Support of Blasphemy Law, New York Times, December 31, 2010. Available at
158
Pakistan: The Rising Dangers, Pakistan Conflict Monitor, January 25, 2011. Available at
http://www.conflictmonitors.org/search/post/pakistan-research/2011/01/25/Pakistan-The-Rising-Dangers
159
Salman Siddiqi, The Widening Split, The Express Tribune, April 26, 2010. Available at
http://tribune.com.pk/story/9155/the-widening-split/
160
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/05/pakistan-religious-organisations-salman-taseer
161
Farooq Sulehria, Pervez Hoodhboy: Miracles are Needed to Rescue Pakistan, Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. XLVI,
No. 5, January 21, 2011.
162
Saeed Shah, Mainstream Pakistan religious organizations applaud killing of Taseer, The Guardian, January 5, 2011.
Available at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/05/pakistan-religious-organisations-salman-taseer
163
Carlotta Gall, Pakistan Faces a Divide of Age on Muslim Law, New York Times, January 10, 2011. Available at

enthusiastically embraced Qadris cause, demonstrating on the streets for his release and
garlanding him with rose petals before his court appearance.
164

The fear of radicalization among the security forces was also revitalized in the assassination.
Qadri was a member of the Elite Force, specially vetted and trained police commandoes, and
while he alone pulled the trigger, there were indications that he had discussed the issue with his
colleagues prior to the act, and furthermore was able to empty an entire magazine into the
Governor without any apparent intervention.
165

Similarly during anti-Christian violence across Pakistan in March 2011, following the burning of
a Quran by Florida pastor Fred Phelps, six gunmen attacked a church near Islamabad, located
inside a high-security zone that includes a large ammunition dump and is heavily garrisoned by
the military, suggesting that the attackers may have come from inside.
166

But Extremists Remain a Threat to Extremists
Despite the support religious groups have extended to militants, both tangibly and ideologically,
they are not immune from the violence sweeping Pakistan, nor threats from hardline factions of
the Taliban who condemn any perceived affiliation with the state. A recent event that was
startling to even veteran Pakistani observers, was the dual assassination attempts on the life of
Fazl ur-Rehman, the leader of the JUI-F, in two days. Rehman was generally considered quite
pro-Taliban. He rarely condemned suicide bombings in the FATA or KPK,
167
and had two
decades of history with militant groups, including supplying thousands of recruits from his
madrassas for jihad.
168

Rehman has, however, been considered to be first and foremost a pragmatist who has built
diverse relationships with all stakeholders in Pakistan. Wikileaks cables dated September 2007
reported Musharraf urging the US to support the inclusion of the JUI into the governing coalition
and described Rehman as moderate and pliable,
169
and also revealed that despite his publicly
anti-American posture Rehman had reached out to the US ambassador for help with a failed bid
to become Prime Minister in 2007.
170

Similar attacks on religious party leaders are rare, but the trend is escalating. In April 2010, a
suicide bomber in Peshawar killed a local JI leader, although there is some confusion as to

164
Ibid.
165
Elite Force cop shot down Governor Taseer, South Asia News Agency, January 5, 2011. Available at
http://www.sananews.net/english/2011/01/05/elliot-force-cop-shot-down-governor-salman-taseer/
166
Jibran Khan, Third church attacked as Pakistani extremists declare war over Florida Quran burning, Asia News, March 29,
2011. Available at http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Third-church-attacked-as-Pakistani-extremists-declare-war-over-Florida-
Koran-burning-21147.html
167
Daud Khattak, Talks with the Taliban in Pakistan? Foreign Policy, April 7, 2011. Available at
http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/04/07/talks_with_the_taliban_in_pakistan
168
Salman Masood and Carlotta Gall, Suicide Attack on Politician Fails Again, New York Times, March 31, 2011. Available
at http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/01/world/asia/01pakistan.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
169
Issam Ahmed, Pakistan attacks reveal widening split between religious parties and militants, Christian Science Monitor,
March 31, 2011. Available at http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2011/0331/Pakistan-attacks-reveal-widening-split-
between-religious-parties-and-militants
170
Masood and Gall, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/01/world/asia/01pakistan.html?partner=rss&emc=rss


whether he or a Shia police officer was the primary target.
171
In mid-April 2011, another JI
leader narrowly escaped when police discovered and safely detonated an IED outside his
house.
172
Various theories have been floated on the attackers, but the most convincing has been
the argument that such targeting is a function of jihadist power politics, and a result of the
disapproval by hardline factions of any attempts to engage the US and negotiate a political
settlement to the war in Afghanistan.
173

Intra-jihadi splits are increasingly common in Pakistans complicated landscape. Earlier in the
year, Colonel Imam, a retired ISI officer often regarded as the godfather of the Taliban, for his
role in the Soviet jihad, was executed by Hakimullah Mehsud, the TTP emir despite personal
pleas by both very senior militant leaders Mullah Omar and Sirajuddin Haqqani for his
release.
174
In a video from his recorded confession, Imam describes being held by the Lashkar-
e-Jhangvi and reading off what appears to be a prepared transcript states that his kidnappers
cannot be pressured by anyone.
175
Similarly today, the attack on Rehman appears to have
occurred without unanimous consent inside the Taliban. Hafiz Gul Bahadur, a senior Taliban
commander based out of North Waziristan has issued a statement condemning the attacks and
vowed to punish the culprits.
176

Religious Extremism and Anti-American Populism
Religious groups have grown in popularity because their ideologies are increasingly attractive to
the ordinary Pakistani. They have adopted a highly popular anti-US stance, and are seen as more
in touch with the needs of common people than the cocooned urban secularists whose lives are
worlds apart from the poor. Religious groups are also often visible providers of aid and
humanitarian relief, particularly in the aftermath of disasters, all of which has earned them
significant reservoirs of goodwill.
The JuD is at the forefront of this trend, and with its powerful political and military wings, it
increasingly resembles Lebanese Hezbollah. It is not alone. During the 2010 floods, activists and
militants from the JI, the JuD, and SSP were some of the first responders in heavily affected
districts. The head of the JI social welfare wing claimed a deployment of 100,000
activistsacross the country, over 60 ambulances, and the establishment of medical camps and
water purification plants to ease drinking water shortages.
177
The JuD claimed 3,000 people
deployed in Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan operating 16 mobile medical
camps with doctors, 13 relief camps, 40 ambulances, and activists clearing blocked roads,

171
Sabrina Tavernise and Pir Zubair Khan, Bomber Strikes Near Pakistan Rally; Police Officer Seen as Target, New York
Times, April 19, 2010. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/20/world/asia/20pstan.html
172
Manzoor Ali, JI leader targeted in failed bomb plot, The Express Tribune, April 12, 2011. Available at
http://tribune.com.pk/story/147969/ji-leader-targeted-in-failed-bomb-plot/
173
Attacks on Pro-Taliban Politician Point Towards Intra-Jihadi Divide, The Pakistan Policy Blog, March 31, 2011.
Available at http://pakistanpolicy.com/2011/03/31/attacks-on-pro-taliban-politician-point-toward-intra-jihadi-divide/
174
Pak Taliban confirms murder of Col. Imam, Circling the Lions Den, February 19, 2011. Available at
http://circlingthelionsden.blogspot.com/2011/02/pak-taliban-confirms-murder-of-colonel.html; Unity among North Waziristan
groups crumble, New York Times, April 28, 2011. Available at http://nyti.ms/mN00w5
175
Ex-ISI man Col Imam murdered fresh video released, YouTube, January 23, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/mVQj6R
176
Pazir Gul, Militant leader to investigate attack on Fazl, Dawn, April 5, 2011. Available at
http://www.dawn.com/2011/04/05/militant-leader-to-investigate-attacks-on-fazl.html
177
Syed Shoaib Khan, Hardline groups step in to fill Pakistan aid vacuum, BBC News, August 10, 2010. Available at

providing relief and directing traffic.
178
The president of the SSP also declared that, As you
know we have been listed as an especially banned organization But we feel this is a disaster,
which needs the efforts of all Pakistanis. Therefore, I have instructed our activists to carry out
relief activities without identifying themselves.
179

The anti-US platform of religious groups is often seen as a unifying force,
180
as seen in the large
rallies held to demand the continued imprisonment and execution of presumed CIA spy
Raymond Davis.
181
Anti-Americanism is rife across Pakistan, and not just amongst the religious,
which has complicated previous attempts at engagement have had little effect.
For example, in mid-2009, former special envoy Richard Holbrooke met with leaders of
religious parties including Liaquat Baloch, leading member of JI, and Fazl ur-Rehman, the leader
of the JUI-F. They met in inside the fortified US embassy compound in an attempt to dispel
rumors of a large Marine presence inside the compound. Holbrooke later called the meeting the
most intellectually sustained debate Ive ever had in this country, but despite this optimism,
Baloch and his allies took to the streets in an anti-US protest immediately after the meeting.
182

Demographics, Economics, and Education
The structural forces shaping modern Pakistan compound these various political and religious
tensions. Like most of the developing world, demographics are a key issues and as Figure 1.1,
shows, Pakistans population has made massive increases since 1950, and is today more than
four times larger. The rate of population growth has slowed, but the population is still estimated
to nearly double between 2000 and 2030, and Pakistans population is projected to grow to 335
million by 2050, making it one of the worlds most populous countries.
183

Pakistan simultaneously suffers from a massive refugee population, now numbering 1.9 million
people the largest refugee population in the world according to the UNHCR -- in addition to
over 950,000 internally displaced peoples (IDPs). The economic impact is estimated at 710
refugees for every U.S. dollar of Pakistani per capita GDP.
184

Every aspect of Pakistani politics, governance, and stability is still shaped by Pakistans massive
youth bulge, and will be for decades to come. The size of Pakistan youth as shown in Figure
1.2 makes it clear just how much the need to create jobs and acceptable careers, governance, and
social conditions for youth is critical Pakistans stability. The CIA estimates that Pakistans mean
age is only around 21 years of age, and that some 2,238,000 males and 2,105,000 females will

178
Ibid.
179
Ibid.
180
Factbox: Pakistans anti-American bloc firming up, Reuter, Available at http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/09/us-
pakistan-islamists-factbox-idUSTRE72825H20110309
181
Protests across Pakistan over Raymond Davis release, Press Trust of India, March 19, 2011. Available at
http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/protests-across-pakistan-over-raymond-davis-release-92684
182
US reaches out to Islamist parties in Pakistan, RFE/RL, April 19, 2009. Available at
http://www.rferl.org/content/US_Reaches_Out_To_Islamist_Parties_In_Pakistan/1802816.html
183
Human Development Report 2010, United Nations Development Programme. Available at
http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2010_EN_Complete_reprint.pdf
184
UNHCR, UNHCR Global Report 2010, http://www.unhcr.org/4dfdbf5215.html


reach the age where they will enter the labor force in 2010.
185
Other estimates indicate that half
of its population of over 187 million is under 20 years of age, and 66 percent is under 30,
186

Figure 1.1: Trends in Pakistani Population (1950
2050)
!!

Source: United Nations World Population Database, http://esa.un.org/unpp.

Figure 1.2: Pakistans Youth Bulge in 2010

Source: US Census Bureau, International Database, http://www.census.gov/ipc.

185
CIA World Factbook. Accessed 16 April 2011. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pk.html.
186
Pakistan: The Next Generation, British Council, November 2009. Available at http://www.britishcouncil.pk/pakistan-
Next-Generation-Report.pdf
1930 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2030
aklsLan 41177 48778 61730 82609 113776 148132 184733 226187 263690 333193
0
30000
100000
130000
200000
230000
300000
330000
400000
CD/EF!46G>8298!H83I886!
JKDK!26?!JKEK


No nation could easily adapt to such pressures, and Pakistan has made far too little effort to try.
There is sometimes good nominal growth for Pakistans gross domestic product (GDP), as
estimated in PPP terms, but this kind of growth says nothing about its underlying stability.
Pakistani political and business elites focus on their own wealth and privileges with little regard
for the overall population, or the impact of favoritism, nepotism, and corruption. They appear
insensitive to the impact of growing disparities in income distribution, the continued existence of
massive semi-feudalism in the agricultural sector, and the steady growth of massive urban slums.
Pakistan does not meet the most basic needs of its youth, and - as the following analysis shows
it has failed to come to grips with a single major regional, ethnic, and sectarian problem. Reliable
data on the scale of these problems is not available, and the impact of Pakistans massive floods
in 2010 are still being felt, but the CIA estimates that even if one ignores Pakistans massive
disparities in income distribution, its per capita income is only $2400 which ranks 179
th
in the
world.
The CIA also estimates that the present Pakistani labor force is around 55.8% of the total
population -- a relatively low number for so large a population, in spite of extensive exportation
of labor to regions like the Middle East. It has an unusually high percentage working in very low
productivity agriculture and service jobs (agriculture: 43%, industry: 20.3%, services: 36.6%
(2005 estimate).
Direct unemployment is at least 15%, and under and disguised unemployment almost certainly
raise this figure closer to 30% in terms of meaningful productivity gain. At least 24% of the
entire population (and probably now closer to 30%) is at or below the poverty line, and the
wealthiest 10% of the population is responsible for some 27% of all domestic consumption
versus less than 4% for the poorest 10%.
187

The Struggling Economy
The Pakistani economy was relatively robust with over 5 percent annual economic growth until
the 2008 economic crisis. Since then, worsening global economic conditions, a sharp increase in
food and fuel prices and a worsening security situation has negatively impacted the economy.
Pakistan appears to have missed many of its main targets for fiscal year 2010, which ended on
June 30, 2011. Economic growth was pegged at around 2.5 percent, well short of the 4.5 percent
target, and foreign investment has fallen by over a quarter over rising security and economic
worries.
188
Any reduction in US economic and military assistance as a result of worsening
relations between the two countries or delays in multilateral donor assistance will likely further
compound the economic strain.
In attempting to deal with rising costs from security operations, disaster and refugee relief,
economic stimulus, as well as the costs of financing the budget deficit, Pakistan has witnessed a
dramatic monetary expansion, with the government borrowing a record PKR 701 billion in the
first 11 months of FY2010.
189
The IMF estimates a 4 percent budget deficit to be appropriate for

187
CIA, World Factbook, accessed 16 April 2011, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pk.html.
188
Syed Fazl-e-Haider, Rare Bright Spots in Pakistani Economy, Asia Times, June 17, 2011, http://bit.ly/mRTQWI
189
Ibid.


Pakistan, but the FY2010-2011 budget deficit was pegged at 5.3 percent of GDP, higher than
anticipated, but nonetheless lower than the previous year.
190
A portion of this improvement is
believed to be a function of record remittances from Pakistani expatriates and a 28 increase in
exports.
These bright spots are not guaranteed to be sustainable. The important textile sector for example
has witnessed an alarming deterioration and accounts for 60 percent of export revenues, thus
may negatively impact the trade balance and the broader economy in the future.
191
Already,
despite increasing export revenues, the trade deficit is sizeable and estimated at about 15 billion
rupees. Flood damage has seriously affected export industries such as cotton, while increases in
imports are anticipated owing to post-flood reconstruction.
Financing the budget deficit is an important strain on the economy, as are maintaining sizeable
populist subsidies, particularly for fuel. These pressures have helped contribute to rising
inflation, a sharp deterioration in Pakistans foreign exchange reserves and a depreciation of the
rupee. Massive supply shocks such as the 2010 floods or a worsening security situation in the
financial capital of Karachi have compounded these effects, and several sectors have witnessed
drastic signs of contraction. In the cement sector for example, 80 percent of producers are
estimated to have suffered losses in the last year.
192

Inflation is a serious concern. Pakistan has made some progress towards meeting the IMF goals
of improving fiscal discipline and reducing inflation below 10 percent, but it remains at 13
percent, and increasing prices, particularly of basic commodities such as food and fuel, have the
potential to stir significant social and political unrest and reduce the legitimacy of the civilian
government. The consumer price inflation (CPI) has increased by double-digit figures
consecutively for 38 months (with one exception)
193
and in 2011, figures provided by the
Pakistani Ministry of Finance pegged food inflation at as high as 18.4 percent and non-food
inflation at about 10 percent a significant worry in a predominantly agrarian economy that
nonetheless relies heavily on food imports.
The poor are anticipated to bear an inordinate share of the burden of rising prices, and already
devote on average between 50 and 60 percent of their household budget on food.
194
It is
estimated that food-inflation of 20 percent will push an additional 7 million people below the
$1.25/day poverty line and a 30 percent rise would add 11 million people.
195
As a result
tightening monetary policy is difficult, particularly when factoring in the negative impacts of
rising interest rates on already high poverty and unemployment levels.
Tremendous shortfalls in electricity generation have been a major cause of economic losses and
declining productivity. Against a peak demand of about 18,000 MW daily, Pakistani electrical
capacity is only able to provide about 13,250 MW, leaving a shortfall of almost 5000 MW
daily.
196
As a result electricity prices have risen sharply, and in some parts of the KPK, the

190
Sahar Ahmad, Pakistans budget deficit 5.3 pct of GDP in FY10/11, Reuters, July 6, 2011. Available at
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/06/pakistan-budget-idUSL3E7I610O20110706
191
Electricity crisis leaves Pakistan textiles in tatters, AFP/Oman Tribune, Available at http://goo.gl/fxYqj
192
80pc of cement makers suffered losses in FY2010-2011, OnlineNews Pak, July 13, 2011. Available at http://goo.gl/ZPct1
193
Economist Intelligence Unit, Country Report: Pakistan, April 2011.
194
Pakistan Ministry of Finance, Inflation, Available at http://www.finance.gov.pk/survey/chapter_11/07-Inflation.pdf
195
Pakistan Ministry of Finance, Poverty, Available at http://www.finance.gov.pk/survey/chapter_11/13-Poverty.pdf
196
Scale of Pakistans Power Outage Certain to Rouse Anger, Punjab News Online, Available at http://goo.gl/w3MxS

average electricity bill is believed to have risen by as much as 60 percent.
197
The manufacturing
sector has been impacted severely. In Faisalabad, the backbone of the countrys important textile
sector, a 50 percent fall in production is estimated as a result of rising energy and inflation costs.
Many factories have already shut down and others operate for only a few days a week. The
Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce further estimates that as many as 100,000 people have lost
their jobs in the previous two years.
198

The primary obstacle to alleviating the energy crisis has not been one of capacity, but rather an
inability for the government to effectively make payments to private producers, thanks to a
lumbering bureaucracy that impedes any reform effort. A Wikileaks cable from the US embassy
in Pakistan from 2008 detailed the complex maze of bureaucracy in Pakistans energy sector,
detailing how the overlapping agendas of as many as six ministries and forty two agencies make
setting, managing and reforming energy policy and the power sector virtually impossible.
199

There are some projects in the pipeline, namely a natural gas pipeline from Iran, that could help
alleviate some of this shortfall, but chronic shortages are likely for the foreseeable future.
Furthermore, worsening relations between the Pakistani government and key external donors,
including the US and international institutions such as the IMF, raise worries on the viability of
economic recovery. Pakistan has already blamed a portion of its budget deficit on the failure of
the US to reimburse its operational military costs in a timely fashion, and further delays or even
cuts to US aid are likely over the near-term. The IMF too has expressed concern over Pakistans
political dysfunction and its unwillingness to undertake effective structural reform, particularly
in introducing the revised sales tax and in reversing fuel subsidies to tighten fiscal discipline. The
Fund has since delayed some tranches of its remaining $3 billion in disbursements.
200

The weakness of the formal economy has important impacts on social and political stability. The
informal sector already provides the real means of sustenance for far too many in Pakistan, and
the inability of the civilian government to register economic improvements, namely amongst
everyday commodities, has impact on alienating the population from the government,
incentivizing the popularity of non-state actors such as religious radicals, and expanding the
recruiting pool of young, disaffected youth without prospects for militant groups. .
Educating a Nation for Failure
There is still some possibility that Pakistans youth bulge could be an opportunity to build a
more prosperous and capable Pakistan, but this can only begin to occur if the growth is
adequately harnessed to steady economic development, adequate education, and job creation.
What is now far more likely is that a continued failure to prepare or integrate large numbers of
youth into the labor market will prove catastrophic and a key source of conflict risk.
A massive and focused increase in investment in the Pakistani education system is one of the
most crucial components of any successful stabilization strategy. Increased education is
necessary for enhancing the political legitimacy of the civilian government, for expanding the

197
Nisar Mahmood, Electricity becoming luxury as tariff hiked by almost 64pc, The News, July 6, 2011. Available at
http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=56227&Cat=7&dt=7/6/2011
198
Umer Farooq, Trouble in Pakistans Heartland, AfPak Foreign Policy, June 29, 2011. Available at http://goo.gl/Jcp21
199
Idrees Bakhtiar, Haphazard Mix of Pakistans Energy Bureaucracy, Dawn, July, 6, 2011. Available at http://goo.gl/zvf6O
200
Economist Intelligence Unit, Country Report: Pakistan, April 2011.


human capital available for economic growth, and as an important tool in the counterinsurgency
arsenal. At present, the education sector suffers from chronic shortfalls in access and quality, as
seen in Figure 1.3 leaving a massive shortfall between education demand and government
supply. Funding for education has lagged far behind need, languishing at between 2-3% of GDP,
as seen in Figure 1.4, behind that of comparable regional countries.
Pakistan cannot begin to address its economic and social needs or well as move towards political
stability until it first addresses the dire state of the existing educational sector. Pakistan is one of
the only countries in the world where the number of illiterates is rising.
201
Some 6.8 million of its
children are out of school
202
and only 16.8% of Pakistanis have a secondary education.
203
Despite
these chronic shortages in supply, the Pakistani demand for quality education does not seem to
have abated judging from the massive increase in private-education.
Worse, Pakistan does not have an adequate base of merit-based education or employment.
Corruption and nepotism in hiring are every-day phenomenon and large disparities within
provinces and communities continue to exist on the basis of political, communal and ethnic
biases as seen in Figure 1.5. For example, the UNDP calculated that over 50 percent of Baluchi
speakers are likely to have less than four years of education, in contrast to 10 percent of Urdu
speakers.
204

Figure 1.3: Key Educational Statistics

Source: UNDP, Human Development Report 2010.

201
Financing Quality Basic Education for All in Pakistan, Pak Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency, June
2010. Available at http://tiny.cc/y4auy
202
Pakistan Ministry of Education, 2008
203
UNDP, Human Development Report 2010, http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2010_EN_Complete_reprint.pdf
204
Ibid.
rlmary school Leachers Lralned Lo Leach
Cross 1eruary LnrollmenL (unlverslLy)
Cross Secondary LnrollmenL (Mlddle/Plgh)
Cross rlmary LnrollmenL
LlLeracy 8aLe
rlmary school
Leachers Lralned
Lo Leach
Cross 1eruary
LnrollmenL
(unlverslLy)
Cross Secondary
LnrollmenL
(Mlddle/Plgh)
Cross rlmary
LnrollmenL
LlLeracy 8aLe
Serles1 83.10 3.20 32.90 84.8 33.70

Figure 1.4: Education Funding (20052010)

Source: Pakistan Ministry of Education, http://www.moe.gov.pk/Pakistan%20Education%20Statistics%2007-08.pdf;
Pakistan Ministry of Finance, http://www.finance.gov.pk/survey/chapter_10/10_Education.pdf.

Figure 1.5: Educational Institutions by Province

Source: Pakistan Education Report 20082009.
l?2003-06 l?2006-07 l?2007-08 l?2008-09 l? 2009-10 l?2010-11
1oLal LxpendlLure 17.07 21.63 23.37 24.6 30.9 34.3
of Cu 2.24 2.3 2.47 2.1 2.03 2.3
0
3
10
13
20
23
30
33
40
un[ab Slndh nWl
8alochlsLa
n
A!k
CllglL-
8alusLan
lA1A lC1
8ural 73,972 43,664 29,408 11,027 7,034 2,694 3,909 373
urban 28,494 16,306 4,134 1,904 888 297 331
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000


Madrassa Education versus Secular Failure
The importance of religious schools or madrassas, which are sometimes popularized as terrorist
incubators, must be kept in perspective. Recent studies have shown that the share of madrassas
in the total Pakistani education sector is low, and while estimates vary greatly, most concur
madrassas represent less than 10 percent of the education sector,
205
of which only a small
minority have links to violent extremists. Their importance, however, lies far more in their
impact on Pakistani society and politics.
The Pakistani Ministry of Education counted 12,448 madrassas in 2008/2009, with 97% in the
private sector, and a total enrollment of 1.603 million (approximately 4 percent).
206
By March
2010, this number of registered madrassas had risen to 19,104.
207
These are likely conservative
figures as many madrassas remain unregistered and efforts to reform and regulate the sector,
such as Musharrafs 2001Pakistani Madrassa Education Ordinance and the 2002 Dini Madrassa
Ordinance, have so far achieved only marginal successes. A major stumbling block has been the
governments unwillingness to recognize the madrassa education boards. For madrassa leaders,
this is a core demand to attempt to preserve some measure of their traditional independence.
Madrassa-government relations have improved with the civilian government, but progress
remains slow.
A study conducted by Brookings in the Ahmedpur district of the Punjab found that only 39 out
of 363 madrassas were registered with the government and that in the same district, 13 percent of
the 465 government schools were closed for lack or absence of teachers.
208
One worrying part of
this lack of regulation is regarding content of madrassa curriculums. The propagation of
intolerance is the most obvious worry, but the emphasis on traditional Islamic learning risks
leaving graduates without any of the skills required to engage with the modern labor market
including core skills such as reading, writing, critical thinking or exposure to the sciences.
There is also some evidence challenging the links between madrassas and direct militancy. Some
analysts, including Peter Bergen, have concluded that madrassas do not contribute to anti-
Western terrorism asserting that unsophisticated madrassa graduates have few of the technical or
language skills that would be appropriate for the operational requirements of such attacks.
Bergens study of the 75 terrorists implicated in the five largest attacks against Western targets in
modern history, found that only 12 percent attended madrassas in contrast to 53% who had at
least some university study.
209

Yet madrassas are undoubtedly part of the cause of the Pakistani conflict equation. It was the
storming of the radical Lal Masjid mosque, and its attached madrassas in Islamabad, that ignited
the insurgency. Furthermore in the tribal regions, the levels of technical sophistication required

205
Rebecca Winthrop and Corinne Graff, Beyond Madrassas: Assessing the Links Between Education and Militancy in
Pakistan, Center for Universal Education at Brookings Institute, June 2, 2010. Available at http://tiny.cc/v8x1n
206
Pakistan Education Statistics 2007-2008, Pakistan Ministry of Finance. Available at
http://www.moe.gov.pk/Pakistan%20Education%20Statistics%2007-08.pdf
207
Government of Pakistan, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Overview of Madrasas Registration, March 31, 2010.
208
Saleem H. Ali, Pakistans Madrassas: The Need for Internal Reform, Brookings Doha Center, August 2009. Available at
http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/documents/BROOKINGS_Pakistan_NeedForInternalReform_RoleOfInternationalAssist
ance.pdf
209
Peter Bergen and Swati Pandey, The Madrassa Scapegoat, The Washington Quarterly, (Spring 2006). Available at
http://www.twq.com/06spring/docs/06spring_bergen.pdf

for most operations is not high, and even in Pakistani urban areas, militants can quite easily
blend in, particularly amongst IDP and migrant communities. The same applies for the war in
Afghanistan (or in Kashmir), and indeed large numbers of militants from the Haqqani network in
North Waziristan are believed to double as madrassa students.
210

Small but radical fractions of the madrassa population continue to maintain close links with
militant and terrorist groups, and have played a role in sectarian and anti-Western violence
across Pakistan. These trends, however, do not detract from the fact that many madrassas,
perhaps a large majority, have few direct associations with violence and work towards the noble
purpose of attempting to provide education in areas the government has all but abandoned.

Figure 1.6: Central Boards of Madrassas in Pakistan

Source: National Bureau of Asian Research, http://www.nbr.org/publications/specialreport/pdf/Preview/PR09_IslamEd.pdf,
p. 3.
Symptoms of a Failed State: Forcing Private as the
Substitute for Public Education
Far more important than madrassas may be the governments failure to provide an effective
alternative. Government-provided public schooling continues to be of low quality, characterized
by overcrowding, poor teaching quality, and low educational achievement. A metric highlighting
this failure has been the astronomical growth in alternative private education. In 1983, the share
of private schooling was about 3 percent; by 2008-09 it had risen to 33 percent,
211
as seen in
Figure 1.7.
This entrepreneurial reaction, mainly comprising small mom and pop operations and small
village educational communes may have had a net positive result. It has improved access to
education, with even the poorest segments of the population digging deep to participate. In
Lahore for example, 37% of children in the lowest income-group attend private schools.
212

A study conducted by the World Bank also found that despite government teachers being paid
almost five times as much, private-education significantly outperformed government

210
Corinne Graff and Rebecca Winthrop, Busting Pakistans Madrassa Myth, Foreign Policy, July 1, 2010. Available at
http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/07/01/busting_pakistans_madrassa_myth
211
Pakistan Education Statistics 2008-2009, Pakistan Ministry of Education.
212
Human Development Report 2010, UNDP.


counterparts whose students required as much as two and a half years to catch up.
213
A Pakistani
NGO, the LEAPS Project also had interesting observations on regulatory prospects. Much like
the madrassa sector, large swathes of the private sector were wholly unregulated, yet parental
ability to choose schools enhanced competition, forced minimum quality standards, and
prevented the emergence of monopolistic pricing.
214

Pakistan has made large promises and unveiled ambitious schemes to correct this situation, but
even if they work, they will come too late to help at least 20% of the present population. Neither
is money a guarantor of success, but in the second half of 2009, Pakistan unveiled its National
Education Policy, which seeks to increase educational investment from 2 to 7 percent of GDP,
215

and the country has benefited from an influx in foreign educational aid.
A sustainable and successful policy will require a focus on outcomes, stringent monitoring and
evaluation, alongside a concerted attempt to increase not just access, but also the quality and
content of educational options. It will also require doing so in an equitable manner that does not
inflame grievances. Balochistan for example, already home to a long-running low-intensity
insurgency, suffers chronic neglect, with the worst education statistics from across the country
and more than 90 percent of its rural women have no education at all,
216
yet educational staff are
often identified and resented as agents of the Punjabi-dominated state that discriminates against
Balochs.
Government curriculums are also not without problems. A study by Brookings noted poor
learning and citizenship skills development at government schools with only two-thirds of
students able to subtract single digit numbers and a small proportion able to multiply or divide by
the 3
rd
grade.
217
Similarly, the study pointed to lack of relevance of schooling to the marketplace,
with few graduates equipped to compete in the growing areas such as telecommunications,
information technology, or financial services.
218
The content of government textbooks also is
often parochial or prejudiced, particularly pertaining to India,
More generally, mismanagement, political manipulation, and corruption are severe obstacles.
Ghost schools that exist only on paper are not uncommon and as for those schools that actually
exist, many are in abysmal condition. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistans 2007 report
estimated that of 63,000 state schools in Punjab, 5,000 were declared dangerous, 26,000 had no
electricity and 16,000 no toilets.
219
Education reforms are also problematic given that Pakistan
operates primarily on the federal structure, but district governments are primarily responsible for
schooling. This creates added layers of complexity in terms of leakages to corruption as well as
overcoming the opposition of landed feudal elites who remain wary of empowering the poor.
Throwing money at the problem without a focus on actual implementation, quality of effort, and
matching efforts at national economic reform and job creations may end up doing little. In the

213
Tahir Andrabi, Jishnu Das, Asim Ijaz Khwaja, Tara Vishwanath and Tristran Zajonc, Pakistan: Learning and Educational
Achievements in Punjab Schools (LEAPS), LEAPS, February 20, 2007. Available at
http://www.leapsproject.org/assets/publications/LEAPS_Report_FINAL.pdf
214
Ibid.
215
National Education Policy 2009, GoP Ministry of Pakistan, November 2009. Available at
http://www.moe.gov.pk/nepr/NEP_2009.PDF
216
Pakistan Education Statistics 2008-2009, Pakistan Ministry of Education.
217
Winthrop and Graff, Beyond Madrassas: Assessing the Links Between Education and Militancy in Pakistan.
218
Ibid.
219
State of Human Rights in 2007, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. Available at http://goo.gl/EV9Yl

1990s, the World Bank and other international donors spent hundreds of millions of dollars in
Pakistans educational sector with little to show for it. In fact, during the same period, enrollment
for boys declined, teachers were still not hired on the basis of merit and little evidence appeared
of any improved attainment standards.
220
Without a focus on outcomes, instead of a reliance on
inputs, this could repeat itself today.

Figure 1.7: Provincial Public-Private Breakdowns in
Educational Sector

Source: Center for Universal Education, Brookings Institution, http://goo.gl/ylQqf
!

220
Nancy Birdsall and Molly Kinder, The US Aid Surge to Pakistan: Repeating a Failed Experiment? Lessons for US
Policymakers from the World Banks Social-Sector Lending of the 1990s, Center for Global Development, March 17, 2010.
Available at http://www.cgdev.org/content/publications/detail/1423965/


2. The current crisis: patterns of militancy
and violence
The mix of problems that foment violence and threaten Pakistans stability are far more complex
than can be summarized in a short introduction. It is clear from this overview, however, that the
present patterns of violence in Pakistan have deep underlying causes, and that they equally clear
affect the entire nation, and are not concentrated in the FATA or near the Balochi border with
Afghanistan. A variety of militant groups operate across Pakistan with complex modes of
interaction, with varying targeting scopes, and varying degrees of affiliation with the state.
Data on violence in Pakistan suffers from a variety of problems and may not fully capture the
instability inside Pakistan. Official government figures may suffer from attempts at
manipulation, while security worries and the remoteness of many areas, complicates the
comprehensiveness of US and NGO reporting. Nonetheless, their data is useful in identifying
important trends if not in providing definitive statistical data, and this section relies heavily on
that provided by the US National Counter Terrorism Center and a non-affiliated independent
Pakistani think-tank, the Pak Institute for Peace Studies.
The State of Militancy
Violence in Pakistan is extensive, and has steadily escalated in recent years. 2010 has been an
extremely bloody year for Pakistan as can be seen in Figure 2.1,

Figure 2.1: Attacks in 2010 by Type

Source: Pak Institutefor Peace Studies, Pakistan Security Report 2010.
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Figures 2.2 and 2.3 further highlight that violence in Pakistan is national. Despite the
concentration of attention on the FATA and the KPK, the Baloch separatist insurgency is a
significant independent source of violence. Militant attacks in the Pakistani heartland, in the
Punjab, in the financial capital of Karachi, and in the rest of Sindh province, are also on the rise,
with dangerous implications for Pakistani stability. There has been a significant drop off in
reported attacks in the KPK in 2010, perhaps because of Pakistani military operations in the area,
but it remains to be seen if these gains will be sustainable.
Figure 2.4 further examines this data to highlight the lethality of these attacks, and the
distribution of casualties across the country. Attacks in the Punjab and in Karachi have been
numerically lower but more lethal per attack, perhaps a function of the operational sophistication
required to mount these attacks relative to attacks in the tribal Pashtun and Baloch areas.

Figure 2.2: Militant Attack Levels by Province: 2008
2010
!

Source: Pak Institute of Peace Studies, Pakistan Security Reports 2010, 2009, 2008.

kk lA1A
8alochlsL
an
un[ab karachl Slndh
CllglL-
8alusLan
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kashmlr
lslamaba
d
2008 1009 383 692 33 21 4 4 9
2009 1137 339 792 46 24 6 3 3 10
2010 439 720 737 62 93 18 13 3 6
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200


Figure 2.3: Density of Terrorist Incidents in Pakistan
(2007-2010)

Source: National Counter Terrorism Center, Worldwide Incident Tracking System, http://www.ntc.gov; Andrew
Gagel, Patterns in Terrorism in North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and South Asia 2007-2010, CSIS,
June 29, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/ok7hoA

Figure 2.4: Militant Lethality by Province in 2010

Source: Pak Institute for Peace Studies, Monthly Security Reports, JanuaryDecember 2010.
kk
8alochlsL
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ln[ured 1832 1117 1433 897 436 30 16 28 33
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000

Militants use a variety of weaponry to conduct their attacks, but IEDs are now believed to be the
insurgent weapon of choice. Although the data provided in Figure 2.5 shows a marginal decline
in the quantity of reported IED attacks between 2009 and 2010, figures provided by the ISI
actually show a 145 percent increase in IED attacks in 2010 over 2007, rising from 413 incidents
to 1,015.
221
The rise in quantity and complexity of IEDs in Pakistan is generally seen as a result
of spillover of technical expertise from Afghanistan, but ammonium nitrate, the primary
explosive ingredient, is sourced domestically. In March 2010, men associated with militant
groups were caught in Lahore with over 6,000 pounds of ammonium nitrate, and in 2011, the US
Department of Defense stated that over 85 percent of the material used in Afghan IED attacks
comes from Pakistani ammonium nitrate.
222

Figure 2.5: Militant Attacks by Weapon

Source: National Counter Terrorism Center, Worldwide Incident Tracking System, http://www.ntc.gov
Examining militant targets in Figures 2.6 and 2.7 makes it apparent that the brunt of violent
activity in Pakistan is borne by civilians both in terms of the human toll to innocents, as well as
the intense degradation of already scarce civilian infrastructure. Poorly trained and equipped
security institutions such as the police, paramilitary and private-security forces have found
themselves heavily targeted, more so than the regular army. However, it is important to note that
the NTC data may not fully capture the scale of violence.

221
Chris Albritton, Improvised explosive attacks soar in Pakistan, Reuters, July 5, 2011. Available at http://reut.rs/kMxJII
222
Anwar Iqbal, Ban sought on production of fertilizer used in IED, Dawn, July 4, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/jUJ3Od
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2008 336 710 74 32 391 68 144 34 190 73 46
2009 383 678 64 123 662 32 171 23 200 68 1 73
2010 470 364 74 106 307 22 60 23 66 30 2 29
2011 187 181 23 10 217 21 18 6 20 4 10
0
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200
300
400
300
600
700
800


Figure 2.6: Militant Attacks by Target (Human)


Figure 2.7: Militant Attacks by Target (Facility)

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Pakistan is critical for the US and NATO war-effort in Afghanistan and hosts essential transit
routes to supply coalition forces. The primary routes travel through insecure regions of the
FATA and Balochistan. Attacks have grown against NATO materiel traversing these routes as
seen in Figure 2.8, with the majority concentrated in Balochistan.

Figure 2.8: NATO-Related Attacks

The data provided makes it apparent that Pakistan is suffering from extremely high levels of
violence. As the previous chapter has shown, this violence has had a wide range of causes: along
religious, anti-state, sectarian, ethno-political, and criminal axes. Figure 2.9 delineates these
sources of violence by groups. These groupings are not absolute and are best estimates given
current trends.
Various conflicts are waged within or from Pakistan. The armed groups populating these
conflicts often overlap. Some operate with single-minded focus on a certain objective, while
others have hybridized their targeting scopes, often participating in several conflicts
simultaneously.
The Pakistani state has varying degrees of tolerance for violent groups operating within its
territory. Some groups serve Pakistani strategic interests and are afforded a high degree of
tolerance; others have attacked the state, been identified as a threat, and are ruthlessly pursued.
Some groups, particularly the former Kashmir-centric jihadis, may simultaneously participate in
multiple conflicts that can impact Pakistani security and insecurity simultaneously. In this case,
security forces are likely to attempt to delineate between factions within the organization, target
those arrayed against it, and seek to split those amenable to its interests from the rest.

2008 2009 2010 2011 (!uly)
Slndh 0 0 2 1
un[ab 0 0 6 1
kk 4 7 8 8
lA1A 2 4 17 10
8alochlsLan 2 14 66 40
0
20
40
60
80
100
120


Figure 2.9: Militant Groups in Pakistan

Confederations Militant Groups Targeting Scope Pakistani
Tolerance
Pakistani Taliban
(Tehreek-i-Taliban
Pakistan, TTP) and
affiliates
Collection of semi-autonomous
regional networks across FATA
under emir Hakimullah Mehsud.
Constituent groups include
Mehsud factions; TSNM; Lashkar-
e-Islam; Wazir factions, and other
local groups

Affiliates include Punjabi Taliban
(splinter elements of Kashmiri
jihad and sectarian groups); Ghazi
Force
Pakistani state
Anti-Shia
Western interests
Criminal activity

None
Global Jihadis Al-Qaeda; Brigade 313; Lashkar-
e-Jhangvi (LeJ); Lashkar-e-Taiba;
Tahrik-i-Taliban

Pakistani state
Western interests
Indian interests
Afghan interests (low
capacity)
223

Low to medium
Afghan Taliban Quetta Shura Taliban (QST);
Haqqani Network (HQN); Hizb-i-
Islami;
Western interests
Afghan Security Forces
Criminal activity
Medium to High
Sectarian Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP);
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LEJ); al-
Qaeda; Islamic Movement of
Uzbekistan (IMU); Jaish-e-
Mohammad (JeM); Sipah-e-
Mohammad (SMP)
Anti-Shia
Intra-Sunni
Anti-Sufi (limited
degree)
224

Anti-Sunni (only SMP)
Medium
Kashmir Jihadis Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT); Jaish-e-
Mohammad (JeM); Harkat-al-
Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI); Harkat-al-
Mujahideen (HUM)
Indian interests

High
Baloch Separatists Baloch Liberation Army (BLA); Pakistani state None

223
Panetta: There may be fewer than 50 Al-Qaeda fighters in Afghanistan, Huffington Post/AP, June 27, 2010. Available at
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/27/leon-panetta-there-may-be_n_627012.html
224
Max Fisher, Who Attacked Pakistan Sufi Landmark and Why, The Atlantic Wire, July 2, 2010. Available at
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/opinions/view/opinion/Who-Attacked-Pakistan-Sufi-Landmark-and-Why-4207

Balochistan Student Organization
(BSO); Balochistan Republican
Army (BRA); Balochistan
Peoples Liberation Front (BPLF);
Popular Front for Armed
Resistance (PFAR)
Anti-Punjabi
Criminal activity
Ethno-political Muttahida (MQM); Awami
National (ANP); Peoples (PPP);
Jamaat-e-Ulema-e-Islam (JUI);
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI)
Three way Pashtun-
Sindhi-Mohajir conflict
Religious versus
Mainstream
Medium to High

Source: Created by the authors


3. the pashtun belt and beyond
The Pashtuns are the second largest ethnic group in Pakistan and are concentrated in the Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province (formerly the North West Frontier Province) and the seven
agencies of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). In between them lie six Frontier
Regions, providing a buffer between the settled KPK from the tribal FATA. There is also a
significant Pashtun migrant population inside the Punjab and the Sindh, particularly in Karachi.
The KPK marks the beginning of Pakistans periphery, and exemplifies the various ills affecting
Pakistan. The KPK has been under-developed, under-policed and mismanaged, which many
Pashtuns perceive to be as a result of historical discrimination leveled against them by a Punjabi-
Mohajir alliance that dominates the government, the bureaucracy, and civil-sector. Pashtun
nationalism is feared by the Pakistani state for its separatist potential, and security planners have
often used religious radicals to hedge against its rise. The Pashtuns of the KPK are however not
nearly as alienated or excluded from the state as other minority groups such as the Baloch, and
many enjoy high positions within the government.
Some aspects of the FATA are little changed from colonial times. It has never been integrated
into the Pakistani mainstream and colonial forms of governance and law enforcement serve as
administrative mechanisms. National identity is weak, with many FATA Pashtuns looking to
their kin across the border in Afghanistan, instead of towards Islamabad.
Tribal identity is strong, and if were it not for the Durand Line and a smattering of border
outposts, it would be impossible to tell where Pakistan ends and Afghanistan begins. Tribes are
represented on both sides of the border, and show little regard for its formal niceties, resulting in
largely unmonitored flows of people and goods. The FATA is strategically located as the launch
pad for Pakistani influence into Afghanistan, and the Pakistani security establishment resents any
domestic or external intrusion into its affairs in the area.
The region is awash in arms from nearly three decades of unremitting war. In the wake of the
2001 US-led invasion it has also hosted an exodus of Taliban militants fleeing US forces. Many
have since recuperated, and used the FATA as a rear staging area, and as sanctuary for their key
command nodes.
Moreover, the aftermath of Islamabads storming of the Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) in Islamabad
in 2007 catalyzed a domestic insurgency that is now manifested in a war against all symbols of
the Pakistani state,. The insurgency has spread rapidly across the KPK, and now includes high-
profile terrorist attacks in the urban centers of the interior. By 2008-09, militants had gained
unprecedented territorial control across the FATA and the KPK, although since then Pakistani
military offensives have blunted, and in some cases, reversed militant momentum. Various other
groups, including transnational terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda, continue to find refuge in the
ungoverned spaces of the FATA.

A Shattered Political and Economic
Landscape
Political and economic factors have been critical drivers of resentment and conflict in the
Pashtun belt, particularly inside the FATA. Under the conventions of the Frontier Crimes
Legislation (FCR) of 1901 and Articles 246 and 247 of the states constitution, the Pashtuns of
the FATA are essentially some of the last subjects of colonialism. FATA residents are
disenfranchised from the bureaucratic, legal, and judicial conventions of the rest of Pakistan and
Political Agents (PA), senior civilian bureaucrats wield inordinate judicial and executive
power. PAs are vested with large unaudited pools of money to secure tribal loyalties
225
and no
regulatory mechanism exists to check their power. The courts cannot challenge their orders, and
they are under no requirement to obey the recommendations of tribal jirgas.
226

Administrative Systems
Under the nikat system, hereditary tribal maliks (elders) have been selected and employed as
intermediaries and funds and resources are channeled through them from the PAs. Theoretically
designed to represent and advocate for their tribes, maliks are not always well perceived by their
tribesmen, and many see them as servile and corrupt with all the trappings of feudal overlords.
227

The archaic nature of the nikat system compounds these problems and resource shares have
rarely changed, sometimes for almost a century. In South Waziristan for example, despite the
proportions of Mehsud and Wazir tribesmen largely leveling out by the end of the century, the
Mehsuds continue to receive some 75% of resources and development funds as per the
demographic patterns of almost a century ago.
228

This top-down decision-making structure has failed to include democratic inputs from tribes, and
fostered patronage networks and clientelism.
229
The system has been further undermined by the
growing independence of mullahs (religious leaders) since the 1970s. Traditionally mullahs were
subservient to the maliks, depending on them for income and protection, but since the Soviet
jihad and the influx of Wahabbist petrodollars from the Gulf, they have grown to become an
increasingly independent source of power.
230

The FCR, which began as a tool of colonial subjugation, has various other provisions that deny
FATA residents the basic rights of other Pakistanis. These include the lack of any semblance of
an independent judiciary, leading a lawyer to proclaim that the system permits no wakeel

225
Mehreen Farooq, Hedieh Mirahmedi and Waleed Ziad, Developing FATA: A White Paper for USAID, World
Organization for Resource Development, December 14, 2009. Available at
http://www.worde.org/files/WhitePapers/WORDEWhitePaper-DevelopingFATA-MehreenFarooqMirahmediWaleed.pdf
226
FATA: The Dark Region of Pakistan, Asian Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Network. Available at
http://www.aitpn.org/IRQ/vol-II/Issue-02/issue06.htm
227
Ibid
228
Shuja Nawaz and Arnaud de Bochgrave, FATA: A Most Dangerous Place, CSIS, January 2009. Available at
http://csis.org/files/media/csis/pubs/081218_nawaz_fata_web.pdf
229
Mehreen Farooq, Hedieh Mirahmedi and Waleed Ziad, Developing FATA: A White Paper for USAID.
230


(lawyer), no daleel (argument) and no appeal.
231
The FCR permits the use of collective
punishment as a law enforcement mechanism, in violation of both the Geneva Convention and
the Pakistani constitution. Punishments meted out can range from blockades, demolitions of
houses and villages as well as fines, all of which can be invoked with little, if any, oversight.
In May 2008 for example, army bulldozers and demolition teams systematically destroyed the
town of Spinkai during Operation Zalzala in South Waziristan in retribution for the supposed
harboring of militants, including its bazaars, hospital, shops, and petrol station.
232
Brigadier Ali
Abbas claimed this was lenient saying, As per the frontier crimes regulations, I should have
destroyed everyones house but I didnt. Call it my weakness. Call it kindness.
233
Similarly,
journalist Imtiaz Gul recounts an anecdote, where a Political Agent demanded US$178,000 in
payment for a militant attack on the phone system. The fee was later negotiated down to
US$12,000, but nonetheless constituted a hefty sum.
234
Such severe punishments are particularly
resented today, when communities often have little control over the actions of militants.
A political vacuum further undermines any representation of FATA residents. Political parties
are legally banned; there is no representation at the provincial level and the limited
representation in the federal National Assembly is little more than a faade since acts of
Parliament are not recognized in the FATA without direct Presidential approval.
235

The Weakening of Traditional Structures
Trends in the neighboring KPK have helped empower militants at the expense of traditional
governance structure. During 2002-2008, the KPK was governed by a religious coalition, the
Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), which is a collection of five major Islamist parties, most, if
not all of which have links to militant groups.
236
Rising on a platform that promised to eradicate
nepotism, corruption, and incompetence, MMA rule was marked by a continuation of all three,
and focused instead on restricting civil liberties and Islamizing the public sphere.
237
The most
notorious of its edicts were in the 2005 Hisba Bill, which amounted to a strict implementation of
sharia across the KPK.
The Musharraf government tolerated the MMA and its various agendas in exchange for a captive
voting bloc to legitimize his military government.
238
The MMA showed little inclination to
tackle growing radicalism in the KPK, and largely turned a blind eye to the Talibanization of the
province, and the neighboring FATA.
239
The end result was that Taliban militants increasingly
found space within the KPK to operate, dramatically increasing their presence, both through

231
Ziad Haider, Mainstreaming Pakistans Tribal Belt: A Human Rights and Security Imperative, Belfer Center, January
2009. Available at http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/files/xstandard/Student%20discussion%20paper%200901.pdf
232
Declan Walsh, Demolished by the Pakistani Army: The Frontier Village Punished for Harboring the Taliban, The
Guardian, May 20, 2008. Available at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/may/20/pakistan
233
Ibid.
234
Imtiaz Gul, The Most Dangerous Place: Pakistans Lawless Frontier, (London: Penguin Books, 2010), Chapter 5.
235
Ziad Haider, Mainstreaming Pakistans Tribal Belt: A Human Rights and Security Imperative.
236
Magnus Norell, The Taliban and the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, China and Eurasia Forum Quarterly, Vol. 5, No. 3,
(2007). Available at http://www.silkroadstudies.org/new/docs/CEF/Quarterly/August_2007/Norell.pdf
237
Hassan Abbas, Inside Pakistans North-West Frontier Province, New America Foundation, April 2010. Available at
http://counterterrorism.newamerica.net/sites/newamerica.net/files/policydocs/abbas_0.pdf
238
Ibid.
239
Magnus Norell, The Taliban and the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal.

terrorist attacks such as the June 2009 attack on the Pearl Intercontinental Hotel in Peshawar, and
through indirect control of vast swathes of territory, such as the TTP control of large parts of the
KPKs Malakand Division in 2008.
The convergence of these trends has helped tribal entrepreneurs in the Taliban to challenge the
existing structure.
240
In a concerted campaign, Taliban militants had killed at least 600 maliks by
2009, and forced many others into hiding, all but uprooting the traditional tribal structure.
241

Many maliks remain reluctant to return in spite of Pakistani military operations inside the FATA,
sometimes for good reason. One malik for the Mamond tribe was assassinated on his way to a
meeting with the Prime Minister in July 2008,
242
and a Time Magazine article details how, even
after a robust offensive in South Waziristan and the assurances of the army, a group of maliks
from the Mehsud tribe arrived at the office of COAS Kayani in a car with blacked out windows
to prevent the Taliban from identifying them.
243

The Taliban assault has been successful in large part because its narrative has harnessed elements
of class struggle. Pitting the kashars (the young, poor with minor lineages) against the
mashars (the privileged), they have successfully depicted the agent-malik nexus as a predatory
and privileged class unto themselves.
244

They have also benefited from the fact that the tribal system has been in decline since the 1970s
with elders increasingly losing ground to new generations of young and brash militants. Such
trends are not surprising given the pressures of near constant war, and the accompanying waves
of drug money and advanced small arms into the region for several decades. Additionally, the
entrance of the Army and its direct dealings with tribes and militants has further undermined the
legitimacy and relevance of local maliks.
245

Chronic Underdevelopment
Class divides are exacerbated by the chronic underdevelopment of the FATA, making it an easy
recruiting ground for militant and criminal groups. On virtually all human-development metrics,
the FATA ranks well below neighboring KPK and the rest of Pakistan, as can be seen in Figures
3.1 to 3.3. Some 60% of the population is below the poverty line,
246
while the education and
health sectors can best be described as abysmal. Literacy rates lie well below the national
average and female literacy in particular languishes at a mere 3 percent.
247

240
See Antonio Giustozzi for an example in Afghan context; Antonio Giustozzi, Koran, Kalashnikov and Laptop: The Neo-
Taliban Insurgency in Afghanistan, (New York: Columbia University Press, 2007), pg. 16.
241
Safdar Sial, Taliban on the March: Threat Assessment and Security Implications for the Region, Peace and Security
Review, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2
nd
Quarter, 2009. Available through ProQuest,
242
Anwarullah Khan, Pro-Govt Tribal Leader Killed in Ambush, Dawn, July 22, 2008. Available at
http://archives.dawn.com/dawnftp/72.249.57.55/dawnftp/2008/07/22/top6.htm
243
Tim McGirk, Pakistans Taliban War: Bringing Back the Music, Time Magazine, March 3, 2010. Available at
244
Shuja Nawaz and Arnaud de Bochgrave, FATA: A Most Dangerous Place.
245
Rahimullah Yusufzai, An Agenda for Change in FATA, The News, July 27, 2010. Available at
http://www.cssforum.com.pk/general/news-articles/36731-agenda-change-fata-rahimullah-yusufzai.html
246
247
FATA Sustainable Development Plan 2007-2015, Civil Secretariat FATA. Available at
http://www.worldsecuritynetwork.com/documents/Booklet_on_FATA_SDP_2006_-_15.pdf


Significant discrepancies exist between agencies. For example, the Upper Dir, a hotbed of
militancy in the FATA, has a population-hospital bed ratio of 6909 compared to 550 for
Peshawar, the KPK capital.
248
Much of this underdevelopment has been due to the historical
under-allocation of development resources to the region, although there has been a significant
increase in funding allocations in recent years. Figure 3.4 shows funds have risen from 1.18
billion rupees in FY20012002 to 15 billion rupees allocated for FY20102011. Both the US and
Pakistan have identified the communications sector as a critical sector to help counter extremist
voices inside the FATA,
249
and it has seen a major expansion of funding allocations
Such increases are immensely positive trends but may still be inadequate. The 6.6 billion rupees
in funding allocated for 2008 represented a per capita investment of 905 rupees per person
compared to the Pakistani average of 2,044 rupees,
250
thus the present investment may only lift
the FATA to parity with the rest of the country. Inputs alone are no guarantor of success, and
given decades of chronic underinvestment, any development strategy will require a sustained
period of commitment.
Gainful employment opportunities are scarce, forcing a substantial portion of the population to
migrate to Pakistans more settled areas or to the Gulf, or rely upon the criminal and parallel
economies to survive. In 2007, the official unemployment rate was around 25%
251
, although the
real number is likely much higher. Subsistence agriculture that has held together other
impoverished parts of South Asia is difficult at best in the FATAs terrain. Only 18 percent of
land available for cultivation, of which only 44% is irrigated. As a result 44 people farm every
irrigated hectare, compared to the national average of 9.
252

The little industry that exists inside the FATA has come under significant strain in recent years.
A recent government study estimated that of all business closures between 1987 and 2009,
67.03% occurred within the militancy prone years of 2007-2009.
253
Problems facing industries
have included a severe deterioration of law and order, unavailability of sustainable sources of
raw materials or skilled labor, frequent power breakdowns, problems in acquiring credit, lack of
legal protections and high transportation costs. A few examples emphasize these challenges: only
0.94% of businessmen in the FATA were able to acquire bank loans, over 42% of the workforce
is estimated to be illiterate and over 92% of workers had no skills when they started working.
254

Today, the FATA remains a precarious state, with little forward progress on essential reforms,
and despite various promises remains in an ambiguous political state. Various politicians

248
District Wise Statistics, Khyber Pahktunkhwa Bureau of Statistics. Available at
http://www.khyberpakhtunkhwa.gov.pk/Departments/BOS/nwfpdev-statis-health-tab-109.php, accessed 4/21/2011
249
Pakistan Communications Plan, Office of the Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Available
at http://publicintelligence.info/PakistanComPlan2010.pdf
250
Cost of Conflict in FATA, Planning and Development Department, FATA Secretariat, April 2009. Available at
http://fata.gov.pk/files/costconflict.pdf
251
District Wise Statistics, Khyber Pahktunkhwa Bureau of Statistics. Available at
http://www.khyberpakhtunkhwa.gov.pk/Departments/BOS/nwfpdev-statis-health-tab-109.php, accessed 4/21/2011
252
Habibullah Khan, Social Sector Agenda and Post Crisis Needs Assessment, FATA Secretariat, Available at
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/PAKISTANEXTN/Resources/FATAPresentation-EAD.pdf
253
Survey Enumeration of Industries, Service Sector Entities, Labor Force and Identifying Constraints in FATA, CAMP and
FATA Development Authority, October 2010. Available at http://fatada.gov.pk/Docs/Industries/IndustriesSurveyReport.pdf
254
Ibid.

including President Zardari have promised to reform the FCR, curtail the power of PAs, and
allow political parties to function
255
, although to date little, if any, progress has been made.
Pakistani military operations, no matter how robust, cannot tackle these underlying causes of
militancy and can provide little more than a temporary stopgap. Similarly an influx of
development activity through the present structure, while welcome, will be channeled through
the maliks. This may do little more than benefit a small number of politically connected and
influential elites who already dominate the official economy and can control who benefits from
new inputs. Furthermore the overbearing focus on inputs is not ideal. In an illustration of its
inadequacies, the FATA actually has a better student-to-teacher ratio of 31:1, when compared
with the rest of Pakistan and its 47:1.
256
Yet, the quality of education remains much lower.
Reform will require combating the entrenched interests of powerful powerbrokers, including the
civilian bureaucrats and local elites who benefit from the status quo, and also the military which
is averse to any civilian oversight over the strategically important area. Furthermore, the social
dynamics of the FATA themselves cannot be discounted including the conservatism of tribes and
their deeply held (and often accurate) suspicions of interventions from the center being little
more than Punjabi attempts to further control over the Pashtuns.
A recent assessment by the New America Foundation polled FATA residents on issues that were
very important to them, and found that FATA residents overwhelmingly identified human
services; 81.4% identified lack of jobs, 67.3% cited lack of schools and education, 70.8% lack of
roads and good transportation and 70% cited poor healthcare.
In contrast, only 60% cited the U.S. drone program as very important.
257
Similarly when asked
about future strategies, human development investments such as new jobs (90%), building new
schools (80.3%), improving healthcare (82.3%), and improving the economy (82.9%)
significantly outpolled security issues such as defeating Taliban fighters (52.3%) or expelling
foreign fighters (58.9%).
258
Even in controversial social arenas such as female education, 61.3%
of those polled thought building new government schools for girls was very important.
259

255
256
FATA Sustainable Development Plan 2007-2015
257
Public Opinion in Pakistans Tribal Regions, New America Foundation, September 2010, Available at
http://www.terrorfreetomorrow.org/upimagestft/FATApoll1.pdf
258
Ibid
259
Ibid


Figure 3.1: Literacy Rates

Source: Pakistan Ministry of Finance; FATA Secretariat.
!
Figure 3.2: Educational Enrollment

Source: FATA Secretariat; Government of NWFP; Pakistan Ministry of Education.

37
30
13.8
7
12.8
37.4
9.3
36.7
8.4
32.7
23
13.8
16.1
20.3
0 10 20 30 40 30 60
aklsLan (2008/09)
kk (2008/09)
8a[aur
l8 8annu
l8 ul khan
l8 kohaL
l1 Lakkl
l8 eshawar
l8 1ank
khyber
kurram
Mohmand
Crakzal
SouLh WazlrlsLan
69.79
22
12.2
19.3
34.7
18.8
44.8
31.6
38.2
33.2
21.8
27
28.3 29.18
4.8
1.4
2.4
14.4
4.7
6.3 6.4
3.1
1.6
2.6 2.7
11.4
rlmary
LnrollmenL
(6-10yrs)
Secondary
LnrollmenL
(10-12 yrs)

Figure 3.3: Population Per Hospital Bed

Source: Government of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bureau of Statistics; National Institute of Population Studies,
http://bit.ly/km324c.
Figure 3.4: Annual Development Program (ADP)
Funding Allocation for FATA
(in PKR billions)

!
Source: Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bureau of Statistics; Brookings Institution, http://bit.ly/diYWxi; One
Pakistan News; http://bit.ly/mcGFvA
0
300
1000
1300
2000
2300
3000
3300
4000
4300
3000
2001-2002 2003-2006 2007-2008 2008-2009 2010-2011
1oLal Au lunds 1.18 4.607 6.6 7.616 13
Lducauon 1.1 1.393 1.606 2.673
PealLh 0.436 0.993 0.708 0.829 1.279
Communlcauons 1.909 2.193 3.826
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16


The Militant Landscape
The militant landscape in the Pashtun belt is diverse and dynamic, and incorporates at least three
major militant groups and alliances, including the Pakistani Taliban, the Afghan Taliban, and
transnational outfits. The large number of actual sub-groupings within these conglomerations
renders it virtually impossible to adequately illuminate every local dyadic conflict. Rather the
aim is to highlight and expose the trends in how groups interact and the many variables that
affect their relationships. Militancy in the FATA, as in Afghanistan, is a complex adaptive
system, i.e. one with multiple interconnected elements that change and adapt,
260
with
opportunism and overlapping interests often informing collaboration.
Several separate but overlapping conflicts are taking place on various axes; and are playing out
on international, regional and domestic planes; they include a global jihad by groups such as al-
Qaeda, regionally focused jihads in Afghanistan and Kashmir and various domestic wars
including religious struggles to replace local cultures and traditions with hardline Deobandi
tenets, a sectarian war pitting Sunnis against Shias, and an entrenched militant-criminal nexus
that is not a war in the strict sense, but is a key driver for all the above.
A diverse array of militant and terrorist groups have emerged and grown inside the FATA and
the KPK. Some groups are focused solely on one war, others are engaged in multiple struggles,
and nearly all use criminal activities to fund operations. Opportunism and overlapping interests
often shape cooperation, while tribal identities, their leadership abilities, and historical relations
with the Pakistani state or other militant groups, can all complicate or facilitate their interactions.
Most groups have distinct agendas that they prioritize above others, and cooperation is often
predicated on advancing these objectives, but priorities may change with time and experience.
The vast majority of groups adhere to hardline Deobandi and extremist puritanical tenets, which
help inform and guide their actions. Groups operating inside the tribal belt include the Pakistani
Taliban and Afghan Taliban conglomerations along with a host of other smaller militants who
can operate independently, embed fully, or selectively cooperate with the larger conglomerations
for specific purposes. They can be force multipliers for certain missions, ideological guides,
operational facilitators or mediators, or a combination of the above. Other militant groups may
be little more than criminals in militant garb, using a militant brand for power.
In broader context, the differences between groups may be declining in importance because of
growing convergence and radicalization of groups as a result of their associations inside the
FATA. Terrorism expert Steven Tankel offers some instructive analysis, noting that the more
entrenched Lashkar becomes in the NWFP/FATA, the more robust these connections and
collaborations become.
261
His comments allude specifically to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), but
have broader applicability, particularly for groups that have entered the FATA in more recent
years.

260
Seth Jones, In the Graveyard of Empires, (New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 2010). pg. 224.
261
Stephen Tankel, Lashkar-e-Taiba in Perspective: An Evolving Threat, New America Foundation, February 2010.
Available at http://carnegieendowment.org/files/Lashkar-e-Taiba_in_Perspective.pdf

The Pakistani Taliban and Local Affiliates
The Pakistani Taliban, or the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), is a key threat to Pakistans
stability. Its reach has vastly expanded since 2007, and despite fairly robust recent military
offensives, it remains a potent force that is able to displace and resurrect quite rapidly. The TTP
is essentially a conglomeration of various local networks that simultaneously cooperate and
compete with each other and its presence is manifested in different ways. Depending on local
conditions, these can include anti-state violence, inter-tribal warfare, sectarian violence, support
or participation in the Afghan jihad, and even simply criminal warlordism.
The charismatic militant leader Beitullah Mehsud created the TTP in 2007, organizing it around
a 40 personal council with representatives from all seven agencies of the FATA, and several
districts of the NWFP.
262
The Mehsud tribe of South Waziristan has been a key leadership node,
spawning both emirs Beitullah, and his successor Hakimullah Mehsud -- as well as senior
commanders such as Waliur Rehman and Qari Hussain Mehsud.
263

Initially Hafiz Gul Bahadur, a senior Taliban commander of the Uthumai Wazir tribe in North
Waziristan, was nominated as second-in-command, but in an example of the shifts in militant
relationships, he has increasingly moved his organization away from the Mehsuds to prioritize
his war in Afghanistan.
264
In conjunction with Maulvi Nazir of South Waziristan Gul Bahadur
has also formed a rival counterbalancing faction called the Muqami Tehrik-i-Taliban (Local
Taliban).
265

Known as a pragmatist, Gul Bahadur has diverged from Mehsud TTP strategy and forged
complex relationships with a variety of actors. He has opposed battling Pakistani troops, yet
occasionally mounted attacks such as that on a military convoy in 2009.
266
Similarly, he has
signed peace deals with the Pakistani military, yet allowed Mehsud fighters to displace into his
territory while fleeing Pakistani military operations in other agencies.
267
Other internal schisms
within the TTP are often more violent and less nuanced. In June 2011, against reports of alleged
TTP infighting, an unknown attacker killed Shakirullah Shakir, a key TTP figure and a
spokesperson for the groupss suicide-bombing squad, the Fidayeen-e-Islam group.
268

262
Brian Fishman, The Battle for Pakistan: Militancy and Conflict across the FATA and NWFP, New America Foundation,
April 2010. Available at http://counterterrorism.newamerica.net/sites/newamerica.net/files/policydocs/fishman.pdf
263
Mansur Khan Mahsud, The new, new face of the Pakistani Taliban? Foreign Policy, April 30, 2010. Available at
http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/04/30/the_new_new_face_of_the_pakistani_taliban
264
Charlie Szrom. The Sruvivalist of North Waziristan: Hafiz Gul Bahadur Biography and Analysis, American Enterprise
Institute, April 6, 2009. Available at http://www.criticalthreats.org/pakistan/survivalist-north-waziristan-hafiz-gul-bahadur-
biography-and-analysis
265
Caroline Wadhams and Colin Cookman, Faces of Pakistans Militant Leaders: In-Depth Profiles of Major Militant
Commanders, Center for American Progress, July 22, 2009. Available at
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/07/talibanleaders.html
266
Anand Gopal, Mansur Khan Mahsud and Brian Fishman, Inside Pakistans Tribal Frontier: North Waziristan, Foreign
Policy, April 23, 2010. Available at
http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/04/23/inside_pakistans_tribal_frontier_north_waziristan
267
Ibid.
268
Zia Khan, Isolated Hakimullah losing control of TTP, Express Tribune, July 5, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/jqrxEy


Figure 3.5: Tribes and Insurgent Groups in the FATA

Source: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Overall, however, the TTP has displayed more continuity than change. Its primarily domestic
agenda has made it a key powerbroker in the FATA, emerging in terrain where once only the
government and the tribes existed. Today both are on the retreat, as the TTP moves to replace the
local tribal, cultural and administrative codes with its own religious one, all but destroying the
traditional jirga system with a systematic campaign of assassination against tribal maliks.
The TTP has often used dysfunctional local governance as a recruiting tool. It has offered a
system based on sharia as an alternative model, and has benefited from parallel sharia courts and
inter-tribal conflict resolution mechanisms that are seen as more effective than their government
counterparts. The TSNM, a TTP constituent in the Malakand Division of the KPK, rose in large
part due to these reasons. Similarly in Mohmand in 2008, the TTP resolved a dispute between
different clans of the Safi tribe, which the governments FATA Development Authority had been
unable to achieve.
269
In this case such resolution gave the TTP local prestige as well as partial
control over a major quarry in the area.
In other agencies, particularly the Khyber where Mangal Baghs Lashkar-e-Islam (LeI) is
prominent, the overall militant presence is manifested in ways that resemble criminal
warlordism. Bagh has portrayed his struggle in class terms and attacked industrialists and other
affluent communities and preys on vulnerable minority communities. The LeI is known to levy
jizya (tax) upon the minority Sikh and Christian community in Khyber, and punish non-
payments with kidnappings and death. The group continues to maintain influence in settled areas
of the Khyber despite multiple Pakistani military operations in the region, although its reach has

269
Pir Zubair Shah and Jane Perlez, Pakistan Marble Helps Taliban Stay in Business, New York Times, July 14, 2009.
Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/14/world/asia/14taliban.html?_r=1

declined. In 2008, the group controlled entire districts in the agency, and even threatened
Peshawar, where LeI militants kidnapped rich traders, Christians and Sikhs for ransom.
270

This criminality is not surprising as parochial interests, arising from local conditions motivate
many sub-networks within the TTP. These can include marginalized tribes seeking to expand
their influence or simply men attempting to rectify social and economic inequalities. Baghs
group itself is instructive in both instances; the LeI draws strength mainly from the Sipah sub-
clan, the least influential of the Afridi tribe,
271
while Bagh himself was a bus driver before he
was a commander.
272

Not only do many Taliban militants come from poor socio-economic backgrounds, Faiysal Ali
Khan, the founder of an NGO in the KPK also points to their average ages, and notes that, there
is no militant leader over 30 or 35-years-old, and their foot soldiers are even younger.
273
The
madrassa sector, which militants have helped expand, is also particularly unregulated in the
FATA, and is believed to be a key driver for recruitment.
274

Other smaller groups that are not native to the FATA have begun to gravitate towards the tribal
areas, seeing ideological similarity with the TTP, as well as seeking enhanced support to conduct
their own core objectives, such as sectarian war. The Punjabi Taliban are the best known, and are
composed of members of several state-supported Kashmiri jihadi groups such as the Jaish-e-
Mohammad (JeM), the Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI), as well as sectarian outfits such as the
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) and the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP).
275

All these groups have participated in sectarian violence in Kurram and other agencies.
276
With
their enhanced operational expertise, these groups, the LeJ in particular, have been force
multipliers for the TTP, helping expand its reach into major urban centers. The Punjabi Taliban
has been implicated with several of the most high-profile TTP attacks including the siege of
PAKMILs GHQ in Rawalpindi in 2009, and an attack on Ahmadi mosques in Lahore in 2010,
to name but a few.
Others, such as the Ghazi Force, are less well known. The Ghazi Force is composed of relatives
of individuals killed in the Pakistani storming of Islamabads Lal Masjid in 2007, and is
motivated by its sectarian inclinations and its desire for revenge.
277
Largely headquartered in
Orakzai, it is believed to have a close working relationship with Hakimullah Mehsuds faction in

270
Naveed Hussain, Khyber Agency: This is Bara, the town that militancy ruined, Express Tribune, July 6, 2011. Available
at http://bit.ly/qfQ3Xm
271
The Status of the Taliban in Khyber Agency, Politact, November 18, 2010. Available at http://politact.com/south-central-
asia/the-status-of-taliban-insurgency-in-khyber-agency.html
272
Azhar Masood, Mangal Bagh Badly Injured, But Alive, Foreign Policy Journal, July 3, 2009. Available at
http://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2009/07/03/pakistan-mangal-bagh-badly-injured-but-alive/
273
Relief Leader Says Tribal Youth Need Not Be Lost to the Taliban. Creative Associates, June 2010. Available at
http://creative-associates.us/?p=531
274
The Militant Jihadi Challenge, International Crisis Group, Asia Report 164. Available at www.crisisgroup.org
275
Hassan Abbas, Defining the Punjabi Taliban Network, Harvard Belfer Center, Vol. 2, Issue 4, April 2009. Available at
http://www.ctc.usma.edu/sentinel/CTCSentinel-Vol2Iss4.pdf
276
Mariam Abou Zahab, Sectarianism in Pakistans Kurram Tribal Agency, Jamestown Foundation, march 19, 2009.
Available at
http://www.jamestown.org/programs/gta/single/?tx_ttnews[tt_news]=34730&tx_ttnews[backPid]=26&cHash=ac2e288618
277
Kathy Gannon, Pakistani Authorities warn of new hardline Islamic force out to avenge 2007 deaths, AP, July 1, 2010.
Available at http://www.cleveland.com/world/index.ssf/2010/07/pakistan_authorities_warn_of_n.html


the TTP, and has mounted several attacks in 2009, including a suicide bombing in June on an
office of the World Health Organization.
278

Nicholas Schmidle, an expert on Pakistan who has close knowledge of the Ghazi Force expounds
on the radicalization effect that comes with militant associations, noting that its former leader
killed in during the storming of the Lal Masjid was not a suicidal dude but had built up the
jihad and surrounded himself with some bad-ass fighters from Pakistan's most elite jihadi
organizations, that when it came down to the final showdown, he left no room for himself to
back down.
279

More recently the TTP has more vigorously participated in sectarian violence against Shias,
which may have resulted in as many as 22,000 people being killed between 1999 and 2009,
according to statistics collected by the WHO.
280
Some aspects of this violence provide an
example of personality driving conflicts; sectarian war grew with the rise of Hakimullah Mehsud
as the new emir of the TTP, after his predecessor Beitullah was killed in a drone strike in 2009.
Hakimullahs distaste for Shias
281
translated into escalated sectarian violence, particularly in
Kurram and Orakzai agencies, which have large Shia populations and have become the focal
point for sectarian struggle. Nine mini-wars have been waged since 2001 and in Kurram over
2,000-3,000 people have been killed and over 3,500 wounded in the last four years.
282

The conflict has been made worse by tribal dynamics. The Shias in Kurram belong to the Turi
tribe that has historically warred with the Sunni Mangal and Bangash tribes in the region, who
grew in power in recent years with the influx of militants displacing from other provinces.
283
The
Turis have also compounded their apostasy in Sunni Taliban eyes by their historical decisions,
including refusing to participate in the Soviet jihad in the 1980s and then again refusing shelter
to fleeing Taliban fighters after the U.S. invasion in 2001.
284
The Turis also sit astride
strategically vital territory, particularly the Bodki-Kharlachi border crossing into Afghanistan
that is only 50 kilometers from Kabul.
285

The Haqqani network is believed to covet this route and was reported to have brokered a truce
between Sunnis and Shias, presumably to help facilitate transit across Turi lands.
286
The truce is

278
Animesh Roul, Little Known Ghazi Brigade Now a Major Player in the Punjab Jihad? Jamestown Foundation, July 16,
2010. Available at
http://www.jamestown.org/programs/gta/single/?tx_ttnews[tt_news]=36621&tx_ttnews[backPid]=457&no_cache=1
279
Russ Wellen, The Red Mosque was Pakistans Waco, FPIF, July 2, 2010. Available at
http://www.fpif.org/blog/the_red_mosque_was_pakistans_waco
280
Multi Cluster Rapid Assessment: District Kohat, WHO Pakistan, Available at
http://www.whopak.org/idps/documents/assessments/Multi%20Cluster%20Rapid%20Assessment%20-
%20District%20Kohat.pdf
281
Mukhtar A. Khan, A Profile of the TTPs New Leader: Hakimullah Mehsud, CTC Sentinel, Vol. 2, Issue 10, October
2009. Available at http://www.ctc.usma.edu/sentinel/CTCSentinel-Vol2Iss10.pdf
282
Qaiser Butt, Kurram Tribal Region: Peace accord signed to end years of bloodshed, Express Tribune, February 4, 2011.
Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/113889/kurram-tribal-region-peace-accord-signed-to-end-years-of-bloodshed/
283
See Tribes in FATA, Naval Postgraduate School Culture and Conflict Review. Available at
http://www.nps.edu/Programs/CCS/Pakistan_Index.html, last accessed 4/22/2011
284
B. Raman, Kurram Agency Continues to Bleed, South Asia Analysis Group, September 3, 2008. Available at
http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/papers29/paper2829.html
285
Tom Hussain, Truce ends blood feud in Pakistan that has killed 3,000, The National, January 21, 2011. Available at
http://www.thenational.ae/news/worldwide/south-asia/truce-ends-blood-feud-in-pakistan-that-has-killed-3-000?pageCount=0
286
Daud Khattak, A Haqqani-brokered peace in Kurram agency? Foreign Policy, February 16, 2011. Available at
http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/02/16/a_haqqani_brokered_peace_in_kurram_agency

a good example of how groups prioritize their conflicts and relationships. The Haqqanis have
never demonstrated any particular warmth towards Shias, but Turi territory is a strategically vital
intersection between Loya Paktiya and North Waziristan, and a viable alternative for the
Haqqanis who find themselves being pressured around their traditional routes.
Kurram, however, is just one of many local sectarian dyadic conflicts within the FATA and
KPK. Sectarian war has raged in various other agencies too, notably Khyber and the Frontier
Regions of Dera Ismail Khan, Hangu and Kohat,
287
Neither has this violence been restricted to
Shias. In the Khyber, Lashkar-e-Islam, which subscribes to Deobandi religious interpretations,
has waged intra-Sunni struggle with the Ansar-ul-Islam, a competing Barelvi group .
288
The
violence has killed many, and caused serious population displacement and economic damage.
Sufi shrines have also been attacked marking another unprecedented shift in the militant
calculus. The first recorded attack occurred in March 2008 on the 400-year-old shrine of Hazrat
Abu Saeed Baba in the outskirts of Peshawar, and was followed by several others in Hangu,
Nowshera, and Buner in the KPK, as well as three major attacks in 2010, in Lahore, central
Punjab, and Karachi.
289
In April 2011, the TTP bombers attacked a Sufi shrine in Dera Ghazi
Khan killing over 50, the largest such attack.
290

The TTP has various ties to the Afghan jihad. Various militant leaders within the conglomeration
such as Gul Bahadur and Maulvi Nazir prioritize Afghanistan, some fighters may double
between the two wars, while other networks contribute largely through attacks on NATO supply
convoys, although this may as profit-driven as ideological. They have also forged links with
other Afghan-oriented foreign militants such as the IMU, although this particular alliance may
have been driven more by the personal relationships between Beitullah Mehsud and then IMU
leader Tohir Yuldashev, than any concerted strategic decision.
291

This alliance appears to have broken, with the death of Mehsud and Yuldashev, and the
expulsion of the IMU from South Waziristan by the Wazirs, but close relationships with other
global jihadists such al-Qaeda continue. It is reported that in 2008, TTP emir Beitullah Mehsud
with al-Qaedas Ayman al-Zawahiri, a move that may have incentivized the US drone strike that
killed Mehsud.
292
TTP rhetoric has grown increasingly transnational, and cooperation with al-
Qaeda is believed to have facilitated the TTPs first foray into the global jihad with the failed
attempt by Faisal Shahzad to detonate a homemade explosive device in New Yorks Times
Square in May 2010.
293
Daniel Benjamin, the U.S. State Departments coordinator for counter-

287
International Crisis Group, The Militant Jihadi Challenge.
288
Ibid
289
Erum Haider, That Colorless Life: Attacking Shrines and the Other Islam, Jinnah Institute, December 9, 2010. Available
at http://www.jinnah-institute.org/programs/strategic-security-program/190-policy-brief-that-colorless-life
290
DG Khan shrine bombing: Death toll reaches 50, Express Tribune, April 4, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/hwnlJK
291
David Witter. Uzbek Militancy in Pakistans Tribal Regions, Institute for the Study of War, January 27, 2011. Available at
http://www.understandingwar.org/files/BackgrounderIMU_web.pdf
292
Pakistani officials knew about Beitullah, Zawahiri meeting, Express Tribune, July 18, 2011.
293
Anne Komblut and Karin Bruillard, US blames Pakistan for Times Square bomb plot, Washington Post, May 10, 2010.
Available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/09/AR2010050901143.html; Bill Roggio, Times
Square Bomber Faisal Shahzad seen on video with Pakistani Taliban commander Hakeemullah Mehsud, Long War Journal,
July 23, 2010. Available at http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2010/07/times_square_bomber_1.php


terrorism assessed that the TTP draws ideological guidance from al-Qaida while al-Qaeda relies
on the TTP for safe haven.
294

The TTP remains operationally prolific and proficient. Attacks mounted under its aegis continue
to be almost daily occurrences and the organization has mounted several high profile and
complex attacks purportedly in revenge for the killing of Bin Laden. In the wake of the raid, the
TTP has accused the government of complicity in the attack and issued a statement elevating
Pakistan to number one enemy, now ahead of even the US itself.
295
A recent TTP attack on a
paramilitary academy in the KPK killed about 80 people, most recruits, in one of the most lethal
attacks against security forces to date.
296

In mid-2011, there have increasing reports of cross-border attacks from Afghanistan in remote
areas of the FATA, a new trend, and one that has been met with a strong Pakistani army
response. In the period of a month between June and July, at least seven attacks were reported
many large, coordinated attacks. In mid-May more than 100 militants attacked a checkpoint in
Khyber in mid-May.
297
A few weeks later about 200 militants crossed over from Afghanistan to
attack a security check post in Dir,
298
and in early July, 300 militants were reported attacking a
checkpoint in Bajaur. Pakistani military officials claim 56 members of the security forces were
killed in these attacks, and 81 injured although independent verification is impossible.
299

Pakistani officials have claimed the involvement of both the TTP and the Afghan Taliban, but an
Afghan Taliban spokesman denied any participation by its members.
300

In response to these attacks, the Pakistani military has shelled cross-border positions in
Afghanistan in Kunar, Nangahar and Khost. Afghan officials have claimed that over 800 artillery
rounds have been fired, and over 40 Afghan civilians killed, a matter that has angered senior
Afghan defense officials, resulted in several anti-Pakistani demonstrations, despite which
President Karzai has declared that Afghanistan would not retaliate.
301
Pakistan has also mounted
a new offensive in the central areas of Kurram to close a major supply and escape route for
militant fighters between North Waziristan and Afghanistan.
The Afghan Taliban
The Afghan nationalists of the Afghan Taliban are quite distinct from the Pakistani Taliban,
primarily in that they have disavowed attacks against or inside Pakistan, are by and large focused
solely on Afghanistan, and are believed to work in concert with Pakistani grand strategy. It is a

294
Charlie Savage, US adds legal pressure on Pakistani Taliban, New York Times, September 1, 2010. Available at
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/02/world/asia/02talib.html
295
Syed Saleem Shahzad, Pakistan has a price to pay, Asia Times, May 4, 2011. Available at
http://atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/ME04Df03.html
296
Bombers take Bin Laden revenge in Pakistan, Gulf News, May 13, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/kCu1S0
297
Ismail Khan and Jane Perlez, Checkpoint in Pakistan is Stormed by Militants, New York Times, May 18, 2011. Available
at http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/19/world/asia/19pakistan.html
298
About 200 launch cross-border attack on Pakistan post, Reuters, June 1, 2011. Available at http://reut.rs/kfCFhh
299
Miam Saeed Ur-Rehman, Hundreds of Afghan-based militants launch raid into Pakistan, Reuters, July 4, 2011. Available
at http://bit.ly/ksfpEY
300
Afghan Taliban deny hand in Pak border attack, say operations restricted to Afghanistan, ANI, June 4, 2011. Available at
http://my.news.yahoo.com/afghan-taliban-deny-hand-pak-border-attack-operations-062217820.html
301
Alissa J. Rubin, Deadly Shelling by Pakistan into Afghanistan is Stoking Tensions, New York Times, July 3, 2011.
Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/04/world/asia/04afghanistan.htm?_r=1

matter of great contention the extent to which they receive tangible support from Pakistani
intelligence services. Formally the Taliban are led by Mullah Omar, under the command of the
Rahbari Shura, more commonly known as the Quetta Shura, in reference to the Baloch capital
where many senior Taliban leaders are believed to be hiding. The Quetta Shura Taliban (QST) is
believed to primarily operate in Balochistan, but maintains influence across the FATA.
On the face of it, the QST is at the center of the militant universe. Their leader Mullah Omar is
the Amir-ul-Momineen (Commander of the Faithful) to many militants and nearly all groups,
Afghan and Pakistani and transnational groups such as al-Qaeda swear at least superficial
allegiance to his command.
302
His continuing relevance may be illustrated in the fact that in his
eulogy to Bin Laden, the new al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri pledged bayaah (an oath of
allegiance) to Mullah Omar.
303
Some analysts also believe that the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban
are closely operationally aligned, Siamese twins two heads of the same body,
304
which may
be accurate to the extent that both groups operate autonomously, yet collaborate when their
needs dictate. More precisely, however, Mullah Omar himself is likely more an arbitrator
between the disparate networks that subscribe to his authority, than a hierarchical leader.
The QST has also been attempting to brand itself as a legitimate alternative to the government of
Hamid Karzai, and has repeatedly stated, most recently in January 2011, that it is a responsible
force that wants to assure all regional countries that we will maintain good relations with
them following our independence.
305
Such rhetoric has put it at odds with other militant
groups who are less careful in their targeting.
The QST is believed to continue to derive support from at least some elements of the Pakistani
intelligence services. Analysts are divided on the extent --- some such as Matt Waldman indicate
collaboration of astonishing magnitude, including direct representation on the highest Taliban
command echelons and the extensive provision of funding, munitions, supplies and sanctuary.
306

Regardless of the veracity of this information, it is clear that Afghan Taliban groups and
Pakistans invisible establishment share a symbiotic relationship that is founded on mutual
benefit Reciprocity for sanctuary and supplies is believed to center on assistance in containing
Indian influence in Afghanistan and ensuring Pakistani dominance.
By and large Afghan Taliban groups are not native to the FATA; the QST is also known as the
Kandahari Taliban since its center of gravity is in Kandahar,
307
while its affiliate, the Haqqani
network hails from the Afghan Zadran tribe in Loya Paktiya.
308
Both use their Pakistani
strongholds most importantly as sanctuary for key command nodes and as rear staging areas.

302
Amir Mir, Pakistani Taliban form new alliance with Mullah Omar as their Supreme Leader, Hudson New York, February
24, 2009. Available at http://www.hudson-ny.org/333/pakistani-taliban-form-new-alliance-with-mullah-omar-as-their-supreme-
leader
303
William McCants, The Zawahiri Era Begins, Foreign Policy, June 16, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/j1NLED
304
Qandeel Siddique, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan: An attempt to deconstruct the umbrella organization and the reasons for its
growth in Pakistans north-west, Danish Institute for International Studies, 2010. Available at
http://www.diis.dk/graphics/Publications/Reports2010/RP2010-12-Tehrik-e-Taliban_web.pdf
305
New Statement from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan: Response in reaction to Senator Lindsey Graham Remarks to
maintain US permanent bases in Afghanistan, Jihadology, January 4, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/f6pQh6
306
Matt Waldman, Between the Sun and the Sky, LSE Crisis States, June 2010. Available at
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/files/fp_uploaded_documents/100613_20106138531279734lse-isi-taliban.pdf
307
Carl Fosberg, The Talibans Campaign for Kandahar, Institute for the Study of War, December 2009. Available at
http://www.understandingwar.org/files/The_Talibans_Campaign_For_Kandahar.pdf
308
Ibid.


Pakistans sprawling Afghan refugee camps (particularly in Balochistan) also provide fertile
recruiting ground.
Over the past three decades, Afghan militants have increasingly become permanent fixtures in
the FATA, operating under the codes of Pashtunwali that dictate sanctuary to all who ask, as well
as because of the prestige they accumulated in the jihadi universe from operations against both
the Soviets and Western forces today. They have grown intertwined into local structures through
decades of interactions inside the FATA, but nonetheless remain a largely alien force.
Despite most Pakistani militants also pledging allegiance to the Afghan jihad, the QSTs
influence over Pakistani militants such as the Pakistani Taliban may be limited. By all accounts,
the TTPs war against the Pakistani state is seen as an unnecessary distraction by those focused
solely on the war in Afghanistan, and growing TTP autonomy may have helped strain relations.
Recently for example, Mullah Omar issued a personal call to release Colonel Imam, a former
member of the ISI who helped organize mujahideen forces and train Omar himself in the
1980s,
309
being held by Hakimullah Mehsud, the new the emir of the Pakistani Taliban. Despite
this appeal, a few months later Mehsud appeared on a video to personally order and oversee the
execution of Imam.
310

The Haqqani Network
The Haqqani network, is a constituent member of the Afghan Taliban, and is at the heart of the
Afghan jihad, particularly in southeastern Afghanistan in the provinces of Paktia, Paktika and
Khost and its Pakistani base in North Waziristan. The group has some of the closest links with
transnational jihadists, including al-Qaeda, and occupies strategically favorable territory,
including the shortest route to Kabul from Pakistan, and several major supply routes between the
two countries. American officials regard the network as one of the most proficient and dangerous
in the region,
311
and the Haqqanis are believed to draw from a manpower pool of about 10,000-
15,000 fighters on both sides of the border. As a result of the Haqqanis centrality to regional
conflict, it has been subjected to an intense series of strike by American Unmanned Combat
Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs), or drones.
312

Haqqani leaders, notably patriarch Jalaluddin, and his son and current operational commander
Sirajuddin, are widely respected in the militant universe and have close links to the Pakistani
state.
313
Jalaluddin was regarded as one the ISIs most favored field commanders and received
privileged access to material and operational support. Captured battlefield communications
between the ISI and Haqqani commanders detail extensive support, including assistance, money,

309
Mullah Omar sends Jirga to negotiate Col Imams release? Daily Times, May 2, 2010. Available at
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\05\02\story_2-5-2010_pg1_4
310
Bill Roggio, Video: Pakistani Taliban execute Colonel Imam, Long War Journal, February 20, 2011. Available at
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2011/02/video_pakistani_tali.php
311
US still views silent Haqqani network as most dangerous of Taliban fighters, One India News, December 27, 2010.
Available at http://news.oneindia.in/2010/12/27/usstill-views-silent-haqqani-network-as-most-dangerous-oft.html
312
Katherine Tiedemann, Spotlight on North Waziristan, Foreign Policy, March 18, 2010. Available at
http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/03/18/spotlight_on_north_waziristan
313
Anand Gopal, Mansur Khan Mahsud and Brian Fishman, Inside Pakistans Tribal Frontier: North Waziristan, Foreign
Policy, April 23, 2010. Available at
http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/04/23/inside_pakistans_tribal_frontier_north_waziristan

intelligence and equipment during the Soviet period,
314
at least some of which is believed to
continue. Senior US officials often allege Pakistans duplicity, or at the very least indifference, to
containing and combating Haqqani forces in North Waziristan, and most recently, twice in June,
four Haqqani bomb-making labs were evacuated shortly after the US notified Pakistani security
forces of their existence.
315

The Haqqanis pursue a strategy of extreme pragmatism demonstrating an enduring ability and
willingness to work with a wide variety of leaders, parties and foreign supporters, according to
the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. Drawing from diverse data sources, including
captured Haqqani battlefield communications, the report elaborated on the Haqqanis nexus
position and their provision of services or other items of value that suit the interests of its local,
regional and global partners.
316
For different militant groups this can include battlefield access,
sanctuary, mediation of inter-militant disputes or operational support, whereas for the Pakistani
state it offers a valuable strike force to contain Indian influence in Afghanistan.
The Haqqanis also employed one of the most diverse assortments of cadres during the Soviet
jihad and today continue to maintain links to many international and regional jihadists, including
al-Qaeda, the IMU, the TTP, the LeT, the SSP, and the LeJ. They have, also, maintained their
relations with the Pakistani state and have conscientiously avoided any direct association with
international terrorism or attacks inside Pakistan. Such diverse relationships have made the
Haqqanis effective interlocutors between militant groups, and between militants and the state.
They also enjoy legitimacy in militant circles through an impressive historical record of
battlefield success, particularly the captures of Khost and Gardez in 1991, victories that
facilitated the fall of the Najibullah regime and the Taliban capture of Kabul, as well as some of
the fiercest resistance against the US and ISAF presence.
The Haqqanis are formally a part of the Afghan Taliban under the command of Mullah Omar.
Haqqani leaders have resolutely stated that they fully submit to Omars diktats, but in reality the
group operates with considerable autonomy within the network. The Haqqanis have primary
influence across large areas of southeastern Afghanistan, operate a separate command network
called the Miram Shah Shura,
317
and help nationalize the QST brand by making them more
than just a Kandahari movement. Furthermore, in areas where the influence of the QST and the
Haqqanis overlap such as Logar province, they compete for influence.
318

On certain occasions, the Haqqanis have mounted attacks that contravene official Afghan
Taliban (i.e. QST) rules of engagement and strategy, including an attack on a UN guesthouse in
2009.
319
After the American invasion, even as Mullah Omars Taliban have sought to distance
themselves from transnational terrorist groups to gain international and regional legitimacy, the

314
Don Rassler, and Vahid Brown, The Haqqani Nexus and the Evolution of al-Qaida, Combating Terrorism Center at
West Point, July 13, 2011. Available at http://www.ctc.usma.edu/posts/the-haqqani-nexus-and-the-evolution-of-al-qaida
315
Thom Shankar, Suspicions rise as Pakistan bomb labs empty before raids, New York Times, June 19, 2011. Available at
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/20/world/asia/20intel.html
316
Don Rassler, and Vahid Brown, The Haqqani Nexus and the Evolution of al-Qaida, Combating Terrorism Center
317
Bill Roggio, The Afghan Talibans Top Leaders, Long War Journal, February 23, 2010. Available at
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2010/02/the_talibans_top_lea.php
318
Anand Gopal, Mansur Khan Mahsud and Brian Fishman, Inside Pakistans Tribal Frontier: North Waziristan.
319
Bill Roggio, Haqqani Network, al-Qaeda, behind attack on UN guesthouse in Kabul, Long War Journal, November 1,
2009. Available at http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/11/haqqani_network_al_q.php


Haqqanis are believed to have continued, and in some instances even expanded, their
relationships.
By virtue of the clans prominent position in regional conflict over many decades, the Haqqanis
have played a vital role in shaping the dynamics of militancy in Afghanistan and the Pakistani
tribal areas. Various leaders of Islamist militant movements across the world got their first taste
of combat alongside Haqqani forces, and the CTC report precisely identified the vital role of the
Haqqanis in shaping an operational glolocalization of conflict [] creating the space and
context for al-Qaida and other fighters to inter-mingle and be influenced by one another, and
thereby facilitating an ideological convergence between transnational and regional jihadis.
320

These relationships also help explain why most foreign jihadis fled to Haqqani sanctuaries in
North Waziristan after the US invasion, and not the Talibans in Balochistan.
321

Al-Qaeda in particular has had a long relationship with the Haqqanis dating back to the Soviet
jihad. The first camps established by Bin Laden in Afghanistan were in Paktia along Haqqani
supply lines and core operating areas, and many men who would later become senior al-Qaeda
figures fought alongside the Haqqanis. In more recent times, before 9/11 as reported relations
between Bin Laden and Mullah Omar grew more strained, Haqqani autonomy in Loya Paktiya
came to be increasingly important for al-Qaedas freedom of action. After the American
invasion, Haqqani support was important in facilitating the al-Qaeda exodus from Afghanistan,
as seen in the 2001 death of Ayman al-Zawahiris wife, who was killed in a US airstrike on a
Haqqani safe-house.
322

Today, the Haqqanis share a symbiotic relationship with Al-Qaeda, exchanging shelter for
resources, including access to Gulf funding networks, links to other militant organizations,
training, and personnel.
323
This symbiosis may have increased in recent years due to the
influence of Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is regarded as more ideologically inclined towards global
jihadists than his father.
324
In July 2008, Muhammed Omar Haqqani, the 18-year old son of
Jalaluddin and brother of Sirajuddin was killed alongside a senior al-Qaeda leader in
Afghanistan. As the CTC report points out this is another indicator of continuing relations as
Jalaluddin Haqqani would not let his son fight with just anybody; Abu-Hasan al-Saidi [the AQ
leader] was a trusted confidant.
325
A study of al-Qaeda media releases also highlighted that over
50 percent of operational videos were filmed in Haqqani-controlled regions, particularly Khost
and Paktika.
326

Punjabi Taliban militants, and those from the SSP, LeJ, LeT and others have found sanctuary in
Haqqani territory. Various prominent figures from the Kashmiri jihad once fought alongside
Haqqani fighters, including founding members of the HuM and the LeT, and Haqqani militant
infrastructure had crucial impact on the scale of violence in Indian-controlled Kashmir in the
1990s. Many of these links have persisted, and the SSP in particular is believed to supply a
considerable number of the suicide bombers used by the Haqqanis for attacks in Afghanistan.
327

320
Don Rassler, and Vahid Brown, The Haqqani Nexus and the Evolution of al-Qaida, Combating Terrorism Center.
321
Ibid.
322
323
Jeffrey Dressler, The Haqqani Network: From Pakistan to Afghanistan, Institute for the Study of War.
324
Ibid.
325
326
Ibid.
327
Jeffrey Dressler, The Haqqani Network: From Pakistan to Afghanistan, Institute for the Study of War.

The LeT, which like the Haqqanis is very close to Pakistani intelligence agencies, has
collaborated on high-profile attacks against Indian targets in Afghanistan, including the dual
attacks on the Indian embassy in Kabul in 2008 and 2009.
328
There is also some evidence of
tactical convergence between the two groups, as seen in the February 2011 Jalalabad bank attack,
which mimicked the LeTs fidayeen style.
329

The Haqqanis have publicly disavowed any attacks on Pakistani forces, or within Pakistani
territory, and as such do not officially support the operations of the Pakistani Taliban.
Nonetheless, senior TTP figures have close links to the Haqqanis and Beitullah Mehsud, the TTP
founder is believed to have fought alongside Haqqani forces during the Soviet era. The complex
bi-directional relationship between the Haqqanis and the TTP is not easy to pin down, but the
CTC report identified the Haqqani network as a lethal incubator for the TTPs most lethal
elements, and that its influence has helped shape the conditions under which the domestic
Pakistani insurgency has arisen.
330
TTP manpower and assets also help augment the Afghan
struggle and geographical realities have dictated a close relationship with prominent Wazir
commanders, notably Hafiz Gul Bahadurs group that controls the territory between Haqqani
strongholds in North Waziristan and the Afghan border.
331

In recent times, with US pressure mounting on Pakistan to conduct military operations in North
Waziristan, the group has been more prominent in other FATA agencies where the TTP has
stronger influence, such as Kurram. Issues in Kurram are very important for the Haqqanis, since
the agency has been a historical staging base for Afghan mujahideen and offers Haqqani
militants alternative cross-border routes in the event of military operations in North
Waziristan.
332
As a result, the Haqqanis have participated in various mediation efforts to extend
their influence locally, most recently helping negotiate a ceasefire to end the sectarian war in
Kurram. The TTP failure to comply with the terms of the Haqqani-negotiated mediation may
have led to some strain in the relationship since the spring of 2011. Against the backdrop of
Hakimullahs defiance and execution of Colonel Imam, Mehsud-appointed commanders have
begun violating the terms of the Kurram ceasefire. As a result, a Haqqani affiliate is said to have
reported that Haqqani has said some very strong words to Hakimullah; Stop it or my men will
make you stop it.
333

American officials have strongly urged PAKMIL action against the group in North Waziristan,
and the Pakistani militarys continuing refusal to comply is a prominent component of the
growing discord in US-Pakistani relations. Such a trend is likely to continue, and perhaps
intensify, as the US shifts Afghan surge operations east into Haqqani strongholds and seeks some
measure of strategic progress. In contrast, with the nearing Afghan endgame, Pakistan is likely to
continue to see utility in the group to advance its grand strategic objectives, and potentially to

328
Lashkar-e-Taibas Afghan Connection, Bellum Stanford Review, June 16, 2010. Available at
http://bellum.stanfordreview.org/?p=2546
329
Bill Roggio, Afghan intel links Jalalabad bank attack, other suicide attacks to Pakistan, Long War Journal, February 27,
2011. Available at http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2011/02/afghan_intel_links_j.php
330
331
Jeffrey Dressler, The Haqqani Network: From Pakistan to Afghanistan, Institute for the Study of War, October 2010.
Available at http://www.understandingwar.org/files/Haqqani_Network.pdf
332
Jeffrey Dressler and Reza Jan, The Haqqani Network in Kurram, ISW/AEI, May 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/lXBX0I
333
Zia Khan, Kurram Agency: Haqqani warns Hakimullah not to sabotage peace deal, Express Tribune, May 2, 2011.
Available at http://parachinar616.blogspot.com/2011_05_02_archive.html#


facilitate some form of negotiation and accommodation with militants in any post-American
period.
Transnational Groups and Al-Qaeda
Various other axes of conflict, including the global jihad, have attracted other groups and
elements in ways that affect the situation in North Waziristan. Many of these groups often have
defined and known agendas, but their maneuvering and actions on the scene -- particularly in the
tribal areas -- are less transparent. Both Osama Bin Laden, and Indonesian terrorist Umar Patek
were both uncovered not inside the tribal areas, or in militancy prone districts of the KPK, but in
the garrison city of Abbottabad, in the Hazara region of the KPK, where militant violence has
been low.
334

Despite the exact location of its remaining command nodes, Al-Qaeda core is an important
presence in the tribal areas and plays a significant role in helping shape militant dynamics. It has
been significantly weakened operationally by relentless American pressure,
335
but has
nonetheless reconstituted itself as an inspirational resource to provide direction for aspiring
global jihadists.
336
As Christine Fair put it, Bin Ladens become the next Che Guevara an
icon for the rage of all kinds of people with all sorts of causes.
337
It is uncertain to what extent
this will continue after Bin Ladens death, but most analysts agree that it will have important, yet
limited impact on the groups operational capabilities, and is unlikely to decapitate the
organization, particularly today when it has grown to become an inspirational resource.
338

Al-Qaeda has helped shape and internationalize a variety of jihadi groups inside the tribal
areas, including the TTP, the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) or the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan
(IMU). It has contributed by providing religious justification, acting as a force multiplier in
specific violent acts and serving as a mediator and coalition builder.
339
Captured documents from
the Bin Laden raid support this trend, showing that the AQ leader was hoping to establish a
coalition of militant groups to reinsert himself into a central role.
340

The al-Qaeda core has been careful in not repeating the same mistakes its Iraqi affiliate made and
is cognizant of the fact that despite inter-marriages and considerable integration, it remains a
foreign force. As such it has carefully calibrated its strategy to support or work within local
structures, rather than setting up its own governance systems, and recently set up the Shura Al-

334
Niniek Karmini, How Umar Pateks Road Came to an End in Pakistan, Jakarta Globe, April 15, 2011. Available at
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/how-umar-pateks-road-came-to-an-end-in-pakistan/435584
335
Mark Mazzetti and Helene Cooper, Biden says Al Qaeda in Pakistan is weaker, New York Times, December 19, 2010.
Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/20/world/middleeast/20yemen.html
336
Rick Nelson and Thomas Sanderson, A Threat Transformed: Al Qaeda and Associated Movements in 2010. CSIS,
February 2011. Available at http://csis.org/files/publication/110203_Nelson_AThreatTransformed_web.pdf
337
Praveen Swami, Baby Bin Ladens posing new threat to the West, The Telegraph, January 6, 2011. Available at
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/yemen/8243747/Baby-bin-Ladens-posing-new-threat-to-West.html
338
Anthony Cordesman, The Death of Osama Bin Laden, and the Shape of Threats to Come, CSIS, May 2, 2011. Available
at http://csis.org/publication/death-osama-bin-laden-and-shape-threats-come
339
Don Rassler, Al Qaidas Pakistan Strategy, CTC Sentinel, Vol. 2, Issue 6, June 2009. Available at
340
Jason Burke, Osama Bin Laden tried to establish grand coalition of militant groups, The Guardian, May 30, 2011.
Available at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/30/osama-bin-laden-militant-alliance

Mujahideen to help resolve TTP disputes over tactics and ideology.
341
As a result it has
sidestepped the problems faced by other foreign groups such as the IMU, whose presence in
South Waziristan angered elements of the Wazir tribe, by being an economic drain on scarce
resources, by attracting retaliatory strikes by PAKMIL forces, and by independently engaging in
local struggles without local guidance.
342

In recent years, the IMU has relocated to North Waziristan, where its growing association with
al-Qaeda and the Haqqani network has developed its internationalist inclinations. Today it has a
tripartite agreement with the Afghan Taliban, al-Qaeda, and itself to assist in the Talibans
penetration of Uzbek areas in northern Afghanistan and has also hosted anti-Western militants in
its camps, including a group of Germans who plotted attacks in Hamburg, before being killed by
drones.
343
The IMUs Uzbek character is particularly important for Afghan-centric organizations
such as the Haqqanis and the QST, allowing them to burnish their credentials as nationalist
forces representing the entire Sunni conservative movement, rather than merely a Pashtun
insurgency.
Ilyas Kashmiri -- who commands Brigade 313, an operational al-Qaeda cell was a key
facilitator who helped build coalitions between al-Qaeda, Kashmir-oriented groups and the
Pakistani tribal militants, is As his name suggests, Kashmiri cut his teeth in the Kashmir jihad,
and as an alleged former Army commando was an experienced tactician and operator, linked to
some of the most high-profile and sophisticated attacks across Pakistan.
344
Brigade 313 is also
believed to have at least some element of overlap in the tribal provinces with the Punjabi
Taliban who are similarly composed of former Kashmir-oriented militants. Kashmiri and his
organization are prime examples of force multipliers, assisting groups on various attacks across
conflict axes.
In November 2010, Brigade 313 was reported to have jointly carried out an attack with the TTP
against a police headquarter in Karachi, and he has also been linked to the TTP attack on the
Armys GHQ in October 2009.
345
Kashmiri is also believed to have orchestrated the May 2011
attack on Pakistani naval base PNS Mehran, a highly sophisticated attack that destroyed two P-
3C Orion anti-submarine warfare planes, potentially took Chinese technicians hostage, held off
Pakistani Special Forces for over 15 hours, and then may have ended with some militants being
able to escape.
346

Kashmiri has been linked to various international plots, most notably a plot to attack the offices
of the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten,
347
and may have provided tactical guidance to attacks

341
Javed Mahmood, Shura-ul Mujahideen tries to unite TTP, Central Asia Online, December 2, 2010. Available at
http://centralasiaonline.com/cocoon/caii/xhtml/en_GB/features/caii/features/pakistan/2010/12/02/feature-03
342
David Witter. Uzbek Militancy in Pakistans Tribal Regions.
343
Jeffrey Dressler and David Witter, Al Qaeda, the Taliban and the Changing Face of Uzbek Militancy, Small Wars
Journal, February 14, 2011. Available at http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/journal/docs-temp/676-dressler.pdf
344
Tom Lister, Ilyas Kashmiri: Most Dangerous Man in the World? CNN, November 10, 2010. Available at
http://articles.cnn.com/2010-11-10/world/kashmiri.profile_1_ilyas-kashmiri-david-coleman-headley-mumbai-
attack/3?_s=PM:WORLD
345
Bill Roggio, Brigade 313 and Taliban team up for Karachi assault, Long War Journal, November 12, 2010. Available at
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2010/11/joint_al_qaedataliba.php
346
Imran Ayub, Navy FIR Adds to Mystery Around Number of Raiders, Dawn, May 25, 2011. Available at
http://www.dawn.com/2011/05/25/navy-fir-adds-to-mystery-around-number-of-raiders.html
347
United States of America vs. Ilyas Kashmiri, Abdur Rehman Hashim Syed, David Coleman Headley, Tahawwur Hussain
Rana, US District Court Illinois. Available at http://www.investigativeproject.org/documents/case_docs/1164.pdf


in the north Caucasus.
348
The CIA has commented that the footprints of Brigade 313 are now in
Europe,
349
although Kashmiri has continued his anti-Indian jihad. Brigade 313 has claimed to
have conducted an attack against a German bakery in the Indian city of Pune in February 2010,
has been linked to the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and has issued threats against Indian targets,
including during the Commonwealth Games in 2010.
350
The group may have also lent its tactical
expertise for high profile attacks in Afghanistan, including the suicide bombing on FOB
Chapman in Khost that killed seven senior CIA officials.
351

In early June 2011, it was reported that there were strong indications that Kashmiri was killed in
a drone strike in South Waziristan.
352
If true, this is a major counter-terrorist success, depriving
militant networks of an experienced and able tactical commander.
The Growing International Role of Lashkar-e-Taiba
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) is another group that has increased its presence in the tribal regions, and
has grown internationalized, in part due to its growing association with al-Qaeda and other
groups in the tribal areas. It is distinct from other groups in that its Ahle-Hadith faith and close
relationship with the Pakistani state has resulted in a rocky relationship with other Deobandi
groups, who dont entirely trust its motives.
353
In May 2011, after the death of Osama Bin Laden,
LeT leader Hafeez Saeed held prayers along with 1,000 of his followers to mourn Osamas
martyrdom.
354

In recent years the LeT has found itself torn between its traditional Kashmiri jihad and its
growing internationalist inclinations. As its freedom of movement in Kashmir has grown
constricted, the LeT has grown increasingly involved in Afghanistan, particularly in Kunar
province, where it has a close ally in the Jamiat al-Dawa al-Quran wal-Sunna in Korengal
Valley, and in high-profile attacks against Indian interests in Afghanistan.
355

The group has also expanded its targeting scope to include Western targets, as seen in the 2008
Mumbai attacks, although the LeT continues to prioritize its anti-Indian struggle above other
conflict axes.
356
Some elements of the LeT have also been included in the Punjabi Taliban,
although it is unclear whether this constitutes renegade elements freelancing for other groups, or
a deliberate tweaking of strategy.

348
Syed Saleem Shahzad, Ilyas Kashmiri behind Dagestan blasts, Asia Times, April 2, 2010. Available at
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/LD02Ag01.html
349
Al Qaeda plans infiltrations, United Press International, January 18, 2011. Available at
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2011/01/18/Al-Qaida-plans-infiltrations/UPI-19401295378531/
350
Al Qaeda exploits Kashmir conflict to expand operations to India, Jamestown Foundation, October 28, 2010. Available at
http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4cd12aa02.html
351
Syed Saleem Shahzad, Drones ever-closer to Pakistan militants, Asia Times, October 27, 2010. Available at
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/LJ27Df02.html
352
Ilyas Kashmiri killed in S. Waziristan, Central Asia Online, June 6, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/k8gfBw
353
Stephen Tankel, Lashkar-e-Taiba in Perspective: An Evolving Threat, New America Foundation, February 2010.
Available at http://carnegieendowment.org/files/Lashkar-e-Taiba_in_Perspective.pdf
354
Zeeshan Haider, Islamist militants hold prayers for Bin Laden in Pakistan, Reuters, May 3, 2011. Available at
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/03/us-binladen-pakistan-prayers-idUSTRE7421UT20110503
355
Ibid.
356
The Next Al Qaeda, Newsweek, February 26, 2010. Available at http://www.newsweek.com/2010/02/25/the-next-al-
qaeda.html

As one of the most proficient militant groups in Pakistan, no doubt the LeTs technical expertise
is valued, although as noted earlier, its integration into Deobandi militancy has not been
seamless. 15 activists from its humanitarian arm, the Jamaat-ud-Dawa were executed by TTP
militants in Swat in 2008, and in the same year Mohmand TTP leader Omar Khalid attacked a
camp run by its front organization, capturing and executing at least 10 leaders.
357

Criminal Groups
The role of criminal elements in such violence is often obscure, but is vital in providing funding
for virtually every militant group in the FATA. A Pakistani newspaper recently estimated that as
much as half of the tribal economy may be undocumented, indicating the extent of potential for
militant involvement in organized crime, both in protecting criminal operations and by
participating in them to accumulate power.
358

Gretchen Peters, an analyst who has closely examined this issue noted that organized crime and
militancy are symbiotic where criminal profits fund the insurgency and terrorist violence helps
militants to coerce and exert a level of control over local communities.
359
A large-scale drug
economy in southern and eastern Afghanistan is a key part of the problem, and there are real
fears that counter-narcotics efforts in Afghanistan may push cultivation into the FATA.
360

Pakistan is less a point of origination than a key transit route and a processing center. Smuggling
of consumer goods, luxury vehicles, timber, minerals, drugs, and weapons is another key revenue
source for Taliban on both sides of the border. According to a trader, militants charge between
2,000-5,000 rupees per truck, with payments made even by NATO transporters. The same
individual also claimed that the Afghan Taliban charge more than their Pakistani comrades.
361

Kidnappings for ransom are another key revenue source.
Various groups specialize in various criminal activities, often with significant overlaps. The TTP
for example through the territory it controls is able to charge toll taxes and charge protection
money for various businesses inside the FATA, including mineral extraction. Militants in
different agencies sometimes specialize in different aspects of the smuggling trade.

357
Stephen Tankel, Lashkar-e-Taiba in Perspective: An Evolving Threat.
358
Muhammed Amir Rana, The Flow of Funds, Dawn, February 14, 2011. Available http://www.dawn.com/2011/02/14/the-
flow-of-funds.html
359
Gretchen Peters, Crime and Insurgency in the Tribal Areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan, Combating Terrorism Center
West Point, October 15, 2010. Available at
http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/documents/CTC_CrimeandInsurgencyintheTribalAreasofAfghanistanandPakistan.pdf
360
Vanda Felhab-Brown, The Drug-Conflict Nexus in South Asia: Beyond Taliban Profits and Afghanistan, Brookings, May
2010. Available at
http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/rc/papers/2010/05_regional_counternarcotics_felbabbrown/05_regional_counternarcotic
s_felbabbrown.pdf
361
Qaiser Butt, India-Afghan trade: New corridor promises high returns for the Taliban, Express Tribune, December 3, 2010.
Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/85246/india-afghan-trade-new-corridor-promises-high-returns-for-taliban/


Pakistani Military Operations and
Counterinsurgency
The events of 9/11 have helped trigger fundamental shifts in the role the Pakistani military
plays in dealing with militant groups and the violence that they cause. Much of this shift has
come as a result of US pressure, but much has also come from an internal appreciation of the
threat posed by purely Pakistani groups.
In July 2002, the Pakistani military (PAKMIL) entered the Tirah Valley in its tribal regions for
the first time in Pakistans history, and since around 2009, PAKMIL has demonstrated
considerable resolve in tackling tribal militancy. The military has significantly increased its force
presence as seen in Figure 3.6, and has conducted a variety of operations in the past few years
that are shown in Figure 3.7.
In August 2010, Pakistans shadowy intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)
publicly declared that the Pakistani Taliban constituted a greater threat to Pakistan than the
Indian Army.
362
In reflection, the military has made redeployments away from the Indo-Pakistani
border, and has borne significant casualties. Some 2,348 soldiers have been killed and another
6,710 injured according to government statistics as of January 2011.
363
These casualty trends are
further explored in Figure 3.8 and 3.9.
The lessons the Pakistani military have learned from these expanded operations have allowed it
to refine, hone, and showcase an improved ability to act tactically on the battlefield, which in
some areas such as the NWFPs Malakand Division have resulted in a significant decrease in
militancy. However, long-term strategic success is far from certain and violence in the FATA
continues to rise, increasing 28 percent in 2010.
364

Tactical Success; Questionable Strategic Impact
The longer-term strategic picture is less clear. The Pakistani military has traditionally viewed
militants in the FATA as strategic proxies to advance its ambitions in Afghanistan and Indian-
administered Kashmir, and there is evidence that it continues to see their utility in the future.
This has informed a selective approach to targeting, where the best result for the Pakistani
military is not an eradication of all militant and terrorist groups, but rather an attempt to
selectively target groups that have targeted the Pakistani state, and maintain influence over other
more pliable groups that may serve Pakistani grand strategic interests in Afghanistan and
Kashmir in the future.
There remain many reservations on the long-term sustainability of Pakistani military operations
in the FATA. The US has already expressed concerns; a recently published White House report
in March 2011 grimly declared that there is no clear path toward defeating the insurgency in
Pakistan, and noted how the current Mohmand offensive is the third major operation in the

362
Tom Wright and Siobhan Gorman, Militants overtake India as top threat, says Pakistan ISI, Wall Street Journal, August
16, 2010. Available at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703908704575433433670192748.html
363
Rick Westhead, Pakistans wounded soldiers fight uphill battle for attention, The Star, January 28, 2011. Available at
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/930040--pakistan-s-wounded-soldiers-fight-uphill-battle-for-attention
364
Pakistan Security Report 2010, Pak Institutefor Peace Studies.

agency in two years, a demonstration of the inability for the Pakistani military to hold cleared
territory.
365
Even in Swat, a district far more closely interlinked with Pakistani state than the
FATA agencies, two years after initial military operations, the military presence remains heavy,
peace and stability remain tenuous, and the army remains in administrative control.
In the FATA, the situation is far worse and the Pakistani military has struggled to effectively
complete even clear operations, let alone transition to hold or build. Operation codenames
in the Khyber since June 2008 may inadvertently reflect the sense of growing alarm and
frustration at militant resilience; the Army has mounted Operations Sirat-e-Mustaqeem (Right
Path), Daraghlam (Here I come), Biya Daraghlam (Here I come again) and Khawakh Ba De
Sham (Ill teach you a lesson). The same has been repeated across other agencies. In Kurram, a
strategically important militant gateway to Afghanistan, through June and July 2011 there have
been reports of new and expanded military operations in the agency.
366
Previous clearing
operations in the agency had ended in June 2010, and as late as January 2011, army commanders
were claiming the agency had been 80 percent cleared of militants.
367

Pakistani grand strategy places key constraints impeding a doctrinal shift towards
counterinsurgency (COIN). For the entirety of its history, the Pakistani militarys organizational
essence has been towards a single purpose, being prepared for conventional war with India.
Weakening the force balance along the eastern border is no small matter, and the extent of
redeployments -- including the deployment of the entire XI Corps seen in Figure 3.9 -- provide a
further indication of the severity of the tribal insurgency.
Indian Military Intelligence estimated that as much as 35 percent of the Pakistani force
deployment along the eastern border may have shifted to the FATA, particularly in the
strategically important Shakagarh sector.
368
Despite this stiffening of resolve, the military
remains cognizant that extended COIN operations have substantial tradeoffs in conventional
preparedness and compound already considerable resource limitations and capacity shortfalls,
making it an unattractive option. As a result, Pakistan has stubbornly refused to budge from the
vernacular of low intensity conflict, (LIC) implying its preference for enemy-centric targeted
operations.
Inadequate Initial Performance
Unfortunately, the firepower-intensive campaigns that characterized Pakistani military
operations prior to 2008/2009, achieved comparatively little. They were comprised of transient
multi-unit clearing operations that rarely caught militants by surprise, and were followed by
peace agreements regardless of any tangible change in the security environment.
The 2004 offensive into South Waziristan, for example, utilized 8,000 soldiers backed by air and
armor assets. Despite causing considerable collateral damage, they failed to dislodge militants,

365
Report on Afghanistan and Pakistan March 2011, White House, April 5, 2011.
366
Tom Wright, Pakistan to Launch Kurram Offensive, Wall Street Journal, June 1, 2011. Available at
http://on.wsj.com/ly8p8j
367
80% Kurram cleared of militants, The News, January 18, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/ii5j1H
368
Suman Sharma, Pakistan removes third of armys border deployment, Daily News and Analysis, June 2, 2010. Available
at http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report_pakistan-removes-third-of-army-s-border-deployment_1390778


resulting in heavy fighting particularly around Wana.
369
The operation ended with over two
hundred dead soldiers, numerous desertions by the Frontier Corps, and a peace agreement that
bolstered the Taliban.
370
Army commanders travelled to a Deobandi mosque near Wana to sign
the peace agreement with Nek Mohammad, a move interpreted by militants as a tacit
surrender.
371
The deal soon broke down, and violence resumed. Such haphazard operational
efforts, ending with little to show for their cost in casualties and damage to army morale helped
strengthen a growing perception that Pakistani soldiers involved were acting as American guns
for hire, a dangerous perception.
As a result of these failures, the Pakistani military made a concerted effort to rethink their tactics
for prosecuting the war and paid more attention to incorporating population-centric COIN
principles. In the process, it created a hybrid doctrine that is distinctive from the Western-style
hearts and minds strategy,
372
yet follows many of its tenets, including sensitivity to public
opinion, care in the application of force and an orientation towards a more presence-oriented
approach.
373

While positive, these steps have still been shaped by a tactically focused mindset. As Ashley
Tellis succinctly notes, what we are really talking about is the selective refinement of a
preexisting model to address some negative externalities,
374
namely groups like the Pakistani
Taliban that have openly defied the writ of the state. Pakistans use of militancy as a tool of
statecraft has served Pakistan well in the past, and it continues to do so, both in tying down
Indian forces on the eastern border and in preserving influence in Afghanistan. As a result, care
has been taken to distinguish between militant groups, between those that openly defy state
authority and those that can be used to help meet Pakistani strategic objectives.
The use of the Haqqanis in North Waziristan has been a particular source of contention with the
US. Pakistan continues to see the Haqqanis as a reconcilable network, facilitated in no small part
by their assistance in anti-Indian operations in Afghanistan
375
, their considerable influence in
Afghanistans Loya Paktiya, and their steadfast refusal to engage in violence against Pakistani
forces and institutions. Such informal strategic symbiosis has guided Pakistani reluctance to
conduct any large-scale operations into North Waziristan.
Hopes were raised in October 2010, when Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi indicated
that 35,000 troops were ready to launch an operation,
376
but military officials have since walked

369
Dr Suba Chandran, Military Operations in South Waziristan: Issues and Implications, Institute for Peace and Conflict
Studies, No, 17, January 2004. Available at http://www.ipcs.org/pdf_file/issue/903900182IB17-SubaChandran-
MilitaryOperationsInSouthWaziristan.pdf
370
Sameer Lalwani, Pakistans COIN Flip, New America Foundation, April 2010. Available at
http://counterterrorism.newamerica.net/sites/newamerica.net/files/policydocs/lalwani.pdf
371
Seth Jones and Christine Fair, Counterinsurgency in Pakistan, RAND, (2010). Available at
http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2010/RAND_MG982.pdf
372
Haider Mullick, The Pakistani Surge: The Way Forward for Counterinsurgency in Pakistan, Australian Strategic Policy,
June 2010.
373
Shuja Nawaz, Learning by Doing: The Pakistani Armys Experience with Counterinsurgency, Atlantic Council, February
1, 2011. Available at http://www.acus.org/files/publication_pdfs/403/020111_ACUS_Nawaz_PakistanCounterinsurgency.pdf
374
Ashley Tellis, Pakistans Counterinsurgency Strategies: Whats Working and Whats Not, Carnegie Endowment,
February 24, 2010. Available at http://www.carnegieendowment.org/events/?fa=eventDetail&id=2810
375
ISIs Haqqani ploy against India irks US, Economic Times, October 4, 2010. Available at http://bit.ly/fkTmKm
376
Majeed Babar and Charles Recknagel, In Pakistan Uncertainty Grows Over North Waziristan operation, RFE/RL, October
29, 2010. Available at http://bit.ly/b8oJ46

back such hopes indicating that they are not yet ready to consider launching such an operation
given existing commitments.
377
In May 2011, there were again indications that Pakistan was
considering such an operation. Pakistani newspapers have reported that aid agencies had been
ordered to prepare for large-scale IDP flows from the agency.
378
However, senior army
commanders -- including Lt. General Yasin Malik, the officer in charge of tribal operations --
later denied these claims. Malik claimed he had 30,000 troops in North Waziristan but declared
that his forces were tied up with operations in other agencies, particularly an upcoming operation
in Kurram.
379

There have been some indications of growing tensions between militants and security forces in
North Waziristan. In early July 2011, a rare clash between security forces and militants broke out
in Miranshah, the agency capital, when troops intending to destroy a Taliban-used hospital were
ambushed, requiring the intervention of helicopter gunships.
380

Figure 3.6: Growth in Force numbers in FATA (2002-
2010)

Source: Adapted from data provided by Haider Mullick, The Pakistani Surge, Available at http://bit.ly/flCQTQ.
!

377
N. Waziristan offensive may see further delays, Express Tribune, December 28, 2010. Available at http://bit.ly/fduGUo
378
Zeeshan Haider, Pakistan tells agencies to prepare for N. Waziristan Operation, Reuters, May 30, 2011. Available at
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/30/us-pakistan-waziristan-idUSTRE74T36Q20110530
379
Tom Wright, Pakistan to Launch Kurram Offensive, Wall Street Journal, June 1, 2011. Available at
http://on.wsj.com/ly8p8j
380
Reza Sayah, 2 militants, passerby killed in rare clash in Miranshah, CNN, July 6, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/rfF1Cg
Army
lronuer
Corps
Speclal
Servlces
Croup
kk ollce
Speclal
8ranch
Lashkars 1oLal
2002-2008 80,000 20,000 4,000 40,000 3,000 20,000 169,000
2009 -
!une 2010
147,000 34,000 10,000 43,000 3,000 80,000 321,000
0
30,000
100,000
130,000
200,000
230,000
300,000
330,000


Figure 3.7: Major PAKMIL Offensives (20082011)

Note: These do not constitute the sum total of PAKMIL offensives in the FATA. Various smaller-scale operations
have been mounted in response to local conditions.
Source: Created by authors.

Figure 3.8: Force Deployments in the FATA

A. REGULAR ARMY FORMATIONS IN FATA/KPK
Corps lormaLlon LocaLlon SubordlnaLe unlLs employed ln LlC/CCln
l Corps! Mangla! LlemenLs of 8
Lh
lndependenL Armored 8rlgade!
37
Lh
Mechanlzed ulvlslon!
17
Lh
lnfanLry ulvlslon!
ll Corps! MulLan! 14
Lh
lnfanLry ulvlslon (Ckara) !
x Corps ! ! 19
Lh
lnfanLry ulvlslon (!helum) !
xl Corps! eshawar! 7
Lh
lnfanLry ulvlslon (Mardan)!
9
Lh
lnfanLry ulvlslon (kohaL)!
xxxl Corps! 8ahawalpur! LlemenLs of 33
Lh
lnfanLry ulvlslon (8ahawalpur)!
LlemenLs of 26
Lh
Mechanlzed ulvlslon (ano Aqll)!
SSC (Speclal lorces)! ! Zarrar 8aLLallon !

B. PARAMILITARY AND LOCAL SECURITY FORCES IN FATA/KPK
lorce number 8emarks
khassadars! ApproxlmaLely
17,000!
llrsL llne of law enforcemenL !
oorly Lralned, equlpped, enllsLed from Lrlbes!
Loyal Lo mallks who employ Lhem, Lrlbes who
geL Lhem employed!
Laslly LargeLed, lnLlmldaLed by 1allban!
Levles! ApproxlmaLely
4,000 - 6,800 !
Second llne of law enforcemenL !
8ecrulLed on merlL, beLLer Lralned/equlpped!
used as deLerrenL force agalnsL Lrlbal dlspuLes!
lronLler Corps! 34,000 -
30,000!
rlmary hlsLorlcal force ln lA1A !
SubsLanLlal lmprovemenLs ln Lralnlng and
equlpmenL !
lronLler ConsLabulary! 22,817! aramlllLary pollce force !
1asked wlLh border securlLy for seLLled areas
and prevenLlng lngress of crlmlnal Lrlbal
elemenLs !
kk ollce ! 33,000 -
78,000!
Suffers from same problems as wlder pollce
secLor !
unable Lo funcLlon alone agalnsL lnsurgency!
8ecenL u.S. supporL, lncluded equlpmenL and
vehlcles worLh $13.3 mllllon!
Lashkars (MlllLlas)! ApproxlmaLely
30,000!
AnLl-1allban" Lrlbal forces !
rovlded weaponry and supporL by AkMlL !
CuLsources securlLy Lo non-sLaLe provlders and
enhances fragmenLed Lrlbal sLrucLure !

Sources: For A IISS Military Balance 2010, 2011; Pakistan, Janes Sentinel Report; Chris Harnisch, Charlie
Szrom, and Ashley Lohmann, ORBAT: Pakistani Military in FATA and Northwest Frontier Province, AEI
Critical Threats Project, August 15, 2009. Available at http://bit.ly/hicz3Y; Malik Ahmed Jalal, Why Pakistan
Cant, Harvard National Security Journal, August 6, 2010. Available at http://harvardnsj.com/2010/08/why-
pakistan-cant/.


For B: Security Apparatus in Imtiaz Gul, The Most Dangerous Place: Pakistans Lawless Frontier, (London:
Viking Adult, 2010); Pakistan, Janes Sentinel Report; Pakistan, Janes World Armies; Facts and Figures,
Pakistan Conflict Monitor, http://bit.ly/fUX1eu; US donates vehicles, equipment to NWFP police, Daily Times,
March 2, 2010. Available at http://bit.ly/eBKgjO; Hassan Abbas, Reforming Pakistans Police and Law
Enforcement Infrastructure, US Institute for Peace, February 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/hhT4rM; Pakistan to
strengthen paramilitary levies to secure tribal frontier, Jamestown Foundation, February 26, 2010. Available at
http://bit.ly/edCKhx)
Figure 3.9: Pakistani Security Force Casualties in 2010

Source: PIPS Pakistan Security Reports, January December 2010.!
Figure 3.10: Security Forces to Militant Casualty Ratio
in 2010

Source: Pak Institute for Peace Studies, Pakistan Security Reports, January December 2010.
uec nov CcL Sep Aug !uly !une May Aprll March leb !an
ollce 14 17 10 18 12 13 10 23 26 13 17 6
CLher aramlllLary 6 3 0 1 4 9 6 0 0 3 14 6
lronuer Corps 42 18 13 13 11 13 23 16 14 38 9 11
Army 3 2 19 0 4 14 23 28 23 23 20 24
!an leb Mar Apr May !un !ul Aug Sep CcL nov uec
MlllLanL klA 308 323 341 323 206 643 699 819 683 644 390 373
SecurlLy
lorce klA
63 40 42 32 31 49 64 69 63 80 39 47
0
100
200
300
400
300
600
700
800
900

Growing Tactical Capabilities
Despite these strategic disconnects, the Pakistani military has grown increasingly proficient at
tactically prosecuting the war. Initially, Western sources believed that the Pakistani military had
lost over 70 percent of its engagements prior to early 2009,
381
and indeed early military activity
demonstrated considerable deficiencies in Pakistani equipment, training and operational art.
By 9/11, the Frontier Corps (FC), the primary force tasked with guarding the FATA had
devolved into a backwater force commanded by the dregs of the Armys officer corps
382
, with
many units operating with bolt-action rifles of WW1 vintage.
383
These forces were outmatched
by well-armed insurgents, causing considerable embarrassment to the military, particularly in
August 2007, when about 200 soldiers surrendered to militants after failing to take the high
ground and getting themselves trapped in a valley against a vastly inferior force.
384

Even the considerably better-trained and equipped regular army ran into problems. The first
augmentation of local forces in the FATA came from the XI Corps based out of Peshawar,
notably the 7
th
and 9
th
Division, due to their proximity to the theater. Unfortunately they were
trained for conventional war against India and had little knowledge or familiarity with the
physical and human terrain of the tribal areas and suffered from a lack of translators, rendering
them an alien Punjabi army operating in Pashtun territory.
385

Considerable effort has since been placed on creating adequate training regimens that prepare
soldiers for operations in the tribal terrain. At least three major LIC training facilities have been
built at Jharri Kas, Mangla, and Pabbi Hills, and new requirements mandate all incoming officers
undergo LIC combat training.
386
The FC has also benefited from U.S. and British SOF
training,
387
and monetary support, including a sizeable chunk of U.S. military assistance. The
U.S. has assisted in addressing Pakistans helicopter deficit that impeded troop mobility and
battlefield flexibility. Only 19 helicopters were initially forward deployed to the FATA, of which
only 12 were operational.
388
The US has provided Pakistan with 26 Bell-412, 10 Mi-17 and 20
Cobra attack helicopters, as well as armored vehicles and night-vision capabilities.
389

The Pakistani military has focused on increasing mobility and made more extensive use of
blocking forces to prevent militants from conducting tactical withdrawals. The elite Special
Services Group (SSG) has been employed extensively for both blocking operations and targeted
raids against high-value targets (HVTs),
390
while kinetic elements such as artillery and airpower
have been used more carefully to minimize collateral damage. Ground forces advancing along

381
Sameer Lalwani, Pakistans COIN Flip.
382
Shuja Nawaz, Learning by Doing.
383
Ibid.
384
Bill Roggio, Pakistan frees over 100 South Waziristna tribesmen, Long War Journal, September 13, 2007. Available at
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2007/09/pakistan_frees_over.php
385
386
Ibid.
387
Eric Schmitt and Jane Perlez, Distrust slows US training of Pakistanis, New York Times, July 11, 2010. Available at
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/12/world/asia/12training.html; British forces to train Pakistans Frontier Corps to fight al-
Qaeda, Times Online, March 21, 2009. Available at http://thetim.es/foUE2l
388
David Kilcullen, Terrain, Tribes and Terrorists: Pakistan 2006-2008, Brookings Counterinsurgency and Pakistan Paper
Series, No. 3, September 2009. Available at http://bit.ly/dOYqja
389
Islamist militancy in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region and US policy, Congressional Research Service, November
21, 2008. Available at http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34763_20081121.pdf
390


multiple thrust axes also follow these strikes and employ better route clearance techniques to
combat IEDs.
391

More favorable troop ratios have been employed, as with Operation Rah-e-Nijat, the 2009
incursion into South Waziristan, which employed between 30,000-66,000 troops, a dramatic
increase from the 8,000 used in the agency in 2004.
392
Clearing operations have been followed
by retention of forces in theater instead of immediately transferring back to civilian authority,
and forces dispersed into small bases amongst the population, in an attempt to stabilize peace
through a longer-term presence.
393

The Pakistani military has increasingly acknowledged and adapted to the challenging human
terrain it faces. It has attempted to offset the cultural and linguistic divides between the Punjabi-
dominated army and the Pashtuns of the FATA/KPK by placing greater emphasis on expanding
the Pashtun representation in the Armys officer corps. This has risen to 14.5% by 2011, up from
the existing 13.5%, and the share of Pashtuns from the NWFP amongst enlisted personnel has
also substantially risen.
394
Operation Sher Dil in 2008, the Bajaur Experiment under Major
General Tariq Khan, also worked to refine procedures and protocols, becoming the first major
operation to extensively raise and employ pro-government lashkars, work closely with local
jirgas, and to encourage Pashtun-Punjabi cooperation and interaction within the army.
395

Far more diligent preparations have a been conducted prior to operations, including embedding
intelligence assets to intercept communications, establishing blockades to prevent re-supply or
reinforcements from materializing and utilizing fire-power to soften targets before employing
ground forces.
396
Similarly the military has made more nuanced application of its divide and rule
tactics, and has engaged in diplomatic negotiations with militant factions prior to launching
operations. Before Operation Rah-e-Nijat, for example, powerful North Waziristani militant
commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur, was induced through aid and peace agreements, to not interfere
with Pakistani military operations against the TTP, or offer retreating militants shelter within his
territory.
397
Gul Bahadur complied on the former, but less so on the latter.
The Pakistani military faces serious problems in spite of these successes. IEDs continue to exert
a toll on Pakistani military forces. The M113 armored personnel carriers used by the regular
Army are highly vulnerable to RPGs and IEDs, while the 46 UR-416 armored cars utilized by
the Frontier Corps are more applicable for riot control than the threat environment they operate
in.
398
Pakistani military troops continue to use Chinese-manufactured wand detectors of dubious
quality for dismounted patrols, and visual identification continues to be the best available

391
Bill Roggio, Taliban escape South Waziristan offensive, Long War Journal, November 26, 2009. Available at
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/11/taliban_escapes_sout.php
392
Sameer Lalwani, The Pakistani Militarys Adaption to Counterinsurgency in 2009, New America Foundation, January
2010. Available at http://bit.ly/dqlvmO
393
394
Christine Fair and Shuja Nawaz, The Changing Pakistan Officer Corps, Journal of Strategic Studies, July 12, 2010.
Available at http://www.spearheadresearch.org/pages/documents/The_Changing_Pakistan_Army_Officer_Corps.pdf
395
Haider Mullick, Pakistans Emerging Counterinsurgency Strategy, Foreign Affairs, July 15, 2009. Available at
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/65200/haider-ali-hussein-mullick/lions-and-jackals
396
Sameer Lalwani, The Pakistani Militarys Adaption to Counterinsurgency in 2009.
397
Amy Levine, Get to Know a Militant: Hafiz Gul Bahadur, Center for Advanced Defense Studies, October 22, 2010.
Available at http://www.c4ads.org/global-security-monitor/get-know-militant-%E2%80%93-hafiz-gul-bahadur
398
IISS Military Balance 2011

defense.
399
Similarly despite improvements in troop mobility, the Pakistani military has
continued to clamor for more helicopters, although high operational costs and a worsening
economy have grounded even those already deployed in theater.
400

Pakistani forces have continued the forced resettlement of the civilian population prior to
operations in an effort to minimize civilian collateral damage and make targeting easier. This
strategy is however far from ideal and inherently short-term in that extended or repeated
displacements merely expand the trust deficit between the military and the people. The Pakistani
military has gotten better at providing for the displaced that make their way to its relief camps,
but the magnitude of displacements has often overwhelmed its capabilities as seen in Figure
3.11. Operation Rah-e-Rast in Swat for example, saw almost two million people displaced, the
largest refugee exodus since Rwanda
401

It has been estimated that scarcely 15 percent of the displaced have used official camps, with the
rest moving to urban centers, including Karachi and Islamabad in search of employment.
402
Their
influx has often exacerbated existing tensions, by compounding ethnic security dilemmas and
straining already weak social and economic services.
403

While the closed nature of the theater makes accurate verification extremely difficult, the
military has become better at conducting itself in populated areas. Mingora, the site of fierce
urban fighting between militants and the army in 2009 for example showed minimal damage
after operations.
404
Public polling done in the FATA also showed a significant increase in public
support for operations, after the 2008 Bajaur operation, even among those who were forcibly
displaced. This is illustrated by Figures 3.13 3.15.
Success at resettling displaced IDPs has not been uniform. The Swat/Malakand operation, which
displaced over 2.8 million people saw rapid returns of the population leading Frontier Corps
Head Major General Tariq Khan to trumpet that in no other counterinsurgency operation in the
world have residents gone back so soon.
405
Despite General Khans optimism, 2010 saw the
displacement of another 400,000 IDPs, resulting in a total of at least 980,000 people still
displaced as of December 2010.
406

As the International Crisis Group details in a report on the IDP crisis, resettling the displaced
from the FATA has been much less successful than the Swat operation. Camps are less
accessible to outside observers and NGOs due to tight military control, and there are allegations

399
400
Kamran Yousaf and Zia Khan, Fighting against Militancy: Gunships grounded over high costs, Express Tribune, January
26, 2011. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/109026/fighting-against-militancy-gunships-grounded-over-high-costs/
401
Declan Walsh, Swat Valley could be worst refugee crisis since Rwanda, UN warns, The Guardian, May 18, 2009.
Available at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/18/swat-valley-pakistan-refugee-crisis
402
IRC Assessment in Pakistan shows shocking conditions for many displaced people living outside camps, International
Rescue Committee, June 26, 2009. Available at http://bit.ly/dE6wzY
403
Behind Political Uncertainty in Pakistan: Pashtuns, Petrol and Musharraf, South Asia Analysis Group, January 3, 2011.
Available at http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/%5Cpapers43%5Cpaper4259.html
404
Adam Ellick, Back Home in Pakistan but Feeling Under Siege, New York Times, July 26, 2009. Available at
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/27/world/asia/27swat.html
405
Pakistan: The Worsening IDP Crisis, International Crisis Group, Asia Report 111, September 16, 2010. Available at
http://bit.ly/eHI3JG
406
Internal Displacement: Global Overview of Trends and Developments in 2010, Norwegian Refugee Council/Internal
Displacement Monitoring Center, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/gjPL1H


that the military has strongly coerced and pressured people into returning, rather than allowing
them a voluntary decision.
407

Figure 3.11: Percentage of Population Displaced Per
Agency

Source: Community Appraisal and Motivation Program, Understanding FATA, vol. 4, 2010.
An assessment by the Save the Children NGO on IDP camp conditions in DI Khan notes that
the average household of eight individuals was supporting itself on less than $2.30 a day!
408
The
vast majority of children (55% of boys and 71% of girls) were out of school and over 57% of
people had no access to health services.
409

Some IDPs have criticized government assistance money as vastly inadequate for the costs they
have had to bear
410
and COAS Kayani himself admitted to General Petraeus in early 2009, that
he had no capacity to compensate those who had been injured or lost their property due to
budgetary pressures.
411
Many others have stayed away from returning to their homes for fear that
militants will soon return as admitted by an international aid worker who noted that, We know
the return to Mohmand agency was voluntary because so few IDPs actually participated.
412

407
Ibid.
408
Assessment Report of IDPs Residing in District D.I. Khan Khyber Pahktunkhwa, Save the Children, April 2010. Available
at http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/documents/STC_AssessmentReportOfIDPsResidingInKhyberPakhtunkhwa.pdf
409
Ibid.
410
IDPs from South Waziristan begin hesitant return, IRIN, December 9, 2010. Available at
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportID=91331
411
US embassy cables: Pakistan army chief explains fate of lost millions, Guardian December 1, 2010. Available at
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/188670
412
The Worsening IDP Crisis, International Crisis Group.
0 10 20 30 40 30 60 70 80 90 100
Crakzal
8a[aur
khyber
kurram
Mohmand
SouLh WazlrlsLan
norLh WazlrlsLan
l8 8annu
l8 ul khan
l8 kohaL
l8 Lakkl MarwaL
l8 eshawar
l8 1ank

The Strategic Future
The increased lethality of the Pakistani military remains a very uncertain indicator of long-term
strategic success. Data collected by the South Asia Terrorism Portal counts over 17,000 militants
killed in PAKMIL operations since 2008, as seen in Figure 3.15, and targeted attacks have killed
several high-ranking Taliban leaders, including TTP founder Beitullah Mehsud and senior
commander Nek Mohammad.
413
Despite these successes, the insurgency has shown more signs
of continuity than of exhaustion or defeat. Furthermore while clearing operations may have
degraded Taliban presence, eliminating them remains in the distant future.
In February 2011, a suicide bomber was able to enter the heavily guarded Mardan cantonment
near Peshawar and kill over 30 cadets and injure 42 others.
414
Similarly in December 2010, over
150 Taliban fighters mounted a coordinated assault against five FC checkpoints in Mohmand,
where the Pakistani Army has now twice claimed success.
415

Furthermore there is still no clear evidence that more effective clearing operations have done
anything to change the balloon nature of the insurgency, i.e. merely displacing militancy into
neighboring provinces. In October 2010, a White House assessment criticized Pakistani efforts at
stabilizing areas in South Waziristan saying, the military largely stayed close to the roads and
did not engage against those [TTP] militants who returned after fleeing into North
Waziristan.
416
The military has declared operations in South Waziristan to be over and is now
pressuring IDPs to return.
417

The sustainability of the Pakistani militarys hard-won gains is also undermined by the lack of a
civilian counterpart to a strategy defined and dominated by the military to best serve its own
organizational and strategic interests.
418
Even though the Pakistani military has gravitated
towards a more presence-oriented strategy, retaining forces in theater after operations for
population security, it continues to focus heavily on the more brute elements of coercion. It has
shown limited interest or capacity to engage in large-scale developmental activities to reform
socioeconomic disparities, and has focused on the local version of Quick Impact Projects (QIPs)
as tools to re-empower tribal maliks and build links with society.
419

The prolonged garrison atmosphere created by the extended military presence in the FATA has
its own dangers. It is evoking resentment from fiercely independent tribes who may see this as a
Punjabi intrusion. Along these lines, a poll of 400 villages in the FATA conducted by a respected
NGO working in the tribal areas highlighted growing public trust in the regular army but still
expressed preferences for localized forces, notably the Frontier Corps, and the Levies and

413
Pak takes out tribal leader Nek Mohammad, Times of India, June 19, 2004. Available at http://bit.ly/f8DHI4; Declan
Walsh, Air strike kills Taliban leader Beitullah Mehsud, The Guardian August 7, 2009. Available at http://bit.ly/2FJ1N6
414
Riaz Khan, Suicide bomber kills 31 soldiers in NW Pakistan, AP, February 10, 2011. Available at
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110210/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan
415
Bill Roggio, Taliban assault Pakistani military checkpoints in Mohmand, Long War Journal, December 24, 2010.
Available at http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2010/12/taliban_assault_paki.php
416
Adam Entous and Siobhan Gorman, US slams Pakistani effort on militants, Wall Street Journal, October 6, 2010.
Available at
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703298504575534491793923282.html?mod=WSJ_World_LeadStory
417
The Worsening IDP Crisis, International Crisis Group.
418
Ayesha Siddiqua, Pakistan Counterterrorism Strategy: Separating Friends from Enemies, The Washington Quarterly, Vol
34, No. 1, (Winter 2011). Available at http://www.twq.com/11winter/docs/11winter_Siddiqa.pdf
419
Shuja Nawaz, Learning by Doing, The Atlantic Council, February 2011.


Khassadars, as seen in Figure 3.13. However, if the Pakistani military and government efforts
are to achieve lasting effects, the military will need to demonstrate more diligence in partnering
with civilian institutions and local law-enforcement agencies to transition security and
governance responsibilities.
At present, police capacity in the Pashtun belt remains vastly inadequate for the task at hand.
420

Law enforcement in the FATA is tiered ranging from local tribal police, to the paramilitary
Frontier Corps, as seen earlier in Figure 3.8. .The FC, having been the armys primary partner in
conducting operations has benefited considerably and has evolved into a more professional and
capable fighting force.
421
At its present size however it is unlikely to be able to cope with the
current levels of militant violence, without regular army support. This may incentivize growing
the force as a dedicated counterinsurgency force akin to the Indian Armys Rashtriya Rifles
raised to counter Pakistan-sponsored militancy in Kashmir.
422

More regular law-enforcement suffers from chronic shortfalls. In the KPK, it is estimated that
police possessed only 17,000 automatic rifles, 7,500 bulletproof vests, and three armored
personnel carriers for a presumed end-strength of about 50,000-55,000.
423
Furthermore as is
common of the police sector across Pakistan, the majority of the police are ill equipped, poorly
trained, deeply politicized and chronically corrupt with little chance of functioning as a
paramilitary force capable of surviving an insurgency.
424

Hassan Abbas estimates that an average of 400 police officers were being killed annually in
encounters with militants between 2005 and 2009, whereas 700 out 1737 police officers deserted
or resigned their posts in Swat in 2006/07 upon receiving militant threats.
425
The sector has also
suffered low levels of external support; out of $731 million of military assistance allocated by
the U.S., only $4.7 million has found its way to police forces.
426
Recently, more attention has
been focused upon the police. Recruitment has increased substantially, reaching an end-strength
of 78,320 in 2010-11, up from 55,450 in 2009-10, but availability of funds continues to be an
issue in effectively scaling up capacity.
427

In the meantime, efforts to rectify manpower shortfalls have led to the rapid proliferation of non-
government tribal lashkars (militias), which are now believed to constitute an end-strength of
about 30,000. Such a strategy has significant long-term risks, by transferring the responsibility of
the state onto non-state actors of dubious loyalty and competence. Over time, they may grow
disillusioned with the state and defect to the Taliban with their government-provided weaponry.
The International Crisis Group has been critical of these groups, noting that in some localities

420
Hassan Abbas, Reforming Pakistans Police and Law Enforcement Infrastructure, US Institute for Peace, January 2011.
Available at http://bit.ly/hhT4rM
421
Seth Jones and Christine Fair, Counterinsurgency in Pakistan, RAND, 2010.
422
Moeed Yusuf and Anit Mukherjee, Counterinsurgency in Pakistan: Learning from India, American Enterprise Institute,
September 2007. Available at http://www.aei.org/docLib/20070928_YusufNSOg.pdf
423
Sameer Lalwani, Pakistan Capabilities for a Counterinsurgency Campaign: A Net Assessment, New America Foundation,
September 2009. Available at http://www.newamerica.net/files/NAFPakistanSept09.pdf
424
Hassan Abbas, Role of Pakistan Police in Counterinsurgency, Brookings Institution, June 2009. Available at
http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/rc/papers/2009/06_counterinsurgency_abbas/06_counterinsurgency_abbas.pdf
425
Hassan Abbas, Police and Law Enforcement in Pakistan: Crucial for Counterinsurgency and Counterterrorism Success,
Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, April 2009. Available at http://bit.ly/etW6QI
426
Hassan Abbas, Role of Pakistan Police in Counterinsurgency.
427
Hassan Abbas, Reforming Pakistans Police and Law Enforcement Infrastructure, US Institute for Peace, February 2011.
Available at http://bit.ly/hhT4rM

they have been derisively referred to as the government Taliban, for the impunity with which
they operate, and the former Taliban fighters who fill their ranks.
428

Lashkars have had mixed successes. They have had successes in the more settled areas of the
KPK and in Bajaur where the Taliban presence was initially weak, but in other areas have found
themselves outgunned, outmanned and subject to vicious Taliban retaliation.
429
Lashkars share
ethnic and often tribal bonds with the Taliban, and are sometimes reluctant to mobilize against
Taliban forces. Even when they do it is primarily in pursuit of specific localized goals. Over the
long-term, their loyalties are uncertain. In an indication of the problems Pakistan continues to
face, in March 2011, a 4,000-strong lashkar raised near Peshawar in 2007 ended government
support. Tribal leaders cited inadequate governmental support, and their subjection to a spate of
targeted attacks by the Taliban, including a suicide attack that killed 38 people in an attack on a
funeral procession for the wife of a tribal leader.
430

Finally, no sustainable hold strategy can take root without adequate governance. Over the last
decade, governance has steadily deteriorated in the FATA. Loosely controlled the best of times,
today the feudal and colonial dynamics of the agent-malik governing structure is in ruins. It has
been discredited as a governing mechanism and has served as a key driver for the insurgency.
Religious radicals have used it to play on anti-government grievances, and promote a narrative
that brands sharia as synonymous with a fair and equal justice system, whereas the TTPs
campaign of assassinations against maliks has greatly degraded the administrative structure.
431

Addressing these legitimate grievances will require implementing long-overdue reforms,
including repealing the Frontier Crimes Regulation, and better integrating the FATA into the
mainstream Pakistani political structure. Combining territorial gains with an integrated effort to
deepen public trust in national security institutions, and more deeply involving the Pakistani
civilian government in building human infrastructure and local institutions, is essential. For
better or for worse, the Pakistani military is a key political player, and particularly for an
integrated national-security strategy such as this, it retains enormous influence to pressure for a
speedier implementation of reforms.

428
Countering Militancy in the FATA, International Crisis Group, Asia Report No 178, October 21, 2009, pg. 18. Available
at http://bit.ly/hypgdx
429
Michael Kugelman, Tread Lightly with Pakistans Lashkars, The Wilson Center, July 16, 2009. Available at
http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?topic_id=1462&fuseaction=topics.item&news_id=542689
430
Pakistan anti-Taliban militia ends government support, BBC News, March 10, 2011. Available at
431
Tim McGirk, Pakistans Taliban War: Bringing Back the Music, Time Magazine, March 3, 2010. Available at


Figure 3.12: Perceptions of Powerbrokers in FATA
(New America Foundation Poll)

Source: New America Foundation/Terror Free Tomorrow, http://bit.ly/fUrNw1.
!
Figure 3.13: Public Opinion on FATA Security
Providers

Source Community Appraisal and Motivation Program, Understanding FATA: Attitudes towards Governance,
Religion & Society in Pakistans Federally Administered Tribal Areas, vol. 4 (Islamabad: Community Appraisal &
Motivation Programme [CAMP], 2010), http://www.understandingfata.org/files/.
0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 30.00 60.00 70.00 80.00 90.00
Arab and lorelgn llghLers
Amerlcan MlllLary
aklsLanl Army
lronuer Corps
1ehrlk-l-1allban aklsLan
Afghan 1allban
lederal CovernmenL (lslamabad)
rovlnclal CovernmenL (eshawar)
ollucal AgenL
aklsLanl ollce
lA1A SecreLarlaL
lA1A uevelopmenL AuLhorlLy
very lavorable very unfavorable

Figure 3.14: FATA Public Support for Military
Operations

Source: Community Appraisal and Motivation Program, Understanding FATA: Attitudes towards Governance,
Religion & Society in Pakistans Federally Administered Tribal Areas, vol. 2 (2008), vol. 3 (2009), vol. 4 (2010)
(Islamabad: Community Appraisal & Motivation Programme [CAMP]), http://www.understandingfata.org/.

Figure 3.15: Pakistan Security Force-to-Militant
Casualty Ratio (20072010)

Note: Pakistani military casualty figures are contested. South Asia Terrorism Portal (utilized here), for example,
notes 469 Security Forces killed in action in 2010, whereas Pak Institutefor Peace Studies counts 641.
Source: South Asia Terrorism Portal, http://bit.ly/cQfzw1.
SupporL for 8a[aur Cp
(2008)
SupporL for SwaL Cp
(2009)
SupporL for SouLh
Waz Cp (2009)
no 74.30 16.20 18.60
?es 14.30 70.10 66.90
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
30.00
60.00
70.00
80.00
90.00
100.00
2007 2008 2009 2010
MlllLanL klA 1479 3906 8389 3170
Sl klA 397 634 991 469
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
3000
6000
7000
8000
9000
10000


IV. the situation in balochistan
The province of Balochistan is another serious challenge to Pakistani security and stability, and
is currently suffering a major separatist rebellion. With 44% of Pakistans landmass but only 5%
of its population, any security effort in the region faces major challenges given the provinces
vast expanse and low population density. The population is however projected to increase from
7.8 million in 2005 to 11 million by 2025.
432

Balochistan has substantial endowments of natural resources, yet remains the poorest province in
Pakistan, and has abysmal human welfare rankings that sustain the populations alienation from
state institutions. Balochistan is strategically located. Its porous borders neighbor some of
Afghanistans most volatile provinces including Kandahar, Helmand, and Zabul, in all of which
coalition troops are heavily engaged. To the west it borders Iran while its coastline extends out to
the Arabian Sea, making it a potentially vital trade intersection to connect the Middle East with
South, Central, and East Asia. Its locational advantage also has had unintended consequences;
the province is now one of the worlds largest opiate smuggling and processing routes.
The province is strategically crucial to the Afghan insurgency, particularly the Quetta Shura
Taliban. Its long porous border renders it an ideal transit route for insurgent fighters, particularly
into Kandahar and Helmand, where some of the toughest coalition battles are currently being
waged. The province is close to key insurgent centers in the FATA, including North and South
Waziristan and is a critical NATO logistical transit artery. About 40-80% of non-lethal NATO
supplies are believed to transit through Pakistan,
433
34% of which through Balochistans Chaman
border crossing.
434

The Threats
Baloch separatists, Taliban Islamists and Islamabad all compete for control of the province, and
each poses distinct security challenges. The Pashtun population continues from the FATA and
the KPK, to the north and east of Quetta, the provincial capital, while ethnic Balochs, who
compose about 45% of the population, dominate the south and west.
435

Many Balochs are now engaged in a bitter campaign for autonomy or independence from the
Pakistani state, and have a weak sense of identification with the Pakistani state and its
institutions, which many perceive as an extension of Punjabi power that has marginalizes and
suppresses them. A tribal chief summarized the prevailing sentiment, quoting a common Baloch
saying, I have been a Baloch for several centuries. I have been a Muslim for 1400 years. I have
been a Pakistani for just over fifty.
436

432
Pakistan Balochistan Economic Report, World Bank/Asian Development Bank/Government of Balochistan, May 2008.
Available at http://bit.ly/bXH1DC
433
James Wray, Pakistan NATO supply attack, Monsters and Critics, October 6, 2010. Available at http://bit.ly/dhAIe5
434
Andrew Kuchins, Thomas Sanderson and David Gordon, The Northern Distribution Network and the Modern Silk Road,
CSIS, December 2009.
435
Human Rights Violations: Conflict in Balochistan: December 2005-January 2006, Human Rights Commission of
Pakistan, August 2006. Available at http://hrcp-web.org/pdf/Conflict%20in%20balochistan--%20Complete.pdf
436
Alexander Atarodi, Insurgency in Balochistan and Why it is of Strategic Importance, Swedish Defense Research Agency,
January 2011. Available at http://www2.foi.se/rapp/foir3110.pdf

Today, the Balochs are fighting their fifth separatist rebellion after an interlude of almost three
decades. It has been marked by a significant escalation in brutality and its targeting scope. Many
Baloch grievances are driven by the abject underdevelopment of the province and biased
allocations of resources.
The most prominent Taliban group in Balochistan is the Quetta Shura Taliban, the command
node of the Afghan Taliban. Named for the city of Quetta, it is believed that senior leaders,
including Mullah Omar, Amir-ul-Momineen (Commander of the Faithful) for all Taliban, are
believed to be hiding in its urban sprawl.
Efforts at Reform
Balochistan is one Pakistans poorest province, when on paper it should be one of the richest. It
has an abundance of mineral and petrochemical resources, including large natural gas deposits,
extensive mineral deposits including coal, copper, lead and gold, a long unexploited coastline
and a location on the trade intersection of South and Central Asia and the Middle East.
Despite this abundance of resources, Balochistan has the nations highest poverty rate and scores
the lowest in ten key social indicators including education, literacy, access to health, and water
and sanitation in 2006/07 according to a study conducted by the World Bank.
437
92% of its
districts continue to be classified as high deprivation areas,
438
and 80% of its population is
rural, with most engaged in subsistence agriculture.
439
Balochistan also has one of the countrys
worst records on gender equality.
A report by the World Bank recommended that, Balochistan should pursue a development
agenda around generating growth, delivering services and financing development.
440
With
regards to economic growth, it recommended exploiting Balochistans locational advantage to
develop a regional transit hub, to better exploit its natural resource base, to help encourage an
economic transformation from agriculture to services and industry, and to increase the business
environment and encourage private-sector development.
441
The report further recommended that
service delivery should center on improving basic human welfare and improve the access and
quality of basic services such as education, while financing development should focus on
upgrading the provinces fiscal management, by upgrading revenue collections and better
prioritizing and allocating public expenditures.
442

Progress towards these goals has been sporadic. Once again, reform lags badly and Islamabad
does far more in rhetoric than in reality. The November 2009 Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan
package of reforms has promised to address many of the core grievances of ethnic Balochis, but
to date, few of the promises have been implemented. Similarly the military has indicated its
support for political and economic reforms, but continues to conduct a systematic campaign of
intimidation through torture and extrajudicial killings. Force continues to be the dominant mode

437
Pakistan Balochistan Economic Report, World Bank/Asian Development Bank/Government of Balochistan
438
Salman Zaidi, Making Sense of Violence in Balochistan in 2010, Jinnah Institute. Available at http://www.jinnah-
institute.org/programs/strategic-security-program/212-policy-brief-making-sense-of-violence-in-balochistan-2010
439
440
441
Ibid
442


of competing against a movement that is essentially political in nature, and Islamabad remains
far more concerned with suppressing the separatists than rooting out Taliban sanctuaries or
bettering border security.
Chronic underdevelopment is the norm, and human welfare statistics are little short of abysmal,
even relative to the rest of Pakistan as seen in Figure 4.1. The education sector is in particularly
poor condition. The provincial literacy rate languishes at 34%, a full 23 percentage points, below
the national average, whereas the female literacy rate of 15% is about half the national average.
These problems are even more serious in rural areas; Amnesty International found in rural
Balochistan only 8% of females over the age of 10 have finished primary school,
443
and
educational infrastructure is in bad shape. According to Pakistani government statistics, 10.9% of
schools have no building, 33.9% have no access to drinking water, 36.9% are without latrines,
and 59.6% have no electricity.
444
Amnesty Internationals statistics deem these to be unduly
optimistic. Their own figures classified 36% of primary schools as either dangerous or
requiring major repair and noted that 81% of schools had no access to electricity.
445

Figure 4.1: Human Development Statistics for
Balochistan

Source: Pakistan Ministry of Finance, http://bit.ly/ewrgsd; Balochistan Economic Report, Asian Development Bank,
http://bit.ly/dK1pvA.

443
Their Future is at Stake: Attacks on Teachers and Schools in Pakistans Balochistan Province, Human Rights Watch,
December 2010. Available at http://bit.ly/fmz3Fo
444
Education, Pakistan Ministry of Finance. Available at http://bit.ly/ewrgsd, accessed April 26, 2011.
445
Their Future is at Stake: Attacks on Teachers and Schools in Pakistans Balochistan Province, Human Rights Watch.
0 10 20 30 40 30 60 70 80 90 100
LlLeracy 8aLe
lemale LlLeracy 8aLe
rlmary School LnrollmenL
lemale rlmary LnrollmenL
vlllage LlecLrlcauon
Access Lo urlnklng WaLer
aklsLan 8alochlsLan

Poverty and underemployment are major problems, and are significant contributors to instability
and violence, particularly when considering that Balochistan has a greater youth bulge, than the
rest of Pakistan. 49.5% of Balochs are under the age of 15, in contrast to the national average of
43.3%.
446
In 2008, the World Bank estimated poverty in Balochistan at 47%, which might be
conservative.
447
The number of poor people in the province has increased considerably between
1998/99 and 2004/5, rising from 1.5 million to 2.1 million,
448
in large part as a result of the five-
year drought between 1997 and 2002 that caused famine, and decimated over 43% of the
livestock population.
449

A severe water crisis is a concern for many Balochs. Only 5% of Balochistan is connected to the
Indus River basin, enhancing scarcity in a country expected to become water-scarce by sometime
between 2020 and 2035.
450
In and around Quetta, it is believed that the mining of groundwater
has reached such levels, that the water table has dropped by 3.5 meters annually and it is
believed the entire aquifer will be lost within 5-10 years.
451
This scarcity deeply complicates the
difficulties for the rural agriculture sector, which has few irrigation mechanisms to help provide
consistent or adequate yields.
Most economic sectors in Balochistan have suffered from decades of underinvestment, and low
productivity is a key obstacle impeding an economic transformation up the value chain. Basic
agriculture is the mainstay for most Balochs, with 40% farming minor crops and 33% raising
small herds of livestock.
452
Increasing agricultural efficiency, and encouraging moves towards
more productive enterprises will both mean overcoming many serious problems, including a lack
of rural access to electricity, limited access to financial capital and inadequate transportation
infrastructure that has led to poorly connected and segmented communities.
453
Educational gaps
impede any move towards skill-intensive industries. At the moment, 1.4 million of 2.3 million
provincial workers have no schooling at all.
454

As a result of limitations such as these, various sectors have considerable untapped growth
potential. Fisheries, which are touted as a growth industry for Balochistans undeveloped
coastline, are a good example, possessing over 70% of Pakistans coast but less than 30% of its
landed catch.
455
Mineral exploitation also has considerable latent potential. The recently
discovered Reko Diq copper mine in Chagai district was valued at $260 billion,
456
but political
problems have slowed development.
457
The petroleum sector too is suffering infrastructure

446
White Paper on Budget 2010-11, Finance Department Government of Balochistan. Available at
http://www.balochistan.gov.pk/documents/WhitePaperonBudget2010-11.pdf
447
Islamic Republic of Pakistan: Balochistan Economic Report, Asian Development Bank, December 2005. Available at
http://www.adb.org/Documents/TARs/PAK/39003-PAK-TAR.pdf
448
449
Islamic Republic of Pakistan: Balochistan Economic Report, Asian Development Bank
450
Michael Kugelman and Robert Hathaway, Running on Empty: Pakistans Water Crisis, Wilson Center, 2009. Available at
http://www.wilsoncenter.org/topics/pubs/ASIA_090422_Running%20on%20Empty_web.pdf
451
Ibid.
452
453
Ibid.
454
Ibid.
455
Islamic Republic of Pakistan: Balochistan Economic Report, Asian Development Bank
456
Salman Zaidi, Making Sense of Violence in Balochistan in 2010, Jinnah Institute.
457
Sanaullah Baloch, Exploitation of mineral wealth, Dawn, November 25, 2010. Available at
http://www.dawn.com/2010/11/25/exploitation-of-mineral-wealth-by-sanaullah-baloch.html


degradation after decades of underinvestment in exploration and development, resulting in
declining output from 355bcf in 1994/5 to 336bcf by 2005.
458

The floods of 2010 have compounded these problems. About 2 million residents of Balochistan
have been affected according to figures collected by UNHCR, including about 600,000 people
displaced from the Sindh.
459
Thirteen districts were affected, including Jafarabad, Naseerabad,
Kohlu, Barkhan, Kachhi, and Harnai. Already limited infrastructure such as irrigation channels
were washed away, while district administration largely ground to a complete halt.
460

Some 700,000 acres of land were destroyed in the provinces agricultural belt, resulting in food
shortages, which causes not only the obvious hunger, but also leaves farmers with no cash to
prepare for the next season.
461
A UNHCR employee noted that the region had been largely
overlooked in relief efforts, and commented that, I have worked in humanitarian situations
globally and worked in refugee camps in Africa during emergencies, but to be honest I had never
seen a situation as devastating as I saw in Balochistan.
462

The Resource Curse
Unequal allocations in the distribution of resource revenues, including natural gas have been a
major source of contention. Natural gas was discovered in Balochistan in 1952 and was soon
made available to the Punjab and the Sindh, but Quetta, the provincial capital, failed to receive
any piped gas until the 1980s, and even today only 4 out of 21 districts have access to piped
gas.
463
In fact, Dera Bugti, home to the Sui gas fields has the richest endowment of resources in
all of Balochistan, yet has the nations worst HDI ranking.
464

The same is true in the minerals sector. The Saindak copper and gold mines are extracted by a
Chinese company, and out of revenues worth $633.6 million, 48% went to Islamabad, 50% to
Beijing and a paltry 2% to Balochistan itself.
465
This trend is also true of the province as a whole.
In 2007, Balochistan contributed PKR87 billion in gas revenues for state but received only PKR7
billion for the province.
466
Such small allocations have been justified by the government which
points to Balochistans small population, but recently as part of recent reforms, progress has been

458
459
UNHCR warns of grave conditions in Balochistan, UNHCR, September 3, 2010. Available at
http://www.unhcr.org/4c80cb3f9.html
460
Bari Baloch, Major human crisis looms in Balochistan, The Baloch Hal, August 22, 2010. Available at
http://www.thebalochhal.com/2010/08/major-human-crisis-looms-in-balochistan/
461
Flood Crisis: Balochistans Silent Suffering, Express Tribune, September 5, 2010. Available at
http://tribune.com.pk/story/46843/flood-crisis-balochistans-silent-suffering/
462
Unprecedented humanitarian crisis in flood-hit Balochistan, One World South Asia, September 3, 2010. Available at
http://southasia.oneworld.net/todaysheadlines/crisis-unfolding-in-flood-hit-balochistan-unhcr
463
Renewed Ethnonationalist Insurgency in Balochistan, Pakistan: The Militarized State and Continuing Economic Deprivation
Author(s): Adeel Khan Source: Asian Survey, Vol. 49, No. 6 (November/December 2009), pp. 1071-1091
464
Sen. Sanaullah Baloch, The Balochistan Conflict: Towards a Lasting Peace, Pakistan Security Research Unit, March 1,
2007. Available at http://www.scribd.com/doc/38662095/Instability-in-Balochistan
465
Sanaullah Baloch, Exploitation of mineral wealth.
466
Sen. Sanaullah Baloch, The Balochistan Conflict: Towards a Lasting Peace.

made on increasing Balochistans share of gas revenues from PKR4 billion to PKR7 billion, out
of the total pool of PKR16 billion.
467

Uncertain and Unstable Politics
The Pakistani state is often blamed for Balochistans situation. Certainly it deserves a large
measure of blame, but Balochistans indigenous political system is also a major driver. Much of
rural Balochistan is controlled by local sardars (leaders), and like the maliks of the FATA, they
are hereditary leaders with considerable power over the people, including the implementation of
taxes, control over local security apparatuses, and considerable say in the channeling and
implementation of resources, including development aid.
468

The Pakistani government often alleges that it is their fear of losing their positions to economic
advancement that has ensured that Balochs stay impoverished. This assessment obscures the
large role the Pakistani state itself plays, but the role of the sardars is important as acknowledged
by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, which agreed that tribal sardars have no interest
in advancing a modern form of governance.
469

However, the Pakistani government, particularly manifested through its Punjabi-dominated
omnipresent security forces, and its inefficient provincial government cannot be excused of
culpability. A report released by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in May 2011
detailed the usual complaints including the oppressive militarization of the province, the
culpability of security forces in disappearances, torture and extrajudicial killings. The report also
noted the absence of the political government and the civil authorities from critical areas of
decision-making, the manner in which the political government abdicated its responsibility
towards the people and hid behind its own helplessness in the face of domination of the military
and intelligence agencies, as well as detailed the complete disregard of the military authorities
towards the political authorities and the civil authorities.
470

To its credit, Pakistan has made commitments in the past year to resolve Baloch grievances. The
Aghaz-e-Huqooq-e-Balochistan package of reforms is roughly translated as beginning of rights
in Balochistan and true to its name included significant reforms, including promises to increase
Baloch employment in the civil-sector, to offer Baloch a greater share of resource industry
revenues, and to compensate communities displaced by violence.
471

The package nearly doubled Balochistans share of the federal divisible pool from 5.11% to
9.09%,
472
while in 2010, about PKR 12 billion was released to the Baloch government as the
beginning of repayments for outstanding debts from natural gas revenues.
473
Various mega-
development projects are in the process of being built including the Gwadar port, which is touted

467
Syed Fazl-e-Haider, End of Deadlock over Gas Revenue Sharing, Dawn, October 19, 2009. Available at
468
Status of the Sardars, Global Security. Available at http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/pakistan/baloch-
sardars.htm, accessed April 26, 2011.
469
Human Rights Violations: Conflict in Balochistan: December 2005-January 2006, Human Rights Commission of
470
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Blinkered Slide into Chaos, June 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/mnFjlj
471
472
Noor ul-Haq, Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan. Available at http://ipripak.org/factfiles/ff118.pdf
473


as the key to bringing investment and prosperity to Balochistan. Other less high-profile
initiatives include the US$1.2 billion 500-kilometer Kachhi canal being built to pass through
Punjab and Balochistan
474

Despite these initiatives, Balochs remain skeptical and for good reason. Baloch leaders have
rightly pointed out that as important stakeholders they are excluded from the decision-making
procedure, leading to an external model of development that is coercively imposed upon them.
475

More tangibly by March 2011, despite sixteen months having passed since the passage of the
bill, only 11 out of the 61 reforms had been implemented, the committee chairman had resigned
in frustration at the slow pace of implementation. Critical components such as measures to
review the role of security agencies, electricity generation projects, political outreach to Baloch
stakeholders and increasing Baloch control of natural resources and broadcasting infrastructure,
were still languishing in the draft phase.
476

Balochistans vast and rugged terrain presents additional problems. Security and violent
incidents continue to hamper any development agenda, as do entrenched institutional biases --
particularly among security agencies that have resisted any dilution of their presence and
operational procedures. Endemic corruption and nepotism continue to persist and development
strategies have failed to be coupled with any real attempts at political engagement.
Mega-projects designed to alleviate economic concerns can themselves be drivers of conflict.
Various projects such as the Gwadar port are built largely with Chinese and Punjabi labor,
largely excluding ethnic Balochs. As a result many projects are presumed to be inconsequential
to the welfare of Balochs, and as a Punjabi plot to expand control and influence over Baloch
resources. Given their historical interactions with the state, Balochs have little faith that the
benefits of these projects will ever trickle down to assist in improving their condition. In
reaction, separatist insurgents have mounted several attacks against workers and security
personnel working at these installations, including on March 22, 2011 when gunmen killed 10
road construction workers near Gwadar,
477
and a month earlier when between 3 and 10 FC
soldiers were killed in a remotely detonated blast.
478

There is little evidence of outreach to nationalist groups, of any attempts to address the status of
extrajudicial killings and unlawful detentions, or of attempts to reduce the security presence in
Balochistan. This is particularly disconcerting because the most immediate and visible Baloch
grievances relate to security issues, and economic redress by itself is unlikely to quell the depths
of anger Balochs feel towards the Punjabi-dominated center.

474
Michael Kugelman and Robert Hathaway, Running on Empty: Pakistans Water Crisis.
475
Malik Siraj Akbar, Judiciary, Parliament silent on Baloch issues, Viewpoint, January 4, 2011. Available at
http://www.viewpointonline.net/judiciary-parliament-silent-on-baloch-issues.html
476
Zahid Gishkori, Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan: Reform package stopped in tracks, Express Tribune, March 7, 2011.
Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/128835/aghaz-e-haqooq-e-balochistan-reform-package-stopped-in-its-tracks/
477
Security Developments in Pakistan, March 22, Reuters Alert Net, March 22, 2011. Available at
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/factbox-security-developments-in-pakistan-march-22/
478
Ahmar Mustikhan, Baloch freedom fighters kill 10 Pak troops in battle over Gwadar ownership, Baltimore Foreign Policy
Examiner, February 23, 2011. Available at http://tiny.cc/aog9m

The Separatist Rebellion
The scale of the violence affecting Balochistan must be kept in the perspective of its relatively
small population of 7.8 million people, of which about half are ethnic Balochs. This means that
the effects of violence are felt deeply across the population. The Pak Institute of Peace Studies
counted 600 fatalities in 2010 across in 737 attacks
479
mounted across a population about the size
of Virginia, which in the Pakistani context equates to about 6,800 fatalities in the Punjab. Attacks
in Balochistan have also significantly increased in quantity and lethality over the past few years
as seen in Figure 4.2. It is however too early to tell if the 55% spike in deaths in 2010 over 2009
is a temporary phenomenon or the start of a significantly bloodier phase of the insurgency.
The present nationalist insurgency is the fifth in its kind. Previous insurgencies took place in
1948, 1958-59, 1962-63, 1973-77, and were bloody affairs with the last two claiming about
3,000 and 2,000 lives respectively. The current rebellion began in earnest around 2004, and
intensified in January 2005, after the rape of a female Baloch oilfield doctor by an army officer.
Key drivers have included the usual package of grievances, including heavy militarization, the
impunity and brutality with which security forces operate, alienation from political and economic
modernization, perceived Punjabi encroachment on resource issues, and issues relating to the
suppression of the Baloch culture. The insurgency has witnessed several new trends, notably the
growing viciousness of insurgent tactics, and the increasing support for insurgents amongst the
educated and middle-class Balochs.
The state response, as in each previous uprisings, has been heavy-handed, particularly so during
the Musharraf era. Musharrafs warning to insurgents in 2005 was indicative of his attitude
towards the separatists; Dont push us. It isnt the 1970s where you can hit and run and hide in
the mountains. This time you wont even know what hit you.
480
Despite this hardline rhetoric, a
visit by Musharraf to highlight government successes in December 2005 was marred when
separatists fired rockets near where he was speaking.
481

Follow on FC-led PAKMIL operations were severe. The closed nature of the area where
international NGOs such as the International Red Cross are forbidden, makes exact casualty
figures difficult, but it is believed that at least 3,000 people have been killed, and over 200,000
displaced as a result of military operations.
482
Conditions in camps have been particularly bad. In
2007, when IDP numbers ranged around 85,000, UNICEF estimated that 28% of five-year olds
in makeshift refugee camps were severely malnourished, and noted that 80% of recorded deaths
were children under five
483
-- facts that incensed the Musharraf regime, and led to the expulsion
of the UNICEF head in Pakistan.
484
Today UNICEF estimates 116,210 IDPs in Balochistan and

479
Pakistan Security Report 2010, Pak Institutefor Peace Studies.
480
Balochistan: Pakistans Broken Mirror, The National, March 25, 2010. Available at
http://www.thenational.ae/news/worldwide/balochistan-pakistans-broken-mirror?pageCount=0
481
Sarfaraz Ahmed, Musharraf Kohlu visit not a wise move, Daily Times, December 20, 2005. Available at
482
Peter Tatchell, The Baloch People have a Right to Self-Determination, Open Democracy, April 27, 2010. Available at
http://www.opendemocracy.net/peter-tatchell/baloch-people-have-right-to-self-determination
483
The Forgotten Conflict in Balochistan, International Crisis Group, Asia Report No. 69, October 22, 2007. Available at
http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/asia/south-asia/pakistan/b69_pakistan__the_forgotten_conflict_in_balochistan.ashx
484
Malik Siraj Akbar, Balochistans unattended IDP crisis, The Baloch Hal, February 1, 2010. Available at
http://www.thebalochhal.com/2010/02/balochistan%E2%80%99s-unattended-idp-crisis-%E2%80%94malik-siraj-akbar/


parts of Sindh,
485
many from the Kohlu and Dera Bugti districts, the tribal heartland of the Marri
and Bugti tribes, which are heavily represented amongst separatists.
This use of force, however, has done little more than consolidate Baloch anger, particularly the
targeting of key Baloch leaders. The death of the highly respected 79-year old Bugti tribal leader,
Nawab Akbar Bugti, who had been prominent in voicing his opposition, is widely regarded as
having significantly escalated the insurgency. Security forces mortared Bugtis house killing 60
of his people, but he survived and returned to the mountain ranges of Dera Bugti, his tribal lands,
with 5,000 of his tribesmen.
486
PAKMIL offensives mounted a fierce punitive campaign in the
area, and on August 26, 2006, helicopter gunships killed Bugti in his hideout.
487

The killing soon proved to be a grave miscalculation that catalyzed Baloch anger and led to
widespread rioting, strikes and protests across Baloch areas, including in Karachis Lyari
sector.
488
Soon after the killing, Baloch nationalist forces held a jirga that was attended by more
than 380 leaders, including 85 sardars, who petitioned the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to
end the military occupation, a strong rebuff to Musharrafs assertions that he controlled the
loyalty of all but three sardars.
489

Criticism also came from non-Baloch sectors, including segments of the Army who feared a
repeat of the 1971 East Pakistan experience, and from political opponents such as Punjabs
Nawaz Sharif who branded Musharraf a killer.
490
Since then Pakistan, has killed other senior
separatist leaders including Mir Balach Marri, purported leader of the Balochistan Liberation
Army (BLA) in November 2007.
491

The end of the Musharraf era has not altered the situation and government forces continue to be
consistently heavy-handed. Against the Baloch rebels, there is no evidence that the lessons
learned in the FATA for more a sensitive tactical prosecution of kinetic operations are being
applied in any earnest manner, or that PAKMIL and its local arms, notably local wings of the
much-hated Frontier Corps (FC), believe anything but complete suppression is the solution.
492

The security services, particularly the FC and intelligence agencies, are often accused of
extrajudicial killings, under a kill and dump policy where individuals are abducted or
disappeared, with their bodies reappearing dumped on the streets with marks of torture on their
bodies. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan counted at least 117 incidents of targeted
killings in 2010,
493
and a Guardian investigation revealed that 1/3
rd
of all kill and dump victims

485
UNICEF Fortnightly Situation Report 3-18 March 2011, UNICEF. Available at
http://www.pakresponse.info/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=F48G917oJQQ%3D&tabid=87&mid=578
486
Musharraf will not know what has hit him Akbar Bugti, Newsline, January 14, 2006. Available at
http://www.newsline.com.pk/NewsJan2006/cover1jan2006.htm
487
Balochistan: Pakistans Broken Mirror, The National.
488
Abdul Sattar, Riots grow over tribal chiefs death, AP, August 27, 2006. Available at
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/4145024.html
489
The Forgotten Conflict in Balochistan, International Crisis Group.
490
The Geo-Strategic Implications of the Baloch Insurgency, Jamestown Foundation, November 16, 2006. Available at
491
Counterinsurgency in Balochistan: Pakistans Strategy, Outcome and Future Implications, Pak Institutefor Peace Studies,
July 15, 2008. Available at san-pips.com/download.php?f=pvt0004.pdf
492
Balochistan Atrocities Continue to Rise, Amnesty International, February 23, 2011. Available at
http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/pakistan-balochistan-atrocities-continue-rise-2011-02-23
493
Ahmed Rashid, Why We Should Worry about Balochistan, BBC News, January 19, 2011. Available at

belonged to the Baloch Students Organization (BSO).
494
By end-2010, Human Rights Watch
estimated that 1,100 missing people,
495
many taken into custody by uniformed personnel.
496

Between October 2010 and February 2011, Amnesty International counted the disappearance or
murder of at least 90 Baloch activists, teachers, journalists, and lawyers.
497

Retaliations against civilians for separatist attacks are also often severe. A 2006 HRCP fact-
finding mission in Balochistan found that in response to a bombing that killed three FC soldiers,
the FC raided and burnt a nearby hamlet, executed 12 men and then demanded male members of
the village come to collect bodies -- the two who came were then also shot.
498
Another HRCP
mission conducted in May 2011 found that the situation had continued to deteriorate, and that
enforced disappearances, and military impunity continued to remain rife.
499

Separatist insurgent dynamics too have changed, differentiating the conflict today from even the
one in 2004. Most notable is the increasing diversity of nationalist fighters. A 2007 International
Crisis Group reported that Marri and Bugti tribesmen who had dominated the early phases of the
insurgency were now augmented by educated middle-class youth, and concluded that the
insurgency now crosses regional, ethnic, tribal and class lines
500
This is particularly true of
certain groups such as the Baloch Liberation Front, most of whose members are educated and
ideological.
501

Such broad support is a marked change from previous conflicts, where tribal sardars provided
insurgent leadership. The convergence of tribes and the educated middle class is a significant
escalation in the depths of Baloch anger and their inability to conceive of a role for themselves in
the Punjabi development model. Tribal support too is expanding. In the 1970s, the 180,000-
strong Bugti tribe
502
largely sat out a Marri-dominated insurgency; today they both, as the two
largest tribes in Balochistan, have joined hands in the struggle along with other significant tribes
such as the Mangals.
503

The mix of separatist groups operating in Balochistan has demonstrated signs of growing
radicalization. The insurgency is now increasingly youth-led, in contrast to earlier sardari-led
movements
504
, and popular demands now focus on all-out independence, instead of the earlier
more reasonable autonomy minus defense, currency, communications, and foreign affairs.
505

Separatist groups include the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which draws many of its fighters

494
Declan Walsh, Pakistans Secret Dirty War. BBC News, March 29, 2011. Available at
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/29/balochistan-pakistans-secret-dirty-war
495
496
Balochistan Atrocities Continue to Rise, Amnesty International.
497
Victims of Reported Disappearances and Alleged Extrajudicial and Unlawful Killings in Balochistan: 24 October 2010
20 February 2011, Amnesty International, March 1, 2011. Available at http://tiny.cc/n89la
498
Human Rights Violations: Conflict in Balochistan December 2005 January 2006, Human Rights Commission of
499
Statement of HRCP Mission to Balochistan, HRCP, May 12, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/iJzdzo
500
501
Talat Hussein, Separatist Sketches, Newsline, April 21, 2010. Available at
http://www.newslinemagazine.com/2010/04/separatist-sketches/
502
Tribes and Rebels: The Players in the Balochistan Insurgency, Jamestown Foundation, April 3, 2008. Available at
503
Musharraf will not know what has hit him Akbar Bugti, Newsline, January 14, 2006. Available at
http://www.newsline.com.pk/NewsJan2006/cover1jan2006.htm
504
505
Counterinsurgency in Balochistan: Pakistans Strategy, Outcome and Future Implications, PIPS


from the Bugti and Marri tribes
506
, the Balochistan Liberation Front, (BLF), the Balochistan
Republican Army (BRA), Lashkar-e-Balochistan, and Jhawan Baloch Tigers.
507

Militant groups have grown increasingly hardline, targeting even fellow Balochs they suspect of
collaboration or appeasement of the state. Persistent rumors have suggested that the assassination
of prominent moderate Baloch leader, Habib Jalib Baloch in August 2010, may have been
committed by separatist groups, in response to his emphasis on peaceful struggle.
508
Similarly
the August 2010 assassination of Balochistan education minister Shafiq Khan Ahmed was
despite his public lobbying for Baloch rights, and criticism of Pakistani military operations.
509

Separatists have begun to expand their targeting scopes from government targets to all they
perceive as collaborating with the state. Punjabi civilians, and educational facilities and
personnel, have come under severe attack from militants who see them as tools to expand
Punjabi hegemony and dilute Baloch culture. Human Rights Watch detailed the killings of 22
teachers and education personnel between January 2008 and October 2010, how separatist
violence allowed schools to open for only 120 days in 2009, and how 200 teachers have fled the
province with many others requesting transfers.
510
The same is reflected in the local government.
1,600 government officials have also requested transfers out of Balochistan, burdening the
already worst governance system in the country.
511

Separatists continue to have considerable operational reach inside the province despite military
suppression. On December 7
th
, 2010 the Baloch Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani barely
survived a bomb blast on his motorcade,
512
and on March 22, 2010, the BLF killed 11 Punjabi
road construction workers in the heavily guarded Gwadar district.
513
The insurgency has also
consistently targeted energy facilities, indicating that Pakistans outreach efforts, including the
Aghaz-e-Haqooq package, have only had limited impact.
In the period of about a month between January 9 and February 13 in 2011, at least 25 gas
pipelines were blown up in the eastern districts, and there were attacks on an additional 7 gas
facilities, 9 electricity pylons, and a power plant.
514
The BLA took responsibility for many of the
attacks, which decimated the power sector, reducing available electricity from 1150 MW to 60

506
Balochi Liberation Army (BLA), Janes World Insurgency and Terrorism, April 21, 2011. Available at
http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-World-Insurgency-and-Terrorism/Balochi-Liberation-Army-BLA-Pakistan.html
507
Khurram Iqbal, Counterinsurgency in Balochistan: Pakistans Strategy, Outcome and Future Implications, PIPS
508
Cyril Almeida, Two Extremes Digging in their Heels, The Baloch Hal, July 25, 2010. Available at
http://www.thebalochhal.com/2010/07/two-extremes-digging-in-their-heels/
509
Rahimullah Yusufzai, The Baloch Insurgency is no Bluff, Jang, November 3, 2009. Available at
http://thenews.jang.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=206519&Cat=9&dt=11/3/2009
510
511
Vikram Sood, Balochistan: Behind an Iran Curtain, Vikram Sood (Blog), August 3, 2010. Available at
http://soodvikram.blogspot.com/2010_08_03_archive.html
512
Chief Minister escapes suicide attack in SW Pakistan, Xinhua, December 7, 2010. Available at
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-12/07/c_13638659.htm
513
Gunmen kill 11 road workers in attack on FWO camp in Gwadar, Daily Times, March 22, 2011. Available at
514
Madhia Sattar, Pakistans Other War, Foreign Policy, February 15, 2011. Available at
http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/02/15/baluchistan_pakistans_other_war

70 MW.
515
HRCP also estimates that separatist attacks caused the Water and Power
Development Authority at least PKR 1.5 billion in losses in 2007.
516

Figure 4.2: Violence in Balochistan

Source: Pak Institutefor Peace Studies, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

515
Ibid.
516
Annual Report: State of Human Rights in 2007, Human Rights Commision of Pakistan. Available at http://www.hrcp-
web.org/pdf/Archives%20Reports/AR2007.pdf
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
lncldenLs 641 316 692 792 737
kllled 327 296 386 600
ln[ured 807 1070 1117
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200


Figure 4.3: Force Composition in Balochistan

lorce number 8emarks
AkMlL !
xxll Corps (CueLLa)!
!
33
rd
lnfanLry
ulvlslon!
16
Lh
lnfanLry
ulvlslon!
lnfanLry 8rlgade!
Armored 8rlgade!
!
LL. Ceneral !aved Zla !
rlmarlly Lasked wlLh securlng border wlLh
lran and AfghanlsLan!
CCAS kayanl (leb 2011): Cnly one baLLallon
ln lnLerlor, resLrlcLed Lo Sul canLonmenL. All
oLhers deployed along border. !
lronLler Corps ! 33,000-43,227! rlmary paramlllLary force for combaLlng
separaLlsLs!
Plghly unpopular due Lo heavy-handed
LacLlcs, compllclLy ln exLra[udlclal kllllngs,
non-lndlgenous composlLlon, and
compllclLy ln crlmlnal acLlvlLles. !
CoasL Cuards! 1,200! Alleged Lo have commlLLed human rlghLs
abuses !
Levles! 11,133 - 13,337! Locallzed forces LhaL ofLen owe prlmary
loyalLy Lo Lrlbal sardars!
aLrol rural 8" areas buL face slgnlflcanL
capaclLy shorLfalls!
8alochlsLan ollce ! 16,120 - 36,000! !

Note: Due to scarcity of available data, figures are best range estimates
Source: XII Corps, Global Security; Police Organizations in Pakistan. Human Rights Commission of Pakistan;
Janes Sentinel Country Risk Assessment Pakistan; Pakistan Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Committee,
http://bit.ly/lyhqFf,

Reconciliation Attempts Fail to Address
Core Grievances
On paper, Pakistan has made important strides towards reconciliation with measures such as the
Aghaz-e-Haqooq reform package. But, as noted earlier, in reality reforms remain stalled with
sections nowhere near implementation. The end result is that many Baloch nationalists now call
for independence, a considerable advancement from earlier demands for autonomy, as they fail
to conceive of the state redressing their core grievances. One of the most pointed has been the
militarization of the province through the much-despised paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC).
Islamabad has long relied on the military to exercise its authority in Balochistan. The Quetta
Cantonment houses the Command and Staff College, one of PAKMILs oldest and most
prestigious military institutions, a reflection of the militarys historical presence. Today, the
security presence remains severe. The 35,000-strong FC -- which is a Pashtun majority force and
is only 24% Baloch -- mans 493 checkpoints, while the 1,200-strong Coast Guard mans another
87.
517
The Musharraf-era construction of cantonments is another source of anger, particularly as
many are situated in the interior, serving little defensive purpose, and oriented clearly towards
subduing Baloch dissent and better controlling natural resources.
518

The Pakistani military made some progress in Balochistan under the stewardship of General
Kayani,. The Sui cantonment, the most contentious of all constructions, has now been reversed
and converted into a military college to ease Baloch anger.
519
In February 2011, Kayani declared
that barring one battalion restricted to the Sui cantonment, all other regular army forces were
deployed away from the interior.
520
Kayani also voiced his support for a more equitable
distribution of revenues from natural resource extraction.
521

The Pakistani military is engaged in a recruiting drive in Balochistan, with the intention of
recruiting 10,000 Balochs by 2012.
522
By March 2011, 1,673 Balochs had already been trained.
Kayani has also emphasized the militarys positive role, pointing to its 47 army-run educational
institutions that provide for over 23,000 students.
523

Despite these concessions, the preeminence of the security services remains untouched, and the
issue of missing and detained Balochs is a key hurdle for the government. Even the Chief
Minister of Balochistan has criticized the militarys zero-tolerance policies, accusing security
services of running a parallel government that sabotages outreach efforts.
524
This continues in

517
Human Rights Violations: Conflict in Balochistan, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, April 2006, http://hrcp-
web.org/pdf/Conflict%20in%20balochistan--%20Complete.pdf
518
519
Saleem Shahid, Sui Cantonment Turned into Military College, Dawn, January 4, 2011. Available at
http://www.dawn.com/2011/01/04/sui-cantonment-turned-into-military-college-2.html
520
Saleem Shahid, No army operation in Balochistan: Kayani, Dawn, February 22, 2011. Available at
http://www.dawn.com/2011/02/22/no-army-operation-in-balochistan-kayani.html
521
Baloch people has right on resources of province, South Asian News Agency, February 21, 2011. Available at
http://www.sananews.net/english/2011/02/21/baloch-people-has-right-on-resources-of-province-kayani/
522
Balochistan Assessment 2011, South Asia Terrorism Portal,
http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/pakistan/Balochistan/index.html
523
Saleem Shahid, Sui Cantonment Turned into Military College, Dawn, January 4, 2011.
524
Tom Hussain, Pakistans security forces accused of sabotaging hearts and minds campaign, The National, February 2,
2010. Available at http://tiny.cc/aje9q


spite of the judicial activism by the Supreme Court under Chief Justice Chaudhry, who himself
grew up in Quetta. In one incident, the courts threatened to arrest the director of the Federal
Investigation Agency (FIA), if it did not produce people missing at the hands of intelligence
agencies. As a result of their efforts two people were released.
525
While these examples are
encouraging, overall they have been insufficient to restrain the intelligence agencies. In 2009,
Amnesty International identified 1,102 disappearances
526
and the Pakistani Interior Ministry
itself estimated that over 1,100 Balochs had disappeared during the Musharraf era.
527

Pakistan continues to deflect its responsibility for such problems by laying the blame on external
powers such as India, which it accuses of assisting and arming separatist rebels, particularly
Bramdagh Bugti of the BRA.
528
. Little tangible evidence exists of such collusion but certainly
there is ample motive. It is likely some Indian desire to foment insurgency exists, but all
evidence suggests to date its implementation is more aspirational than real.
Baloch leadership among both insurgents and political parties is fragmented, complicating
outreach efforts. A variety of factors have driven this trend, including the growing
disillusionment of Baloch youth with their elders abilities to deliver, continued and persistent
tribal divides among nationalist forces, the deliberate targeting of senior Baloch leaders by
paramilitary government forces, and the attempts by intelligence agencies to keep the Balochs
divided and weakened. A May 2010 meeting between Prime Minister Gilani and senior Baloch
nationalist leader Sardar Attaullah Mengal for example, was hailed as a major breakthrough, but
quickly broke down as strong internal Baloch divides between the Mengals and the Marris
surfaced.
529
Personal attacks were leveled against rival leaders, significantly raising the potential
for inter-tribal feuding.
Veteran Pakistani journalist Rahimullah Yusufzai points to the proliferation of splinter factions,
far more radical, and led by younger and more emotional men, and noted the influence that the
diaspora exerts on setting the agenda.
530
Jamil Bugti, the son of deceased Nawab Akbar Bugti,
alluded to the same splintering effect when he noted that, The next generation is all in the
mountains. And theyre not willing to talk to anyone. People like me, and others, like the
different nationalist parties that are in Parliament, they dont have any role to play. They look
good on TV. Thats it.
531
Pakistan Murdabad (Death to Pakistan) is now a common
opposition chant, and many Baloch political parties have adapted to reflect the hardline demands
of their constituents.
Dr. Abdul Hakeem Lehri, leader of the Balochistan Republican Party, purported to be the
political face of the BRA, stated unequivocally, Were not interested in living with the corrupt
Pakistani elite any more. We want freedom.
532
Moderate nationalist parties all boycotted the

525
The Forgotten Conflict in Balochistan, International Crisis Group, Asia Report 69, October 22, 2007.
526
2009 Annual Report for Pakistan, Amnesty International,
http://www.amnestyusa.org/annualreport.php?id=ar&yr=2009&c=PAK
527
528
Nirupama Subramaniam, Iran backing Baloch insurgency, The Hindu, July 26, 2008. Available at
http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/26/stories/2008072653741400.htm
529
Malik Siraj Akbar, Baloch nationalism gone wrong, Express Tribune, May 20, 2010. Available at
http://tribune.com.pk/story/14519/baloch-nationalism-gone-wrong/
530
Rahimullah Yusufzai, The Baloch Insurgency is no Bluff, The News, November 3, 2009.
531
Balochistan: Pakistans Broken Mirror, The National, March 25, 2010.
532
Qurratulain Zaman, Balochistan: Too Small an Olive Branch, Open Democracy, November 27, 2009. Available at
http://www.opendemocracy.net/qurratulain-zaman/balochistan-too-small-olive-branch

2008 elections
533
, and many continue to dismiss the Afghaz-e-Haqooq reforms, expressing their
mistrust of Islamabads ability to deliver, and their anger at the veto power central authorities
continue to wield over local destinies.
534
Growing radicalization has further threatened ordinary
Balochs, who find themselves increasingly trapped between radical nationalists who punish any
hint of collusion with the state, and security forces that have no tolerance for association with
separatism.
Strong Military; Weak Police and
Governance
The role of the military, and its paramilitary and intelligence arms, is heavily blamed for the
growing radicalization of the Baloch national agenda. After almost a decade of intensified
suppression, the argument goes security forces quite simply have tortured, murdered, and
detained most moderate Baloch nationalists into radicalization.
535

Many leaders killed by the military had been from the earlier more moderate guard, including the
Oxford-educated Nawab Akbar Bugti and Balach Marri, who had been open to dialogue with the
state.
536
Alongside intelligence agencies have worked hard to exploit tribal divisions, for
example attempting to elevate the Kalpar and Masori factions of the Bugti tribes to dilute the
traditional dominance of the Rahijas, who have accounted for the majority of tribal leaders,
including Akbar Bugti.
537

These problems are compounded by weak local law-enforcement capacity that prevents localized
police forces from taking primary internal security responsibility and allowing the paramilitary
FC to return to its barracks. The province has traditionally been divided into A and B areas,
with B areas compromising over 95% of territory, and A areas mainly population centers. Levy
forces, which traditionally policed the B areas were disbanded by President Musharraf, who
saw them as private sardari armies, and forcibly integrated them into the formal police force.
Such a policy did much to degrade local police capacity, particularly after sardari resentment.
538

Levy forces have since been resurrected and Balochistans police force is now focused largely on
policing urban areas.
539
Salaries too have risen 100% for levies and formal police forces.
540

Despite this aggregate increase, there is no indication that the significant disparity in funding
between levies and the police has been rectified. Levies receive 24% of overall funding, despite

533
Qurratulain Zaman, Inside Balochistans Ravaged Heartland, Tehelka, October 31, 2009. Available at
http://www.tehelka.com/story_main43.asp?filename=Ne311009inside_balochistan.asp
534
Shahzad Baloch, Future Imperfect: Balochistans Reaction to Bill, Express Tribune, April 10, 2010. Available at
http://tribune.com.pk/story/4980/future-imperfect-balochistans-reaction-to-bill/
535
Qurratulain Zaman, Inside Balochistans Ravaged Heartland, Tehelka, October 31, 2009.
536
The Forgotten Conflict in Balochistan, International Crisis Group, Asia Report 69, October 22, 2007.
537
Ibid
538
Ibid
539
Police Organizations in Pakistan, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan/Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, May
2010. Available at http://www.hrcp-web.org/pdf/Police_Organisations_in_Pakistan%5B1%5D.pdf
540
Balochistan raises 100% of salaries of police, Levies, BC, Geo TV, June 22, 2010. Available at http://www.geo.tv/6-22-
2010/67107.htm


comprising 41% of the overall law enforcement force, and policing 59% of the population.
541

Complementary prison capacity too remains weak, with Quetta District Jail suffering 131%
overcapacity.
542

The Taliban Sanctuary and Its Impact on
NATO
Pashtuns make up the other half of Balochistan, and Balochistan has increasingly registered with
coalition forces in recent years as a critical sanctuary for Afghan Taliban insurgents. Balochistan
is an ideal rear staging area for Taliban insurgents, with long porous borders neighboring
Afghanistans Helmand, Kandahar, and Zabul provinces, in all of which coalition forces are
heavily engaged.
Eastern Balochistan is not easily separated from the FATA or the KPK, and is extremely close to
critical militant centers such as South and North Waziristan. The Quetta Shura Taliban (QST) is
the primary force in the region, with its leadership council believed based in the provincial
capital of Quetta. In recent years, particularly since 2007, attacks against NATO convoys
traversing Balochistan have increased in quantity and lethality, a significant escalation of overt
Taliban presence.
The Musharraf era did much to facilitate the rise of Islamization in Balochistan, by state-
sponsorship of the religious political coalition, the Muttahida-Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) to counter
secular Pashtun and Baloch nationalism. As in the FATA, MMA rule did little to address core
grievances, focusing instead on embedding religion into the social structure, and facilitating in
the Talibanization of local culture. With the end of the Musharraf era, the MMA was swept out
of power in the 2008 elections although it retains seats in the provincial parliament.
The majority of Taliban in Balochistan are believed to be Afghans, both from Afghanistan and
from Afghan refugee camps in Pakistan, who use the province as a rear staging area and safe
haven and are scattered in and around Quetta and its nearby refugee camps.
543
Balochistan, by
virtue of its geography, is ideally suited for Afghan infiltration. Quetta, the provincial capital is
only a 10-hour drive from Kabul, and only 3 hours from the main Chaman border crossing, and
the provinces long and porous borders allow for easy cross-border movement.
A 2006 UNODC investigation found no border posts along the long Chagai-Nimroz border,
leaving open 300 kilometers.
544
Frontier Corps sources also claimed that today there are still only
two posts along in the Chagai and Nushki districts, two districts with the longest borders with
Afghanistan.
545
As a result, infiltration into Helmand, Kandahar, Nowshera, and Shorawak is

541
Report on the Parliamentary Committee on Balochistan, Senate of Pakistan, November 2005. Available at
http://www.foreignaffairscommittee.org/includes/content_files/Parlimentary%20Committee%20on%20Baluchistan.pdf
542
Annual Report: State of Human Rights in 2007, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. Available at http://www.hrcp-
web.org/pdf/Archives%20Reports/AR2007.pdf
543
Afpak Behind the Lines; Southern Afghanistan,: Foreign Policy, July 12, 2010. Available at
http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/07/12/afpak_behind_the_lines_southern_afghanistan
544
2009: Addiction, Crime and the Transnational Threat of Opium, UNODC, pg. 134
545
Ghani Kakar, Afghan Taliban reappearing in Balochistan, Central Asia Online, November 15, 2010. Available at
http://centralasiaonline.com/cocoon/caii/xhtml/en_GB/features/caii/features/main/2010/11/15/feature-02

relatively easy, and it is believed that Afghan fighters sometimes use hospitals in the cross-
border town of Dalbandin in Chagai for wounded fighters.
546

The capital of Balochistan, Quetta is a warzone, populated by a lethal mix of extremist
nationalists, political separatists, religious fanatics, narcotics and weapons smugglers, as well as
international terrorists and foreign intelligence agencies.
547
Sectarian violence and ethnic target
killings are an almost daily occurrence as are attacks against government forces and institutions.
Quetta is dominated by, but not fully controlled, by Pashtuns; various neighborhoods are Baloch
dominated, such as Sariab Road, Huddah, Brohi Road, and the Eastern and Western Bypasses
and are no-go areas for other ethnicities, particularly Punjabis, but also Pashtuns and Hazaras.
548

Quetta has been a historical staging ground for war in Afghanistan, and is believed to be the
command node for the QST command and control echelons, including Mullah Omar. Senior
leaders such as now deceased Mullah Dadullah openly maintained residences and hosted parties
in Quetta, including a September 2003 family wedding, at which JUI leaders, military officers
and government officials were prominent guests.
549
It is often suggested that the ISI plays a
critical role in facilitating Taliban sanctuary and logistics in the area.
Quetta has over a million Afghan refugees
550
and various Afghan neighborhoods in the city are
outside the governments writ including Pashtunabad, Kharotabad, and Kuchlak.
551
Veteran
Pakistani analyst Ahmed Rashid recounts how after the fall of the Taliban in Afghanistan, the
JUI virtually handed over Pashtunabad to the Afghan Taliban, which soon treated it as its new
capital.
552
Rashid also counted 50 JUI-run madrassas in 80-mile trip between Quetta and
Chaman.
553
Indeed Maulana Noor Mohammad, who is also a senior leader in the JUI, runs the
main madrassa in Pashtunabad, and openly admits to participation and support for the Afghan
jihad.
554

US officials have increasingly flagged Quetta as the command headquarters for the Afghan
insurgency. In October 2009, a Financial Times report cited a leaked report prepared for General
McChrystal that cited the Pashtunabad suburb of Quetta as the most likely hiding spot for the 12-
15 members of the Quetta Shura, and described the area as the Talibans post-office in
Balochistan, from where messages are relayed between the field and senior commanders.
555

The Institute for the Study of War concurs that senior leadership is based out of Quetta, and
reports that its sanctuary allows for a Quetta-based leadership to identify its priorities to

546
Ibid
547
Vikram Sood, Balochistan: Behind an Iron Curtain, Vikram Sood (Blog), August 3, 2010. Available at
http://soodvikram.blogspot.com/2010_08_03_archive.html
548
Qarratullah Zaman, Inside Balochistans Ravaged Heartland, Tehelka, October 31, 2009; Ejaz Haider, Immediate action
needed in Balochistan, Express Tribune, November 1, 2010. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/70492/immediate-action-
needed-in-balochistan/
549
Ahmed Rashid, Descent into Chaos: The US and the Failure of Nation-Building in Pakistan, (London: Penguin, 2008). pg.
250.
550
On the trail of the Taliban in Quetta, BBC News, January 25, 2010. Available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8472740.stm
551
http://therearenosunglasses.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/afghan-refugee-camps-in-balochistan-are-taliban-breeding-ground/
552
Ahmad Rashid, Descent into Chaos, pg. 249
553
Ibid
554
Susanne Koelbl, Headquarters of the Taliban, Der Spiegel, November 24, 2006. Available at
http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,450605,00.html
555
US focuses on Talibans post office at border, Financial Times, October 13, 2009. Available at
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9a63322c-b78e-11de-9812-00144feab49a.html#axzz1HnZpiVjt


Afghan-based leaders, who might need resolution at higher command echelons.
556
This does not
equate to direct field control, but rather directions and guidance including instructions at the start
of fighting season, and strategic adjustments such as calling in reinforcements as the situation
requires.
US military officials have increasingly voiced a desire for more aggressive action in Balochistan.
The New York Times reported in mid-2009 of the Obama Administrations desire to extend drone
operations into Balochistan,
557
but it is clear that such activity constitutes a clear red line for
Pakistani government and military officials.
In a break from to the relatively low profile of the Taliban presence in Balochistan, Figure 4.5
shows that attacks on NATO convoys have become increasingly regular since 2007. Balochistan
is a critical transit route for NATO non-military supplies, transiting from Karachis port, around
Quetta to the Chaman border crossing. According to journalists, the Inspector General of the FC
Balochistan claimed there were 159 attacks in 2010, which destroyed 194 trucks.
558

These attacks are not crippling. Some 27,073 trucks passed through the Chaman border crossing
in 2010 according to government officials.
559
The lack of reliable data complicates assessments
but violence appears to be increasing. Media reports suggest that in the space of one week in
October 2010, over 150 NATO fuel tankers were destroyed in more than six attacks,
560
and in
2011, as of July 2011, 40 of 60 NATO-related attacks across Pakistan had been recorded in
Balochistan according to statistics collected by the South Asia Terrorism Portal.
561

Responsibility for these attacks was often claimed by the TTP, although they were less active in
the province than the Afghan Taliban.
Growing sectarian violence has also been a source of concern. Sectarian groups such as the
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) and the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) are believed to have traveled to
the province.
562
On Quds Day, in September 2010, over 50 people were killed and over 150
injured when suicide bombers dispatched by the LeJ attacked a Shia procession in Quetta.
563

Both Deobandi fundamentalists and Baloch nationalists have targeted the Shiite Hazara
community.
564
Jundullah, a rabidly anti-Shia group also operates out of Balochistan, mainly into
neighboring Iran. Despite the capture and execution of its leader Abdolmalek Rigi, its purported

556
Jeffrey Dressler and Carl Fosberg, The Quetta Shura Taliban in Southern Afghanistan, Institute for the Study fof War,
December 21, 2009. Available at http://www.scribd.com/doc/25156509/Quetta-Shura-Taliban-ISW
557
Alex Spillius, US to expand Pakistan air strikes targeting al-Qaeda and the Taliban, The Telegraph, March 19, 2009.
Available at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/5012693/US-to-expand-Pakistan-air-strikes-targeting-al-
Qaeda-and-the-Taliban.html
558
Kathy Gannon, Low Pay, Big Risks for Fuel Haulers in Afghan War, AP, February 26, 2011. Available at
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110226/ap_on_re_as/as_afghan_taliban_vs_tankers
559
Ibid.
560
NATO loses 150 tankers in Pakistan, Siayasat Aur Pakistan, October 10, 2010. Available at
http://siyasipakistan.wordpress.com/2010/10/10/nato-loses-150-tankers-in-pakistan/
561
NATO Related Incidents 2008-11, South Asia Terrorism Portal ,
http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/pakistan/database/natoattack.htm, accessed April 27, 2011.
562
Lahskar-e-Jhangvi claims responsibility for suicide attack on DIGs residence, The Baloch Hal, April 9, 2011. Available
at http://bit.ly/gt3Fbp
563
Salman Masood, Suicide bomber kills 53 at Shiite Protest, New York Times, September 3, 2010. Available at
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/04/world/asia/04pstan.html?_r=1
564
Ishaq Mohammadi, Reasons for the Target Killing of Hazaras in Balochistan, Pakistan, Hazara Net, August 22, 2010.
Available at http://www.hazara.net/downloads/Hazara_Ethnic_Cleansing_Pakistan.pdf

demise has proved premature. In July 2010, two of its suicide bombers struck the Grand Mosque
in Zahedan, killing 27 and injuring 300 including two senior members of the Revolutionary
Guards (IRGC). Again on December 15, 2010, Jundullah suicide bombers attacked the Imam
Hussein mosque in Chabahar, killing 38 and injuring over one hundred.
565
Jundullahs presence
is a key source of irritation in Tehran, which greatly fears cross-border spillover inflaming its
own restive Baluch population.

Figure 4.4: NATO Supply Routes through Pakistan

Source: BBC News.

565
Chris Zambelis, Back With a Vengeance: The Baloch Insurgency in Iran, Jamestown Foundation, January 14, 2011.
Available at http://www.jamestown.org/programs/gta/single/?tx_ttnews[tt_news]=37365&cHash=8e6dc60bd4


Figure 4.5: NATO Related Attacks in Balochistan

Source: South Asia Terrorism Portal.
Drugs and Interactions with Criminal
Networks and Powerbrokers
Balochistan is a critical funding platform for Taliban insurgents and its intersections with
criminal networks are extensive. Indeed it was the Quetta transport mafia that in the late 1980s
persuaded the Taliban to advance on Kandahar to help secure some modicum of road security for
their business interests,
566
thereby creating the Islamic Emirate. Today key population centers
such as Quetta host major fundraising networks for the Taliban, including narcotics smuggling,
donations, and participation in other illicit enterprises.
Balochistans strategic location, and lack of functioning economy, has helped deeply entrench
organized crime into the security landscape. Criminal enterprises fund the coffers of the Taliban,
Baloch separatists, powerful political and criminal interests, as well as segments of the security
services. The scale of activity is considerable. Virtually everything is smuggled across the border
including drugs, guns, fuel, cosmetics, vehicles, cattle as well as migrants and trafficked humans.
The regions of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran comprise the Golden Crescent, one of the worlds
largest opiate gateways. Balochistan sits at the intersection of all three. The province offers
transit into Iran, as well as access to coastal routes, including the Makran coast, and the Gwadar
and Karachi ports. The UNODCs 2010 World Drug Report estimated that 40% of all Afghan
heroin passes through Balochistan,
567
and that 72% of total opium seizures between 2004 and

566
Pepe Escobar, Life in Talibanistan Married to the Mob, Huffington Post, September 3, 2010. Available at
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pepe-escobar/post_793_b_705130.html
567
World Drug Report 2010, UNODC, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/gkS5xX
2008 2009 2010 2011 (!uly)
Serles1 2 14 66 40
0
10
20
30
40
30
60
70

2007 were in Balochistan.
568
In 2010 too, the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) seized PKR 782.63
million worth of narcotics in 103 raids.
569

Details are hard to come by, but it appears that significant overlaps exist between militancy and
crime in Balochistan, including the sharing of cross-border routes, and the potential for militants
(both Baloch and Taliban) to double between criminal and militant enterprises. A map of
potential cross border smuggling routes identified by UNODC is shown in Figure 4.6.
UNODC identified the major Baloch routes as transiting from southern Afghanistan over the
Chaman border crossing or other unregulated cross-border points towards Quetta or Dalbandin,
and then moving either towards Iran for export to Turkey and Europe, or down to fishing villages
and ports along the Makran coast for transit to various international destinations.
570

In addition to narcotics smuggling, other criminal enterprises including prostitution and forced
labor are rife, exacerbated by the prevalence of refugee camps. Balochistan is also a key launch
pad for migrants, particularly Afghans, seeking to enter Europe,
571
and various simpler and more
local illicit enterprises continue to flourish These include the smuggling of cattle, a matter that is
depleting livestock levels in Pakistan.
572

The Taliban have extensive involvement in the criminal trade. Dennis Blair, the US director of
national intelligence, estimated that the Afghan Taliban made $100 million in revenue from the
drugs trade in 2008, while a former DEA official estimated the number to be closer to $300
million.
573
After all, the original Kandahari Taliban began in the early 1990s, at the behest of,
and with the backing of an unholy alliance of drug smugglers, traders, and trucking groups.
574

It is unsurprising then that today analysts such as Gretchen Peters label the Taliban as more of a
sophisticated drug cartel than a political movement.
575

Major traffickers pay directly to Taliban leaders. Insight into these arrangements came with the
arrest of Haji Juma Khan, an ethnic Baloch who ran one of the regions largest drug trafficking
rings, with enough opium and laboratory capacity to supply the entire US market for two years.
Khan had based his operations out of Quetta, and paid substantial sums to the Taliban for
protection of his labs and supply routes.
576
Traffickers are also billed for medical expenses
incurred by Taliban fighters injured on the battlefield, with a USIP report detailing one major
dealer who runs his own health clinic in Quetta, which is reportedly filled with wounded Taliban

568
United Nations, Addiction, Crime and Insurgency: The Transnational Threat of Afghan Opium, (NY: United Nations
Publications, 2009), pg. 57
569
Drugs worth Rs 728.63 mln seized in 2010, The News, January 16, 2011. Available at
http://www.thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=9477
570
571
Pakistan Country Profile, UNODC, Available at http://www.unodc.org/pakistan/en/country-profile.html, accessed April
27, 2011.
572
Shahzad Baloch, Thousands of cattle smuggled daily, Express Tribune, September 21, 2010. Available at
http://tribune.com.pk/story/52453/thousands-of-cattle-smuggled-daily/
573
Catherine Collins and Ashraf Ali, Financing the Taliban, New America Foundation, April 2010. Available at
http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/documents/NAF_FinancingtheTaliban_TracingtheDollars.pdf
574
Gretchen Peters, How Opium Profits the Taliban, US Institute for Peace, August 2009. Available at
http://www.usip.org/files/resources/taliban_opium_1.pdf
575
Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson, Talibans Cash Grows from Heroin Trade, Crime, NPR, December 20, 2010. Available at
http://bit.ly/hK4ZCf
576
Catherine Collins and Ashraf Ali, Financing the Taliban, New America Foundation, April 2010.


fighters at any given time.
577
Various Taliban affiliated tribes, particularly the Afridis and
Shinwaris, are involved in the narcotics trade and straddle the border.
578

A 2010 CRS report on transnational crime examined various criminal syndicates and concluded
that they already possess the capabilities to commit terrorist attacks and can easily transfer this
apparatus towards politically motivated ends.
579
This is likely particularly true in Balochistan,
where the delineations between criminals and militants are often blurred. Various transnational
syndicates have an institutionalized presence in Balochistan.
580

In recent years increased scrutiny along the Afghan-Iranian border has further increased the
utility of the Baloch route,
581
and today it is believed that ethnic Balochs are particularly
prominent in the narcotics trade and run the dominant smuggling networks heading southwest
from Afghanistan.
582
Furthermore, although Pakistan was declared drug-free in 2001, various
indicators suggest that limited cultivation has resurfaced in Balochistan, as well as the
FATA/KPK and there are no indications that the flow of narcotics through Pakistan has
diminished.
583

Even light enforcement can yield significant results. In 2006 for example, a relatively rare
government raid netted two tons of morphine and eight mobile heroin factories,
584
and in
February 2011 only, official figures from Pakistans Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), revealed the
seizure of 2,590 kilograms of hashish and opium in Quetta alone.
585

Large segments of the opiate supply chain are based in Balochistan in addition to its primary role
as a smuggling route. The Pakistani side of the border hosts many of the processing facilities that
convert raw Afghan opium into heroin and the Chagai district near the smuggling hub of
Baramcha in Helmand, serves as a mega-heroin producing center, with capabilities of producing
industrial quantities of morphine base and heroin.
586
Balochistan is also a relatively large end-
user of opiates with the highest consumption rate in Pakistan at 1%, according to government
statistics.
587
The smuggling of precursor chemicals, used in heroin production, is another large
smuggling racket that impedes Afghan counter-narcotics and counterinsurgency efforts.
Criminal enterprises often operate with the complicity of high-ranking government officials. A
recenet case linked a large cache of weapons, including AK-variants, RPGs, 107mm antiaircraft

577
Gretchen Peters, How Opium Profits the Taliban, United States Institute of Peace, August 2009.
578
579
John Rollins, International Terrorism and Transnational Crime: Security Threats, US Policy and Considerations for
Congress, Congressional Research Service, March 18, 2010. Available at http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/terror/R41004.pdf
580
Pakistan Country Profile, UNODC, Available at http://www.unodc.org/pakistan/en/country-profile.html, accessed April
27, 2011.
581
582
United Nations, Addiction, Crime and Insurgency: The Transnational Threat of Afghan Opium, (NY: United Nations
Publications, 2009), pg. 133
583
Drug Abuse Control Master Plan 2010-2014, Ministry of Narcotics, February 2010. Available at
http://www.anf.gov.pk/content/Drug%20Abuse%20Control%20Master%20Plan%202010-14.pdf
584
Pakistan busts major heroin lab, BBC News, June 11, 2006. Available at
585
Major Seizures, Anti-Narcotics Force, http://www.anf.gov.pk/majorsz.php, accessed April 27, 2011.
586
Heroin Production in Afghanistan: Helmand, Nangarhar and Badakhshan, Naval Postgraduate School Culture & Conflict
Studies, April 14, 2009. Available at http://bit.ly/e7gien
587
Drug Abuse Control Master Plan 2010-2014, Ministry of Narcotics, February 2010.

guns, antipersonnel and antitank mines, to a member of the state cabinet.
588
Similarly Imam
Deen, the most wanted man by the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) is believed to live without fear in
the city of Mand, and reputed to move around freely in Quetta with access to high-ranking
politicians including the Chief Minister.
589

The ANF appears hamstrung. A senior US law enforcement official complained of the ANF,
saying, They pick up the low lying fruit. We give them leads on targets. We give them phone
numbers of traffickers they should be interested in. We are constantly doing that. We get smiles,
a decent cup of tea, occasional reheated sandwiches, and assertions of progress, and we all leave
with smiles on our faces.
590

Figure 4.6: Major Pakistani Drug Trafficking Routes

Source: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

588
Ghani Kakar, Guns smuggling on the rise in Balochistan, Central Asia Online, April 9, 2010. Available at
http://www.centralasiaonline.com/cocoon/caii/xhtml/en_GB/features/caii/features/pakistan/2010/04/09/feature-01
589
The Golden Route: Opiums Journey from Afghanistan into Pakistan, Opioids, September 2, 2005. Available at
http://opioids.com/opium/golden-route.html
590
Afghanistans Narco War: Breaking the Link between Drug Traffickers and Insurgents, Hearing Before Senate Committee
on Foreign Relations, (111
th
Congress), August 10, 2009. Available at http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2009_rpt/afghan.pdf


v. the south punjab and the rise of the
punjabi taliban
The Punjab is the heart of Pakistan. It is the most populous province, with 90 million of
Pakistans 173 million people and is the countrys political, economic, and cultural center, as
well as the heartland of its military and intelligence agencies. It is arguable that violence in the
FATA or in Balochistan is only an irritant at Pakistans periphery, but violence inside Punjab is
critical and the surest way to destabilize the state. Ethnic Punjabis mostly populate the province.
They are the most privileged ethnic group in Pakistan with strong representation at the upper
echelons of decision-making and the military high command.
The Punjab is divided into eight divisions. The three southern divisions of Bahawalpur, Dera
Ghazi Khan, and Multan, with their eleven districts, are most commonly considered to constitute
south Punjab. Some districts from the Faisalbad and Sargodha divisions may also occasionally be
incorporated as part of south Punjab. In aggregate the region suffers from considerable
disparities relative to the rest of Pakistan, including endemic poverty, rampant corruption,
ineffective governance or policing, and poor provision of basic services.
The Army primarily recruits from the province and it contains several strategically important
cities, including the garrison city of Rawalpindi, Lahore, Multan and Gujranwala.
591
The Punjab
has traditionally been relatively insulated from the violence in the periphery, but in recent years,
particularly since the 2007 storming of Islamabads Lal Masjid, regular terrorist violence has
plagued the provinces major urban centers.
The Punjab is also the nerve center for a number of militant groups including the Jaish-e-
Mohammad (JeM), the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the Harkat-
ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) and the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ). Many of these groups have been
raised and nurtured since the Zia era in service of the states strategic interests in Afghanistan
and Kashmir.
Much militant influence and infrastructure is concentrated in the impoverished and
underdeveloped areas of south Punjab that have seen little state investment or attention, and
where human welfare metrics diverge sharply from the rest of the Punjab. State capacity and
legitimacy are also weaker giving militants considerable freedom of action, including the open
operation of various radical madrassas for recruitment and training.
In the past, the government tolerated, even encouraged, militants to serve in Kashmir. But in one
of the most dangerous trends in Pakistans domestic insurgency, many former state-sponsored
militant groups have broken ranks with Pakistans invisible establishment to actively target the
state and collaborate with tribal militants in the FATA and KPK. The International Crisis Group
has concluded, today these violent Deobandi networks in Punjab lie at the root of Pakistans
militancy problem
592
and in June 2010, Interior Minister Rehman Malik claimed, out of 1,764

591
Raheel Khan, Untangling the Punjabi Taliban Network, CTC Sentinel, Vol. 3, Issue 3, March 2010. Available at
592
The Militant Jihadi Challenge, International Crisis Group, Asia Report No 164, March 13, 2009, pg. 6. Available at
http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/asia/south-asia/pakistan/164_pakistan___the_militant_jihadi_challenge.ashx

persons associated with the two banned religious outfits Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Jaish-e-
Muhammad, 726 belonged to South Punjab.
593

The end results now threaten Pakistan as much as India. Many of these groups have forged
operational links with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, the group primarily responsible for the
insurgency in the NWFP and the FATA, and they have come to be referred to as the Punjabi
Taliban. They have been implicated in a number of prominent attacks in recent years, both
inside and outside Pakistan, including the formerly inconceivable storming of the Armys
General Headquarters in Rawalpindi in October 2009.
Failing the People While Playing Self-
destructive Games
The south Punjab scores lower, often significantly lower, in virtually all human-welfare metrics
than the state average, which is seen in Figure 5.1 adapted from data provided by the Punjab
government for 2010. These problems have arisen as the result of government neglect, and
southern districts have received far less state development funding than is their due, as seen in
Figure 5.2. In the last few years, funding has trended upwards towards a more equitable
distribution, but it remains to be seen if this will be sustained for the long-term. State institutions
are similarly fewer and less resourced than their northern counterparts, as seen in Figure 5.3.
Although data provided by the state government shows institutional quantity that is relatively
proportional to the population, it obscures the full picture. Quality remains suspect on all levels,
including a substandard quality of teachers, a lack of resources and poor financial management.
Ghost schools and hospitals are not uncommon and those that exist are often in a state of
considerable disrepair.
594

An investigative report by a Pakistani newspaper in 1998 uncovered over 4,000 ghost schools
and 20,453 fake teachers
595
, and there is no indication that these systemic problems have been
tackled since.

Little capital investment has also meant that the vast majority of Punjabs
industrial base is located in the north seen in Figure 5.4 - and of what little exists; the majority
is concentrated in urban centers, excluding large segments of the populace. In Faisalbad for
example, out of 1096 factories in 2008, 768 were located within Faisalbad City.
596

593
Militants hiding in South Punjab come out, The News, May 31, 2010. Available at http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-
news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/31-May-2010/Militants-hiding-in-South-Punjab-come-out
594
Rasul Bakhsh Rais, Southern Punjabs Troubles, SWADO, April 19, 2010. Available at
http://waseb.wordpress.com/2010/04/19/southern-punjab%E2%80%99s-troubles-%E2%80%94-by-rasul-bakhsh-rais/
595
Sushant Sareen, Pakistans Islamic Revolution in the Making, (New Delhi: Har-Anand Publications, 2005), pg. 39.
596
Development Statistics 2010, Planning and Development Department, Government of Punjab, Available at
http://www.pndpunjab.gov.pk/page.asp?id=65


Figure 5.1: Human Welfare in South Punjab as
Compared to State Average

Source: Created by authors from figures provided by the Government of the Punjab, Planning and
Development Department, Government of Punjab.
!
Figure 5.2: State Development Funding in South
Punjab

Source: Planning and Development Department, Government of Punjab; Pak Institutefor Legislative Democracy and
Transparency, http://bit.ly/lxxPPm.
un[ab
Average
8ahawalp
ur
uC khan MulLan lalsalbad Sargodha
lnfanL MorLallLy 8aLe (per
Lhousand)
77 97 87 84 76 77
of LlLeraLes (10 yrs and older) 73 39 33 63 74 72
hyslcal Access Lo PealLhcare
wlLhln 1/2 hour ()
73 36.7 33.2 68.3 73.3 72.3
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
of opulauon 31.27 31.33 31.39 31.43 31.49
of sLaLe fundlng 17.76 14.69 16.06 24.34 29.02
0.00
3.00
10.00
13.00
20.00
23.00
30.00
33.00

Figure 5.3: Government Investment in South Punjab
Relative to Province

F!5[!
S5SA723456!
F!5[!S574G8!
93234569!
F!5[!;59S4327!
H8?9!
F!@5L3/!>A6!
S>4:2><!9G;5579!
8ahawalpur 10.63 10.87 9.12 13.33
uC khan 9.36 8.66 4.40 11.70
MulLan 11.48 11.18 7.93 9.12
Sargodha 7.40 9.43 3.90 11.47
lalsalbad 13.06 10.24 11.33 11.97
&5A3;!"A6\2H!! 31.49 30.71 21.47 34.37
SouLh un[ab lus 31.96 30.39 38.93 37.80

Note: Population figures are based on December 31, 2010 estimates provided by the GoP.
Source: Planning and Development Department, Government of Punjab.
!
Figure 5.4: Industrial Base of South Punjab (number of
factories)

Source: Planning and Development Department, Government of Punjab.
All un[ab 8ahawalpur uC khan lalsalbad MulLan Sargodha
2004 6321 328 237 941 642 138
2008 8349 719 371 1096 747 143


Feudal landowners, in large part Shia, have been the traditional powerbrokers in south Punjab,
allowing for both class and sectarian issues to fuse together. These problems and frustrations
played a significant role in facilitating the rise of the rabidly anti-Shia Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan
(SSP) in the southern district of Jhang in the 1980s
597
, and today they continue to provide succor
for the various hardline Sunni groups in the region.
The militant presence in southern Punjab has flourished over the past decades as they grew into a
state-sponsored enterprise. President Zia ul-Haq used radical Sunni groups to suppress the
minority Shias and to advance the anti-Soviet resistance in neighboring Afghanistan, while his
successors used them to foment a proxy war in Indian Kashmir.
Consequently today, a variety of militant groups are firmly entrenched in south Punjab including
the JeM, which maintains its headquarters in Bahawalpur, and the LeT, which has a strong
presence across Pakistan, particularly through its humanitarian arm, the Jamaat-ud-Dawa
(JuD).
598
They continue to receive funding both from domestic and external sources, and
Wikileaks has released a cable dated from 2008 that reported on funding from Saudi Arabia
and the UAE estimated at about $100 million annually, with much flowing to radical Deobandi
and Ahle-Hadith madrassas to help them make inroads into Barelvi-dominated areas.
599

The floods of 2010 may have strengthened this dynamic. As has become common in the wake of
natural disasters in Pakistan, militant groups, notably the JuD, were some of the fastest and most
effective humanitarian response units, winning both goodwill and legitimacy amongst the
population. It was estimated that over 2,200 JUD relief workers were engaged in relief efforts in
south Punjab and the tribal areas.
600

Militant groups have also firmly established their infrastructure in south Punjab, particularly
madrassas for recruitment and financing. The madrassa sector has registered a considerable
increase in recent years. Tamir Kamran, a Pakistani historian noted that the number of madrassas
across the Punjab increased from 1,320 in 1998 to 3,153 by 2000.
601

A significant proportion of these madrassas have been in the south. A 1996 report counted 883
Deobandi mosques in Bahawalpur, outnumbering even Lahore, with another 361 in Dera Ghazi
Khan, 325 in Multan, 149 in Sargodha. Ahle-Hadith and Barelvi mosques were excluded from
the count.
602
By 2008, the Intelligence Bureau counted 1,383 mosques in Bahawalpur division
alone enrolling over 84,000 students.
603
While the increase in madrassas is not synonymous with
radicalism, it is unlikely that such an expansion in the madrassa sector came without some spike
in those affiliated with violent militant groups.

597
Tahir Kamran, Contextualizing Sectarian Militancy: A Case Study of Jhang,: Journal of Islamic Studies, Vol. 20, No. 1,
(2009).
598
Pak arrests 167 Jamaat-ud Dawa operatives, seals over 50 offices, One India News, December 13, 2008. Available at
http://news.oneindia.in/2008/12/13/pak-arrests-167-jamaat-ud-dawa.html
599
Qurat u lain Siddiqui, Saudi Arabia, UAE financing extremism in south Punjab, Dawn, May 22, 2011. Available at
http://www.dawn.com/2011/05/22/saudi-arabia-uae-financing-extremism-in-south-punjab.html
600
Amir Mir, After the Deluge, Outlook, September 6, 2010. Available at http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?266873
601
Ayesha Siddiqua, Terrors Training Ground, Newsline, September 9, 2009. Available at
http://www.newslinemagazine.com/2009/09/terror%E2%80%99s-training-ground/
602
Ibid.
603
Ibid.

The Punjabi Taliban
The Punjabi Taliban, as they have come to be known, are generally believed to include the JeM,
SSP, HuJI and the LeJ, or at the very least their splinter elements. The LeT, perhaps the most
operationally prolific, is occasionally included in this grouping but it is markedly distinct from
the others in that it has conscientiously avoided any violence within Pakistan. The Punjabi term
may also be an imprecise label in that these groups also contain Sindhis and Urdu-speakers.
604

Traditionally all these groups worked in tandem with state strategy. The SSP was born in
President Zia-ul-Haqs Sunni fundamentalist era, where its rabidly anti-Shia inclinations were
welcome, and it later splintered to also form the even more hardline LeJ. Similarly the LeT, JeM
and HuJI were three of the most active groups inside Indian Kashmir, and have been implicated
in various high-profile terrorist attacks inside India, including the joint JeM-LeT attack against
the Indian Parliament in 2001 and the LeT attack on Mumbai in 2008.
With rising levels of domestic violence, and relatively more peaceful relations with India,
Pakistani government support may have diminished. State-sponsored sectarianism is also no
longer seen as a core objective, although it took until 2002 for the SSP and LeJ to be officially
banned by President Musharaff.
605
The Pakistani shift in focus from Kashmir towards
Afghanistan, in the aftermath of the 2004 Composite Dialogue with India, caused disaffection in
militant ranks and was a major incentive driving many militants to end ties with the state.
606

Pakistani participation in the US War on Terror and operations in Afghanistan also angered
militants and after the 2007 storming of Islamabads Lal Masjid, many militant groups have
turned their weapons against the state.
These groups (barring perhaps the LeT) have increasingly distanced themselves from the state,
and moved towards the tribal militants of the KPK/FATA, in part to avoid intensifying pressure
and scrutiny from the Pakistani government and Western nations, and in part to be closer to the
pulse of the Afghan jihad. Prior to 9/11, many groups maintained some presence in Afghanistan,
and many had long-standing relationships across the border from the time of the Soviet jihad.
Others such as the SSP and LeJ formed them during crackdowns by Nawaz Sharifs government
in 1998-1999, when they fled over the border.
607

The U.S. invasion in 2001 deprived these groups of their Afghan bases, while the subsequent
scrutiny and pressure from the U.S., pushed them to relocate many of their training camps to the
FATA but leave their mosque and madrassa networks in the Punjab and the Sindh intact.
608

Punjabi militant groups have thus increasingly converged with the TTP. They have mounted
joint attacks such as the 2009 attack on the GHQ, the 2010 attack on Ahmadi mosques in Lahore,

604
Behind the Lines: Punjabs Growing Militant Problem, Foreign Policy, June 22, 2010. Available at
http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/06/22/afpak_behind_the_lines_punjabs_growing_militant_problem
605
Suba Chandran, Sectarian Violence in Pakistan, Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies, August 2003. Available at
http://www.ipcs.org/pdf_file/issue/1614934887IB09-SubaChandran-SectarianViolencePak.pdf
606
Raheel Khan, Untangling the Punjabi Taliban Network, CTC Sentinel, Vol. 3, Issue 3, March 2010.
607
The Militant Jihadi Challenge, International Crisis Group, Asia Report No 164, March 13, 2009
608
Ibid.


and many others.
609
Cooperation is now reportedly so extensive that leaders of the Punjabi
Taliban network are represented on the TTPs leadership shura.
610

The geographical position of south Punjab has helped assist this trend. The district of Dera Ghazi
Khan for example borders both South Waziristan and Balochistan, and thus has easy
geographical access to militant strongholds.
611
Between March 2005 and March 2007 over 2,000
militants from southern and northern Punjab reportedly moved to South Waziristan to develop
logistical networks.
612
They were readily integrated and during the 2007 feud between TTP
leader Maulvi Nazir and Uzbek militants, a sizeable contingent of Punjabis from banned militant
groups fought alongside Nazirs forces.
613

As Figure 5.5 shows, the Punjabi Taliban is growing to become one of Pakistans gravest
security challenges and has mounted some of Pakistans most notorious terrorist attacks. It has
excellent knowledge of security dynamics in the urban heartland, unrivaled operational
sophistication and greater capacity to disrupt domestic, regional and even global stability. It has
benefited from years of state patronage and ISI training, assisting in its operational development.
Tariq Pervez, head of Pakistans National Counterterrorist Authority (NACTA) better explains
their role in the militant supply chain; Ideas, logistics, cash [comes] from the Gulf. Arab guys,
mainly Egyptians and Saudis, are on hand to provide the chemistry. Veteran Punjabi extremists
plot the attacks, while the Pakistan Taliban provides the martyrs.
614

Constituent groups within the Punjabi Taliban have also developed closer inspirational and
operational ties to al-Qaeda. For example former HuJI commander Ilyas Kashmiri, so known for
loyal service in Kashmir, was a senior military commander for al-Qaeda, leading Brigade 313 of
the HuJI and perhaps also the shadowy Lashkar-al-Zil (Shadow Army) cell. Kashmiri was
implicated in various terrorist plots against Pakistani and Western targets,
615
and reportedly
killed in a US drone strike in June 2011.
Similarly the LeJ is today regarded as the lynchpin of alignment between al-Qaeda, the TTP and
domestic sectarian outfits,
616
and has been implicated in numerous high-profile anti-Western and
sectarian attacks including the 2008 Marriott bombing in Islamabad, possibly the 2007
assassination of Benazir Bhutto, and the 2010 attack on Ahmadi mosques in Lahore.
617

The International Crisis Group has alleged that SSP and LeJ madrassas, mosques and training
camps are extensively used as conduits for foot soldiers, arms and funds from Punjab to other
parts of the country, including NWFP and FATA
618
The Punjabi Taliban have also reportedly

609
Raheel Khan, Al Qaeda, TTP and Punjabi Taliban forge strong connection, Central Asia Online, March 1, 2010.
Available at http://bit.ly/lrx3vK
610
Raheel Khan, Untangling the Punjabi Taliban Network, CTC Sentinel, Vol. 3, Issue 3, March 2010.
611
Sabrina Tavernise, Richard Oppel and Eric Schmitt, United Militants Threaten Pakistans Populous Heart, New York
Times, April 13, 2009. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/14/world/asia/14punjab.html
612
Hassan Abbas, Defining the Punjabi Taliban Network, CTC Sentinel, Vol. 2, Issue 4, April 2009. Available at
http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/18978/defining_the_punjabi_taliban_network.html
613
Ibid
614
Ibid
615
Bruce Riedel, A Jihadist is Promoted, Daily Beast, August 9, 2009. Available at http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-
stories/2010-08-09/al-qaedas-mohammad-ilyas-kashmiri-makes-a-terror-list/
616
The Militant Jihadi Challenge, International Crisis Group, Asia Report No 164, March 13, 2009
617
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, South Asia Terrorism Portal, http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/pakistan/terroristoutfits/lej.htm,
accessed April 27, 2011.
618
The Militant Jihadi Challenge, International Crisis Group, Asia Report No 164, March 13, 2009, pg. 7

participated in some of the most high-profile attacks in Pakistan, notably the 2009 attack against
the Armys General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.
619
The attack, as clear a declaration of war as
any, demonstrated the groups operational reach, and interestingly utilized many of the fidayeen
tactics groups honed in operations against India.
Lack of Law Enforcement Capability and
Political Will
The inability of Pakistani internal security agencies to cope with the Punjabi Taliban threat is as
much a result of shortfalls in law enforcement capacity and related government services as a lack
of political will. Security forces are under-strength and often outmatched and outgunned by
militants. The entirety of Punjab has an end-strength of 160,000-180,000 police officers, which
amounts to one officer for every 520-585 people,
620
well above the UN peacetime
recommendation of 1:400.
The problem is much more acute when one considers that only 40,000 of 180,000 officers are
actually permanently stationed in police stations, whereas the rest are used for VIP protection
and traffic policing, according to a study by the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs.
621

More leakages result from political manipulation. By example, a staggering 6,000 officers are
said to be guarding the four residences of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif alone!
622
In addition,
political rivalries, between the federal and state governments and between civilian and military
agencies, have led to blame casting disrupting effective intelligence coordination and sharing.
Endemic shortfalls in manpower availability, mirrored in equipment, training procedures, and
professionalism, law enforcement personnel are often outmatched and easily intimidated by
militants. For example, in 2009 an attempt to arrest a hospitalized JeM commander in
Bahawalpur was called off after militants threatened to blow up police stations and schools if the
arrest went ahead. The commander was then given safe haven by a local JeM madrassas.
623
In
Bahawalpur city the JeM openly maintains madrassas in the center of town, as well as a six acre
property outside the city that many believe is a training facility.
624
With such weakness even in
urbanized areas, it is no wonder then that the volatile borders of south Punjab are left almost
unguarded from cross-border infiltration
625

Filing capacity shortfalls will be essential, but there is little obvious spare capacity. The Army
recruits heavily in the Punjab, and consequently any army deployment is highly unlikely. So far

619
Jane Perlez, Pakistani Police Had Warned Army about a Raid, New York Times, October 11, 2009. Available at
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/world/asia/12pstan.html?_r=1
620
Punjab Development Statistics 2010, Planning and Development Department, Government of the Punjab. Available at
http://bit.ly/l6thks; Paul Petzschmann, Pakistans Police between Centralization and Devolution, Norwegian Institute of
International Affairs, 2010. Available at http://bit.ly/jItpmz; Reforming Pakistans Police, International Crisis Group, Asia
Report No. 157, July 14, 2008. Available at http://bit.ly/kHCZDb
621
Paul Petzschmann, Pakistans Police between Centralization and Devolution, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs,
2010. Available at http://bit.ly/jItpmz
622
Ibid
623
Ahmad Majidyar, Could the Taliban Take Over Pakistans Punjab Province? American Enterprise Institute, June 2010.
Available at http://www.aei.org/docLib/02-MEO-June-2010-g.pdf
624
Saeed Shah, Al-Qaeda allies build huge base, The Telegraph, September 13, 2009. Available at http://tiny.cc/6szqb
625
Ibid


no obvious large-scale efforts have been implemented, although Prime Minister Gilani has
offered the deployment of paramilitary Rangers to assist law enforcement personnel.
626

Analysts, such as Ayesha Siddiqua, have suggested that the roots of Pakistani reluctance to
confront the Punjabi Taliban groups lies deeper, and includes an unwillingness to accept (or
attract U.S. attention to) anti-state militancy inside mainstream Pakistan.
627
This state of denial
is often evident in government statements, and until recently most Pakistani government and
security officials adamantly denied any significant pocket of militancy in south Punjab.
628

Moreover some in the Pakistani security and intelligence agencies may continue to believe that
despite the ongoing structural changes in militant dynamics, they can continue to exert control
and influence over their erstwhile strategic proxies, They seem to believe that should any group
completely fall out of line, they will be dealt with in the manner of Al-Furqan, another former
Punjabi-based militant group. Having fallen out of favor with the security establishment, the
group was quickly discarded and its emir killed in Bahawalpur in 2009.
629

The constituent groups of the Punjabi Taliban are considerably larger, more organized, and more
entrenched than Al Furqan, and it seems unlikely they would prove as easy a task. Furthermore,
to date some of the groups within the Punjabi Taliban network less so the SSP and LEJ, and
more so the LeT continue to enjoy a level of state toleration in the hopes of retaining the
potential future utility against India. For example, leaders of the JeM and LeT, Maulana Masood
Azhar and Hafeez Saeed respectively, have faced little more than a revolving door of arrests,
despite both being listed on the U.S. State Departments list of Foreign Terrorist
Organizations.
630
Yet, Hafiz Saeed has been seen at various public rallies around Pakistan,
including leading 4,000 supporters to protest and mourn the killing of Bin Laden.
631

626
Pakistan PM offers Rangers help to S. Punjab, The News, February 13, 2011. Available at
http://www.asianewsnet.net/home/news.php?sec=1&id=17393
627
Ayesha Siddiqua, Terrors Training Ground, Newsline, September 9, 2009.
628
No Need for Operation in S Punjab: IG Punjab, Geo, June 22, 2010. Available at http://www.geo.tv/6-22-2010/67160.htm
629
Ayesha Siddiqua, Terrors Training Ground, Newsline, September 9, 2009.
630
Foreign Terrorist Organizations, Office for Coordinator for Counterterrorism, Department of State. Available at
http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/other/des/123085.htm , accessed April 27, 2011.
631
Jamaat-ud-Dawa stages anti-US rally, CVBNews [Hosted on YouTube], May 15, 2011. Available at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRpboklQcT4

Figure 5.5: Attacks inside the Punjab

]238! &A9S8G38?!
Z89S5694H4743<!
]832479!!
Aprll 3, 2011 unknown 1wo sulclde bombers aLLack Sufl shrlne ln uera Chazl khan, kllllng aL
leasL 41, and ln[urlng over 83.
March 3,
2011
11/un[abl 1allban 8omb blasL aL gas sLaLlon ln lalsalabad near lSl offlces kllls 32, ln[ures
over 123
March 2,
2011
AC/un[abl 1allban MlnorlLles MlnlsLer Shahbaz 8haLLl assasslnaLed
Sep 1, 2010 un[abl 1allban
(speclflcally Le!)
1hree bomblngs ln Lahore LargeL Shla processlons, kllllng 23, and
ln[urlng 170
!uly 1, 2010 unknown 1wo sulclde bombers ln Lahore aLLack Sufl shrlne, Lhe uaLa uarbar
Complex, kllllng aL leasL 30, and ln[urlng over 200.
May 28, 2010 11/un[abl 1allban CoordlnaLed aLLacks on mlnorlLy Ahmadl mosques klll 86 and ln[ure
120 ln Lahore
March 8,
2010
11/un[abl 1allban Sulclde v8lLu LargeLs lederal lnvesLlgaLlve Agency (llA) bulldlng ln
Lahore,
March 12,
2010
11 Sulclde aLLack ln 8A 8azaar, wlLhln a mlllLary canLonmenL area of
Lahore kllls 62, lncludlng several soldlers
uecember 8,
2009
11 MlllLanLs aLLack lSl offlce ln MulLan kllllng aL leasL 12
uecember 4,
2009
11 and allled"
groups
1allban sulclde bombers mounL complex aLLack agalnsL mosque ln
8awalplndl frequenLed by Army offlcers and Lhelr famllles. 40 are
kllled lncludlng Lwo senlor generals, and 83 wounded
CcLober 10,
2009
11/un[abl 1allban MlllLanLs sLorm Army CPC ln 8awalplndl. ALLackers kllled several,
lncludlng a 8rlgadler and Look hosLages. MlllLary sLorms bulldlng.
May 27, 2009 11 Sulclde v8lLu LargeLs offlces of lSl and clLy pollce ln Lahore, kllllng 27,
ln[urlng 326 and desLroylng bulldlng of 8escue 13 pollce servlce
March 30,
2009
11 ALLackers overran pollce Lralnlng compound ln ouLsklrLs of Lahore,
kllllng over 30 cadeLs
March 3,
2009
AC/11/un[abl
1allban*
A bus carrylng members of Lhe Srl Lankan crlckeL Leam ls aLLacked ln
Lahore. AL leasL slx securlLy personnel were kllled.
AugusL 21,
2008
11 Sulclde bomblng ouLslde Wah canLonmenL kllls aL leasL 70. Wah ls
rumored Lo be a ma[or nuclear weapons assembly slLe.
!
Note: This list is not exhaustive and is intended to be representative.
Source: LWJ, BBC, CNN, The News, Washington Post, Wired Danger Room, Al Jazeera, South Asia Terrorism
Portal, Sify News, CTC Sentinel, Times of India, The Telegraph, Express Tribune, Dawn.


vi. Karachi: threatening the economic engine
Karachi is Pakistans economic engine. It generates over 60% of Pakistans total revenues and
accounts for more than half of its GDP. It is the location of Pakistans only major international
port and serves as the prime transit route for NATO materiel to Afghanistan. Yet despite its
importance to Pakistani stability, Karachi faces steadily escalating levels of violence, including a
228% spike in violence in 2010, as seen in Figure 6.1. According to the Pakistani Institute for
Peace Studies, the upward trend in violence continued in 2011.
Casualty figures in Karachi have been the highest since 1995, the peak of the ethnic warfare in
the early 1990s that devastated Karachi. Entrenched feuding for power, resources, and political
space in Karachi has intensified considerably, and in the first half of 2011, 490 people were
killed in targeted killings -- essentially political, sectarian or ethnically motivated
assassinations -- according to figures provided by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.
632

The citys dense network of madrassas is a cradle that sustains at least some militancy in
Pakistan, by providing ideological inspiration, and in some cases funding, training, and
manpower. Many maintain links to various militant groups including Al Qaeda, the Lashkar-e-
Taiba, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Jaish-e-Mohammad. Simultaneously, as fighting and drones
strikes have mounted in the FATA/KPK, a growing number of al-Qaeda, Afghan Taliban and
TTP members have migrated to the urban invisibility of Karachis sprawling Pashtun slums, and
occasionally mounted deadly attacks against high-value targets in Karachi. The risk of these
trends merging runs the very real risk of destabilizing Karachi, and in turn Pakistan.

Figure 6.1: Terrorist Violence in Karachi (2008-2010)

Source: Pak Institutefor Peace Studies.

632
HRCP report indicates rise in killings this year, Express Tribune, July 6, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/nymAPH
2008 2009 2010
Auacks 19 24 93
kllled 19 63 233
ln[ured 119 133 436

The Internal Sources of Violence
Karachi sits astride a vicious ethnic fault-line, pitting the growing Pashtun minority against the
dominant Mohajir community and their loosely confederated Sindhi partners. Each ethnic base
represents its interests through its political party the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) for
the Mohajirs, the Awami National Party (ANP) for the Pashtuns and the Pakistan Peoples Party
(PPP) for the Sindhis. On the streets of Karachi their well-armed politico-militant forces have
waged bloody turf warfare for political space in the city. Expanded territorial control has meant
votes, patronage from legal businesses and powerbrokers, as well as involvement in various
lucrative criminal enterprises, facilitating a nexus between politics and crime. The relationship
can be symbiotic. Criminal gangs help augment the street strength of political parties, and both
profit from various criminal schemes, including land-grabbing, extortion, and even kidnapping,
drugs and trafficking.
The MQM is particularly well organized, having been the predominant force in Karachi for
numerous decades. In recent years, an exodus of Pashtun refugees fleeing fighting in the
northwest has put increasing pressure on the MQM, which fears any shift in the demographics
(and by extension, political power) of the city. Nonetheless, the MQM is a powerful political
force in Pakistani politics, and was a part of the ruling PPP-led federal coalition government. In
end 2010, in opposition to a fuel-subsidy reform bill, it demonstrated its power as a kingmaker in
Pakistani politics by threatening to quit the coalition and collapse the government. Although
temporarily mediated, by July 2011, the MQM officially quit the PPP-led coalition and joined
the opposition PML-N party.
The decision to quit the government sparked a surge in violence in Karachi, and three nights in
July resulted in almost 100 deaths from political and ethnic violence (by end July the toll has
climbed to 185). Violence centered in the local neighborhoods of Qasba Colony, Orangi Town
and Benaras Chowk, some of the many local fault-lines between lower class Pashtuns and
Mohajirs, and areas where MQM is losing ground to the ANP because of Pashtun
encroachment.
633
Violence in not universal across the city, and certain wealthy and heavily
guarded neighborhoods are oases of stability. The slums that grow nearby to meet their needs
may not be as stable or fortunate.
Mohajir-Pashtun tensions, as a result of the growing Pashtun migrant population, are now at
perhaps their highest point since the early 1990s. Pashtuns in Karachi already number 3.5 million
including half a million Afghans, a number rivaling Peshawar, the capital of the Pashtun-
majority KPK province.
634
Increased incidence of terrorism and crime as a result of this large and
unregulated population surge has not helped tensions.
Figure 6.2 shows two different estimates for violence in Karachi. These are the worst figures
since 1995, a period of widespread ethnic strife that provoked Operation Cleanup, a 2-year
Army intervention and resulted in large-scale low-intensity urban warfare. Even today the city
remains awash in weaponry, including sophisticated urban warfare equipment such as RPGs,

633
Shaheryar Mirza, The Origins of Karachis Wars, Foreign Policy, July 8, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/r9hwGA
634
Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit, Afghans in Karachi: Migration, Settlements and Social Networks, Center for
Social Science Research, (March 2005)


laser-sighted automatic rifles and phosphorus grenades,
635
all of which have been reported used
in street battles.
An upward trend in violence has continued and even escalated. 260 people were killed in the
merely the first quarter of 2011, a figure that is almost the same as casualty figures for the
entirety of 2008, according to the Human Rights Commission. Violence has been unrelenting,
and prone to sporadic horrific outbursts of large-scale bloodshed. In March 2011, over 50 people
were killed in less than a fortnight of violence,
636
another 185 so far in July. Non-affiliated
civilian institutions have also come under threat and hospitals and doctors are reported to be
under pressure to not treat opposition sects in the aftermath of turf battles.
637

There has been a growing convergence in political and sectarian violence. The ruling MQM for
example, now alleges that its workers are being targeted by not just political competitors, but
also sectarian groups such as the LeJ and the SSP, in reaction to both Shia representation inside
the MQM, as well as its strong public stance against religious extremism.
638
In September 2010,
the violence reached London where one of the founding members of the MQM was assassinated,
compounding rioting and violence.
639
The criminal element is believed to play a large role. Many
hits are just another form of turf warfare to control protection rackets, land grabs and other ilicit
enterprises inside the city.
640

To date, police capacity has proven far too inadequate to combat the threat. The usual problems
of training, equipment and morale come into play, but Karachis police are further constrained by
the influence of politicians who often interfere in police work to protect their own party
loyalists.
641
Police raids also often arrest people based solely on their ethnicity, another trigger
for discontent.
642
In April 2011, Prime Minister Gilani promised an additional 5,000 police for
Karachi,
643
but in the interim the onus has fallen upon the better-trained paramilitary Rangers.
The Rangers have been given expanded policing powers, and priority access to funding and
equipment, yet have failed to constrain the violence.
644
Some residents who disapprove of the

635
Tom Hussain, Karachi Crime Gangs Protected by Politicians, Human Rights Commission South Asia, May 25, 2009.
Available at http://alaiwah.wordpress.com/2009/06/14/karachi-crime-gangs-protected-by-politicians/
636
Imram Ayub, Orangi Town in grip of violence, Dawn, March 25, 2011. Available at
http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/25/orangi-town-in-grip-of-violence-five-more-targeted-killings-arson-attack-on-bus.html
637
Sectarianism infects hospital wards, IRIN, October 24, 2010. Available at
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportID=90865
638
Salman Siddiqui, Target Killings: Grey Areas, Express Tribune, April 19, 2011. Available at
http://tribune.com.pk/story/149390/target-killing-gray-areas/
639
Farkhan Bokhari. Politicians Killing Sparks Karachi Violence, Financial Times, September 17, 2010. Available at
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/14a2da78-c207-11df-9d90-00144feab49a.html#axzz1Kjltw4nm
640
Gibran Peshimam, Extortion Rackets squeezing the trigger in target killings, Express Tribune, October 23, 2010.
Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/66319/extortion-rackets-squeezing-the-trigger-in-target-killings/
641
Tom Hussain. Karachi crime gangs protected by politicians. The National, May 26, 2009. Available at
http://www.thenational.ae/news/worldwide/south-asia/karachi-crime-gangs-protected-by-politicians
642
Saba Imtiaz, Karachi Awash With Blood, Afpak Channel, March 28, 2011. Available at
http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/03/28/karachi_awash_with_blood
643
Farsahat Mohiuddin. Karachi to get 5,000 new cops: PM, The News, April 23, 2011. Available at
http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=43075&Cat=4&dt=4/23/2011
644
Syed Ali Raza Abidi, Karachi Doesnt Need Rangers, Welcome to Pakistan (Blog), September 24, 2010. Available at
http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/1800/karachi-doesnt-need-rangers/

militarization of the city criticize their presence. In the wake of the July 2011 violence, 1,000
additional Rangers were ordered to Karachi with shoot-on-sight orders.
645

Figure 6.2: Targeted Killings in Karachi

Source: Human Rights Commission Pakistan, Citizens Police Liaison Committee.
A Taliban Financing and Operational Hub
Mounting ethnic tensions make the rise of Taliban militants even more troubling, given their
potential to fuse with legitimate Pashtun economic and social grievances. Karachis Pashtun
slums, notably the sprawling slums of Sohrab Goth, provide ample urban sanctuary where
drones, and security forces, cannot follow.
Karachis economic importance helps provide the resources to finance and equip the
insurgencies including hawala networks, medical facilities, safe houses and access to organized
transnational crime syndicates leading to Karachi becoming the Talibans revenue engine,
according to Karachi mayor Syed Mustafa Kamal.
646
CBS similarly reported that Agha Jan
Mohtasim, the former Taliban Finance Ministers presence in Karachi was an attempt to tap into
wealthy donors in the city and draw a significant amount of money into the organization by
reaching out to his direct contacts in Karachi.
647
Hawala networks and banking systems in
Karachi allow militants to launder money. A 2009 police investigation revealed $17 million of

645
Matthew Green and Farhan Bokhari, Violent Clashes Leave 90 Dead in Karachi, Financial Times, July 8, 2011. Available
at http://on.ft.com/nDvHR4
646
Faisal Aziz and Robert Birsel, Pakistans Karachi the Taliban revenue engine mayor, Reuters, December 2, 2009.
Available at http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/ISL5193.htm
647
Pakistan: Top Taliban leader arrested, CBS News, March 4, 2010. Available at
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/04/world/main6266995.shtml
1993 2008 2009 2010 !une 2011.
P8C 123 291 748 1138
CLC 1782 1132
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000


militant funds, suspected to have been transferred to the tribal provinces from one bank in
Karachi alone.
648

A spate of arrests in 2010 demonstrated Karachis importance to militants and extremists. In
February, an early morning raid netted Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Afghan Talibans
second in command and top-ranking military commander.
649
A few days later, Mohtasim and
another ranking member of the Quetta Shura were arrested in Karachi.
650
Some analysts have
even suggested that the Quetta Shura was actually a smokescreen, and that Afghan Taliban
leaders were in fact been sheltered in Karachi by the Pakistani security establishment under an
ultra-secret Karachi Project.
651

Many low ranking members of the TTP are believed to be moving into Karachi to evade
Pakistani military operations in the FATA. They have targeted pro-government leaders who fled
to Karachi, including members of peace committees, former heads of lashkars and anti-Taliban
maliks.
652
This violence is not unidirectional and occasionally Taliban militants are themselves
killed by Pashtun IDPs in retaliation for their plight.
653

Transnational terrorists, and al-Qaeda are believed to have a strong presence inside Karachi. In
fact recently released evidence from interrogations of prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay reveal
the importance of Karachi for al-Qaeda. The city served as a workshop for its media and
financial operations, strategic planning and it served as a reliable hideout.
654

Various al-Qaeda leaders have been arrested in Karachi,
655
and in December 2010 security forces
arrested over 400 people in the city on suspicions of terrorism.
656
Karachi has also been used an
operational hub for global terrorism and linked to various plots and a long list of terrorists
including the shoe-bomber Richard Reid, the 9/11 hijackers Muhammad Atta and Zacarias
Moussaoui, all of whom passed through the city before executing their attacks.
Rising Levels of Taliban Violence
While groups such as the Afghan Taliban have relied on the citys provision of non-violent
assets such as sanctuary or fundraising, the Pakistani Taliban and its sectarian partners are
considerably more violent. During the reign of Beitullah Mehsud, organized crime, including

648
Imran Khan, Karachis War on the Taliban, Al Jazeera, July 1, 2009. Available at
http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2009/07/20097174112823610.html
649
Scott Shane and Eric Schmitt, In Pakistan Raid, Taliban Chief was an extra prize, New York Times, February 18, 2010.
Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/19/world/asia/19intel.html
650
Bill Roggio, Pakistan detains senior Afghan Taliban leader, Long War Journal, March 4, 2010. Available at
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2010/03/pakistan_detains_sen.php
651
Ali K Chisti, The Karachi Project, Foreign Policy, November 3, 2010. Available at
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/11/03/is_pakistan_finally_cracking_down_on_al_qaeda
652
Zia Ur Rehman, Karachi targeted killings of Pashtuns tied to militant groups, Central Asia Online, April 1, 2011.
Available at http://tiny.cc/n2kh3
653
Salman Siddiqui, A Different Kind of Target, Express Tribune, April 18, 2011. Available at
http://tribune.com.pk/story/149389/a-different-kind-of-target/
654
Saba Imtiaz, Al Qaeda Central: All Roads Lead to Karachi, Express Tribune, May 1, 2011. Available at
http://bit.ly/ijAP8p
655
Bill Roggio, Al Qaeda operatives detained in Karachi, Long War Journal Threat Matrix, November 19, 2010. Available at
http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2010/11/al_qaeda_operatives_detained_i.php
656
TTP network busted in Mangophir, 400 held, Geo, December 7, 2010. Available at http://geo.tv/12-7-2010/75454.htm

bank robberies, kidnappings and extortion, were a key means to finance the insurgency and in
2009, 80% of bank robberies in Karachi were jihadi related. Kidnappings reached their highest
levels in decades
657
and ransom payments were reported to be Beitullah Mehsuds single largest
revenue stream. Other activities include skimming off Pashtun-dominated businesses such as the
earth-excavating business off which the Mehsud tribe allegedly took 40% of earnings.
658

Militants have shown a greater willingness to attack strategic targets within Karachi, as the
insurgency has grown more vicious. The city houses numerous high-value targets including the
port, which is the entrance point for 75% of NATO supplies; the citys oil terminal, which stores
most of Pakistans imported oil; and the Super Highway, the main thoroughfare for NATO
materiel, which transits right by the largest Pashtun slum of Sohrab Goth. As early as a year ago,
Karachi was relatively insulated from the insurgency. and to a degree it still is, but attacks are
increasing.
In November 2010, an anti-terrorist police compound was hit by a VBIED and small arms fire
killing 18 and injuring more than 100, in what may have been an attempt to break out some
arrested LeJ militants.
659
The TTP took credit for the attack, although security agencies have
claimed the involvement of the LeJ.
660
Other attacks have included an attack on a NATO convoy
in Baldia on January 28, 2010,
661
a failed attack on the oil terminal in September 2009,
662
an
attempted assassination on Benazir Bhutto when she returned from exile that killed 139
people.
663
The LeJ also mounted an attack on Shia pilgrims in December 2009, fusing both
sectarian and anti-state violence, a worrying combination.
664

These attacks have not abated. In one week in April 2011, suspected militants mounted three
attacks against Navy personnel in the city, bombing buses carrying personnel to work.
665
In May
2011, the highest profile attack to date took place on the PNS Mehran Naval base, which was
assaulted by a fidayeen squad that destroyed two P3-C Orion ASW aircraft, and killed about 10
security personnel. This attack was highly embarrassing to Pakistani security officials and
enhanced growing worries on their ability to protect sensitive installations.

657
Sabrina Tavernise, Organized Crime in Pakistan Feeds Taliban, New York Times, 08/28/2009,
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/29/world/asia/29karachi.html?pagewanted=1
658
Associated Press, Taliban Fleeing to Pakistani Metropolis to Escape U.S. Airstrikes, Associated Press, 03/16/2009,
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,520398,00.html
659
Karachi CID building hit by bomb and gun attack, BBC News, November 11, 2010. Available at
660
Owais Tahid, Pakistan Taliban go for the jugular with attack on Karachi police compound, Christian Science Monitor,
November 11, 2010. Available at http://tiny.cc/i6c6i
661
Huma Yousef, Rare Afghanistan Convoy Attack in Normally Safe Pakistani City, Christian Science Monitor, January 28,
2010. Available at http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-South-Central/2010/0128/Rare-Afghanistan-convoy-attack-in-
normally-safe-Pakistan-city
662
Zahid Hussein, Pakistani Police Thwart Attack, Wall Street Journal, 09/15/2009,
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125302461090612089.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
663
Carlotta Gall and Salman Masood, Bhutto says she warned of plotting days before attack, New York Times, October 20,
2007. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/20/world/asia/20Pakistan.html
664
Bill Roggio, Suicide bomber kills 30 Shia mourners in Karachi, Long War Journal December 28, 2009. Available at
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/12/suicide_bomber_kills_24.php
665
Militants bomb Pakistani navy bus, The Guardian, April 28, 2010. Available at
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/28/militants-bomb-pakistani-navy-bus


The Madrassa Factor
Karachis crowded madrassa landscape includes all sects, and many are completely unassociated
with violence, but there are at least some elements that support fundamentalist Sunnis
philosophies and have added to bloody, and ongoing, rounds of sectarian violence. Karachi-
based madrassas represent nearly all South Asian Islamic sects include the Sunni Wahabbi-
influenced Deobandis and Ahle-Hadiths, the more Sufi-influenced Ahle e Sunnat Barelvis, the
Shias, and those run by the Islamist political parties such as the Jamaat-e-Islami. Some have ties
to sectarian, regional and global jihadist groups.
The official 2004 Ministry of Education figure lists 979 madrassas in Karachi, a figure that is
universally scoffed at. The Deobandis alone claim over 1,500 and new ones appear with
alarming regularity.
666
This high concentration includes a jihadi cradle that has sustained
insurgencies in Afghanistan and Kashmir, as well as considerable sectarian violence. Three
major aggressor-target alignments have emerged over the years, each with significant overlap;
the Sunni-Shia rivalry, the intra-Sunni Deobandi-Barelvi conflict and anti-Western terrorism.
Ultra-puritanical Deobandis run a large majority of Karachis madrassas, and have benefited
from Saudi Wahhabi petrodollars and state patronage in reward for significant involvement in
the Soviet jihad. The most prominent, and notorious Deobandi madrassa is the Jamia Uloom
Islamia, informally known as Binori Town after its location. As the birthplace of the Afghan
jihad, it carries the mantle of Deobandi leadership in Pakistan and has made little secret of its
support for the Taliban.
667
It established and has close links to some of the best-known Pakistani
jihadi outfits, including the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM), the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and the
rabidly anti-Shia Sipahe-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ).
668

Former head cleric of Binori Town Maulana Nizamuddin Shamzai was believed to have been
Osama Bin Ladens spiritual mentor and the founder of the anti-Indian Jaish-e-Mohammed,
Maulana Masood Azhar was both a student and a teacher at Binori Town.
669
Figure 6.3
highlights other Deobandi madrassas cited for concern including the Jamia Darul Uloom
Karachi, Darul Uloom Halafia and the Jamia Binoria, which operates a branch in New York.
670

The Jamia Binoria International madrassa, the largest in Karachi, while touted as more moderate,
caters to several hundred students from 29 countries, including Somalia, the Philippines and
Indonesia. Many, according to the Associated Press are admitted with no security clearance.
671

Recently Mohammed Rehan an associate of the failed New York Times Square car bomber,
Faisal Shahzad was arrested when he left the Bathha Mosque in Karachi run by the JeM.
672

666
Karachis Madrassas and Violent Extremism, International Crisis Group, Asia Report No 130, March 29, 2007. Available
at http://tiny.cc/ltjla
667
Ibid.
668
Imtiaz Ali, Karachi becoming a Taliban Safe Haven? CTC Sentinel, Volume 3, Issue 1, January 2010.
669
William Dalrymple, Myths and Madrassas, Asia Times, November 25, 2005. Available at
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GK24Df01.html
670
Karachis Madrassas and Violent Extremism, International Crisis Group, Asia Report No 130, March 29, 2007.
671
Chris Brummit and Ashraf Khan, Hard-line Pakistani schools a draw for foreigners, Associated Press, December 14,
2009. Available at http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=9327809
672
Kathy Gannon and Ashraf Khan, Karachi mosque draws investigators into NY bombing, Associated Press, May 6, 2010.
Available at http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5inrGSMstmEyCykTPn1iLKC8fyyEAD9FHISKO0

The Ahle-Hadiths are a Salafi sect that receive the lions share of Saudi funds
673
and offer some
of the most radical and puritanical interpretations of all Pakistani Sunni sects. Despite having a
relatively small number of madrassas in Karachi, 36 by the ICGs count, they are prominent,
particularly the Jamia Abu-Bakr al-Islamia madrassa that is closely linked to the LeT.
674

Ahle-Hadith madrassas are also considered more international in their outlook, rarely turning
away foreigners unlike many of the Deobandi madrassas.
675
As a result numerous foreign
students are enrolled at their campuses including the brother of the leader of Indonesias Jemaah
Islamiya, responsible for the 2002 Bali bombings.
676
Other Karachi Ahle-Hadith madrassas
include the Darsatul Islamia run by the Jamaat-ud-Dawaa (JuD), the charitable arm of the LeT,
and is often frequented by LeT leader Hafeez Saeed.
The Jamaat-e-Islami is the oldest religious political party in Pakistan, and has approximately 97
mosques with over 8000 students in Karachi, including the Markaz Uloom-e-Deeniyas Alfalah
Academy in Sarjani Town, Jamiatul Ikhwan madrasa in New Karachi, and Jamia Darul Islam in
Gizri Town.
677
Madrassas belong to the Jamaat have supported jihad across the globe and their
alumni have been found on global battlefields, including Afghanistan, Kashmir and Bosnia.
Madrassas belonging to the Jamaat-e-Islami have been accused by some of having some of the
most visible ties to international jihadi organizations. By example, Khalid Sheik Mohammed, a
senior Al-Qaeda figure, was arrested at the Karachi apartment of a Jamaat member.
678
The
Jamaat is also heavily connected to the political pulse of Karachi, and has often been drawn into
violent political turf battles and street riots.
The Barelvi madrassas, while popularized as the most moderate, are not free of their share of
radical militant elements. Most connected to Sufi traditions, the Barelvis are large and organized,
but are not trained for war like their Deobandi and Ahle-Hadith counterparts.
679
They fight
largely to dilute Deobandis and Ahle-Hadith control of Sunni mosques and urban spaces to raise
funds and followers. In recent years, they have found themselves in the cross hairs of Deobandi
militant groups and have suffered severe blows as a result.
In 2006, 47 Barelvis, including the entire leadership structure of their militant wing, the Sunni
Tehreek, was decapitated in a suicide bombing in Karachis Nishtar Park.
680
The attack was
blamed on militants from the LeJ and the SSP. On June 12, 2009, Sarfraz Naeemi, a prominent

673
Sushant Sareen, The Jihad Factory: Pakistans Islamic Revolution in the Making, (New Delhi: Har-Anand Publications,
2005), pgs. 281-282
674
Karachis Madrassas and Violent Extremism, International Crisis Group, Asia Report No 130, March 29, 2007, pg. 9
675
Karachis Madrassas and Violent Extremism, International Crisis Group, Asia Report No 130, March 29, 2007.
676
Kaushik Kapisthalam, Learning from Pakistans madrassas, Asia Times, June 23, 2004. Available at
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/FF23Df05.html
677
Karachis Madrassas and Violent Extremism, International Crisis Group, Asia Report No 130, March 29, 2007. pg. 10-11
678
Gretchen Peters, Al Qaeda-Pakistani Ties Deepen, Christian Science Monitor, 03/06/2003,
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0306/p01s04-wosc.html
679
Arif Jamal, Sufi Militants Struggle with Deobandi Jihadists in Pakistan, Jamestown Foundation, February 24, 2011.
Available at http://bit.ly/lP02Wc
680
Mehreen Zahra-Malik, In Pakistan, Sunni against Sunni, Indian Express, May 25, 2006. Available at
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/in-pakistan-sunni-against-sunni/5054/0


Barelvi cleric, was killed by a Taliban suicide bomber in retaliation for his outspokenness against
Taliban extremism,
681
and attacks on Sufi shrines in the rest of Pakistan are now not uncommon.
Barelvis in Karachi have grown increasingly agitated in response to these attacks against their
leaders, renewing worries of sectarian violence. In April 2010, Barelvis in Karachi burnt effigies
of Mufti Naeem, the chief cleric at the Deobandi Jamia Binoria, and chanted slogans equating all
Deobandis with the Taliban.
682

More recently in the aftermath of the several incidences of Islamist rage such as the assassination
of Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer, the the release of CIA-contractor Raymond Davis or the
killing of Osama Bin Laden, they have jointly protested with the Deobandis. It is uncertain if this
solidarity on the street will hold.
Vulnerable Shiites
The minority Shia community is the most vulnerable in Karachi, and is numerically dwarfed by
its Sunni counterparts. The ICG counted about 132 Shia mosques in Karachi with only 36 having
attached madrassas.
683
Some of these are believed to have close links with the Shia militant
wing, the Sipah-e-Mohammed Pakistan (SMP). The SMP is a reactionary counterpart to the SSP
and is considerably more active in the Punjab and tribal areas than in Karachi, although they are
known to travel to the city in times of religious strife.
684

Shiite religious processions are especially vulnerable. In December 2009, on the holy Shia day of
Ashura, a suicide bomber attacked a Shiite religious procession killing at least 40 and injuring
dozens more.
685
In February 2010 on the next major Shiite festival, a double bombing struck a
Shia procession killing 22.
686
.
Shia communities by virtue of their size cannot easily afford open warfare. Some theories
believe that the torching of thousands of shops in the aftermath of the Ashura bombing was
carried out by enraged Shiites venting their fury against Pashtun traders whom they equated
with the anti-Shia Taliban and SSP. Attacks on prominent Sunni clerics including Maulana
Haideri, a senior leader of the SSP and Mufti Jalalpuri, head of a hardline anti-Shia Sunni
organization have also been attributed to Shiite retribution.
687

681
Pamela Constable, Clerics slaying signifies a shift, Washington Post, June 16, 2009. Available at
682
Salman Siddiqui, The Widening Split, The Express Tribune, April 26, 2010. Available at
http://tribune.com.pk/story/9155/the-widening-split/
683
Karachis Madrassas and Violent Extremism, International Crisis Group, Asia Report No 130, March 29, 2007
684
Ibid.
685
Bomb attack on Shia march in Pakistani city of Karachi, BBC News, December 28, 2009. Available at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8432409.stm
686
22 killed as bombs hit Karachi, The Independent, February 5, 2010. Available at
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/22-killed-as-bombs-hit-karachi-1890478.html
687
Funeral held for Karachi Sunni Muslim Cleric, BBC News, March 12, 2010. Available at

Figure 6.3: Radical Madrassas in Karachi
688

name SecL MlllLanL AfflllaLlons 8emarks
!amla uloom lslamla,
8lnorl 1own!
ueobandl! Al Caeda, !alsh-e-
Mohammad, Slpah-e-
Sahaba, Afghan
1allban, ParkaL-ul-
Ansar!
layed cruclal role ln anLl-SovleL [lhad
ln AfghanlsLan !
!amlaLul 8asheed
Lhsanabad!
ueobandl! !alsh-e-Mohammad,
Slpah-e-Sahaba!
!
Madrassa khalld 8ln
Walld!
ueobandl! ParkaL !lhad-l-lslaml,
Lashkar-e-1alba!
!
!amla Lhsanul uloom! ueobandl! !alsh-e-Mohammad,
Slpah-e-Sahaba!
!
uarul uloom
8ehmanla!
ueobandl! ParkaL !lhad-l-lslaml! !
!amla Anwarul Curan! ueobandl! ParkaL-ul-Mu[ahldln! !
!amla Abu 8ukar ! Ahle-PadlLh ! !emaah lslamlya
(lndonesla) !
ollce uncovered sleeper cell" of 19
!l cadres ln 2003
689
!
uaraslLul lslamla ! Ahle-PadlLh! Lashkar-e-1alba! 8egular venue for speeches by Le1
leader Pafeez Saeed, !
Madrassa-e-Arabla
lalzanul Curan!
! 1ehrlk-l-1allban
aklsLan!
Peavy weapons and exploslve
maLerlals recovered ln 2010
690
!
!amla uarasaL al-
lslamla!
Ahle-PadlLh! Lashkar-e-1alba ! !
Madrassa Pusseln 8ln
All !
Ahle-PadlLh! Lashkar-e-1alba ! !
!amla larooqla ! ueobandl! 1ehrlk-l-1allban
aklsLan!
varlous mlllLanLs lncludlng 11 leader
Carl Pusseln Mehsud
691
!
uarul lfLa-e-Wal
lrshad!
ueobandl! Al Caeda, ParkaL-al-
Ansar!
CperaLed by Lhe Al 8ashld 1rusL,
692

whlch ls accused by Lhe SLaLe
ueparLmenL for llnks wlLh 8ln Laden
and Lhe !eM. !

Note: This list is intended to be representative, rather than exhaustive.
Source: International Crisis Group, South Asia Terrorism Portal, CTC Sentinel, Imtiaz Ali
!

688
A significant proportion of this data is taken from http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/asia/south-
asia/pakistan/130_pakistan_karachi_s_madrasas_and_violent_extremism.ashx and Imtiaz Ali, CTC Sentinel
689
http://archive.arabnews.com/?page=4&section=0&article=32605&d=26&m=9&y=2003
690
691
http://www.australia.to/2010/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=725:qari-hussain-ahmed-
mehsud&catid=73:oped&Itemid=125
692
Al-Rashid Trust, South Asia Terrorism Portal, Available at
http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/pakistan/terroristoutfits/Al-Rashid_Trust.htm


vii: external relations: the united states
Pakistan currently has a critical impact on U.S. strategic interests, in the struggle against global
terrorism, in Afghan stabilization efforts, and in efforts to reduce the risk of violent conflict in
the region. Increasingly however, the US has found that its influence in Pakistan is extremely
limited, despite almost a decade of unprecedented aid and attention, including $4.34 billion in
2010.
693
Relations with Pakistan have undergone unprecedented turbulence by the spring of
2011, particularly in the aftermath of the May 2
nd
US Special Forces raid that killed Osama Bin
Laden in the garrison city of Abbottabad.
Pakistans critical role in the Afghan conflict was clearly recognized in the formulation of
President Obamas ambitious new strategy unveiled in December 2009.
In the past, we too often defined our relationship with Pakistan narrowly. Those days are
over. Moving forward, we are committed to a partnership with Pakistan that is built on a
foundation of mutual interest, mutual respect, and mutual trust. We will strengthen Pakistan's
capacity to target those groups that threaten our countries, and have made it clear that we cannot
tolerate a safe haven for terrorists whose location is known and whose intentions are clear.
America is also providing substantial resources to support Pakistan's democracy and
development. We are the largest international supporter for those Pakistanis displaced by the
fighting. And going forward, the Pakistan people must know America will remain a strong
supporter of Pakistan's security and prosperity long after the guns have fallen silent, so that the
great potential of its people can be unleashed.
These are the three core elements of our strategy: a military effort to create the conditions for a
transition; a civilian surge that reinforces positive action; and an effective partnership with
Pakistan.
694

At the same time, US and ISAF forces were also aware of the difficulties involved in such a
strategy, and an ISAF intelligence briefing summarized the challenges Pakistan posed as follows:
Pakistan is as or more complex than Afghanistan
Tribal and religion overtones, yet strong national identity, multiple ethnicities, most
desire some form of democracy, a worsening economy but a nuclear weapons state
Foreign intervention resented in most of the country
Predominantly an Indian issue, but strong resentment against the US and UK; appears to
be growing against Taliban
Tribal values and traditional core beliefs still dominate large parts of the country
Outsiders trying to impose new ideas and beliefs create tension; nature of tribal
traditions can supersede Islam
Army is perceived to be more capable (and dependable) than the government

693
K. Alan Kronstadt, Direct Overt US Aid and Military Reimbursements to Pakistan FY2002FY2011, Congressional
Research Service, January 4, 2011. Available at http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/pakaid.pdf
694
Transcript of President Obamas West Point Address on Afghanistan, White House, December 1, 2009. Available at
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-address-nation-way-forward-afghanistan-and-pakistan

Regarded as a positive influence in the FATA and NWFP because they are locally
recruited and able to work within local systems
Large numbers of internally displaced people from years of fighting, a poor economy
and natural disasters
Potential breeding ground for the Talibanbut offers opportunities for counter-
radicalization programs
Violations of Pakistan sovereignty may contribute to radicalizing the population and
diminishes credibility of the Government of Pakistan
Demonstrates an inability of the government; perception they cannot protect their own;
exacerbates anti-western sentiment.
Staying the course in Pakistan as important as staying the course in Afghanistan.
695

Unfortunately as a result of many of the challenges described in the ISAF briefing, and
throughout this book, President Obamas vision has not come to pass. The military retains
primacy, civilian institutions remain weak and dysfunctional, and economic prospects have
worsened. A year later, by the time of the Obama Administrations Afghanistan-Pakistan
Review, the US had substantially scaled down its goals for US-Pakistani relations in favor of a
narrower counterterrorist strategy focused on combating al-Qaeda:
Pakistan is central to our efforts to defeat al-Qaida and prevent its return to the region. We seek
to secure these interests through continued, robust counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency
cooperation and a long-term partnership anchored by our improved understanding of Pakistans
strategic priorities, increased civilian and military assistance, and expanded public diplomacy.
696

The Presidents report of March 2011 made these issues even clearer:
Pakistan is central to our efforts to defeat al-Qaida and prevent its return to the region. We seek
to secure these interests through continued, robust counterterrorism and counterinsurgency
cooperation and a long-term partnership anchored by our improved understanding of Pakistans
strategic priorities, increased civilian and military assistance, and expanded public diplomacy
With regard to al-Qaidas Pakistan-based leadership and cadre, we must remain focused on
making further progress towards our ultimate end-state, the eventual strategic defeat of al-Qaida
in the region, which will require the sustained denial of the groups safe haven in the tribal areas
of western Pakistan.
[] Large elements of Pakistans military remain committed to maintaining a ratio of Pakistani
to Indian forces along the eastern border. This deprives the Pakistani COIN fight of sufficient
forces to achieve its clear objectives and support the hold efforts, while encouraging pre-
engagement aerial bombardment that increases the number of displaced persons, and causing
available Army forces to be bogged down with hold activities because there are insufficient
trained civilian law enforcement personnel to assume that responsibility.

695
Major General Michael Flynn, State of the Insurgency, Trends, Intentions and Objectives, Director of Intelligence,
International Security Assistance Force, Afghanistan, U.S. Forces, Afghanistan, as of 22 DEC, 2009

696
Overview of the Afghanistan and Pakistan Annual Review, White House, December 16, 2010. Available at
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2010/12/16/overview-afghanistan-and-pakistan-annual-review


Pakistan security forces remain largely static during this reporting period (Oct. 1 Dec. 31,
2010), generally focused on maintaining the security of previously cleared areas in the FATA and
KP and continuing to support flood relief operations.
In January, Pakistani military and paramilitary forces began Operation BREKHNA, an effort to
clear militants from Mohmand Agency using 6,000 Pakistani security forces along with ISR
assets and ISAF ground troops and fire support on the Afghanistan side of the border. This effort
expanded to include some operations in neighboring Bajaur Agency. It is important to note that
this is the third time in the past 2 years that the Army has had to conduct major clearing
operations in the same agency; a clear indicator of the inability of the Pakistani military and
government to render cleared areas resistant to insurgent return.
[] What remains vexing is the lack of any indication of hold and build planning or staging
efforts to complement ongoing clearing operations. As such there remains no clear strategy
towards defeating the insurgency in Pakistan.
697

A Department of Defense report, issued in April 2011, was somewhat more polite, but made the
same basic points:
Within its borders, Pakistan has a pivotal role to play in U.S. efforts to disrupt, dismantle, and
defeat al-Qaeda and its affiliates; to help bring about and ensure a durable political solution in
Afghanistan; and to promote and sustain long-term regional stability so the United States does not
again face a region that is home to terrorist sanctuaries.
Pursuing a long-term U.S.-Pakistani strategic partnership based on a foundation of mutual
interest, mutual respect, and mutual trust guides a whole-of-government, civilian-military effort.
The long-term goal is for the U.S. strategy to lead to enduring linkages between the United States
and Pakistan; stronger trade and investment ties; continued and deepened military and
intelligence relations that support regional stability; and a secure Pakistan linked to its neighbors
through a growing economy enabled by improved security.
There are significant hurdles to reaching that vision. The history of U.S.-Pakistani relations is
fraught with negative perceptions on both sides, leading many in both countries to see the others
pursuit of strategic objectives as being driven by transitory national security interests. To date,
efforts on both sides have yielded some progress in improving this relationship. However, it will
take a long-term relationship to overcome years of mistrust in order to achieve a long-term
strategic partnership based on mutual interests.
The U.S. approach with Pakistan is to build an effective partnership that advances both U.S. and
Pakistani interests while also demonstrating to Pakistan that the United States will remain a
strong and long-term supporter of Pakistani security and prosperity. Central to this effort is
aligning both U.S. and Pakistani interests in the near-term with respect to denying safe haven to
all violent extremist organizations. Although great strides have been made in the U.S.-Pakistani
bilateral relationship over the past two years, heightened sensitivities regarding Pakistani
sovereignty can set back this progress.
Operational and tactical coordination between ISAF, ANSF, and Pakistans security forces has
improved in quality and quantity over the past two years; however, significant challenges remain
in building mutual trust and cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan, given the complex
historical relationship between the two countries.
Insurgent capacity continues to be supported by sanctuaries and logistical support originating in
Pakistan, and insurgents will likely retain operational momentum in areas where these support

697
President Obama, Report to Congress on Afghanistan and Pakistan, March 2011, White House, April 5, 2011.

structures exist. Consolidating security gains made during the reporting period requires more
progress with Pakistan to eliminate these sanctuaries. Although putting pressure on insurgent
sanctuaries in Pakistan would not be sufficient to end the Afghanistan conflict in the near-term, it
would fundamentally alter the strategic balance of the conflict in favor of ISAF and the Afghan
Government.
Pakistans military leadership has improved cross-border coordination with ISAF and the ANSF.
Since October 2010, a series of high-level meetings between Afghan and Pakistan military
leaders have gradually improved communication and cooperation, particularly in the border
region. At the most recent high-level meeting, the 33rd Tripartite Commission in March 2011,
ISAF and ANSF leaders met with Pakistani Army leaders in Pakistan for discussions on
increasing cooperation and communication along the border.
698

In June 2011, with the killing of Osama Bin Laden, the US unveiled a new national strategy for
counter-terrorism. Relevant sections on Pakistan are reproduced below and highlight the declared
US intention to continue counter-terrorism cooperation with Pakistan, while also pursuing a
vigorous aerial campaign against suspected al-Qaeda terrorists.
[] To achieve this goal, we need to dismantle the core of al-Qaidaits leadership in the tribal
regions of Pakistanand prevent its ability to reestablish a safe haven in the Pakistan
Afghanistan region. In other words, we aim to render the heart of al-Qaida incapable of
launching attacks against our homeland, our citizens, or our allies, as well as preventing the group
from inspiring its affiliates and adherents to do so.
[] In recent weeks weve been reminded that our relationship with Pakistan is not without
tension or frustration. We are now working with our Pakistani partners to overcome differences
and continue our efforts against our common enemies. It is essential that we do so. As
frustrating as this relationship can sometimes be, Pakistan has been critical to many of our most
significant successes against al-Qaida. Tens of thousands of Pakistanismilitary and civilian
have given their lives in the fight against militancy. And despite recent tensions, I am confident
that Pakistan will remain one of our most important counterterrorism partners.
[] In some places, such as the tribal regions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, we will deliver
precise and overwhelming force against al-Qaida. Whenever possible, our efforts around the
world will be in close coordination with our partners. And, when necessary, as the President has
said repeatedly, if we have information about the whereabouts of al-Qaida, we will do what is
required to protect the United Statesas we did with bin Laden.
Despite the evolving US strategy towards Pakistan, the fact remains that Pakistan has a
fundamentally different set of strategic priorities from the US, a fact that US experts have
privately recognized since long before 9/11. Pakistan continues to focus on the Indian threat and
does not trust the US, which it sees as a temporary actor that has once more wreaked significant
harm in its neighborhood and similarly once more abandon the region in 2014, leaving Pakistan
to deal with the consequences of a failed Afghanistan. In May 2011, US experts summarized
both the fundamentally different focus in Pakistani strategy and the tensions it creates with the
US in the material shown in Figure 7.1.

698
Department of Defense, DoD, Report on Progress Towards Security and Stability in Afghanistan; US Plan for Sustaining
the Afghan National Security Forces, Section 1203 Report, April 2011, pp. 59-60 & 105.


Figure 7.1: Pakistans Different Strategic Priorities
and the Risk of Escalating US and Pakistani Tensions

Current Pakistani Strategic Priorities

The Risk of Escalating Tension: Pakistans Dual Strategy

Source: US experts, May 2011.

Uncertain US Goals and Progress
US relations with Pakistan are at their lowest ebb since 9/11 in the spring of 2011. Pakistan has
grown increasingly disillusioned with Washington, and there have been a series of intensifying
crises since mid-2010, including the closing of a vital border crossing to NATO supply convoys
in September 2010, and the unprecedented hardline stance taken by the Pakistani military and its
intelligence agencies against the CIA presence inside Pakistan and the covert US-drone
campaign in the FATA through early 2011.
699
This was enhanced by the presumed ISI-backed
detention of CIA contractor Raymond Davis, as well as the repeated public disclosure of the
names of CIA station chiefs in Pakistan. The US raid that killed Bin Laden raised new questions
about the scale of Pakistani support for al-Qaeda and the Afghan Taliban, and the extent to
which Pakistan was covertly executing a strategy that directly threatened US strategic interests
and progress in the Afghan conflict.
It has grown increasingly obvious that the US and Pakistan have very different national and
strategic interests that are often in direct conflict with each other, particularly as Pakistan loses
faith in the USs ability to execute sustainable change in Afghanistan, and grows increasingly
suspicious of a US tilt towards India. Yet, Pakistan remains important to US strategic interests,
increasingly so as the Afghan endgame approaches. With Bin Laden dead, and the US combat
deadline of 2014 approaching, some form of negotiated settlement appears increasingly likely.
Most analysts agree that such a settlement, if it is to be durable, is difficult, if not impossible,
without Pakistani help. Moreover, Pakistan has signaled its ability to play spoiler in any
negotiations that do not adequately account for its interests.
In the aftermath of the Bin Laden raid, the US has shown a growing willingness to challenge
Pakistan, including by suspending $800 million in military assistance, money that is important to
the generals, despite their public nonchalance.
700
However, even if the army were inclined to
make compromises to the US, it faces an uphill task in justifying it to the Pakistani public.
Anti-Americanism is rife across Pakistan and association with US actions inside Pakistan deeply
problematic Both perceived subservience to the US, and an inability to prevent unilateral US
action threaten the legitimacy of the Pakistani military. The US raid to kill Bin Laden was
particularly embarrassing to the military high command, given the ease with which US
helicopters circumvented Pakistans vaunted air-defense network. The attack raised questions on
the Armys ability to defend Pakistani sovereignty, and on its ability to protect against a similar
Indian attack.
There is some belief that the raid may have increased US leverage in demanding firmer action by
the Pakistani security services, but shaming Pakistan is a troubling strategy. There is truth to a
Pakistani generals frustrated remark to a reporter; Youve pitted us against our own people.
And if you make us choose, of course, how can we not choose our own people.
701
The US must
take account of Pakistans central role in the Afghan conflict, as President Obama noted in his

699
Pakistan demands deep cuts in CIA presence, MSNBC, April 12, 2011. Available at
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42550898/ns/us_news-security/
700
Pakistan defiant as US halts $800 mln military aid, Economic Times, July 12, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/nDuLg5
701
Nick Schifrin. Senior Pakistani Military Official Rails at United States, ABC News, April 21, 2011. Available at
http://abcn.ws/fosBor


speech of December 2009, and acknowledge that regardless of will Pakistan may not have the
capacity to confront terrorism and militancy on its own.
Events in 2010 and 2011 have amplified this need and reiterated Pakistans placement as the
central node of global terrorism, but without the will and ability to effectively combat this threat.
Al-Qaeda core continues to find sanctuary inside Pakistan, while the most serious potential
attack against US interests in recent years -- the failed NYC Times Square plot of May 2010
was perpetrated by a Pakistani-American with links to the TTP, an organization that is a far
greater threat to Pakistan than to the US.
The US has sometimes responded by openly confronting Pakistan while generally minimizing
public discussion of the tensions between the US and Pakistan while quietly apply a mix of
incentives and disincentives. Since the 9/11 ultimatum by then Deputy Secretary of State
Richard Armitage,
702
the US apart from occasional fits of pique has rarely tested Pakistan, and
despite various Pakistani initiatives contrary to its interests has never stopped the flow of
extensive military and civilian assistance. The US has however taken limited steps to reduce its
dependence on Pakistan, notably by initiating the Northern Distribution Network, an alternative
transit route for NATO supplies.
Yet, frustration in Washington with suspicions of Pakistani duplicity is peaking in the aftermath
of the Bin Laden operation and US officials have grown firmer in their demands that Pakistan
take more robust action against militants and terrorists operating from its soil. In end May 2011,
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned that relations between the US and Pakistan had
reached a turning point and urged decisive steps in the days ahead,
703
and in the strongest
action to date, the US suspended $800 million of military aid, including money to reimburse
Pakistan for military operations in the tribal areas.
A Turbulent History of Relations
Outpolling India in unpopularity is no small feat in Pakistan, but the US may have achieved it
according to reports.
704
As Figure 7.2 shows, the Pakistani populace is one of the most anti-
American in the world and these feelings pre-date 9/11.
This unpopularity reflects a long history of political manipulation by Pakistani military and
political leaders to deflect pressure on to the US, or to increase US aid and lever US action. It
also, however, reflects Pakistans intense nationalism and US mistakes. The aftermath of the last
US intervention is remembered for the tremendous destabilizing impact it had on Pakistan.
Pakistanis feel that the US abandoned Pakistan once the Soviet Union left Afghanistan once their
own interests were achieved. Some of this has merit, as the post-Soviet collapse of Afghanistan
severely distressed vast swathes of tribal Pakistan and a huge exodus of refugees severely tested
Pakistani capacity. A pipeline of weaponry and narcotics weaponized and magnified virtually

702
Well bomb you to the Stone Age, Times Online, September 22, 2006. Available at
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article647188.ece
703
Steven Lee Myers, In Tense Post-Bin Laden Trip to Pakistan, Clinton seeks Firm Action on Extremists, New York Times,
May 27, 2011. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/28/world/asia/28diplo.html
704
Interview: For Holbrooke, Situation in Pakistan, Afghanistan is Dim and Dismal, Ne York Times, January 29, 2009.
Available at http://www.nytimes.com/cfr/world/slot3_20090128.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all

every internal security threat, from anti-state separatists and insurgents to politico-militant
groups and criminal syndicates.

Figure 7.2: U.S. Approval Rating (2000-2010)

Source: Pew Global Attitudes Report 2010.
The US and Pakistans long military-to-military relationship has gone through radical swings
over the past few decades in ways that result in either a feast or famine approach as seen in
Figure 7.3. Ties dropped off dramatically after the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pakistani Wars, but
picked back up during the days of the Soviet jihad, when the US worked closely with General
Zia and channeled aid through him. By the 1990s, the relationship had chilled, due to diminished
attention as a result of the end of the Cold War, but also because of sanctions triggered by the
Pakistani nuclear program.
The Pressler Amendment of 1985 that came into force in 1990 was as a major driver of
alienation between the two forces. The Amendment limited the US role if Pakistan were to be
found actively building nuclear weapons, a matter Pakistani military officials saw as a betrayal
after their loyal frontline service during the Soviet jihad, and the halting of weapons transfers, in
particular several F-16s that were seen by US as having dual applicability as a nuclear delivery
system,
705
deeply chilled relations. However, as Christine Fair notes, the break in relationship

705
The Pressler Amendment and Pakistans Nuclear Weapons Program, Federation of American Scientists, July 31, 1992.
Available at http://www.fas.org/news/pakistan/1992/920731.htm
2000 2002 2003 2003 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
aklsLan 23 10 13 23 27 13 19 16 17
1urkey 32 30 13 23 12 9 12 14 17
lndla 66 71 36 39 66 76 66
Chlna 42 47 34 41 47 38
LgypL 30 21 22 27 17
!ordan 23 1 21 13 20 19 23 21
0
10
20
30
40
30
60
70
80


was not one-sided as Pakistan made a deliberate strategic choice to develop nuclear weapons at
the expense of taking ownership of the fleet of F-16s.
706

The result was a decade of relative isolation, leading to the rise of a generation of Pakistani
officers denied any contact with their US counterparts, allowing widespread anti-American
sentiment to permeate the ranks. In a speech to Pakistan officers in Islamabad, US Secretary of
Defense Gates admitted that US policy during the period had been a grave strategic mistake,
707

and admitted that, one of the reasons that the Pakistanis have concerns about us is that we
walked away from them twice first after the Soviets left [and then] through the 1990s
because of the Pressler Amendment.
708

The US reaction to 9/11, and attack on the Taliban, radically changed the situation. The US put
massive pressure on Pakistan, and President Musharraf reacted by choosing to be with the
United States, rather than against it, joining in President Bushs war on terrorism. The
resulting politics led the US to declare Pakistan a major non-NATO ally by 2004,
709
and to give
major arms sales and extensive military assistance in an effort to provide incentives that would to
re-forge the military-to-military relationship.
The US military mission to Pakistan and the level of US military visits and representative at all
levels have increased significantly. For example, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral
Mike Mullen became a key point-person for the Obama Administration, and has made over 20
trips to Pakistan to meet with COAS Gen Kayani.
710
Mullen has commented that he is now on
his third cup of tea with Kayani,
711
but this reputed friendship has not always benefited the US.
Despite these supposed warm relationships, the fact remains that Pakistanis at all levels strongly
resent being treated as if Pakistan were a US strategic asset, and resent what they feel is a lack of
American gratitude in acknowledgement of the large human and social costs they have borne in
service to various US campaigns in the region, including having lost more soldiers in battle with
Taliban militants than the entire coalition force across the border.
712
The covert US military
program inside Pakistan particularly rankles. It is a visible reminder of Pakistans sovereignty
deficit, particularly as targeting is seen as unaccountable to any local authority and perceived as
causing wanton civilian collateral damage.
Pakistani resentment towards the US flows from a highly emotional nationalism, but also from
the perception that US actions in Afghanistan and Pakistan are conducted solely for narrow US
interests without a thought for their consequence on the ordinary people. Pakistan has little faith
in US stabilization efforts in Afghanistan, and few Pakistanis believe that the US is benevolent in
offering aid. Instead many see financial support as a poor replacement for the violence and

706
Christine Fair, The US-Pakistan F-16 Fiasco, AfPak Channel, February 4, 2011. Available at
http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/02/03/the_f_16_fiasco
707
Military to Military Relationships: The Ties That Bind, Economist, February 24, 2011. Available at
http://www.economist.com/node/18227542
708
Pakistani mistrust of Americans legitimate, says Gates, Dawn, August 15, 2009. Available at
709
Bush names Pakistan major ally, BBC News, June 17, 2004. Available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/3814013.stm
710
Military to Military Relationships: The Ties That Bind, Economist, February 24, 2011.
711
Dan Ephron, Try A Little Tea and Sympathy, Newsweek, February 28, 2009. Available at
http://www.newsweek.com/2009/02/27/try-a-little-tea-and-sympathy.html
712
Indira A.K. Lakshmanan, Pakistan will move on North Waziristan without US help, Ambassador says, Bloomberg,
January 12, 2011. Available at http://tiny.cc/1bi4r

economic hardships they have endured. These are commonly attributed to US actions, resulting
in a tendency to see US financial support as an entitlement.
713

Figure 7.3: U.S. Assistance to Pakistan (1948-2010)

Source: Adapted from data by Wren Elhai, Center for Global Development, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/oX7Y3o

Victimhood
While there are legitimate grievances on the Pakistani side, relations are also shaped by an
institutionalized narrative of national victimhood
714
that is pervasive across Pakistan.
Conspiracy theories, are often ludicrous and center around the nefarious plots of the US, India, or
Israel, and prefer to deflect all of the countrys societal ills on external powers, instead of
addressing its own complicity in perpetuating their rise. These have grown to become such a
staple of Pakistani discourse, that prominent Pakistani historian Ayesha Jalal coined the phrase
Paranoidistan to describe the phenomenon.
715

Many conspiracy theories, even if grounded outside reality, provide a valuable window into
Pakistani perceptions. Today, in the post-Bin Laden era, there continues to be strong skepticism
inside Pakistan on the veracity of the raid. According to a recent poll, two-thirds of Pakistanis do
not believe that Bin Laden was killed by US Navy SEALs, instead believing that Bin Laden died

713
Christine Fair, Spy for a Spy: The CIA-ISI Showdown over Raymond Davis, Afpak Channel, March 10, 2011. Available
at http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/03/10/spy_for_a_spy_the_cia_isi_showdown_over_raymond_davis
714
Sabrina Tavernise, US is top villain in Pakistans conspiracy talks, New York Times, May 25, 2010. Available at
715
Arnaud De Borchgrave, Paranoidistan, Washington Times, February 2, 2010. Available at
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/feb/2/paranoidistan/
0
300
1000
1300
2000
2300
3000
Lconomlc AsslsLance MlllLary AsslsLance


years ago and the raid was a carefully orchestrated US stunt, or even that he remains alive.
716

Other favorites focus on the USs alleged role in assisting India to seize Pakistani nuclear
weapons, on an alleged secret US nuclear bunker beneath the embassy in Islamabad,
717
or even
on apparent collusion between the US and terrorist groups, including the TTP and al-Qaeda.
718

The Pakistani media, whose development the US encourages, is an important disseminator of
many of these theories. Prominent newspapers and magazines, including English language
dailies, are not averse to including sometimes the most outlandish speculations as fact. As
Ahmed Rashid, the doyen of studies on Pakistani radical Islam describes, the explosive growth in
media outlets after the end of Musharrafs repressive media restrictions has led to large numbers
of largely untrained, semi-educated and unworldly TV talk show hosts and journalists alongside
pundits often retired hardline diplomats, bureaucrats or retired ISI officers who sport Taliban-
style beards and give viewers loud, angry crash courses in anti-Westernism and anti-Indianism,
thereby reinforcing views already held by many.
719

These include influential media personalities such as Hamid Mir, who was reportedly recorded
assisting the Taliban on deciding whether a hostage held by them was a CIA spy or not.
720
Others
such Zaid Hamid coin phrases such as Hindu-Zionists to help explain who they allege
perpetrated the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
721
The ISI too, through its powerful media arm, has
strong influence over the media sphere, and maintains at least some control over the content of
reporting.
However, in 2011 particularly after the Bin Laden operation, Pakistani media personalities have
become less forgiving of the failings of the Pakistani military. Kamran Khan for example, who
until recently was one of the most pro-military media personalities in Pakistan, launched a
blistering criticism of state policies in May saying, The nation should know that 3,900
Pakistanis have been killed in 225 suicide attacks -- which have spared neither mosques nor
schools and not a single suicide bomber was Indian, nor American, nor even Israeli. All of
them were Pakistanis, and Muslims. We need to accept the bitter pill: in almost all the terrorist
attacks across the world, either Pakistanis have been used or the planning was done on Pakistani
soil. Pakistan is seen as a heaven for militants If the world perceives our dear country as the
largest sanctuary of terrorists, their reasons are solid.
722

Overcoming Public Hostility
All of these factors combine to show how public opinion (and a matching anger and hostility
among many in Pakistans civil and military elite) imposes severe limitations on the ability of

716
Alex Rodriguez, Bin Laden raid gets little credence in conspiracy-minded Pakistan, Los Angeles Times, May 31, 2011.
Available at http://lat.ms/jww9Lr
717
American embassy in Islamabad building nuclear bunker, Siyasat Pakistan (Urdu), January 17, 2011. Available at
http://www.siasat.pk/forum/showthread.php?54089-American-embassy-in-Islamabad-building-nuclear-bunker
718
Sultan Hali, CIAs multinational interests in Pak, Pakistan Observer, http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=79119
719
Ahmed Rashid, Pakistan conspiracy theories stifle debate, BBC News, November 27, 2009. Available at
720
Hamid Mirs terrifying indiscretions, The News, May 16, 2010. Available at
721
Brass Tacks 73.5 Mumbai Attacks Analysis Zaid Hamid, Youtube, November 29, 2008. Available at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Sn-kV9yR6U
722
Kamran Khan: Pak is a Terrorist State [Translated], YouTube, May 8, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/k2d4Aq

Pakistani political actors to deal with the US. They fear being seen as working in collusion with
American interests, or worse yet subservient to them. This severe trust deficit is felt at all
levels of society, and helps explain why Pakistan often grudgingly pursues American-backed
policies, even when it recognizes that they are in its own interest.
Militancy in the FATA for example has gravely impacted internal Pakistani security, yet
collaboration with the US against militancy remains difficult. An ISI official touched upon a
narrative of national pride and anti-Americanism, explaining, By appearing as Americas
mercenaries, our armys acceptance level goes down.
723
Domestic public sentiment in the US
too continues to be strongly anti-Pakistani with strong majorities across several polls expressing
skepticism of Pakistan as a reliable ally and supporting cuts in military and civilian assistance.
724

The US has often reacted in ways that make this worse, and has tended to rely on the Pakistani
military rather than Pakistans civil political leaders. In the past, the US has seen the generals of
Rawalpindi as more reliable than the civilians and Islamabad, and relied on strongmen such as
Musharraf and now Kayani to secure their interests in the short-term, even if it means damaging
the long-term goal of promoting more stable civil-military relations. Today US mistrust with
Rawalpindi is peaking, and the US is increasingly working to independently secure its interests
in Pakistan through covert and contractor personnel, chilling the relationship even further.
US military assistance continues to be heavily weighted towards the military. The GAO
calculated that between 2002 and 2008, roughly 70.4% of US disbursements were deployed
towards the support of the military, 26.7% towards economic, 2.6% for law enforcement and
0.3% for diplomacy.
725
Appropriations between 2009 and 2010 reduced this disparity with
security-related assistance falling to just under 60% and economic-related assistance rising to
compose 40% of the total, according to figures provided by the Congressional Research
Service.
726

The priority the US is still giving to the Pakistani military is illustrated by various recent
incidents, including during the Davis affair in 2011. When it became apparent that the civilian
government could not secure Davis release, the US quickly sidestepped Islamabad in favor of
Rawalpindi, and on February 22
nd
COAS Gen Kayani met with senior US military officials in
Oman to discuss his release.
727

The India Factor
Little the US does can be separated from Pakistans fear of India. Pakistanis are deeply worried
that the US is improving its relationship with India at the expense of Pakistan and in South
Asias zero-sum security environment, any such rapprochement is viewed with alarm. In recent

723
David Ignatius, At Odds on North Waziristan, Real Clear Politics, December 16, 2010. Available at
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/12/16/at_odds_on_north_waziristan_108259.html
724
Peyton Craighill, Americans Have Strongly Negative Views on Pakistan, Washington Post, May 19, 2011. Available at
http://wapo.st/lBjSEG
725
Securing, Stabilizing and Developing Pakistans Border with Afghanistan: Key Issues for Congressional Oversight,
Government Accountability Office, February 2009. Available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09263sp.pdf
726
727
Huma Yusuf, Dealing with Davis: Inconsistencies in the US-Pakistan Relationship, Asia Pacific Bulletin, Number 103,
March 28, 2011. Available at http://tiny.cc/gz7rf


years, this paranoia has gained in urgency as New Delhi extracts major concessions from the US,
notably the 2008 Indo-US nuclear deal, and President Obamas backing of India for a Security
Council seat.
728
A growing Indo-US military nexus has not gone unnoticed, with US companies
bidding for various high-end Indian arms procurements, and an increase in joint military
exercises between the two countries in recent years.
729
Pakistan also resents Indian influence in
Afghanistan, which it sees as directly facilitated and protected by Washington assisting in an
encirclement of Pakistan by Indian forces.
Gen Kayani made Pakistans priorities clear in February 2010, when he stated that the Pakistani
military would remain India-centric and continue to plan on adversaries capabilities, not
intentions.
730
Kayani has helped halt the progress made by Musharraf on reaching a settlement
on a Kashmir settlement
731
and as the Director General (DG) of the ISI between 2004 and 2007,
is well aware of the utility of strategic proxies in combating India. As such Washingtons recent
aggressive pursuit of two of the most important the Haqqani network and the Lashkar-e-Taiba
is unlikely to have sat well. It is also likely that as the Indo-US relationship continues to warm,
the stronger the Sino-Pakistani bond will get, as Islamabad looks to Beijing for support in
maintaining some level of strategic parity with India.
Competition over the Afghan Future
Pakistan and the US have different conceptions of what a post-war Afghanistan should look like,
a matter that has grown in urgency as the Afghan endgame approaches. With the death of Bin
Laden, and growing public support for an Afghan withdrawal, the US combat deadline of 2014 is
likely to be a significant date for transition, and will likely include a sizeable drawdown of US
and international forces. The state of Afghanistan in 2014 remains uncertain, and US surge
operations have already registered important tactical successes, but eventually it may prove
impossible to replicate them on a national scale, or to end the conflict in a way that achieves a
stable transition and has lasting strategic and grand strategic value.
Certainly Pakistan (and other regional actors), remain skeptical of the US and ISAF ability to
execute sustainable change, in either decisively reversing the Talibans battlefield momentum, or
in building up an adequate governance and security structure that will not fragment upon US
departure. As can be seen in Figure 7.4, India is the lens through which Pakistani views its grand
strategic objectives in Afghanistan, and especially today, the US presence is seen as temporary
and unlikely to change the regional landscape, which is detailed by US experts in Figure 7.4.
Furthermore, As a result, Pakistan increasingly prioritizes its ability to shape the post-war
structure, and maneuvers to assure itself a central role in Afghanistan.

728
Obama backs India on permanent UN Security Council seat, BBC News, November 8, 2010. Available at
729
Gurmeet Kanwal, Take Indo-US Ties to New Level, Defense News, February 14, 2011. Available at
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=5699477
730
Pakistan Army will remain India-centric: Kayani, Economic Times, February 4, 2010. Available at http://bit.ly/mez2A4
731
Apoorve Shah, Pakistans Time in the Shadows, Wall Street Journal, April 15, 2011. Available at
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704116404576262364187189694.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Figure 7.4: Pakistani Grand Strategy in Afghanistan

Source: US experts.

Figure 7.5: The Potential Strategic Train Wreck


Source: US experts.
The Karzai government does not suit Pakistan, which it sees as dominated by a Tajik-Uzbek
coalition that is hostile to Pakistan. Pakistan particularly resents the Panjshiri factions, many of
whom dominate the ANA today,
732
and who in the 1990s as the Northern Alliance, drew support
from India (and Iran and Russia) to resist the Pakistani-backed mujahideen forces. However, to
hedge its interests, Pakistan has attempted to exploit the strain in relations between the Karzai
government and the US. Pakistan has extracted important concessions as a result, including
securing the removal of the strongly anti-Pakistani Afghan spy chief Amrullah Saleh and Interior
Minister Hanif Atmar in June 2010.
733
The Pakistani military has also made an offer to train
ANA forces.
734

In April 2011, it was reported that senior Pakistani officials, including Prime Minister Gilani,
urged Karzai to disengage from the US relationship, and instead forge better ties with China.
735

Reported Pakistani demands included urging Kabul to oppose long-term US bases in
Afghanistan, to reduce the number of Indian consulates, to expel Baloch separatist leaders, to
allow the Haqqanis a role in the Afghan government, to reduce the influence of the Northern
Alliance in the government and assure Pakistan a role in the appointment of key security
ministries, including defense and intelligence in return for which Pakistan would pressure
Taliban militants towards political reconciliation with the Karzai government.
736
Whether these

732
Antonio Giustozzi, The Afghan National Army: Unwarranted Hope? RUSI Journal, Vol. 154, No. 6, 2009, pp. 36-42.
733
Jonathan Burch and Hamid Shalizi, Afghan ex-intel chief says opposed Karzai peace plan, Reuters, June 8, 2010.
Available at http://in.reuters.com/article/2010/06/07/idINIndia-49116020100607
734
India, Pakistan and the Afghan Army, Reuters (blog), March 11, 2010. Available at
http://blogs.reuters.com/afghanistan/2010/03/11/india-pakistan-and-the-afghan-army/
735
Jill Dougherty, Source: Pakistans PM urged Afghans to seek other allies besides US, CNN, April 28, 2011. Available at
http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/04/28/pakistan.afghan.meeting/
736
Ahmad K. Majidyar, Pakistan Tells Afghanistan: Expel the Americans, American Enterprise Institute, April 28, 2011.
Available at http://www.aei.org/article/103534

details are correct or not, the above list is a good encapsulation of the desired Pakistani vision for
a post-American Afghanistan.
To help achieve this mission, and hedge against any post-war Afghan settlement that does not
adequately account for its interests, Pakistan continues to retain various strategic proxies,
including the Afghan Taliban, and has so far ensured that all negotiations are channeled through
itself. The arrest of Mullah Baradar, the most senior Afghan Taliban military commander in early
2010 was widely believed to be in retaliation for Baradars independent participation in Saudi-
mediated talks that Pakistan was shut out of.
737
There have also been reports that General Kayani
has offered to bring Haqqani network commanders to the negotiating table, although the military
has denied the reports.
738

US Military Involvement in Pakistan
These factors also combined to affect every aspect of US military involvement in Pakistan, and
to place serious limits on the scale and nature of that cooperation. It affects US ability to operate
against extremists and terrorists in Pakistan, cooperation in intelligence, and cooperation in
training and aid.
Drone Strikes
The use of unmanned aerial aircraft (UAV, or colloquially drones) over Pakistan is a relatively
new phenomenon that has escalated exponentially under the Obama Administration. Figure 7.6
using data provided by the Long War Journal demonstrates how US drone strikes have increased
substantially since 2008, rising to a high of 117 by 2010. The US has also shifted its targeting
scope to more aggressively pursue fighters belonging to the Haqqanis, and to Hafiz Gul Bahadur,
two groups that make up the bulk of fighting strength in North Waziristan.
The vast majority of US drone strikes have focused on North and South Waziristan. As LWJ
details, over the past two years, there has been a significant shift in the location of strikes. In
2009, 42% of strikes targeted North Waziristan and 51% targeted South Waziristan, but in 2010,
the balance shifted drastically with 89% of all strikes taking place in North Waziristan, and only
6% in South Waziristan.
739

This focus on North Waziristan is not unsurprising; it remains one of the only FATA agencies in
which PAKMIL forces have not conducted operations, and the agency houses some of the most
effective Afghan insurgent syndicates, including the Haqqani network and fighters loyal to Hafiz
Gul Bahadur, both of whom actively target coalition forces in Afghanistan. American officials
have also indicated their desire to expand the drone campaign into Balochistan, to target the

737
Ahmed Rashid, Pakistan and the Afghanistan End Game Pt. I, YaleGlobal Online, March 12, 2010. Available at
http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/pakistan-and-afghanistan-end-game-part-i
738
Jane Perlez and Eric Schmitt, Pakistan is said to Pursue Foothold in Afghanistan, New York Times, June 24, 2010.
Available at http://nyti.ms/9oPbRK
739
Bill Roggio and Alexander Mayer, Charting the Data for US airstrikes in Pakistan, 2004-2011, Long War Journal.
Available at http://www.longwarjournal.org/pakistan-strikes.php, accessed April 27, 2011.


Quetta Shura, but have been met with firm denials to date.
740
FATA is a particularly unusual
case, in that it has always been an ancillary component of the Pakistani state; Balochistan is not.
This use of drones has been a source of tension between the US and Pakistan. Any US military
activity within Pakistan is unpopular with the Pakistani people, and the drone campaign has been
no exception. Pakistan anger centers on allegations of inaccurate US targeting, excessive civilian
casualties, and an inability to strike senior militant leaders.
Open-source information from virtually all non-Pakistani sources, including the Conflict
Monitoring Centre, the Institute for Conflict Management, the Long War Journal and the New
America Foundation refute some of these allegations.
741
Figure 7.7 is adapted from high
estimates in data provided by the New America Foundation, which claims higher civilian
casualties than other similar estimates. Even so, the figures clearly show a marked improvement
in US targeting. Civilian collateral damage fell as low as 6% in 2010, even though drone strikes
more than doubled between 2009 and 2010. This ratio of casualties relative to the number of
militants killed, is remarkably low for the number of strikes involved. They certainly seem far
lower than would result from other ways of using force to strike at the same targets and achieve
the same objectives.
Pakistani sources on the other hand claim much higher civilian casualties. The News, a major
Pakistani newspaper alleged 1,184 casualties, of which 703 were civilians, and claimed they
were sourced from local and international sources.
742
In contrast, Major General Ghayur
Mehsud, the Pakistani military commander in North Waziristan, told reporters that, a majority
of those eliminated are terrorists although Mehsuds comments then received blistering public
criticism. An official paper issued by his 7
th
Division HQ claimed that 164 drone strikes between
2007 and 2011 killed 964 terrorists, including 171 foreigners,
743

It should, however, that independent verification is often impossible and casualties may be
higher than what US and Pakistani officials are willing to admit. Anecdotal evidence from the
region is split, but Noor Behram, a local resident, who often visits and documents the aftermath
of drone strikes, is adamant of a much higher civilian toll. The Guardian newspaper quotes him
as saying, For every 10 to 15 people killed, maybe they get one militant," he said. "I don't go to
count how many Taliban are killed. I go to count how many children, women, innocent people,
are killed.
744
Other local activists, including Lateef Afridi in the Khyber, have claimed high
public support for drone strikes in militancy-affected areas such as North Waziristan.
745

Whatever the true toll, it is believed that many Pakistani officials often exaggerate the casualty
impact of drone strikes for political purposes and in an effort to gain leverage over the US by
exploiting popular anger. This has helped feed the general perception inside Pakistan that US

740
Muhammad Zamir Assadi, The United States may expand drone strikes in Pakistan, New American, December 13, 2010.
Available at http://bit.ly/m0Euzz
741
Jacob Beswick, The Drone Wars and Pakistans Conflict Casualties, 2010, Oxford Research Group, May 31, 2011.
Available at http://bit.ly/nkpVVA
742
Ibid.
743
Brian Glynn Williams, Accuracy of the US drone campaign: The Views of a Pakistani General, CTC Sentinel, Vol. 4, No.
3, March 2011. Available at http://www.ctc.usma.edu/sentinel/CTCSentinel-Vol4Iss3.pdf
744
Saeed Shah, US drone strikes in Pakistan claiming many civilian victims, says campaigner, The Guardian, July 17, 2011.
Available at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/17/us-drone-strikes-pakistan-waziristan
745
Sebastian Abbott, Photo exhibit shows alleged US drone strike deaths, AFP, July 16, 2011. Available at
http://bit.ly/nAfGvf

raids heavily target civilians, and has a major impact on Pakistani media and politics. These
claims resonate well in Pakistan. Many, officers and officials and common people oppose the
US presence on principle, perceiving its activities as anti-Islamic and as destabilizing Pakistan
through the war on terrorism and Afghan conflict.
A poll conducted of a sample of Pakistani journalists, found that while 76% of those polled
voiced positive perceptions of the American people, 87% felt that US forces should not be
allowed to operate on Pakistani soil, and 67% defined US drone strikes as terrorist attacks.
746

Political opponents, recently including Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, have also seized
on the drone issue to embarrass the ruling PPP-coalition.
747
Pakistani anger against drones was
not always as high, and abated in 2008 and 2009, with rising militancy emanating from the tribal
areas. However, anger resurfaced in 2010, as tensions with the US intensified.
There is also some controversy over targeting, and some claim US strikes mainly kill low-
ranking militants. Peter Bergen, an independent US analyst claims that only about a dozen of
those killed in drone strikes in the past year were militant leaders lending credence to the
Pakistani argument that these strikes do little more than inflame public anger.
748
Senior US and
ISAF leaders disagree, and prominent militant leaders have been killed by drone strikes,
including al-Qaedas third-ranking Abu al-Yazid, former TTP emir Beitullah Mehsud, senior
TTP leaders such as Nek Mohammad, Qari Hussain, and most recently in June 2011, Ilyas
Kashmiri, a veteran al-Qaeda and TTP military commander. Michael Hayden, the former CIA
director has also stated that these strikes have a very strong significant force in making the al
Qaeda senior leadership spend most of their waking moments worrying about their survival.
749

As a result of their operational impact, some in Pakistans military high command covertly
welcome drone attacks. The 2009 killing of Beitullah Mehsud, was widely praised by the
Pakistani military,
750
and a recently released Wikileaks document reported that General Kayani
himself requested additional Predator coverage in South Waziristan in early 2008 from then
CENTCOM Commander Admiral William Fallon.
751
However, the aftermath of a May 2011
drone strike that killed over 40 people, including many civilians, in the worst case of civilian
collateral since potentially 2006 led COAS Kayani to issue an unusually strong statement
terming the attack unjustified and intolerable.
752

Since the Bin Laden raid, Pakistani hostility to US drone strikes have further intensified. There
have been demands for the US to vacate the Shamsi airbase in Balochistan, although the US has
so far resisted. Even should the US be evicted, it is unlikely to affect the operational tempo as
most drone strikes now appear to be flown out of bases in Afghanistan.

746
Huma Yusuf, Fallout of the Davis case, Dawn, February 24, 2011. Available at http://www.dawn.com/2011/02/21/fallout-
of-the-davis-case.html
747
Drone strikes giving rise to extremism, Express Tribune, April 13, 2011. Available at
http://tribune.com.pk/story/148736/drone-strikes-giving-rise-extremism-cm-punjab/
748
Peter Bergen, Pakistan wants to cut CIA drone strikes, personnel, CNN, April 13, 2011. Available at
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/04/12/pakistan.cia.drones/?hpt=T2
749
Ex-CIA Head praises drone warfare, Homeland Security Newswire, March 22, 2011. Available at
http://homelandsecuritynewswire.com/ex-cia-head-praises-drone-warfare
750
Pir Zubair Shah, Sabrina Tavernise and Mark Mazzetti, Taliban leader in Pakistan is reportedly killed, New York Times,
August 7, 2009. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/08/world/asia/08pstan.html
751
Hasan Zaidi, Army chief wanted more drone support, Dawn, May 20, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/jgr30Q
752
Pakistan army chief Kayani in US drone outburst, BBC News, March 17, 2011. Available at


Figure 7.6: US Drone Strikes by Targeted Militant
Groups (July 12, 2011)

Source: Long War Journal.

Figure 7.7: Militant-to Civilian Casualties in US Drone
Strikes (July 6, 2011)

Source: New America Foundation, The Year of the Drone.
2008 2009 2010 2011
non-MlllLanL klA 149 223 34 36
MlllLanL klA 164 301 939 310
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200

Intelligence Cooperation and Conflict
Intelligence cooperation should be a hallmark of the US-Pakistani relationship, but the ISI and
CIA have always had a difficult relationship, and both have been highly suspicious of the others
motives. Tensions between the two agencies have risen steadily in recent years, deteriorated
rapidly since 2009, and relations are now in the spring of 2011, relations are at potentially their
worst ebb ever. The US questions Pakistans willingness to actively pursue several jihadi groups
that work against US interests, in Afghanistan and abroad, and suspects the ISI of continued
collusion with militants that actively target US interests. As a result, the US has sought to
independently manage intelligence activity inside Pakistan.
Such moves have naturally infuriated the ISI, which resents any dilution of its monopoly on
intelligence operations inside Pakistan, resulting in a series of public crises. In December 2010,
for example, the CIA station chief in Pakistan was publicly outed and forced to leave the country
after being publicly identified in a legal complaint, a matter US authorities strongly believed was
orchestrated by the ISI.
753
In May 2011, soon after the Bin Laden raid, Pakistani newspapers
once more named a senior CIA official working in Pakistan. It is uncertain whether the named
individual was actually the new station chief.
754

The US raid to kill Bin Laden was deeply embarrassing for the ISI, and has been the most
damaging event impacting intelligence cooperation to date. In the aftermath of the raid, Pakistan
has attempted to crack down on the US covert presence inside the country, and has arrested
about 35-40 suspected US informants, including an Army major in the medical corps.
755
Pakistan
has also demanded a drastic reduction in US personnel, including presumably covert personnel.
There are worries that relations will further plummet under the tenure of the newly named head
of the CIA, General Petraeus, who has favored robust covert kinetic action and been blunt about
Pakistans role in the violence inside Afghanistan. COAS Kayani is reported to dislike General
Petraeus and believes him to be a political general.
756

Even before the Bin Laden raid, the US, and Pakistan had scaled up operations in ways that
infringed on each others red lines. Previous US operations affecting Pakistan generally
followed the Reagan Rules; they centered on a light US military footprint, and relied heavily
on the ISI and the Pakistani military to do the bulk of heavy lifting on their own terms. In the
1980s for example, fewer than 100 officers ran the entire program in Washington, Islamabad
and Riyadh and never threatened Pakistani sovereignty or dignity.
757
Today, the US covert
presence may be significant and increasingly proficient at conducting operations independently.
The Bin Laden compound is believed to have been under surveillance for several weeks by CIA

753
Salman Masood, Pakistan Says it Didnt Tell Spys Identity, New York Times, December 18, 2010. Available at
754
Jane Perlez, Leak of CIA Officer Name is Sign of Rift with Pakistan, New York Times, May 9, 2011. Available at
755
Reuters, CIA informants: Up to 40 people detained nationwide, June 15, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/lV77qT
756
Jane Perlez and Eric Schmitt, Move to CIA Puts Petraeus in Conflict with Pakistan, New York Times, April 28, 2011.
Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/29/world/29petraeus.html?_r=1
757
Bruce Riedel, No Return to Reagan Rules, New York Times, April 12, 2011. Available at
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/04/12/when-pakistan-says-no-to-the-cia/no-return-of-reagan-rules


officers prior to the raid in an extensive intelligence-gathering effort, all of which appears to
have gone unnoticed by Pakistani intelligence officials.
758

The Raymond Davis affair in early 2011 further highlighted the tensions in CIA-ISI relations.
Davis, a CIA contractor shot and killed two men allegedly trying to rob him in Lahore, and was
denied diplomatic immunity, held for 47 days, allegedly questioned for 14 days by the ISI, and
then released only after intense American pressure, and $2.3 million paid to the families of the
deceased as blood money.
759
As Christine Fair points out, the public furor surrounding this
event suggests direct attempts by the ISI to manufacture public outrage. Earlier in 2010 for
example, when a US diplomat drunkenly got into his car and hit a young man, the ISI quickly
downplayed the incident and the diplomat was ferreted out of the country, and little of the
incident made the newspapers.
760

In mid-April 2011, ISI chief Shuja Pasha travelled to Washington to meet with his counterparts.
There, Pakistani military officials allegedly demanded the withdrawal of 335 American
personnel, a number they claim constitutes about 25-40% of the American CIA and SOF
presence inside Pakistan.
761
The US has labeled this number as vastly inflated.
762
The Pakistani
government is also believed to have demanded the suspension of the CIA drone program, which
Pakistans Foreign Minister labeled a core irritant,
763
until new rules and formalized terms
could be established.
764
It is a symbol of the anger on both sides that even as this incident was
playing out -- a drone struck in South Waziristan, the first strike in almost a month.
765
A senior
Pakistani intelligence official bitterly exclaimed, If the message was that business will continue
as usual, it was a crude way of sending it.
766

Some Pakistani military anger may be a result of more aggressive US pursuit of groups that
Pakistan sees as its strategic proxies. US officials have repeatedly urged an expansion of theater
into North Waziristan to target the Haqqani network, and in recent months senior US military
officials have more explicitly labeled the LeT as a threat to US interests.
767
Pakistani resistance
to actively combating these groups has led the CIA to independently step up its efforts through
the use of agency and contracted personnel. Davis for example, was rumored to be working in

758
Greg Miller, CIA spied on Bin Laden from Safe House, Washington Post, May 6, 2011. Available at
http://wapo.st/klYiAh
759
Jane Perlez and Ismail Khan, Pakistan tells US it must sharply cut CIA activities, New York Times, April 11, 2011.
Available at http://nyti.ms/m1MEnf
760
Christine Fair, Spy for a Spy: The CIA-ISI Showdown over Raymond Davis, AfPak Channel, March 10, 2011.
761
Jane Perlez and Ismail Khan, Pakistan tells US it must sharply cut CIA activities, New York Times, April 11, 2011.
762
Pam Benson, Official: Frank Discussion between US, Pakistan Intelligence Chiefs, CNN, April 12, 2011. Available at
http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/04/11/us.pakistan.intelligence.talks/
763
US missiles hit Pakistan despite request to limit, AP, April 13, 2011. Available at
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110413/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan
764
Peter Bergen, Pakistan wants to cut CIA drone strikes, personnel, CNN, April 13, 2011. Available at
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/04/12/pakistan.cia.drones/?hpt=T2
765
Chris Allbritton, US strike kills 6 in Pakistan, first since March, Reuters, April 13, 2011. Available at http://reut.rs/hlZghs
766
Eric Schmitt, New CIA drone attack draws rebuke from Pakistan, New York Times, April 13, 2011. Available at
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/14/world/asia/14pakistan.html?_r=1&src=twrhp
767
Lashkar-e-Taiba expanding, has global ambitions: US General, Reuters, April 13, 2011. Available at
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-13/india/29413070_1_militant-group-holy-war-maldives

conjunction with a covert CIA-led cell in Lahore that among other things, sought to track
members of the LeT and their madrassa networks in the city.
768

Despite these very real strains on the relationship, it is important to note that US-Pakistani
cooperation continues, and officials on both sides have stated a desire to rebuild trust. The most
recent such as CBM has been the announcement that both countries will set up a joint
intelligence team to pursue terrorists.
769

Covert US Operations inside Pakistan
The covert US presence inside Pakistan includes American intelligence personnel, US military
trainers, and contracted personnel, and has been a key source of resentment. Available
information on such units is very limited, but US officials at one point acknowledged a 300-
strong SOF contingent inside Pakistan to serve as trainers.
770
A Wikileaks cable from October
2009 indicated their presence in both South and North Waziristan, with a fusion cell embedded
with PAKMILs XI Corps in Peshawar to jointly conduct ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and
Reconnaissance) operations.
771
At least in the public domain, senior Pakistani military officials
have expressed their worries that these forces might be tasked with spying and collecting
information on the military, particularly its nuclear weapons.
772
This appears rather far-fetched,
since US personnel work closely with their Pakistani counterparts and are likely closely watched.
It is believed that contractor personnel, who are deeply unpopular in Pakistan, are extensively
employed in support of US operations. Contractors offer plausible deniability, as well as increase
the US freedom of action inside Pakistan, a move Pakistan might be mirroring. Both Raymond
Davis and the two men he shot were contracted personnel for their respective agencies according
to Christine Fair, meaning the violence was less spook-on-spook as spook-contractor on
spook-contractor.
773

In end-2009, it was reported that US Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) was running a
covert cell in Karachi to collect intelligence, as well as execute raids against high-value targets,
all apparently manned by Blackwater (now Xe) personnel.
774
Similarly while the CIA flies the
drones, it has been reported that Xe and other contractor personnel provided local security, and
loaded weapons.
775
The US State Departments Bureau of International Narcotics and Law

768
Mark Mazzetti, Ashley Parker, Jane Perlez and Eric Schmitt, American held in Pakistan worked with CIA, New York
Times, February 21, 2011. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/world/asia/22pakistan.html
769
Kimberly Dozier, US-Pakistan form an anti-terror squad, AP, June 2, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/jOu4MX
770
Bradley Klapper, US, Pakistan negotiate CIA, special forces numbers, Forbes, April 12, 2011. Available at
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/04/12/general-us-us-pakistan_8404913.html
771
Chris Allbritton, Pakistan request for fewer US trainers reflects spying fear, Reuters, April 12, 2011. Available at
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110412/pl_nm/us_pakistan_usa
772
Julie McCarthy, Conspiracy theories stamped in DNA of Pakistanis, NPR, December 24, 2009. Available at
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121880229
773
Christine Fair, On a Collision Course, New York Times, April 12, 2011. Available at
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/04/12/when-pakistan-says-no-to-the-cia/the-us-and-pakistan-on-a-collision-course
774
Jeremy Scahill, The Secret US War in Pakistan, The Nation, November 23, 2009. Available at
http://www.thenation.com/article/secret-us-war-pakistan
775
CIA cancels Blackwater drone missile-loading contract, BBC News, December 12, 2009. Available at


Enforcement Affairs counter-narcotics program, a less covert program, similarly relies upon
DynCorp personnel to fly its 17 helicopters inside Pakistan.
776

The CIA is also believed to operate a network of local Pashtun informants from eastern
Afghanistan to infiltrate militant networks in Afghanistan and across the border in Pakistan.
777

These forces have been accused of also executing cross-border ground raids into Pakistan,
778
and
one such organization, the Paktika Defense Force, is reported to have executed at least two cross-
border raids, including one that destroyed a Taliban ammunition depot.
779

The Pakistani militarys control and influence over media organizations in Pakistan has been
utilized to communicate the ISIs displeasure and to mobilize public anger against the US. The
militarys media arm, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) maintains a sophisticated
apparatus that overshadows the civilian Information Ministry, and is able to use its influence to
selectively shape media content, including downplaying violence in Balochistan or highlighting
US abuses in the FATA. Aamer Ahmed Khan, former editor of the Pakistani news magazine
Herald concurs saying, They [the media] are not ignoring it. They are very clearly being told to
ignore it. And that speaks for the extent of influence that the current military media machine has
over the Pakistani media.
780
Various leaked ISI documents and information have found their
way to the media, including the names of the CIA station chief and in February 2011 an internal
assessment of how the Davis case was fracturing relations with the CIA.
781

The CIA and US military have made compromises to enhance intelligence sharing and ease
tension with Pakistan and the ISI. There are, however, limits to such compromises given worries
about the ISIs reliability, including reports that it revealed sensitive issues such as drone targets
prior to strikes, and handed over information on covert US personnel.
782
The CIA has further
denied any plans to suspend the drone campaign with a senior US official saying, [CIA director]
Panetta has been clear with his Pakistani counterparts that his fundamental responsibility is to
protect the American people, and he will not halt operations that support that objective.
783

It is important to note that despite the public backlash on both sides since the raid, intelligence
cooperation has continued, although presumably the cost and complexity of obtaining Pakistani
support has risen. The US was granted access to the wives of Bin Laden for interrogation, the
CIA was allowed a detailed follow-up inspection of the residence, and the remains of a stealth
helicopter that crashed during the raid was returned to the US, despite speculation it would be

776
The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Air Wing Project in Afghanistan and Pakistan:
Program Audit, US Department of State, March 2010. Available at http://oig.state.gov/documents/organization/139642.pdf
777
Spencer Ackerman, CIA snitches are Pakistan drone spotters, Wired Danger Room, September 23, 2010. Available at
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/09/cia-snitches-are-pakistan-drone-spotters/
778
Spencer Ackerman, CIAs Afghan kill teams expand US war in Pakistan, Wired Danger Room, September 22, 2010.
Available at http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/09/cias-afghan-kill-teams-expand-u-s-war-in-pakistan/
779
Mark Mazzetti and Dexter Filkins, US military seeks to expand raids into Pakistan, New York Times, December 20, 2010.
Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/21/world/asia/21intel.html
780
Abubakar Siddique and Abdul Hai Kakar, Pakistani Media Still Seen as on a Tight Leash, RFE/RL, April 8, 2011.
Available at http://www.rferl.org/content/pakistan_media_controlled_by_military/3551125.html
781
James Lamont, Farhan Bokhari, Analysis: South Asia: On the High Ground, Financial Times, February 28, 2011.
Available at http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1d6cfaac-4377-11e0-8f0d-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1Iu0eTPCw
782
Nicholas Schifrin and Jake Tapper, CIA Considering Intelligence Deal with Pakistan: Officials, Washington Post, April
13, 2011. Available at http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/cia-share-pakistan-agent-info-reveal-drone-targets/story?id=13365231
783
CIA will not halt operations in Pakistan: official, AFP, April 14, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/hDBu6I

handed over to China as a means of retaliation.
784
The US also appears to have agreed to
Pakistani demands that the US reduce its military presence inside Pakistan to the minimum
essential, and has ordered the departure of up to 20 percent of US Special Forces.
785

Despite visible anger in the relationship, the US has a vested interest in ensuring that intelligence
cooperation does not collapse. This may explain why senior US officials significantly toned
down their rhetoric vis--vis Pakistan and have downplayed any notion of Pakistani complicity
with Bin Ladens sanctuary in Abbottabad Defense Secretary Robert Gates commented in late
May 2011 that he had seen no evidence at all that the senior leadership knew. In fact Ive seen
evidence to the contrary.
786
Gates went further to note that, If I were in Pakistani shoes, I
would say I have already paid a price. Ive been humiliated. Ive been shown that the Americans
can come here and do this with impunity, a tacit call to fellow policymakers to be more
cognizant of Pakistani sentiment. Admiral Mullen, a fellow panelist similarly noted that the
incident has been a humbling experience for Pakistan and urged space to allow for Pakistans
internal soul searching.
787

The Backlash from Ground Force Raids
NATO has occasionally used helicopter gunships and heliborne troops to conduct cross-border
strikes usually in hot pursuit of fleeing militants. While the Pakistani military tolerates some
aspects of the US drone campaign, it has vociferously denounced any ground incursions by US
or NATO forces. As a result, it is notable that the US raid that killed Bin Laden in Abbottabad,
the most visible and contentious of such incursions, was executed by a SEAL team augmented in
size to hedge against the possibility of being engaged by Pakistani forces during the operation.
788

Ground-force raids have invariably resulted in vociferous Pakistani denouncements. In
September 2008, after the first publicly acknowledged cross-border ground-force raid by US
forces, which killed 20 Pakistanis, COAS Kayani issued a strongly worded statement declaring,
The sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country will be defended at all cost and no
external force is allowed to conduct operations inside PakistanThere is no question of any
agreement or understanding with the Coalition forces, whereby they are allowed to conduct
operations on our side of the border.
789

Nonetheless, some raids are believed to have continued although those reported have been rare
and limited in nature. US SEAL Team 6 is believed to have raided a suspected AQ compound at

784
Ibid.
785
Karen DeYoung and Karin Bruilliard, Pakistan ordered about a fifth of US Special Forces Trainers to leave the country as
relations deteriorated, Washington Post, May 20, 2011. Available at http://wapo.st/llWtsf
786
Rob Crilly and Toby Harnden, US to reduce Special Forces presence in Pakistan, The Telegraph, May 26, 2011.
Available at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/8538976/US-to-reduce-Special-Forces-presence-in-
Pakistan.html
787
Adam Levine, Bin Laden Raid was humiliating to Pakistanis, Gates and Mullen Say, CNN, May 18, 2011. Available at
http://articles.cnn.com/2011-05-18/us/pakistan.bin.laden_1_gates-and-mullen-bin-pakistanis?_s=PM:US
788
Eric Schmitt, Thom Shankar and David Sanger, US braced for fight with Pakistanis in Bin Laden raid, New York Times,
May 9, 2011. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/10/world/asia/10intel.html?_r=1
789
K. Alan Krondstadt, Pakistan-US Relations, Congressional Research Service, february 6, 2009. Available at
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33498.pdf


Damadola in 2006.
790
On September 27
th
, 2010, ISAF commanders confirmed that NATO
helicopters had crossed the border in hot pursuit, and killed 49 militants, a move they claimed
did not violate ISAF rules of engagement.
791
Three days later on September 30, 2010, another
ground raid was reported that killed three Frontier Corps soldiers, leading various politicians
including Interior Minister Rehman Malik to express fury and demand that next time Pakistan go
beyond protest.
792

Ground force raids are one of the most sensitive of Pakistani red lines. Violations deeply strain
US-Pakistani relations, and have led to strong countermeasures by the Pakistani military. During
the 2008 raid, Pakistani forces opened fire on US helicopters providing support,
793
and after the
September 2010 raid, Pakistan moved immediately moved to close the Torkham border crossing
in the Khyber Pass, which is said to account for over 66% of non-lethal NATO supplies
transiting to Afghanistan through Pakistan.
794
The closure of the crossing point for over a week
led to a severe backlog of trucks, making them easy targets for insurgents who mounted several
attacks during the period, amid accusations that the Pakistani military had green-lighted such
attacks.
795

Growing US dissatisfaction with the level of Pakistani support has led the US to continue
planning for such attacks. In December 2010, there was increased open source reporting on the
US militarys desire to conduct more such raids, although senior military officials including Rear
Admiral Gregory Smith, the deputy chief of staff for communications for NATO claimed that
there was absolutely no truth to such reports.
796
ISAF and NATO also strongly denied any
reports that their forces had crossed the border twice in November 2010.
797

This situation changed very publicly in May 2010. On May 1, 2011, a team of 20-25 US Navy
Seals mounted a raid against a compound in the city of Abbottabad that killed Osama Bin Laden.
Details remain murky, but it appears the raid was coordinated between the US Joint Special
Operations Command and the CIA, and involved several US helicopters, including one that
encountered mechanical difficulties was forced to land, and subsequently destroyed.
798
Pakistan
was not informed prior to the raid, and their involvement was minimal and restricted to the
aftermath of the operation.

790
Noah Shachtman, US commandoes hit Pakistan; Islamabad howls, Wired Danger Room, September 4, 2008. Available at
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2008/09/us-special-oper/
791
NATO choppers cross into Pakistan chasing insurgents, CNN, September 27, 2010. Available at
http://articles.cnn.com/2010-09-27/world/afghanistan.pakistan.raid_1_nato-forces-isaf-insurgents?_s=PM:WORLD
792
Issam Ahmed, NATO helicopter strike on Pakistan shows new strategy of hot pursuit, Christian Science Monitor,
September 30, 2010. Available at http://bit.ly/d1YRrY
793
US, Pakistan exchange shots at volatile border, CNN, September 25, 2008. Available at http://articles.cnn.com/2008-09-
25/world/pakistan.helicopters_1_pakistani-troops-warning-shots-pakistani-afghan?_s=PM:WORLD
794
Andrew C. Kuchins and Thomas M. Sanderson, The Northern Distribution Network and the Modern Silk Road, CSIS,
December 2009.
795
Bill Roggio, Taliban torch 35 more NATO tankers in Pakistan, Long War Journal, October 6, 2010. Available at
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2010/10/taliban_torch_anothe_1.php
796
Laura King, NATO denies that US plans ground raids into Pakistan, Los Angeles Times, December 22, 2010. Available at
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/dec/22/world/la-fg-pakistan-raids-20101222
797
Bill Roggio, ISAF denies helicopters struck inside Pakistan, Long War Journal, November 26, 2010. Available at
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2010/11/isaf_denies_helicopt.php
798
Latest on Osama Raid: Tricked Out Choppers, Live Tweets, Possible Pakistani Casualties, Wired Danger Room, May 2,
2011. Available at http://bit.ly/lu6V56; Osama Bin Laden Killed by Navy SEALs in Firefight, ABC News, May 2, 2011.
Available at http://abcn.ws/j4kehc

Given the nature of the target, official Pakistani anger was sharp considering the significant
breach of its sovereignty that the US raid entailed, yet muted in understanding of the seriousness
of the situation. The Pakistani government did issue a statement on May 3, 2011, however, that is
an indication that tensions with the US were unlikely to diminish:
799

The Government of Pakistan categorically denies the media reports suggesting that its leadership,
civil as well as military, had any prior knowledge of the US operation against Osama bin Ladin
carried out in the early hours of 2nd May 2011.
Abbottabad and the surrounding areas have been under sharp focus of intelligence agencies
since 2003 resulting in highly technical operation by ISI which led to the arrest of a high value Al
Qaeda target in 2004. As far as the target compound is concerned, ISI had been sharing
information with CIA and other friendly intelligence agencies since 2009.
It is important to highlight that taking advantage of much superior technological assets, CIA
exploited the intelligence leads given by us to identify and reach Osama bin Ladin, a fact also
acknowledged by the US President and Secretary of State, in their statements. It is also important
to mention that CIA and some other friendly intelligence agencies have benefitted a great deal
from the intelligence provided by ISI. ISIs own achievements against Al Qaeda and in War on
Terror are more than any other intelligence agency in the world.
Reports about US helicopters taking off from Ghazi Airbase are absolutely false and incorrect.
Neither any base or facility inside Pakistan was used by the US Forces, nor Pakistan Army
provided any operational or logistic assistance to these operations conducted by the US
Forces. US helicopters entered Pakistani airspace making use of blind spots in the radar coverage
due to hilly terrain. US helicopters undetected flight into Pakistan was also facilitated by the
mountainous terrain, efficacious use of latest technology and map of the earth flying techniques.
This operation was designed to minimize the prospects, the chances of engagement with
Pakistani forces. It was done very well, and thankfully no Pakistani forces were engaged and
there were no other individuals who were killed aside from those on the compound.
There has been a lot of discussion about the nature of the targeted compound, particularly its
high walls and its vicinity to the areas housing Pakistan Army elements. It needs to be
appreciated that many houses occupied by the affectees of operations in FATA / KPK, have high
boundary walls, in line with their culture of privacy and security. Houses with such layout and
structural details are not a rarity.
Notwithstanding the above, the Government of Pakistan expresses its deep concerns and
reservations on the manner in which the Government of the United States carried out this
operation without prior information or authorization from the Government of Pakistan. This event
of unauthorized unilateral action cannot be taken as a rule. The Government of Pakistan further
affirms that such an event shall not serve as a future precedent for any state, including the US.
Such actions undermine cooperation and may also sometime constitute threat to international
peace and security.
On May 5, 2011 at the 138
th
Corp Commanders Conference at GHQ Rawalpindi, the Pakistani
military released a statement warning that any future attempts at "violating the sovereignty of
Pakistan, will warrant a review on the level of military-intelligence cooperation with the United
States" and that there was a decision to "reduce the strength of US military personnel in Pakistan
to the minimum essential."
800

799
ABC News, May 3, 2011.
800
Statement of Pakistan Army over US troop reduction, NDTV, May 5, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/imuur6


Shuja Pasha, head of the ISI, is also reported to have delivered a blistering criticism of US
actions in a closed-door session of Parliament soon after the raid. While the meeting ended with
parliamentarians closing ranks behind the military, the very fact that senior military officials
were able to be summoned spoke to the severe blow to the militarys prestige, and the anger
among senior military commanders of the USs unilateral actions.
801

Military Sales and Assistance
The US sees military assistance is seen as an important tool in inducing Pakistani cooperation,
and Pakistan is one of the worlds largest recipients of US military assistance. US military
assistance to Pakistan consists of four major programs - Foreign Military Financing (FMF) sales,
Coalition Support Funds (CSF), Section 1206 Funds and the newer Pakistan Counterinsurgency
Fund (PCF) and Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capabilities Fund (PCCF) as well as various
other smaller ones, primarily devoted to counter-narcotics.
The scale of US military assistance to Pakistan has been extensive, rising to $2.7 billion in 2010,
compared to an official Pakistani defense budget of $5.2 billion.
802
$1.65 billion has been
requested so far for 2011, not accounting for what Pakistan will require for operational
reimbursements through CSF. Total military assistance reached over $14 billion between 2002
and 2010, as seen in Figure 7.8. In July 2011, the White House announced its intention to
withhold $800 million in security assistance, about a third of annual security assistance to
Pakistan.
803

As has been outlined earlier, military assistance has had limited results largely in that it is has
failed to induce the desired levels of cooperation and been wasted or misused. As the chapter on
Pakistani military chapter operations in the FATA details, equipment and training aid have
assisted Pakistan in improving its troop mobility and in becoming more effective in tactical
operations in the FATA. Yet, the military remains reluctant to expand operations for fear of
overstretching its forces, or pursuing groups it tacitly recognizes as strategic proxies.
Other US critics feel Pakistan diverts counterinsurgency assistance towards the acquisition of
conventional equipment best suited for conflict with India, and with little COIN applicability.
This has been a serious concern in New Delhi and in July 2010, Indian military officials alleged
that a mere 15% of funding was being directly utilized in the war on terrorism, and over 80%
going towards the modernization of Pakistani armed forces, including major defense purchases
from China, Germany and France.
804
Moreover, many experts believe that much of this aid has
been diverted to Pakistani military officers for their own benefit, and has allowed Pakistan to use
funds to support ISI and other operations in Afghanistan.
US military assistance remains an essential component of Pakistani defense revenues but it is not
open-ended. Even before the Bin Laden raid, there was skepticism on the level of corruption and

801
Jane Perlez, Denying Links to Militants, Pakistans Spy Chief Denounces US Before Parliament, New York Times, May
13, 2011. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/14/world/asia/14pakistan.html
802
IISS Military Balance 2011.
803
Eric Schmitt and Jane Perlez, US is deferring millions in Pakistan aid, New York Times, July 9, 2011. Available at
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/10/world/asia/10intel.html
804
Pak using US funds for war on terror to bolster military might, Times of India, July 24, 2010. Available at
http://bit.ly/l5eo4G

fraud that marked Pakistani claims to reimbursement. The Wall Street Journal carried out an
investigative report that detailed how the US is believed to have rejected as much as 40 percent
of Pakistani claims, disputes that a senior Pakistani military official called detrimental to
bilateral trust.
805
In July 2011 in response to the Pakistani expulsion of US military and covert
personnel from Pakistan, the US suspended $800 million in military assistance, including money
allocated for reimbursements for Pakistani military operations.

Figure 7.8: Direct Overt US Aid and Military
Reimbursements to Pakistan,
FY20012011

Source: Congressional Research Service, http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/pakaid.pdf.
In the face of public criticism after the Bin Laden raid, a statement issued by the military high
command after the 139th Corps Commanders Conference in June recommended to the
government that US funds meant for military assistance to Army be diverted towards economic
aid for Pakistan which can be used reducing the burden on the common man. So far, there is no
word on actual implementation.
806

805
Adam Entous, US Balks at Pakistani Bills, Wall Street Journal, May 16, 2011. Available at http://on.wsj.com/lYysiY
806
ISPR, 139
th
Corps Commanders Conference Press Release, June 9, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/jHnaSw
2002-20
04
2003 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
2012
(req.)
CLher 173 30 73 83 163 173 242 63 133
Secuon 1206 28 14 36 114
Cl/CCl 400 700 800 1100
lMl 373 299 297 297 298 300 294 330
CSl 3121 964 862 731 1019 683 1499
0
300
1000
1300
2000
2300
3000
3300
4000


The statement also disputed US figures. General Kayani is reported as stating that only $8.6
billion of the expected $13 billion in military assistance had been received by Pakistan. The
statement further stated that out of these monies, the government had made available only
US$1.4 billion to the Army over last ten years. A relatively smaller amount has gone to Navy
and PAF as well. The rest i.e. approximately US$6 Billion, have been utilized by the
Government of Pakistan for budgetary support which ultimately means the people of
Pakistan.
807
This declaration cleverly omits that the government at the time was the military run
government of President Musharraf,
Coalition Support Funds
The Coalition Support Funds (CSF) program, which reimburses the operational costs of
PAKMIL operations against Taliban insurgents, accounts for the bulk of assistance. CSF was
established in 2001 to support 27 countries, but now Pakistan alone now accounts for 70% of
total disbursements across the world.
808
CSF funding for Pakistan has registered an astonishing
increase as the Afghan war has progressed, rising 50,000% from $9.1 million in the three years
preceding 9/11 to $4.7 billion in the three years after.
809
Today it comprises the bulk of US
military assistance to Pakistan, having reached a total of $8.8 billion since 2002, and comprising
55% of all military assistance in 2010.
CSF funding has been used to reimburse a broad range of PAKMIL operations, including for
maritime patrols and interdiction operations; for combat air patrols, reconnaissance, close air
support missions, airlift support and air traffic control; and for military operations in the FATA
and increased management activity at Joint Staff Headquarters.
810

Various lawmakers have been skeptical of PAKMIL claims of reimbursement, and a GAO report
published in February 2011 reiterated its previous recommendations on the need to improve
planning, monitoring, documentation and oversight of US assistance to Pakistan [And] the
need to increase oversight and accountability for Pakistans reimbursement claims for Coalition
Support Funds.
811
Various incidents have supported this skepticism. A small sample include the
billing of $1.5 million for the repair of Navy vehicles that had not been used, $45 million for the
construction of bunkers and roads of which dont exists, and the billing of $80 million per month
in support of operations during ceasefire periods when troops were in their barracks.
812

Pakistani officials have complained of the slow pace of disbursements, but military payments
have been significantly more efficient than comparable economic assistance. Disbursements
have been partially used as a tool of coercion as during the 2011 Davis affair,
813
but have been

807
Ibid.
808
809
Nathaniel Heller, Sarah Fort and Marina Walker Guevera, Pakistans $4.7 billion blank check for US military aid,
Center for Public Integrity, March 27, 2007. Available at http://projects.publicintegrity.org/MilitaryAid/report.aspx?aid=831
810
Government Accountability Office, February 2009. Available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09263sp.pdf
811
Ibid.
812
Azeez Ibrahim, US Aid to Pakistan US Taxpayers Have Funded Pakistani Corruption, Harvard Belfer Center, July
2009. Available at http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/files/Final_DP_2009_06_08092009.pdf
813
Shaiq Hussain, CSF delay impacting terror war, US told, Pakistan Today, March 6, 2011. Available at
http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/pakistan-news/National/07-Mar-2011/CSF-delay-impacting-terror-war-US-told

most strongly impacted in July 2011, when $500 million of CSF disbursements (out of a total of
$800 million) were suspended, and perhaps withdrawn. The move was in reaction to Pakistans
expulsion of the majority of US personnel in the wake of the Bin Laden raid.
Foreign Military Financing
In 2006, Pakistan signed arms transfer agreements with the US worth $3.5 billion,
814
a figure that
nearly matched the entire value of all Foreign Ministry Sales (FMS) program purchases by
Pakistan from 1950-2001. FMF financing to Pakistan, essentially grants or loans to assist foreign
purchase of US military equipment has increased exponentially in the past decades and drawn
criticism for the heavy prevalence of conventional equipment that has little bearing on
counterinsurgency operations. After the third strategic dialogue held between US and Pakistani
officials in October 2010, US Secretary of State announced an additional five-year $2 billion
package that was essentially interpreted as increasing current financing for the FMF program by
about a third.
815
The US also announced its intention to cut off aid and training to units accused
of conducting extrajudicial killings.
816

Major post-2001 defense acquisitions through FMF and Pakistani national funding are detailed
below, and include major conventional platforms with limited COIN applicability.
817

8 P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft (at least 2 delivered)
36 F-16C/D Block 50/52 aircraft for $1.4 billion
Variety of missiles and bombs for F-16 platform worth $640 million
1 ex-Oliver Hazard Perry class missile frigate
Mid-Life Update Modification Kits to upgrade existing F-16A/B inventory for $890 million
115 M109A 155mm self-propelled howitzers for $52 million
20 AH-1F Cobra attack helicopters
Six C-130E transport aircraft
6,312 TOW anti-armor missiles (at least 2,007 delivered)
5,600 military radio sets
300 PVS-7 night-vision devices
600,000 cartridges of 20mm ammunition

814
Richard F. Grimmett, U.S. Arms Sales to Pakistan, Congressional Research Service, August 24, 2009.
815
Karen DeYoung, Administration to ask for more Pakistan aid, Washington Post, October 23, 2010. Available at
816
Huma Yusuf, US-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, Atlantic Council, October 25, 2010. Available at
http://www.acus.org/new_atlanticist/us-pakistan-strategic-dialogue
817
K. Alan Krondstadt, Major US Arms Sales and Grants to Pakistan Since 2001, Congressional Research Service, April 1,
2011. Available at http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/pakarms.pdf; Securing, Stabilizing and Developing Pakistans Border with
Afghanistan: Key Issues for Congressional Oversight, Government Accountability Office, February 2009.


Section 1206 (Global Train and Equip) Funds and
Pakistan Counterinsurgency
Fund/Counterinsurgency Capability Fund (PCF/PCCF)
Section 1206 Funds are used primarily to assist partner nations build up their counterterrorist
capabilities. Pakistan is the second largest recipient of 1206 funding, receiving $203.4 million, or
15% of all 1206 disbursements million in 2009.
818
1206 funding has been used primarily to
increase PAKMIL capabilities for operations inside the FATA, but has been phased out since FY
2010 with transfer of funding responsibility to PCF/PCCF. Key elements of support include:
819

Building up Rotary Aviation Assets: 4 Mi-17s transferred, in addition to spare parts, night vision,
aviation body armor, technical support and limited training.
Build up Special Forces Capabilities: Variety of equipment transferred to Pakistani SSG units,
and the Pakistani Armys 21
st
Aviation Squadron, including communications equipment, night-
vision goggles, GPS systems and other field gear
Build up ground based ISR capabilities and transfers of counter-IED kits
In 2009, Congress responded by creating two new funding vehicles in response to the Pentagons
request for additional funding to build up Pakistani military capabilities; PCF run by the
Department of Defense received $400 million in FY20092010 funding, while PCCF run by the
Department of State received $700 million for FY20102011 funding.
820
In April 2011, as a
result of budget cuts at the Department of State, it was decided to return PCCF to DOD for the
year; an additional $1 billion has been requested for next years budget, but it is unsure if the
money will flow to DOD or the Department of State.
821
These programs will continue to provide
targeted assistance to PAKMIL in the transfer of weapons, equipment and training.
Economic Aid and Civilian Assistance
Pakistan has become the worlds second largest recipient of US economic and development
assistance, ranking only after Afghanistan. A breakdown is shown in Figure 7.9. In October
2009, Congress passed the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009 (EPPA), or the
Kerry-Lugar bill, which authorized $1.5 billion in civilian assistance to Pakistan annually
between 2010 and 2014. The proportion of civilian assistance relative to military is improving.
Between 2002 and 2010, civilian assistance amounted to about a third of total allocations, but
has risen to comprise 46 percent of funds in the FY 2012 budget request. Economic aid must be
also be viewed in context; an entire years worth of assistance to Pakistan is equivalent to five

818
Nina M. Serafino, Security Assistance Reform: Section 1206 Background and Issues for Congress, Congressional
Research Service, February 11, 2010. Available at http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RS22855_20110211.pdf
819
Ibid.
820
Rebecca Williams, PCF and PCCF Similar but Different, The Will and the Wallet, Stimson Center (Blog), October 12,
2009. Available at http://thewillandthewallet.org/2009/10/12/pcf-and-pccf-similar-but-different/
821
Josh Rogin, Budget deal delays State Department takeover of Pakistan fund, Foreign Policy, April 12, 2011. Available at
http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/04/12/budget_deal_delays_state_department_takeover_of_pakistan_fund

and a half days of operations in Afghanistan, offering a particularly cost-effective way to tackle
issues of terrorism and instability in South Asia.
822

The Act focused on three principal objectives including upgrading critical infrastructure needs,
helping address basic needs and economic opportunity in militancy-prone areas, and
strengthening the civilian governments institutional capacity to pursue political and economic
reforms.
823
$3.5 billion of the $7.5 billion is designated towards high-impact, high-visibility
infrastructure programs, especially in energy and agricultural sectors, with the remaining $4
billion split evenly between funding health, education and aid programs and the building up of
government capacity.
824

Civilian assistance has often been conflated with the US military strategy in Pakistan and
Afghanistan, but that is a mistake. A true civilian assistance strategy that includes trade and
investment policies as well as serious technical and diplomatic engagement, can have much more
positive impact than simply short-term progress towards limited counter-terrorist goals; it can
help rebalance civil-military relations and facilitate economic growth in ways that truly tackle
the underlying causes of militancy and conflict in Pakistan. Recognition of these dual strategies
can maybe help improve US policy, by decoupling military and civilian assistance, and treating
them separately. Unfortunately, this would be unprecedented, as to date US military and civilian
assistance have risen and fallen in tandem.
825

Furthermore, key provisions pertaining to US economic assistance have simply been ignored to
advance US military strategy. One of the most important components of EPPA for example was
to build the governments institutional capacity and condition assistance on improved civil-
military relations, including civilian oversight over promotions. This has been met with fierce
resistance by the military, to which the US has succumbed. A Wikileaks cable noted then US
ambassador Anne Patterson reassuring senior Pakistani military officials, including COAS
Kayani and DG ISI Pasha, that the conditions on the EPPA package were largely superfluous,
that waivers were included and would be exercised, and that civilian assistance would not affect
the level of military funding.
826

Much of US civilian aid also continues to be hampered by bureaucratic constraints, inefficiency
and waste. According to figures provided by the GAO, in FY2010, only $179.5 million of the
allocated $1.51 billion was actually disbursed.
827
A July 2011 Congressional Research Service
report further detailed this gap, providing data that showed that not a single program has had its
monies disbursed on time.
828
Furthermore, the GAO claimed that over half of US assistance

822
Nancy Birdsall, Should the US cut assistance to Pakistan? Center for Global Development, May 3, 2011. Available at
http://blogs.cgdev.org/mca-monitor/2011/05/friend-or-foe-should-the-united-states-cut-aid-to-pakistan.php
823
Government Accountability Office, February 2009.
824
K. Alan Krondstadt, Pakistan: Key Current Issues and Developments, Congressional Research Service, June 1, 2010.
Available at http://bit.ly/oHPMk0
825
Wren Elhai, Can US development strategy in Pakistan survive a spat over military aid? Center for Global Development,
July 13, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/mYoVji
826
US embassy cables: Pakistan army angry at US aid bill but helping Israel, The Guardian, December 1, 2010. Available at
827
828
K. Alan Krondstadt, Pakistan: Key Current Issues and Developments, Congressional Research Service


pledged for Pakistan is spent on administrative costs, including paying foreign experts.
829

USAID has similarly admitted that, One year after the launch of the civilian assistance strategy
in Pakistan, USAID has not been able to demonstrate measurable progress.
830
Senator John
Kerrys spokesman acknowledged the same saying, the floods last year changed the Pakistani
landscape, literally and figuratively, and required us to take a step back and reexamine all of our
plans.
831

Figure 7.9: Civilian Assistance to Pakistan

Source: Congressional Research Service, http://bit.ly/oHPMk0

829
830
Quarterly Progress and Oversight Report on the Civilian Assistance Program in Pakistan as of December 31, 2010,
USAID/US Department of State, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/lpWyVJ
831
Josh Rogin, Most US Aid to Pakistan still in US hands, Foreign Policy, March 1, 2011. Available at
http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/03/01/most_us_aid_to_pakistan_still_in_america_s_hands
2002-20
04
2003 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Clobal PealLh and Chlld Survlval 36 21 28 22 30 33 30
uevelopmenL AsslsLance 94 29 38 93 30
lood Ald 46 32 33 10 30 33 124
Mlgrauon and 8efugee AsslsLance 22 6 10 4 60 49
Puman 8lghLs and uemocracy
lund
3 2 1 11
lnLl. ulsasLer AsslsLance 70 30 30 103 232
Lconomlc SupporL lunds 1003 298 337 394 347 1114 1292
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000

In the FATA for example, where the US had allocated at least $728 million by the end of fiscal
year 2009, the GAO found that in general long-term development programs did not achieve their
targets.
832
Of 115 schools USAID promised to build in Swat, none have been completed, and
only 14-20 have even been started.
833
Problems encountered included inadequate partnering
between the US and the government of Pakistan (GoP), fears of corruption and leakages, as well
as inadequate measures to report, monitor or evaluate the performance of development
programs.
834

More emphasis has been placed on moving from reliance on foreign contractors towards
partnerships with local agencies. This was advocated strongly by former special envoy to
Pakistan Richard Holbrooke, but such a policy, while well intentioned suffers from various
problems, including Pakistans inability to absorb such a large influx of funds, and a dearth of
suitable human capital.
835
Detractors -- including a senior USAID official -- have argued that,
Directing an immediate shift away from US contractors already on the ground to local
implementers without an appropriate transition period will seriously compromise the more
important requirements for quick counterinsurgency and economic impacts.
836
Even so,
significant staffing shortfalls remain, including at USAID, which has a 20 percent shortfall in
filled positions at the US embassy in Islamabad.
837

Various other problems have plagued US development assistance. Violence in many areas has
restricted the ability of aid agencies to operate, while various requirements such as prominently
displaying US government logos to increase visibility, has led international groups to pull out,
for fear of being targeted.
838
US personnel engaged in civilian development activities are often
also equated with deeply unpopular security contractors and corruption has been an endemic
problem. Fueled in part by the magnitude of US aid flows, there is worry that aid may actually
end up being destabilizing by flowing to corrupt and violent powerbrokers.
A portion of aid is believed to flow to insurgents, paid in protection money by donor-funded
contractors. An unnamed US official in Kabul estimated this portion could run as high as ten
percent.
839
Many Pakistanis also view US aid as insufficient given the costs they have borne. An
analysis conducted by Pakistans Finance Ministry calculated that the conflict had cost Pakistan
about $43 billion in economic losses between 2001 and 2010, including damaged infrastructure,
diversion of budgetary resources, lost exports, capital and human flight, and other metrics.
840

832
833
Jane Perlez, US Aid Plan for Pakistan Falling Short, Officials Say, New York Times, May 2, 2011.
834
835
Tom Wright, Setbacks plague US aid to Pakistan, Wall Street Journal, January 21, 2011. Available at
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703583404576080113980804354.html
836
837
Sebastian Abbott, $4bn in aid to Pakistan called ineffective, Boston Globe, February 9, 2011. Available at
http://articles.boston.com/2011-02-09/news/29345448_1_civilian-aid-usaid-pakistan
838
Tom Wright, Setbacks plague US aid to Pakistan, Wall Street Journal, January 21, 2011. Available at
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703583404576080113980804354.html
839
Andrew Wilder, Testimony on US Aid to Pakistan and Accountability, House Subcommitee on National Security and
Foreign Affairs, December 9, 2009. Available at http://hvrd.me/lVtJPX
840
Shahbaz Rana, Myth vs. Reality: US Aid to Pakistan dwarfed by economic cost of war, Express Tribune, march 20, 2011.
Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/135156/myth-vs-reality-us-aid-to-pakistan-dwarfed-by-economic-cost-of-war-business/


Various suggestions to improve this situation have been put forward. Nicholas Shmidle for
example argues that US civilian aid should prioritize the provinces of Punjab and the Sindh,
instead of the FATA where returns on investment are low, and are unlikely to change public
perceptions.
841
This may be helpful advice; mirroring a changing strategy in Afghanistan that
focuses on districts and areas that have pockets of support that can be consolidated.
More important, however should be an attempt to decouple economic strategy from military
strategy and create a truly integrated civilian assistance strategy. An important component will
be to transition from aid to trade, perhaps by measures such as improving trade access for
Pakistani goods in the US. As Bruce Riedel points out, currently Pakistani textiles suffer from
US tariffs, three times those of other nations.
842
The same is reflected across the entire trade
balance. 87 percent of Pakistans exports to the US faced import duties, in contrast to 30 percent
of total US imports.
843
A more level playing field for trade can help build up the Pakistani
economy in ways that are sustainable, and most effectively assist the Pakistani people, with less
leakage to intermediaries and inefficiencies.
There are no guarantees that such assistance will change perceptions of the US or win hearts and
minds, especially in the short-term.
844
US flood assistance in 2010 for example, was touted as an
opportunity to showcase US efforts. The US was the largest donor and involved in most aspects
of the relief efforts, including contributing $595 million in disaster aid by January 2011,
according to figures provided by USAID.
845
The US contributed 26 helicopters, tons of food and
medical aid. Unfortunately, as in the aftermath of the earthquake, any improvement in the USs
public image has been temporary and continues to be overshadowed by anger over US military
involvement in Pakistan.
846

It is very important to also remember that the lag time between the delivery aid and the results
the US is seeking will often be considerably longer than what is needed in the Afghan
stabilization context. However, walking away from Pakistan is a dangerous strategy, with
important impacts on economic and political stability, and it appears clear that if the US is to
provide aid at all, it will be essential to avoid the feast or famine approach, the US has
traditionally employed.
847
More emphasis should also be applied on employing an outcome-
centric approach that includes robust metrics to measure and evaluate progress.
848

841
Nicholas Schmidle, How to Save Pakistan, Slate Magazine, April 27, 2009. Available at
http://www.slate.com/toolbar.aspx?action=print&id=2216991
842
Bruce Riedel, Three Ways to Help Pakistan, Daily Beast, June 23, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/mhKvxn
843
Kimberly Ann Elliott and Caroline Decker, Getting Real on Trade with Pakistan: Duty-Free Market Access as
Development Policy, Center for Global Development, February 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/hJ14xz
844
Andrew Wilder, Testimony on US Aid to Pakistan and Accountability, House Subcommitee on National Security and
Foreign Affairs, December 9, 2009.
845
Pakistan Floods: Factsheet #9, Fiscal Year 2011, USAID, January 23, 2011. Available at http://1.usa.gov/lwZqhZ
846
Claire Truscott, US flood aid not enough to win over Pakistanis, AFP, August 28, 2010. Available at
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hPhJwSUeNtARGSSDQTpcIpyc55Ig
847
Ibid.
848
Nancy Birdsall, US Development Assistance to Pakistan (Open Letter to Ambassador Richard Holbrooke), Center for
Global Development, March 29, 2010. Available at http://www.cgdev.org/content/publications/detail/1424036

US Leverage
It is often assumed that the United States is subject to Pakistani leverage as long as Washington
maintains massive combat forces in Afghanistan.
849
This is true to a significant extent. While
the US has sought alternative supply lines through Central Asia, Pakistan is a vital transit point
for US and NATO materiel to warfighters in Afghanistan, and the fates of Afghanistan and
Pakistan are heavily intertwined by geography, history and calculated Pakistani action.
The US does have leverage. Pakistan derives many benefits from the US, none of which it is
likely to want to lose. The US has been a critical supplier of advanced equipment since 9/11,
including conventional platforms Pakistan can use to combat India, and has provided large
amounts of fairly unregulated funds. It is also a critical restraining influence on India in crisis
situations, as evidenced after the Mumbai attacks in 2008.
Ending this support would have a serious impact on Pakistani security. A strong relationship
with Beijing might offset some of these losses, but Pakistan is a nation that has always
traditionally borrowed power to resist India, and is unlikely to be ecstatic about losing a key
layer of its deterrence and funding. This can be a useful coercive mechanism; attaching greater
conditionality on aid, particularly military aid, and tying disbursements to outcomes.
The US has attempted to utilize this coercive tool in mid-2011, withholding about $800 million
dollars in security assistance, about a third of its annual security assistance. The move is reported
to be an attempt to coerce and punish Pakistan for expelling US military trainers and imposing
prohibitive visa restrictions on US personnel. The move may be successful in extracting
concessions on details such as these or even in increasing US leverage in the short-term, but they
are unlikely to be successful in altering Pakistans strategic vision.
US experts have warned of the risks of escalating competition, and outlined a sliding scale of
response options as seen in Figure 7.10. Even so, the task ahead for the US is difficult, but not
insurmountable. There are key overlaps in interest, particularly in the shared desire to eradicate
militancy in the FATA, or to ward off economic collapse. Certainly magnitude differs, and the
US desires much more including an expansion of theater into Afghan Taliban strongholds of
North Waziristan and northern Balochistan, a matter Pakistan continues to resist. However, given
the ongoing changes in the militant landscape since the 1990s, there is a growing danger that
Afghanistan could end up being a haven for not just anti-Western and anti-Indian terrorist
groups, but also anti-Pakistani elements who already straddle the border.
It may also help to have a more empathetic understanding of the political difficulties that
collaboration with the US entails in the eyes of the public. An ISI operative acknowledged as
much in the wake of the Davis affair; There were just too many CIA movements and operations
going on without our knowledge. It made us look as if we were not in charge.
850

849
Paul Staniland, Caught in the Muddle: Americas Pakistan Strategy, The Washington Quarterly, Vol. 34, No. 1, pp. 134-
148.
850
Ron Moreau, Why US-Pakistan relations are not as bad as they seem, The Daily Beast, April 15, 2011. Available at
http://www.businessinsider.com/why-us-pakistan-relations-are-not-as-bad-as-they-seem-2011-4


Figure 7.10: The Risks of Escalating Competition
!

Source: US experts.

viii. the cost to pakistan of its conflict with
india
The dynamics of the Indo-Pakistani conflict are all too well known: two nuclear-armed powers
with a long history of armed aggression face off along a heavily militarized and contested border.
The heart of the conflict, as always, is Kashmir, which remains disputed and guides tensions
between the two countries. Pakistan has played a key role in the Kashmiri insurgency, as have
Indian failures in efficient and respectful governance. Today, violence in Kashmir is at its lowest
ebb since the start of the insurgency, although there are fears that violence could resurface if
Indo-Pakistani talks and a ceasefire break down.
Terrorism in major Indian urban centers, most notably the November 2008 terrorist attacks in
Mumbai, have increased in recent years although overt cross-border support for the insurgency in
Kashmir has decreased. The net result is that tensions between India and Pakistan remain strong,
with a high potential for military escalation, particularly in the aftermath of any high-profile
terrorist or insurgent violence directed against India and originating from Pakistan.
India has so far exercised restraint in the aftermath of terrorist attacks due to the fear of the
potential consequences of escalation, and likely due to strong US pressure which seeks to avoid a
collapse of Pakistani support for anti-Taliban operations along the Afghan border. Indian
restraint is not assured in the future.
Terrorist attacks have damaged progress in the Composite Dialogue, the latest round of peace
negotiations between the two countries, and embarrassed the Indian government as it seeks to
project itself as a stable rising global power, and a safe haven for foreign investment. Attacks
generally include calls for retaliation, and various domestic factors including nationalist
sentiment, political pressures from opposition parties, and a media clamor for a military
response, can easily lead to an escalation in tensions, particularly given the trust deficit between
New Delhi and Islamabad.
The Conventional and Nuclear Military
Balance
The more than 2,000-mile long India-Pakistan border is one of the most heavily militarized in the
world. The two countries have fought three major wars with each other in 1947, 1965 and 1971,
as well as a limited war in Indias Kargil district in 1999. These are in addition to various
asymmetric conflicts, ranging from a proxy insurgency in Kashmir to the covert sponsorship of
terrorist attacks against the Indian heartland. Both countries have nuclear capabilities, and
maintain sizeable arsenals directed at one another.
Given the historical context, India and Pakistan have seen an unprecedented calm in relations
over the past decade. A bilateral Composite Dialogue formally resumed in 2004, and has
realized some modest, but meaningful successes, including a formal ceasefire and some


unprecedented trade and people-to-people contacts across the Kashmiri Line of Control (LoC).
851

Since 2008, however tensions have again significantly increased, particularly after the November
2008 terrorist fidayeen attack in Mumbai, which killed 165 people, including 22 foreigners.
The conventional military balance is tilted in Indias favor as seen in Figures 8.1 and 8.2. India
maintains numerical superiority in manpower and all forms of high-power equipment, but
despite this imbalance, the Pakistani Armed Forces constitutes a major military force, and any
large-scale conventional engagement will be far from bloodless from India. A snapshot of the
Indo-Pakistani strategic picture, provided by US experts, is shown in Figure 8.3.
Pakistan retains significant deterrence capacity through its nuclear arsenal, but the 1999 Kargil
war demonstrated both countries willingness to fight a limited conventional war under the threat
of nuclear escalation. Pakistans nuclear doctrine remains undeclared. It has refused to state a
no-first use policy, most likely to maximize deterrence against India
852
and both countries lack
sophisticated early warning and command-and-control systems, heightening the risks of
unintended escalation.
853
However, Pakistan is generally believed to be ahead on the evolution of
a nuclear command and control system and on operational planning for their tactical use.
854
A
new rumored Indian military doctrine, Cold Start, has also raised tensions. The new strategy
reportedly seeks to break with Indias traditional posture of strategic restraint towards an
offensive strategy designed to rapidly mobilize several integrated battle groups for offensive
purposes.
Nuclear weapons are an integral component of the military balance. The 2010 SIPRI yearbook
estimated that the Indian arsenal at 60-80 warheads,
855
and India is now believed to produce
about 20-40kg of weapons-grade plutonium annually, and probably has an accumulated stockpile
of 280-600kg of plutonium, enough for 40-120 weapons.
856

Details on the Pakistani arsenal are less clear. In early 2011, US intelligence officials estimated
that Pakistan had increased its deployed nuclear weapons to more than 110, compared to about
75-80 at the time President Obama took office.
857
Other estimates allege the real number is closer
to 200, given Pakistans surplus of weapons-grade uranium and plutonium. The International
Panel on Fissile Materials noted in its 2010 report that Pakistan had stockpiled about 2.6 tons of
highly enriched uranium, and had sufficient fissile material to produce 40-100 additional nuclear
devices.
858
Heavy construction activity at the Khushab military nuclear site has included the
construction of three new reactors, which would substantially improve Pakistans plutonium

851
K. Alan Krondstadt, Paul Kerr, Michael Martin and Bruce Vaughn, India-US Relations, Congressional Research Service,
October 27, 2010.
852
Pakistan Profile, NTI, http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Pakistan/Nuclear/index.html, accessed April 28, 2011.
853
Gaurav Kampani, Seven Years After the Nuclear Test: Appraising South Asias Nuclear Relations, NTI, June 2005.
Available at http://www.nti.org/e_research/e3_64a.html
854
Gaurav Kampani, Seven Years After the Nuclear Test: Appraising South Asias Nuclear Relations, NTI, June 2005.
855
Shannon N. Kile, Vitaly Fedchanko, Bharath Gopalaswamy, and Hans M. Kristensen, "World Nuclear Forces," SIPRI
Yearbook 2010: Armaments, Disarmaments and International Security, (Sweden: Stockholm International Peace Research
Institute, 2010)
856
India Profile, NTI, http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/India/Nuclear/index.html, accessed April 28, 2011.
857
David Sanger and Eric Schmitt, Pakistani nuclear arms pose challenge to US policy, New York Times, January 31, 2011.
Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/01/world/asia/01policy.html
858
Pakistan Profile, NTI

production capacity, and could allow Pakistan to nearly double its output of nuclear weapons
within a few years to about 19-26 new warheads annually.
859

Pakistan has an extensive ballistic missile development program, and has focused on short and
medium range missiles, to maintain the ability to execute a deep strike inside India. Pakistans
domestic development program has accelerated rapidly through the 1980s and 1990s, but
acquisition, more than development has been the defining feature. Most major Pakistani missile
systems are of Chinese or North Korean lineage, including the Shaheen solid-fueled MRBM
based off the Chinese M-11 and M-18 missiles, and the Ghauri liquid-fueled MRBM based of
the North Korean Nodong missile.
860

The 2005 inaugural test-flight of the Babur (Hatf-7) cruise missile is reported to have come as a
revelation, surprising observers with its secrecy and technical prowess, although analysts have
noted design similarities with Chinese and American cruise missiles. Pakistan has since added
air-launch capabilities to the missile family with the Raad (Hatf-8), and has test-fired the Nasr
(Hatf-9) surface-to-surface ballistic missile, which would give it a tactical nuclear capability.
861

In April 2011, there were reports that Pakistan intended to field the Hatf-9 close to the LoC, in
reaction to Cold Start, a deployment that is believed to substantially increase the risk of a nuclear
escalation and exchange.
862

Figure 8.1: Indo-Pakistani Military Manpower

Source: IISS Military Balance 2011.
Figure 8.2: Indo-Pakistan Military Balance

859
David Albright and Paul Brannan, Pakistan Doubling Rate of Making Nuclear Weapons: Time for Pakistan to Reverse
Course, Institute for Science and International Security, May 16, 2011.
860
NTI, Country Profile: Pakistan, Available at http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Pakistan/Missile/index.html
861
Ibid.
862
Rodney W Jones, Pakistans Nuclear Bet, Foreign Policy, May 27, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/iZIWh1
Army navy Alr lorce aramlllLary
lndla 1,129,900 38,330 127200 1300386
aklsLan 330000 22000 43000 304000
0
200,000
400,000
600,000
800,000
1,000,000
1,200,000
1,400,000


Source: IISS Military Balance 2011.

Figure 8.3: India-Pakistan Strategic Picture

Source: US experts.
M81s AC/Allv Arullery Submarlnes
rlnclpal
Surface
CombaLanLs
CombaL
Capable
Alrcra
lndla 4117 1786 10738 16 23 663
aklsLan 2386 1266 4321 8 9 426
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000

The Endless Kashmir Issue
Kashmir is of negligible strategic importance to both Pakistan and India, and has been vastly
costly to both countries in triggering futile local conflicts, forcing them to fund a costly
conventional arms race, and triggering a nuclear arms race that now threatens the population
centers of both states. It has been particularly damaging to Pakistan in diverting funds
desperately needed for development and internal stability, ensuring the primary of the military,
and being a key source of internal extremism and nationalism, all with the net result of wreaking
immense damage to Pakistans national interests.
The disputed former princely kingdom of Kashmir remains one of the worlds most intractable
territorial disputes, and has been at the heart of the dissent and mistrust between India and
Pakistan since their inceptions. As President Musharraf declared in 2000, We have been trying
all kinds of bus diplomacy and cricket diplomacy and everything. Why has all of it failed? It has
failed because the core issue was not being addressed...because there is only one dispute, the
Kashmir dispute...others are just aberrations, minor differences of opinion which can be
resolved.
863

Large-scale wars have been fought over the region in 1948 and 1965, and since the 1990s,
Pakistan has waged a proxy war in Indian-administered Kashmir, utilizing a diverse array of
militant and terrorist proxies. In 1998, a mass-infiltration of militant jihadis and regular Pakistani
Army soldiers in mufti led to the occupation of several strategic mountain peaks, and
necessitated large-scale Indian military operations to repel them in what came to be known as the
Kargil Conflict. In 2001, a terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament in New Delhi greatly
heightened tensions and led to a full-scale mobilization of Indian and Pakistani forces along the
LoC. Today tensions have diminished particularly since a drop-off in violence since 2001, but
tensions remain high.
The Kashmiri Jihad
Pakistan is not the sole source of violence in Kashmir; the insurgency began and grew in large
part due to a deep indigenous Kashmiri resentment to the Indian administration and
militarization of their province. Today ethnic Kashmiris have mostly swapped violence for
peaceful mass protests and demonstrations, although the scale of unrest in 2010 has belied Indian
claims of successful reconciliation. Kashmiri militant groups have mostly laid down their arms
and it is believed today, that Pakistan increasingly monopolizes organized violence.
According to figures provided by the Indian Home Ministry, the region has seen over 55,000
violent incidents between 1988 and 1994, and as of 2010, 13,800 civilians and 4,730 security
personnel had lost their lives.
864
The first period of violence, which roughly extends from 1988
until 2004 when the peace process began, resulted in everyday violence across J&K as seen in
Figure 8.4, and included the 1999 Kargil War and the 2001 terrorist attack on the Indian
Parliament.

863
Malini Parthasarathy, India must trust me, says Gen. Musharraf, The Hindu, January 17, 2000. Available at
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2000/01/17/stories/01170001.htm
864
Annual Report 2010-2011, Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, http://www.mha.nic.in/uniquepage.asp?Id_Pk=288


In June 2004, India and Pakistan engaged in their most wide-ranging and comprehensive peace
negotiations, and since, violence has registered a dramatic decrease. In 2010, for example, only
36 civilians were killed in militant violence, compared to 1,067 in 2001. Matters in Kashmir
however remain tense, and many Indian security officials fear a resurrection of the insurgency
should American efforts in Afghanistan fail, Pakistan choose to subvert rapprochement efforts,
or local Kashmiri youth grow once more frustrated enough to pick up weapons.
Pakistan now monopolizes the militant component of the Kashmiri struggle. The composition of
foreign fighters increased considerably in the mid-1990s taking the insurgency in a much more
brutal direction, ever since which India has been particularly aggressive in alleging rampant
collusion between the ISI and militant groups. During his 2005 Independence Day address,
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declared his dissatisfaction with Pakistani efforts, I am
aware that the government of Pakistan has put some checks on the activities of terrorists from its
soil. However, it is not possible to achieve success through half-hearted efforts. It is necessary
that the entire infrastructure of terrorism is totally dismantled.
865

There is considerable evidence that Pakistan has provided extensive training, weapons, funding
and sanctuary to militant groups. Pakistan has officially denied any involvement but many
observers including Human Rights Watch, an impartial NGO, believe that the real decision-
making authority and management of the Kashmir struggle has long rested with the Pakistani
military and its ISI agency.
866

This may have been borne out in part by the fact that the beginning of Indian and Pakistani talks
were followed by a dramatic decrease in infiltrations across the LoC decreasing from 2,417
incidences in 2001 to 342 by 2008 -- although the number increased to 489 in 2010, as seen in
Figure 8.5. Progress towards cross-border cooperation marked the period, including the
resumption of a bus service between Srinagar and Muzzafarabad in April 2005 for the first time
in nearly six decades. The Indian and Pakistani militaries have set up crisis hot lines to manage
conflict, regular flag meetings to discuss ceasefire violations, and in October 2005, the opening
of five major border crossings for humanitarian relief after the 2005 earthquake.
867
In January-
March 2011, attacks registered a further 45% decline relative to the same period in the previous
year, according to the J&K police chief.
868

Rapprochement alone has not secured increased peace. Other factors facilitating a decline in
violence have included significant pressure on the Musharraf government by the United States,
the 700-kilometers of fencing along the LoC, and a pronounced decrease in Kashmiri support for
violent militancy.
869

Indian capabilities have increased at border-control and counterinsurgency and it is now
estimated that only 15-20% of infiltrators are able to get across the border.
870
However since

865
India, Pakistan and Kashmir: Stabilizing a Cold Peace, International Crisis Group Asia Briefing No 51, June 15, 2006.
Available at http://bit.ly/mmng8O
866
Everyone lives in fear: Patterns of Impunity in Jammu and Kashmir, UNHCR, September 12, 2006. Available at
http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,HRW,,PAK,,4517c9ca4,0.html
867
The Military Balance in 2006, IISS, (London: Routledge, 2007).
868
45% decline in militancy in state, Hindustan Times, April 1, 2011. Available at http://www.hindustantimes.com/45-
decline-in-militancy-in-state/Article1-680137.aspx
869
Indian Administered Kashmir, Janes Sentinel Report.
870
US embassy cables: Pakistan home to 43 terrorist camps Indian army chief, Guardian, December 10, 2010. Available at

2008, the ceasefire has come under pressure. Pakistani initiated attacks across the LoC with
mortars and small arms fire sporadically resumed, largely in the Poonch and Rajouri districts,
and on July 28, 2008, Pakistani troops crossed the LoC for the first time since 1999.
871

In August of the same year, Defense Minister AK Anthony reported 20 ceasefire violations by
the Pakistani military,
872
which are occasionally attempts to provide covering fire for infiltrating
militants. Matters were further complicated by the terrorist attack on the Indian embassy in
Kabul, which killed 54, as well as an unprecedented surge in terrorist attacks on major Indian
urban centers that raised cross-border tensions.
However, despite these incidents, violence has registered a definite decline, which was reflected
in end 2009, when India announced a drawdown of two infantry divisions totaling 30,000 men to
reflect an improved security situation in J&K.
873
In January 2011, partly in response to the mass
civilian unrest of the previous year, India announced its intention to further draw down forces by
as much as 25 percent, although it offered no hard figures, or timeframe for implementation.
874

Figure 8.4: Trends in Violence in J&K

Source: Adapted from data provided by the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, www.mha.nic.in.

871
The Military Balance in 2009, IISS, (London: Routledge, 2010).
872
Ibid.
873
India announces major troop drawdown in Kashmir, Channel News Asia, December 18, 2009. Available at
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/1025664/1/.html
874
Rupam Jain Nair, India to cut Kashmir forces by 25 percent, Defense News, January 14, 2011. Available at
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=5457717&c=ASI&s=TOP
1990 1994 1999 2001 2003 2004 2003 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
1errorlsL klA 330 1396 1082 2020 1494 976 917 391 472 339 239 232
Clvlllan klA 461 820 873 996 793 707 337 389 138 91 78 47
Sl klA 133 200 333 336 314 281 189 131 110 73 64 69
lncldenLs 4138 3829 3071 4322 3401 2363 1990 1667 1092 708 499 488
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
3000
6000
7000
8000
9000


Figure 8.5: Cross-Border Infiltrations

Source: Adapted from data provided by the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, www.mha.nic.in.

At the same time, high-profile terrorist attacks such as in 2008 in Mumbai, have left a powerful
legacy, and resurrected Indian fears. A Wikileaks cable from 2010 describes a growing
consensus in the Indian defense establishment that cross-border terrorists are regrouping and
preparing to launch a new wave of attacks.
875
In support of this, Lt. General S. Hasnain, the
commander of the IAs XV Corps declared in March 2011, that 600-700 militants were waiting
at various cross-border launch pads to infiltrate into J&K.
876
The Indian Defense Ministrys
annual report to parliament in 2010-11 also stated that, The continued infiltrations across the
Line of Control and the existence of terrorist camps across the India-Pakistani border
demonstrate the continuing ambivalence of Pakistan in its attitude and approach to terror
organizations.
877

Some high-profile attacks have compounded this fear, notably the January 2, 2010 fidayeen
attack on a hotel in Srinagars Lal Chowk, the first attack in Srinagar since 2007.
878
Lal Chowk,
being the central square of Srinagar is an extremely sensitive target that belied Indian claims at
having decisively reversed militant momentum.
879

875
India fears cross-border terrorism is increasing, The Hindu, March 18, 2011. Available at
http://www.thehindu.com/news/the-india-cables/the-cables/article1547843.ece
876
Target India: 700 militants waiting at Pak launchpads, Indian Express, March 17, 2011. Available at
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/target-india-700-militants-waiting-at-pak-launchpads/763894/
877
Pak ambivalent in attitude towards terror groups: India, Outlook, March 16, 2011. Available at
http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?715375
878
Jammu and Kashmir Assessment, South Asia Terrorism Portal,
http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/jandk/index.html, accessed April 28, 2011.
879
Arif Jamal, A Guide to Militant Groups in Kashmir, Jamestown Foundation, February 4, 2010. Available at
http://www.jamestown.org/programs/gta/single/?tx_ttnews[tt_news]=36005&cHash=1c4ef28fa3
2001 2003 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
lnlLrauons 2417 397 373 333 342 483 489
0
300
1000
1300
2000
2300

The Militant Landscape The Pro-
Independence and Pro-Pakistan Split
Kashmiri militant groups are divided into two broad groupings; the pro-Pakistan groups, which
favor secession to Pakistan, and the pro-independence groups that favor secession from both
India and Pakistan. Their character has changed considerably since the start of the insurgency.
At present, pro-independence groups have largely been marginalized within the armed struggle,
and pro-Pakistani groups including the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM),
Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HUM), Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami(HuJI) have
a near monopoly on organized militant violence. The pro-Pakistan label itself comes with
problems these days, as many groups that traditionally grew and operated with state support,
have either splintered, or defected whole-scale to join the ranks of the Punjabi Taliban, and have
moved fighters, resources and infrastructure into the FATA. Their consequent involvement in
many high-profile terrorist attacks inside Pakistan has implications on their current relationship
with Pakistani intelligence agencies, notably the ISI.
Pro-independence militant groups have increasingly fallen by the wayside, most notably because
of ethnic Kashmiris rejection of violence as a means to achieve their objectives. In the early
days of the jihad it is believed over 150 separate militant groups sprung up to combat Indian
forces.
880
The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) was one of the largest and most
organized indigenous militant groups, and is credited with beginning the insurgency. By 1994
however, the JKLF had renounced violent armed struggle, announcing its intention to peacefully
advocate for a separate Kashmiri state. Declining ethnic Kashmiri support for violence,
increasingly competent Indian security forces, and the internal marginalization of pro-
independence groups to pro-Pakistani groups facilitated this shift.
The JKLF is one of the most vocal critics of pro-Pakistani groups, particularly the LeT and its
JuD political arm. In September 2010, it accused them of subverting the indigenous movement
from a legitimate nationalist struggle into an Islamic movement,
881
and today, despite retaining a
presence inside Pakistan-administered Kashmir, pro-independence leaders and militants have
found themselves under increasing pressure and subjected to a campaign of arrests and torture by
the ISI.
882

Pro-Pakistani groups monopolize the armed struggle. Their presence began to be felt soon after
the violence began in 1988-89, when the ISI after having been caught unawares moved to gain
greater strategic control over Kashmiri militancy. It introduced several pro-Pakistani groups into
the theater, first the Hizbul Mujahideen in mid-1989
883
, and later various others including the
Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and the Harkat-
ul-Jihad-e-Islami (HuJI). The trend began in earnest in 1994, when Pakistan established the

880
Arif Jamal, A Guide to Militant Groups in Kashmir, Jamestown Foundation, February 4, 2010. Available at
http://bit.ly/lG4daS
881
Zulfiqar Ali, Pakistani militants hijacking Kashmir Cause, BBC News, September 28, 2010. Available at
882
The Kashmiri fighters who lost their cause, BBC News, February 23, 2011 Available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-
south-asia-12492173
883
Murtaza Shibli, Kashmir: Islam, Identity, and Insurgency, Kashmir Affairs, 2009.


United Jihad Council to coordinate the activities of 13 militant groups including the HuM and
the LeT.
884

Many of these groups drew their cadres from non-Kashmiri groups, including other Pakistani
ethnicities, and were more amenable to the incorporation of foreign fighters. By 1993, the
Economist estimated about 300-400 foreign fighters inside Kashmir, whereas the Director
General of the Indian Border Security Force estimated 2,300.
885
A decade later in 2003 Indian
government officials claimed that over 75% of militants in Kashmir were foreign-fighters.
886
It
should be noted that Indian officials have incentive to overplay this trend, but it is quite evident
that by the turn of the century, the Kashmiri jihad increasingly relied on foreign fighters staging
from Pakistan.
The entrance of Pakistani and foreign fighters greatly changed the color of the insurgency, from
a secular nationalist struggle driven by the legitimate grievances of Kashmiris in Indian-
administered Kashmir to a religious struggle increasingly informed by jihadist Deobandi tenets
and privatized by Pakistan. By the mid-1990s, Kashmir had become a full-blown proxy war and
was the primary zone for foreign jihadi fighters in Eurasia
887

Ethnic Kashmiris paid the highest price in the conflict with the Mumbai-based International
Center for Peace Initiatives estimating that nearly 85% of those killed in the conflict were
Kashmiri Muslims.
888
The Sufi Kashmiri Muslims also found little ideological compatibility with
the Deobandis, whose brutalities, fundamentalism and lack of accountability to local
communities soon alienated and alarmed them.
889

As a result, by 2002 a poll estimated that 69% of J&K residents opposed the presence of foreign
fighters,
890
and a 2010 poll conducted by Chatham House found that only 20% of Kashmiris
supported violence as a tool to resolve the conflict.
891
The violence that Pakistan unleashed may
have permanently ended any Indian Kashmiri sense of affiliation with Pakistan; the 2010 poll
found that while 43% of J&K residents expressed a desire for independence, only 2% supported
secession to Pakistan.
892

Today, most militant groups are believed to maintain camps inside Pakistani administered
Kashmir, including the regions of Azad Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan. In a leaked
Wikileaks cable from June 2009, Indian Army chief Deepak Kapoor informed US National
Security Advisor James Jones of 43 terrorist training camps inside Pakistan, including 22 in
Pakistani-administered Kashmir.
893

884
Everyone lives in fear: Patterns of Impunity in Jammu and Kashmir, UNHCR, September 12, 2006.
885
886
Ibid.
887
Brian Glynn Williams, On the Trail of the Lions of Islam: Foreign Fighters in Afghanistan and Pakistan, 1980-2010,
Orbis, Volume 55, Issue 2, 2011, pgs. 216-239
888
889
Ibid
890
Ibid
891
Robert W. Bradnock, Kashmir: Paths to Peace, Chatham House, May 2010. Available at
http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/files/16664_0510pp_kashmir.pdf
892
Ibid.
893
US embassy cables: Pakistan home to 43 terrorist camps Indian army chief, The Guardian, December 10, 2010.
Available at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/214316

Indian counterinsurgency capabilities have improved. By 1999 only about 4-5 of the original 13
members of the United Jihad Council were still militarily effective,
894
and the Hizbul
Mujahideen (HM), once the most preeminent group in Kashmir, is believed to have substantially
weakened by 1998. Today it has only about 500 active militants in its ranks, and has increasingly
relied upon IED attacks instead of direct-fire engagements in a reflection of its weakened
position.
895

Intra-militant competition has also resulted in a weakening of unity. Part of the HMs current
weakness is as a result of its attempt to insert itself into the political process and declare a
unilateral ceasefire in 2000, a move regarded as a betrayal by hardliners, many of who make up
other competing militant groups.
896
Similarly another old-guard militant group, the Harkat-ul-
Mujahideen (HuM) has lost ground to the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), which was founded by
Maulana Masood Azhar, a former General Secretary of the HuM. Azhar was released from an
Indian prison after the HuMs fifth attempt to secure his release, in this case by hijacking Indian
Airlines flight IC814 from Kathmandu and forcing it down in Kandahar. A free Azhar soon
founded his own group, the JeM, which is believed to have weaned away many HuM resources
and foot soldiers.
897

Militant dynamics have also changed since 2004, and some analysts today such as Shuja Nawaz
firmly believe that the ISI has certainly lost control of Kashmir militant groups.
898
Historically
speaking, virtually all Kashmiri groups grew out of the Soviet jihad, and some formed links to al-
Qaeda. Today, several Kashmiri militant groups, in particular the HuJI and the JeM are believed
to have either splintered or defected whole-scale to form the Punjabi Taliban, and assist tribal
militants in their terrorist attacks across Pakistan.
Ilyas Kashmiri, the emir of the HuJI, and now also al-Qaedas operational commander in
Pakistan is the best example. As his name suggests Kashmiri grew out of the Kashmir jihad, but
has recently been best known for attacks against Pakistani and international targets. In April
2011, the US announced a $5 million reward for information leading to his arrest, and implicated
him for a 2006 attack on its consulate in Karachi.
899
As the trial of David Headley has proceeded,
it has been reported that Kashmiri was an active plotter for the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Kashmiri has also been linked to various other attacks including an attempted assassination
attempt on President Musharrafs life in 2003, as well as implemented and planned attacks, in
Chicago, India, Denmark, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom.
900
Kashmiri was regarded
as one of the most dangerous terrorists in the region, in part due to his sophisticated operational
knowledge as a former army commando, but also due to his vast jihadi relationships. As a
veteran US intelligence official put it, This guy ties everybody together.
901
Kashmiri was

894
895
896
897
Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, South Asia Terrorism Portal,
http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/jandk/terrorist_outfits/harkatul_mujahideen.htm, accessed April 28, 2011.
898
Jayshree Bagoria, The ISI and Terrorism: Behind the Accusations, Council on Foreign Relations, July 26, 2010.
Available at http://www.cfr.org/pakistan/isi-terrorism-behind-accusations/p11644
899
US offers $5mln reward for Ilyas Kashmiri, Hindustan Times, April 7, 2011. Available at
http://www.hindustantimes.com/5-mn-reward-for-Ilyas-Kashmiri-s-arrest/Article1-682231.aspx
900
Sami Yousafzai, Ron Moreau and Christopher Dickey, The New Bin Laden, Newsweek, October 23, 2010. Available at
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/10/23/is-ilyas-kashmiri-the-new-bin-laden.html
901
Ibid.


reported killed in June 2011 in a US drone attack in South Waziristan, although at the time of
writing details remain murky.
Various other leaders have ties to al-Qaeda. The long-time leader of the HuM Fazlur Rehman
Khalil was a signatory to al-Qaedas 1998 declaration of war against America and its allies,
while Maulana Masood Azhar is believed to have traveled to meet Bin Laden several times and
has received funding from the group.
902
Captured intelligence from the Bin Laden raid found
contact between the HuM and Bin Ladens courier,
903
and a Center for Public Integrity report on
the execution of American journalist Daniel Pearl revealed seamless cooperation between al-
Qaeda, sectarian groups and several Kashmiri groups including the HuM and the HuJI.
904
The
JeM is also believed to have close links with the Taliban and grown increasingly internationalist
in its scope. The JeMs reported links include Faisal Shahzad, the would-be NYC Times Square
bomber, and its fighters are reported to be active alongside the TTP in Pakistans tribal areas.
905

Despite these trends, at present, Pakistan is believed to continue to retain influence over the
Kashmiri insurgency. In October 2010, Indian intelligence alleged that Syed Salahuddin, chief of
the HM, visited three training camps in Azad Kashmir to help resurrect the insurgency, while
accompanied by ISI officials.
906

Pakistan also exerts a strong influence on the extent to which Kashmiri separatist leaders can
engage in reconciliation measures with New Delhi. As yet, talks between separatist leaders in
Srinagar and New Delhi have broken down, in part due to a systematic campaign of
assassinations leveled against reconciling or moderating leaders by Pakistani-backed terrorist
groups. In particular leaders of the All-Parties Hurriyet Conference (AHPC), a coalition of
Kashmiri separatist parties, have found themselves in the crosshairs of militant gunmen.
In 2002, Abdul Gani Lone, an AHPC leader was gunned down by a LeT hit squad
907
, and in
2003 Abdul Majid Dar, a former commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen (HuM) who had
advocated for an end to violence, was gunned down by his own former colleagues.
908
More
recently in December 2009, Fazl-ul-Haq Qureshi, another influential leader favoring peace with
New Delhi, was shot at and critically wounded by a gunman believed to be from the HuM, an
organization he once helped found.
909
And most recently, in April 2011, Maulvi Shoukat Ahmad
Shah, a leading moderate separatist leader, believed to be close to JKLF leaders, was killed in an

902
Jamal Afridi, Kashmir Militant Extremists, Council on Foreign Relations, July 9, 2009. Available at
http://www.cfr.org/kashmir/kashmir-militant-extremists/p9135#p3
903
BBC News, Pakistan militant group denies Osama Bin Laden link, June 24, 2011. Available at http://bbc.in/kZPFJQ
904
Thomas Jocelyn, New investigation into the murder of Daniel Pearl released, Long War Journal, January 21, 2011.
Available at http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2011/01/new_investigation_in.php
905
Faisal Aziz and Zeeshan Haider, Factbox: Major Militant Groups in Pakistan, Reuters Alert Net, May 30, 2010. Available
at http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/MYAI-85Y2RD?OpenDocument
906
Security agencies fear spike infiltration ahead of winter, The Times of India, October 11, 2010. Available at
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-10-11/india/28240126_1_training-camps-infiltration-kashmir-valley
907
Siddharth Varadajaran, Who fired on Qureshi, Hurriyat asked Pakistani Foreign Secretary, The Hindu, March 1, 2010.
Available at http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/01/stories/2010030155251000.htm
908
Md Sadiq, The Assassination of Hizbul Leader Majid Dar, J&K Insights, March 24, 2003. Available at
http://www.jammu-kashmir.com/insights/insight20030324a.html
909
Praveen Sami, Patriarch of Jammu and Kashmir jihad turned peacemaker, The Hindu, December 5, 2009. Available at
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article60248.ece

explosion in Srinagar.
910
Shah had been criticized by hardliners for meeting with Indian state
officials and for criticizing the practice of stone throwing against Indian security forces.
911

State-sponsored Terrorism? The Lashkar-
e-Taiba as a Threat to Both India and
Pakistan
Pakistan has been accused of sponsoring terrorism against India. It is believed to have engaged
several groups to conduct these efforts, but by far the most prolific and sophisticated has been
the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Today, the LeT is in many ways symbolic of the wider militant
landscape; an outfit that is torn between the radicalizing influence of the transnational terrorist
groups it increasingly comes into contact with, and the influence of its traditional state patron. At
present, the LeT has immense value to Pakistan as one of the few militant groups that has not
turned its guns against the Pakistani state, and has consistently demonstrated its ability to reach
deep inside the Indian heartland and perpetrate high-profile and complex terrorist attacks.
The LeT was formed in 1986 as the military wing of the Markaz Dawaat ul Irhad (MDI), and it is
today headquartered in Muridke in the Punjab.
912
An India-centric organization, its primary
objective continues to be the liberation of Kashmir and the destruction of India, and it devotes
much of its resources and manpower towards this goal. Unlike other militant groups, the LeT
operates a vast social services network in Pakistan through its political wing, the Jamaat-ud-
Dawa (JuD), making it in some sense more akin to Lebanese Hezbollah, than al-Qaeda. The LeT
was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the US government in 2001, a move soon
replicated on its political arm, the JuD in 2006.
913

The LeT has been an integral part of the Kashmiri insurgency, and has mounted several high-
profile terrorist attacks against the Indian mainland. 2001 was a prime example of its
preeminence in both conflicts. In the year, it mounted an attack on J&Ks provincial parliament,
which it followed a few months later with an attack on the Indian Parliament in New Delhi,
leading to the full-scale mobilization of Indian and Pakistani armed forces. Since 2006, the group
has maintained an operational presence in Afghanistan, and has been implicated to several high-
profile attacks, including dual attacks on the Indian embassy in Kabul.
914

In recent years, the LeT has grown increasingly globalist in its outlook, and has shown a
willingness to target Westerners abroad, as well as incorporate them into its attacks inside India.
Its primary targeting scope continues to be India, but it has also waged a peripheral jihad against
Western targets, and has increasingly refocused towards the Afghan jihad since 2006. The 2008
attacks in Mumbai, which included attacks on Western and Jewish targets, marked the LeTs

910
Aijaz Hussein, Blast kills religious leader in Indian Kashmir, AP, April 8, 2011. Available at
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110408/ap_on_re_as/as_kashmir_blast
911
Srinagar: Mosque blast kills Pakistan cleric, BBC News, April 8, 2011. Available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-
south-asia-13009558
912
C Christine Fair, Antecedents and Implications of the November 2008 LeT Attack on Several Targets in the Indian Mega-
City of Mumbai, RAND Corporation, March 2009. Available at http://www.rand.org/pubs/testimonies/2009/RAND_CT320.pdf
913
Aliases, US Department of Treasury, http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/terrorist-illicit-finance/Pages/protecting-
fto_aliases.aspx, accessed April 28, 2011.
914
Jayshree Bagoria, The ISI and Terrorism: Behind the Accusations, Council on Foreign Relations, July 26, 2010.


formal arrival on the global jihadist stage, and its hybridization in terms of targets.
915
In his
annual assessment, Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair testified before the Senate
Intelligence Committee that the LeT is a special case that is becoming more of a direct threat
and is placing Western targets in Europe in its sights.
916

Despite its leadership in the anti-Indian jihad, and growing participation in the Afghan war, the
LeT is distinct in the militant universe. Subscribing to the minority Ahle-Hadith sect, it has an
narrow constituent base, made even narrower by its rejection of mainstream Ahle-Hadith
interpretations of jihad. The LeT also has antagonistic relations with the Deobandis. It has
criticized the Deobandi jihad against the Pakistani state and made clear its ideological disdain
for these actors.
917
The group has been largely insulated from broader militant trends. It fought
in the Soviet jihad but maintained separate infrastructure and pledged no loyalty to the Taliban in
the post-war period. Neither did it send fighters to Afghanistan in 2001 to resist US forces.
918

The LeTs hallmark modus operandi has been the fidayeen attack, which was perfected on the
Kashmiri battlefield and was on display during the 2008 Mumbai attacks. As Christine Fair
explains, fidayeen attacks are not suicide operations per se (But) more akin to high-risk
missions in which well-trained commandoes engage in fierce combat during which dying is
preferable to being captured.
919

LeT recruits are also believed to be better educated than comparable militant groups - the
majority are believed to have completed at least secondary school, and many have college
education a trend believed to be a function of the organizations founding by two engineering
professors.
920
This is not always true, as the sole surviving terrorist from the 2008 Mumbai
attack, Mohammad Ajmal Kasab was an uneducated young man from the rural Punjabi village of
Okara.
921

The LeT maintains a privileged working relationship with the ISI, although the level of
symbiosis varies depending on the analyst. Some see very high levels of operational symbiosis.
Jean-Louis Brugiere, a former French investigating magistrate in charge of counterterrorism
operations claimed that even after 9/11 LeT camps were run by the army, including soldiers on
detachment serving as instructors, and military helicopters dropping off supplies.
922
Steven
Tankel, one of the leading analysts on the LeT believes that the ISI and the LeT are closely
linked, and speculates that the LeTs willingness to toe the states line may be derived through
coercion; the LeT lacks close allies inside Pakistan, has a narrow constituent base, and its vast
infrastructure across Pakistan is highly vulnerable to government crackdowns.
923

915
Vicky Nanjappa, The Stephen Tankel Interview, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, March 11, 2010.
Available at http://vickynanjapa.wordpress.com/2010/12/02/the-stephen-tankel-interview/
916
Stephen Tankel, The Long Arm of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Washington Institute for Near East Policy, February 17, 2010.
917
Lashkar-e-Taiba in Perspective: An Evolving Threat, New America Foundation, February 2010. Available at
http://www.newamerica.net/sites/newamerica.net/files/policydocs/tankel.pdf
918
Ibid.
919
C Christine Fair, Antecedents and Implications of the November 2008 LeT Attack, RAND Corporation, March 2009.
920
C Christine Fair, Antecedents and Implications of the November 2008 LeT Attack, RAND Corporation, March 2009.
921
Saeed Shah, Villagers confirm surviving Mumbai killer is Pakistani, McClatchy, December 6, 2008. Available at
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2008/12/06/57251/villagers-confirm-surviving-mumbai.html
922
Myra McDonald, French magistrate details Lashkas global role, The Star, November 13, 2009. Available at
http://bit.ly/kIDShy
923
Lashkar-e-Taiba in Perspective: An Evolving Threat, New America Foundation, February 2010. Available

There is uncertainty as to the level of operational interaction. For example in the Mumbai attacks
it is uncertain if the ISI provided direct support or truly sanctioned the attack, but there is no
doubt that the Pakistani security apparatus has allowed LeT to operate unfettered. This passive
support was essential to enabling Lashkar to plan and train for the Mumbai attacks.
924
David
Headley -- a Pakistani-American citizen who allegedly conspired with the LeT to launch the
Mumbai attacks -- is on trial in Chicago, and has claimed to have worked closely with the ISI,
including receiving $25,000. Given the source, however, any such allegations need to be
carefully parsed and not taken at face value.
925

Regardless of the exact details, the LeT has conscientiously disavowed any attacks inside
Pakistan, or against Pakistani targets. This relationship is believed to have been instrumental in
its ability to evade law-enforcement. The LeT was officially banned in 2002 by the Pakistani
government, in response to which the LeT spun off its political wing, the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD)
although the actual separation between JuD and LeT was and always remained entirely
cosmetic.
926

The JuD openly operates in many cities across Pakistan, and was at the forefront of relief efforts
after the 2005 earthquake and the 2010 floods. Similarly in response to international pressure
LeT leader Hafeez Saeed has occasionally been arrested and detained in largely sham operations.
In 2010, he has openly appeared at various rallies across Pakistan.
927
Neither has the LeTs
funding been drastically affected, judging from the 82.77 million rupees it was granted in FY
2009-2010 by the provincial government of Punjab!
928

Despite state support, the LeT shares close ideological similarities with al-Qaeda, and is believed
to be growing increasingly close to the organization. Steven Tankel described the group as
focused on Kashmir with a low profile elsewhere, but under the surface it remains very much
part of al-Qaedas global jihad.
929
The LeT has had decades-long interaction with al-Qaeda, and
the founder of its parent organization during the Soviet jihad was Abdullah Azzam, a mentor to
Bin Laden, and as a result several LeT militants are believed to have cross-trained in al-Qaeda
camps.
930
The LeT also served as urban facilitators during al-Qaedas retreat from
Afghanistan. It helped exfiltrate fighters during the invasion and assisted with the provision of
safe houses, fake passports, guards, and fixers.
931

Some senior al-Qaeda operatives have been picked up at LeT safe houses, most prominently Abu
Zubaydah, who was captured at a LeT facility in Faisalbad.
932
Collaboration with al-Qaeda may

924
Stephen Tankel, Lashkar-e-Taiba: From 9/11 to Mumbai, ICSR, April/May 2009. Available at
http://www.icsr.info/news/attachments/1240846916ICSRTankelReport.pdf
925
Ginger Thompson and David Rohde, Chicago Trial May Unmask Pakistans Links to Militants, New York Times, May 14,
2011. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/15/world/asia/15headley.html
926
Ibid.
927
TV9 Gujarat: India Most Wanted Hafeez Saeed Rally in Karachi, Youtube, June 16, 2010. Available at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOPcowStOgc
928
Paks Punjab govt gave Rs 82.77 million to JuD institutions in 2009, PTI, June 16, 2010. Available at
http://bit.ly/kHVsWK
929
Stephen Tankel, Lashkar-e-Taiba: From 9/11 to Mumbai, ICSR, April/May 2009.
930
Available at http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=3175
931
932
Lashkar-e-Taiba, FAS, http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/lashkar.htm, accessed April 28, 2011


have increased post-2006 since the group entered the Afghan jihad, and moved fighters and
bases to the FATA.
The LeT is a highly attractive partner for global jihadis. It has a large infrastructure base,
extending from its headquarters in Muridke in South Punjab, to forward operating bases in Azad
Kashmir, including in and around Muzzafarabad, and presumably around the LoC. The group
also has a presence in the Gulf, which it utilizes as a logistical and recruiting hub, primarily for
its jihad against India.
933
This presence allows the LeT to more directly tap its donor base, as
well as provides good transit points for entrance into India.
The Gulf allows provides the LeT with direct access to recruit Indian Muslims working in the
Gulf, and helps maintain its interface with Indian sympathizers and allies, including the Indian
Mujahideen.
934
The group is also believed to maintain an extensive transnational network,
including cells in Britain, North America, mainland Europe and Australia, making it in the words
of Tankel an ideal global jihadist facilitator.
935

The LeT has been implicated in various global terror plots. Its European members have been
suspected of providing financial support for shoe bomber Richard Reid, and the 2008
transatlantic airliner plot.
936
David Headley was suspected of having conducted surveillance for
the Mumbai attacks, there is evidence linking it to an intercepted plot against high-profile targets
in Australia. LeT operatives have also been arrested in Iraq by British forces.
937

The LeT also maintains links to transnational criminal groups inside Pakistan, which can have
significant impact on making the LeT more autonomous and independent, and diluting its
dependence on the Pakistani state. The most notable is its nexus with the Karachi-based D-
Company run by Dawood Ibrahim, which is one of the worlds largest and most organized drug
smuggling outfits. Ibrahim, who originated from Mumbai, before fleeing in 1993 after the
Bombay Blasts instigated by his network, retains many links within the Indian criminal
underworld, and further afar in the Gulf, Europe and Africa,. These include networks, smuggling
routes and money laundering channels, all of which can have significant utility for terrorist
outfits. It is believed that Ibrahim himself, who considers himself a protector of Indian Muslims,
diverts a portion of D-Companys sizeable profits towards outfits such as the LeT.
938
D-
Company also controls many sea-routes into India, particularly from Karachi, from where the
26/11 attackers set out.
In theory, the LeT could be one of the single most dangerous elements in destabilizing South
Asia, with unparalleled operational reach and proficiency. Should it free itself of the constraints
imposed by the state and gravitate into the domestic insurgency, it could wreak havoc on
Pakistani stability. Similarly, a high-profile attack against India runs the real risk of escalation
into large-scale conventional war, and potentially to nuclear conflict.

933
934
Ibid.
935
Lashkar-e-Taiba in Perspective: An Evolving Threat, New America Foundation, February 2010. Available
936
Ryan Clarke, Lashkar-i-Taiba: The Fallacy of Subservient Proxies and the Future of Islamist Terrorism in India, Strategic
Studies Institute, US Army War College, March 2010, pg. 25-30.
937
938
Ryan Clarke, Lashkar-i-Taiba: The Fallacy of Subservient Proxies and the Future of Islamist Terrorism in India, Strategic
Studies Institute, US Army War College, March 2010, pg. 25-30.

Pakistani-Indian Competition in
Afghanistan
As has been detailed earlier, Indo-Pakistani strategic competition in Afghanistan deeply
complicates the US transition process, and future regional stability. Competition between India
and Pakistan is nearly always zero-sum, and Afghanistan is no exception. Both countries have
divergent strategic objectives, as graphically represented in Figures 8.6 and 8.7. To date, Indian
influence in Afghanistan is limited and it is the US and Pakistan that are the primary external
powerbrokers in the country. Nonetheless perceived Indian attempts to threaten Pakistans
western flank and strategically envelope Pakistan are viewed with deep concern in Rawalpindi,
a paranoia that is a primary driver of Pakistans Afghan policy.
India has been the largest regional contributor to Afghanistan, mostly geared towards
reconstruction and infrastructure-development projects, including alternative transport networks
to Pakistan, as well as industrial, irrigation and hydroelectric projects. India is deeply alarmed by
the prospect of premature American and NATO withdrawal and the return of a Taliban regime,
fearing spillover into Kashmir.
939
Nonetheless, India has proceeded with creating a strategic
partnership with Kabul, and in a May 2011 visit to Afghanistan, Indian Prime Minister Singh
announced the investment of an addition $500 million in Afghanistan, bringing its total
contribution to $2 billion, the largest regional contribution.
940
The Indian presence is primarily in
the northern Tajik and Uzbek areas, although it has some influence in southern provinces
bordering Pakistan.
Pakistan accuses India of using Afghanistan as a staging base to support its internal Baloch
separatist insurgency through its several consulates across Afghanistan. To date, no hard
evidence has yet materialized, and Pakistans paranoia is such that it has taken a long time to
even convince Pakistan that the number of Indian consulates in Afghanistan was five, and not
twenty four as they alleged. Even so, as Christine Fair puts it, anecdotal evidence suggests that
although Pakistans most sweeping claims are ill-founded, Indian claims to complete innocence
are also unlikely to be true.
941

The Taliban resurgence since 2006 has deeply degraded Indian influence in the country. India is
regarded to be close to Karzai and various Tajik powerbrokers in the government in Kabul, and
provided assistance to the Northern Alliance during the 1990s, including a field hospital, $8
million in high-altitude warfare equipment and defense advisors including one of brigadier
rank.
942

Indian interests have often been attacked, including dual attacks on its embassy in Kabul, one of
which killed its defense attach.
943
Various other attacks have targeted its citizens including a

939
Krondstadt, India-US Relations, Congressional Research Service, October 27, 2010.
940
Alissa J. Rubin and Sangar Rahimi, Indian and Afghan Leaders Forge Deeper Ties in Meeting, New York Times, May 12,
2011. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/13/world/asia/13kabul.html
941
Christine Fair, Under the Shrinking US Security Umbrella: Indias End-Game in Afghanistan? The Washington Quarterly,
Vol. 34, No. 2, Spring 2011. Available at http://www.twq.com/11spring/docs/11spring_Fair.pdf
942
Christine Fair, India in Afghanistan: Strategic Interests, Regional Concerns, Foreign Policy, October 26, 2010. Available
at http://bit.ly/aFXK0K
943
Tom Coghlan, Kabul bomb kills Indian military attach, Times Online, July 8, 2008. Available at
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article4284698.ece


February 2010 attack on a UN guesthouse rented out by the Indian embassy that killed nine
Indians, as well as two Indian Army personnel.
944

There are reportedly worries in Pakistan of a growing US-Indian-Afghan nexus that will dictate
the post-war future, but such concerns appear overblown. Indian interests in Afghanistan are
primarily composed of soft power assets unlikely to survive without a coalition military shield
as detailed by Christine Fair who states, Indian influence continues to be protected largely under
a shrinking US security umbrella, and at present there is no indication that India has the
capability to independently achieve any of its desired objectives in Afghanistan.
945

A resurgence of Afghanistan as a militant sanctuary is deeply worrying for Indian strategic
planners, given that virtually every terrorist group operating in India has trained in Afghanistan,
and all have varying degrees of connection to the Taliban and al-Qaeda. As a result, India was
reportedly alarmed by reports that the US intended to engage in negotiations with Taliban
militants, but by May 2011 during a visit to Kabul, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
declared that India would support the national reconciliation process between Taliban insurgents
and the Kabul government. This is a qualitative shift in Indian policy in Afghanistan and is
generally seen as tacit Indian acceptance of Pakistani influence. According to some analysts the
quid pro quo for such recognition may be security guarantees for Indian interests in
Afghanistan.
946

944
Terrorist Attacks on Indians in Afghanistan, South Asia Terrorism Portal,
http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/database/afganistanindianattack.htm, accessed April 28, 2011.
945
Christine Fair, Under the Shrinking US Security Umbrella: Indias End-Game in Afghanistan?
946
Luv Puri, Bridging the India-Pakistan divide on Afghanistan, Foreign Policy, June 9, 2011.

Figure 8.6: Pakistans Strategic Objectives in
Afghanistan

Source: US experts.


Figure 8.7: Indian Strategic Objectives in Afghanistan

Source: US experts.

ix. sino-pakistani relations
China and Pakistan have little in common in terms of ideology, culture, religion, and political
system but both continue to derive mutual benefits from an almost 40-year-old strategic
partnership. Chinese officials, including President Hu Jintao, regularly describe this relationship
in lofty terms, a bond that higher than the mountains and deeper than the oceans, Such gestures
of partnership are appreciated by the Pakistani populace, which in 2009 was the most pro-
Chinese country in the world, with 84% of Pakistanis viewing China favorably.
947

The reality however is less grounded in emotion than in a convergence of mutual strategic
interests. China and Pakistan have similar desires for the regional architecture, namely weakened
Indian power in the region. Hussain Haqqani, the current Pakistani ambassador to the US, lucidly
summed up the relationship saying, For China, Pakistan is a low-cost secondary deterrent to
India. For Pakistan, China is a high-value guarantor of security against India.
948

Pakistan has other value for China. It occupies a geographic position of strategic value, offering
China access into the Indian Ocean at the very heart of the oil corridors of the Persian Gulf, as
well as favored access to sizeable mineral deposits in Balochistan. A close partnership with
Islamabad also ensures that regardless of US largesse, its influence in Pakistan remains limited.
As a result, Beijing and Rawalpindi have forged a strong military bond, including joint
production of some weapons systems, a pipeline of advanced conventional weaponry and crucial
technical assistance with Pakistans nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
The relationship has serious limits. Jonathan Pollack of the Brookings Institution notes that
evidence of uncertainty and instability, the fragile nature of ruling authority in Pakistan are
things the Chinese worry about a great deal.
949
Beijing has no desire for regional conflict in its
direct periphery, but it has a different conception of stability to that of the US. Beijing secures
its interests primarily through the Pakistani military, and for example has no problems with
either a military-run government in Pakistan or even an ISI-controlled Taliban-style government
in Afghanistan, provided such a structure can be guaranteed not to inflame Islamist sentiment
inside China or adversely affect Chinese interests in the region.
950

Beijing has expansive public tolerance for Pakistani policies, but in private and material terms
has little interest in supporting Pakistani endeavors that do not advance its own interests, leading
to a highly transactional, situation-specific approach to what Beijing is willing and able to
do.
951
Furthermore, Sino-Pakistani relations continue to evolve and are affected by Beijings
growing reluctance to pursue policies that threaten its image as a responsible global stakeholder.
Beijing, for example cannot replace the scale of Washingtons material support, nor does it
appear to want to. Neither does China have interest in assisting Pakistan at times when it chooses

947
Chris Allbritton, Pakistan, China ties to be strengthened in Wen visit, Reuters, December 13, 2010. Available at
http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/12/13/us-pakistan-china-idUSTRE6BC12D20101213
948
Rajeev Sharma, Chinese Military Assistance to Pakistan and its Implications for India, South Asia Analysis Group,
August 24, 2010. Available at http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/%5Cpapers40%5Cpaper3996.html
949
Pakistan and China very close after 60 years, Deutsche-Welle, May 25, 2011. Available at http://www.dw-
world.de/dw/article/0,,6534374,00.html
950
Isaac B. Kardon, China and Pakistan: Emerging Strains in the Entente Cordiale, The Project 2049 Institute, March 25,
2011. Available at http://bit.ly/pZvwF9
951
Ibid.


to antagonize the US, as during the handover of the Gwadar power in June 2011. Nonetheless
China and Pakistan share a close strategic partnership, and have sizeable economic ties. Bilateral
trade reached $8.9 billion in 2010, with a mutual pledge to increase it to $12 billion by 2012,
952

although this pales in comparison to Sino-Indian economic ties.
Hedging India
Pakistan borrows security, offsetting its own conventional weakness relative to India, by
drawing on Chinese and American power to achieve some measure of parity. Today, the Chinese
component is particularly valued. Pakistani relations with the US are beset with problems, and
many Pakistanis continue to see the US as fickle and self-serving, whereas China is perceived as
a consistent and reliable ally by most segments of the country.
China has similar motive to limit Indian power and influence in the region ever since the 1962
Sino-Indian War shaped Indian and Chinese relations into a continuing competition for power
and prestige in Asia. China offers Pakistan significant support in its interactions with India, and
plays an important role in restraining Indian action during periods of conflict. During the 1965
war between India and Pakistan, China sided firmly with Islamabad, offering it strong political
support, issuing a strong condemnation of Indian actions and even mobilizing its forces to
pressure an end to the fighting more on Pakistans terms. Similar maneuvering took place in the
1971, although by 1999, China adopted a more cautious attitude.
The conflict in 1999, when India and Pakistan engaged in a round of nuclear brinkmanship
provided a good example of evolving Sino-Pakistani relations and Beijings reluctance to be
dragged into positions that negatively impact its strategic interest. Although, Beijing sided firmly
with Islamabad at the time, it nonetheless urged Pakistani to make concessions to India and
exercise self-control.
953

The Sino-Pakistani strategy to contain India is most visibly manifested by a close military bond
between the two countries that has intensified since the cutoff of US aid with the Pressler
Amendment, which cemented the perception of Beijing as a reliable supplier and partner. Today
China is a key defense supplier, offering advanced platforms often at subsidized rates and with
few technological limitations, including the Type-85 MBT and the F-22 frigate. The two
countries are co-producing several high-end conventional platforms including the Al-Khalid
(MBT-2000) main battle tank of which Pakistan now has 240 in service and the Chinese reverse-
engineered Babur (Hatf VII) cruise missile.
The Pakistani Air Force has a large fleet of Chinese-manufactured aircraft, including the F-7MG,
and the F-7P Skybolt fighter aircraft, and a squadron of the newly inducted JF-17 Thunder (FC-1)
aircraft fielded in early 2010. In the wake of the US raid to kill Bin Laden, a visit to Beijing by
Prime Minister Gilani yielded the expedited delivery of another 50 JF-17s, out of an order of
between 150 and 250.
954
Pakistan also flies the Chinese built K-8 Karakorum (Hongdu JL-8) and
has bought four ZDK-03 AWACS aircraft with Chinese sensors and communications.
955
China

952
Ibid.
953
Isaac B. Kardon, China and Pakistan: Emerging Strains in the Entente Cordiale, The Project 2049 Institute
954
JF-17 Thunders: Pakistan to get 50 Chinese jets in 6 months, Express Tribune, May 21, 2011. Available at
http://bit.ly/j4K2Q3
955
China rolls out AWACS aircraft for Pakistan, Press Trust of India, November 14, 2010. Available at http://bit.ly/9GD8Au

also apparently agreed to sell the FA-20 (Chengdu J-10) aircraft according to Pakistani Defense
Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar in May 2011.
956

Beijing is also widely regarded as the godfather of Pakistans nuclear program, and has played
a major role in providing materials, expertise and critical assistance for the construction of
facilities according to a 2001 Department of Defense Report.
957
More details of Chinese support
for Pakistans nuclear program can be seen in Figure 9.1.
Pakistani observers were amongst the only foreigners invited to Lop Nor in 1983 to witness
Chinese testing
958
and Chinese material assistance has been extensive, including providing
enriched uranium, building the heavy water Khushab reactor in the 1990s and supporting the
construction and expansion of the plutonium reprocessing Chashma nuclear complex. The
expansion, three new reactors that could double Pakistans warhead-producing capability, came
in reaction to the US-India nuclear deal in 2008.
959

China is an important source of Pakistani ballistic missile capabilities. Beijing supplied missile
technology, including the M-11 missile, as early as the 1980s and despite US pressure, this
support has continued. Pakistans Fateh Jang missile factory for example produces the Shaheen-1
IRBM modeled on the Chinese M-9 missiles and the Shaheen-II, which closely resembles the
Chinese M-18.
960
Pakistans Ghauri MRBM lines are believed to be modeled after North Korean
missiles.

Figure 9.1: Chinese Assistance to Pakistani Nuclear
and Missile Facilities

956
Kaibe Ali, China agrees to run Gwadar port, Dawn , May 22, 2011. Available at http://www.dawn.com/2011/05/22/china-
agrees-to-run-gwadar-port.html
957
Proliferation: Threat and Response, Office of Secretary of Defense, January 2011. Available at
http://www.fas.org/irp/threat/prolif00.pdf
958
Pakistan Nuclear Weapons, GlobalSecurity, Available at http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/pakistan/nuke.htm
959
Isaac B. Kardon, China and Pakistan: Emerging Strains in the Entente Cordiale, The Project 2049 Institute
960
China Missile Exports and Assistance to Pakistan, NTI, http://www.nti.org/db/china/mpakpos.htm


Source: East Asia Nonproliferation Project, Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Monterey Institute of International
Studies.

Mercantilism: Ports, Oil and Resources
Pakistans geographic position can assist Chinas thirst for resources by offering alternate energy
transit routes as well as a transshipment hub to better integrate the Middle East, and South and
Central Asia with the Chinese economy. However, Pakistani routes remain beset by problems of
instability and cost, without easy solutions.
Chinese energy transit routes are vulnerable, given its heavy dependence on seaborne oil. 80
percent of this must travel through the Indian Ocean,
961
in a 16-25 day journey through hostile
waters around India and through the vulnerable Straits of Malacca chokepoint. Chinese grand
strategy is driven by an attempt to reduce this vulnerability and Pakistan potentially offers a
vastly shorter 48-hour overland route to the very mouth of the Straits of Hormuz once rail and
road links are completed.
962
This route also happens to pass through Pakistans resource-rich
province of Balochistan, with vast mineral and energy deposits, and can offer another means to
integrate China towards the Middle East.
Pakistan can offer China access to the strategically important port of Gwadar, which opens onto
the Indian Ocean near the Straits of Hormuz. In May 2011, after the US raid that killed Bin
Laden, senior Pakistani officials hinted at transferring the port to Chinese control. Defense
Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar was most explicit, declaring that. We have asked our
Chinese brothers to please build a naval base at Gwadar.
963
China, which appeared to have been
blindsided by the offer, balked at accepting a fairly transparent attempt to antagonize the US, and
regional countries such as India. The Gwadar offer ran the risk of heightening growing regional
insecurities and the perception of Chinese aggressiveness in ways that could be avoided,
964
and
for now, China has done nothing more than agree to take over the port once the lease with Port of
Singapore Authority (PSA) expires in 2047.
965

However, China clearly understands Gwadars potential and has been its primary developer,
contributing over 80 percent of the initial development money for the port
966
and has also
invested over $200 million in developing a coastal highway to better link it to transportation
networks.
967
There have also been unsubstantiated reports, namely by Selig Harrison in the New
York Times, that 7,000-11,000 Chinese troops are currently present in Gilgit-Baltistan portion
of Pakistani Kashmir, most alleged working on transportation projects, including the Karakoram
Highway that connect China and Pakistan across the Himalayas.
968
Pakistan denies the Chinese
presence.
969

961
Mukul Devichand, Is Chittagong one of Chinas string of pearls? BBC, May 17, 2010. Available at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8687917.stm
962
Selig S. Harrison, Chinas Discreet Hold on Pakistans Northern Borderlands, New York Times, August 26, 2010.
Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/27/opinion/27iht-edharrison.html
963
Farhan Bokhtari, Pakistan turns to China for naval base, Financial Times, May 22, 2011. Available at
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/3914bd36-8467-11e0-afcb-00144feabdc0.html
964
In Pakistans Gwadar Port, Chinese Whispers Grow, Reuters, May 26, 2011.
965
Kaibe Ali, China agrees to run Gwadar port, Dawn , May 22, 2011.
966
In Pakistans Gwadar Port, Chinese Whispers Grow, Reuters, May 26, 2011. Available at
http://blogs.reuters.com/afghanistan/2011/05/26/in-pakistans-gwadar-port-chinese-whispers-grow/
967
Sudha Ramachandran, Chinas Pearl in Pakistans Waters, Asia Times, March 4, 2005. Available at
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GC04Df06.html
968
Selig S. Harrison, Chinas Discreet Hold on Pakistans Northern Borderlands.
969
Pak, China deny Chinese presence in PoK, Press Trust of India, April 7, 2010. Available at http://bit.ly/m939Sq


Actually creating a forward-operating naval base at Gwadar, however, is a significant escalation
from the current nature of Chinese involvement in Pakistan, and the future nature and scope of
Chinese upgrades at the facility may prove to be a good metric through which to track Chinas
naval ambitions.
970
. At present, basing from Gwadar would involve very serious logistical
challenges for China, and require extensive upgrades to the current facilities, and probably
significant increases in Chinas fleet and air capabilities. Gwadars defensibility has also been
called into question.
Such a basing agreement could give China a western gateway of considerable value to Chinese
grand strategy. It could allow China to project power into the Indian Ocean, as well as allow
China to establish a sustained commercial presence in resource-rich Balochistan. Gwadar is also
described as part of the string of pearls strategy to encircle India, although at least at present, its
commercial benefit is likely to greatly outweigh any perceived military advantage. It would have
obvious commercial benefits for Pakistan should it become a pivot for regional trade and can
offer the Pakistani Navy some strategic naval depth against India.
The Chinese presence at Gwadar, or even wider Balochistan, faces additional problems. The
Baloch insurgency has complicated the growth of business, and the current operator, the Port of
Singapore Authority has had major trouble attracting business. In fact, it has been alleged that
Pakistan has deliberately diverted cargo from Karachi to Gwadar to artificially inflate its
business volume.
971
The Balochistan route also travels through extremely difficult terrain,
estimated in certain stretches to cost a prohibitive $30 million per kilometer of transportation
infrastructure, and be substantially less secure and cost-effective than routes from the Gulf of
Oman through Iran and western Afghanistan, or directly from Central Asia to China.
972

Despite security worries, China currently monopolizes some aspects of the provinces resource
potential and has a major competitive advantage over other foreign investors. It has invested
about $15 billion into Balochistan, including in refineries, copper and zinc mines, and with
worsening Pakistani relations with the West, there are worries that Chinese companies might be
granted the license to the Reko Diq mines, which are estimated to hold over $70 billion of copper
and gold
973
at the expense of the Canadian-Chilean consortium, Tethyan Copper Company.
974

The Metallurgical Corp of China (MCC) also has a 50 percent interest in the $18 billion
975

Saindak copper mines, although this may fall to 45 percent with the Afghaz-e-Haqooq-e-
Balochistan package.
976

Any Pakistani influenced post-war Afghanistan is likely to offer China more reason to strengthen
its relations with Pakistan. China already has the largest commercial investment in Afghanistan
in the $3 billion in the Ayndak copper mine,
977
and is likely to want additional investments. Such

970
James R. Holmes, How to Track Chinas Naval Dreams, The Diplomat, May 31, 2011. Available at http://the-
diplomat.com/2011/05/31/how-to-track-china%E2%80%99s-naval-dreams/
971
Peter Lee, China drops the Gwadar hot potato, Asia Times, May 28, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/igkFWa
972
Ibid.
973
Maha Atal, Chinas Pakistan Corridor, Forbes, April 30, 2010. Available at http://onforb.es/d8Z9eR
974
Graeme Smith, In Pakistan, a Race against China for the Gold, Globe and Mail, May 17, 2011. Available at
http://bit.ly/kIAyJ5
975
Syed Fazl-e-Haider, China digs Pakistan into a Hole, Asia Times, October 5, 2006. Available at http://bit.ly/koCHlo
976
Saindak Project: Govt to extend Chinese firms gold, copper mining contract, China Mining, May 18, 2011. Available at
http://www.chinamining.org/Investment/2011-05-18/1305681715d45543.html
977
Anatol Lieven, China is key to Americas Afghan Endgame, New York Times, May 25, 2011. Available at
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/26/opinion/26iht-edlieven26.html?_r=1

access gives China a reason to seek some form of negotiated settlement in Afghanistan that
would favor Pakistan, although this presents the counter-risk of potentially strengthening Islamist
extremist influence in the region and its threat to Western China.
The Strategic Future
Sino-Pakistani relations face their share of strategic challenges. As has been described earlier,
the two countries have a convergence of some strategic interests, but both maneuver first and
foremost to advance their own interests, which are not necessarily always aligned. China, along
with other regional countries, fears the growing insecurity inside Pakistan, its potential threat to
the countrys stability and integrity, the risk of spillover into China, and its adverse effect on
Chinese investments inside Pakistan. China is also cognizant of its wider grand strategic
concerns, including managing relations with the US and India, and is unlikely to offer
unconditional support in the manner it once did.
Chinese wariness for their investments in Pakistan are despite the fact that it takes the safety of
Chinese citizens and interests very seriously. The 2007 Lal Masjid operation, which marked the
beginning of Pakistans domestic insurgency, did not materialize until radical students from the
seminary took hostage some Chinese masseuses. Prior to this incident, security officials in the
city had been content to allow the seminary to operate unimpeded, cognizant of its potential to
destabilize already tenuous relations with the religious right. But, once Chinese citizens were
involved, Pakistani commandoes quickly began operations.
978

Yet, Beijing has ample reason to worry. Even if Pakistan has every wish to support and expand
Chinese interests in Pakistan and beyond, if it does not have the capacity to protect its own vital
strategic interests, then it cannot logically be expected to protect Chinas. This is true, especially
in Balochistan, where despite the extensive security apparatus mobilized to offer Chinese
technicians and workers privileged protection,
979
they continue to be targeted by Baloch
separatists who perceive them to be agents perpetuating Punjabi dominance of the province.
980

There were also reports that Chinese technicians working at the PNS Mehran base may have
been targeted,
981
although the veracity of these reports cannot be confirmed.
Most importantly, China fears a spillover of radicalism into its own neighboring restive Muslim-
majority Xianjiang province. In May 2010, the leader of the East Turkestan Islamic Party
(ETIP), which seeks a fundamentalist state in Chinas Xianjiang Province and has close links to
al-Qaeda,
982
was killed in Pakistan. Such incidents are, however, are rare and Pakistan certainly
has no tolerance for militant groups that target Chinese citizens or interests, or seek to expand
their jihad into Western China.

978
B. Raman, How Chinese Anger Forced Musharraf to Act Against Lal Masjid, South Asia Analysis Group, July 5, 2007.
Available at http://www.saag.org/common/uploaded_files/paper2287.html
979
Ziad Haider, Baluchis, Beijing and Pakistans Gwadar Port, Stimson Center, Winter/Spring 2005. Available at
http://www.stimson.org/images/uploads/research-pdfs/GWADAR.pdf
980
B. Raman, Chinese Engineers in Gwadar Escape Rocket Attacks, Baloch Land, July 10, 2010. Available at
http://baluchland.blogspot.com/2010/07/chinese-engineers-in-gwadar-escape.html
981
No Chinese hostage in Karachi terror attack, Rediff, May 23, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/lfigeZ
982
Bill Roggio, Chinese Terrorist Leader Abdul Haq al Turkistani is Dead: Pakistani Interior Minister, Long War Journal,
May 7, 2010. Available at http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2010/05/chinese_terrorist_le.php


For Pakistan too, China is not always an ideal partner, and the nature of its wants are often
detrimental to Pakistani stability and security. The Chinese presence in Pakistan is generally
exploitative, both economically and the way in which it perpetuates the struggle with India.
Chinese assistance is a vital lifeline that continues to feed the massive Pakistani military
establishment that lies at the heart of many of Pakistans internal problems. China shares the US
vision of a solvent Pakistan, but it has often rebuffed the civilian government, and shown no
appetite to help rebalance civil-military relations.
However, even if it does not desire so, Pakistan continues to derive major benefits in US
economic and military assistance, that China has neither the capacity nor the will to match. As
such, any rational Pakistani strategy is likely to conclude that for as long as is possible, two
external patrons are better than one, and that even if US aid comes with conditionality, instability
and public anger; it still constitutes a major portion of the Pakistani defense budget and helps to
prop holds a failing economy. These are benefits that Pakistan cannot easily ignore, and will
continue to limit in practical terms the extent to which Pakistan is able to turn to China.

x. pakistani-iranian relations
Pakistan is home to the worlds second-largest Shia population, and with violence increasing in
Afghanistan from a resurgent Sunni Taliban insurgency and from Pakistans restive Balochs,
Iran is likely to remain interested in stability in a manner that does not spill over into its territory.
Energy ties between the countries are an important component of the relationship, and Pakistan
is a net importer of energy from Iran.
Irans primary strategic interests are, however, towards the Persian Gulf, and Iran has obtained
Chinese help in expanding its road and rail systems in a way that will pass from ports in the Gulf
and Gulf of Oman through western Afghanistan to the north, establishing a line of
communication that will largely bypass the ring road in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Moreover,
the Central Asian states are steadily expanding their road and rail infrastructure from east to west
and to the north. They already have a major Silk Road to Russia and China that bypasses both
Afghanistan and Pakistan. Neither do their main trade and economic interests have anything to
do with Afghanistan, Pakistan, or even Iran and access to the Gulf and Indian Ocean.
An Uncertain History of Relations
Iran was the first country to recognize Pakistan in 1947, and relations were warm during the
Shah era, as both countries pursued a pro-West policy, becoming alongside Turkey, the three
main US allies in the region during the period.
983
The 1979 Iranian Revolution changed the
equation. Iran, ruled by Ayatollah Khomeinis Shiite theocracy resented the sectarian persecution
of the Shias during and after the Zia era, including the assassination of an Iranian diplomat in
Lahore in 1991,
984
and sectarian violence in Pakistan during the 1980s and 1990s became in part
a Saudi-Iranian proxy war. A continued Pakistani partnership with the US, particularly during
the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan also rankled in Tehran, but Iranian-Pakistani relations have
improved over the past decade.
The late 1970s marked a qualitative change in Pakistans sectarian dynamics, with General Zias
ascent to power in 1977, and his consequent Sunni Islamization policies, as well as the Iranian
Revolution in 1979. These changes helped galvanize the Shia community in Pakistan to more
strongly exert their identity in the face of Sunni discrimination, and soon many Shias in Pakistan
began to look to Tehran for support. In 1979, the Islamia Students Organization (ISO), a large
Shia organization, publicly supported Ayatollah Khomeini as marja-e-taqlid (source of
emulation), a significant shift from historical spiritual guidance from Iraq. Pakistani Shia
students also increasingly traveled to Iran for education, helping erode the traditional control of
the Shia clergy in Pakistan.
985

This increasingly assertive Shia identity aroused anger amongst Sunni hardliners. Pakistans
Deobandi and Ahle-Hadith madrassa infrastructure already drew support from Saudi money, but

983
Shah Alam, Iran-Pakistan Relations: Political and Strategic Dimensions, Strategic Analysis, December 2004. Available at
http://www.idsa.in/system/files/strategicanalysis_salam_1204.pdf
984
Shah Alam, Iran-Pakistan Relations: Political and Strategic Dimensions, Strategic Analysis, December 2004.
985
Hassan Abbas, Shiism and Sectarian Conflict in Pakistan, CTC Center at West Point, September 22, 2010. Available at
http://www.ctc.usma.edu/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/CTC-OP-Abbas-21-September.pdf


this support intensified both as a means to limit Shia influence in Pakistan, as well as in reaction
to the outbreak of the Soviet jihad in Afghanistan. President Zia himself, sought ways to contain
the Shias, and his intelligence agencies turned to militants, helping create powerful sectarian
militant groups, such as the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan and the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi in south Punjab.
In reaction to rising anti-Shia violence, Shias established their own militant groups financed in
large part by Tehran. The Sipah-e-Mohammad, one such group, justified its position by saying,
We are tired of picking up corpses. Now, God willing, we will clear all accounts. We will erase
the name of Sipah-e-Sahaba from the annals of history.
986
Iranian support grew, particularly
after December 1990, when SSP militants assassinated the Iranian Consul General in Lahore.
However, in net terms, Shias in Pakistan, particularly organized militant Shias, are quite simply
outnumbered and outclassed by their Sunni counterparts, and as such have had a very limited
impact on defending Shia communities, particularly when measured in national terms.
In Afghanistan, to combat Soviet forces, both Tehran and Islamabad cultivated anti-Soviet
forces, but despite the US leaving the region soon after the Soviet withdrawal, serious
differences persisted between their Afghan policies. Iran desired Afghanistans Shiite minority to
be reflected in any post-war power-sharing arrangement, whereas Pakistan soon threw its full
support behind the Sunni Taliban, who virulently persecuted Afghanistans Hazara Shias. The
relationship reached its lowest ebb in 1998, after the Taliban took Mazar-e-Sharif, massacred the
Hazara Shia populace and executed nine Iranian diplomats.
987

Relations between Tehran and Islamabad began to warm soon after the US-led invasion of
Afghanistan, when Iran perceived Pakistan as having ended support for the Taliban. At a joint
press conference in December 2001, the Iranian and Pakistani Foreign Ministers announced a
new era of cooperation, which was soon followed by a landmark three-day visit to Pakistan by
Iranian President Khatami in December 2002. During the visit both countries pledged to step up
support to improve border security, as well as economic cooperation, especially in the energy
and natural gas sectors.
988
In Afghanistan, both Iran and Pakistan pledged support for the Bonn
process, and the two countries stepped up their defense cooperation, including the joint
production of the Al-Khalid MBT.
989

In recent years, relations have been strained by a spillover of violence -- particularly by terrorist
group Jundullah that has staged several high-profile attacks against Iranian military targets. The
Arab Spring and political unrest in the Gulf unrest are another irritant in tensions between the
two countries, particularly over Bahrain. Pakistanis play a key role in the Bahraini security
apparatus, and the rumored deployment of further Pakistani support to Bahrain has agitated Iran,
which opposes any crackdown on the countrys minority Shias.
990

986
Ibid.
987
Iran holds Taliban responsible for 9 Diplomats Deaths, New York Times, September 11, 1998. Available at
http://www.nytimes.com/1998/09/11/world/iran-holds-taliban-responsible-for-9-diplomats-deaths.html
988
Editorial, Dawn, December 27, 2002 Available at http://ipripak.org/factfiles/ff88.pdf
989
Pak-Iran Relations Since Islamic Revolution, Embassy of Islamic Republic of Iran. Available at
http://www.iranembassy.pk/fa/political-section/pak-iran/592-pak-iran-relations-since-islamic-revolution-genisis-of-cooperatio-
and-competition.html, accessed April 23, 2011.
990
Qaiser Butt, Middle East Protests: Pakistan tries to pacify Iran over Bahrain aid, Express Tribune, April 23, 2011.
Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/154915/middle-east-protests-pakistan-tries-to-pacify-iran-over-bahrain-aid/

Today in mid-2011, stepped up Iranian-Pakistani diplomatic activity continues. President Zardari
has made two trips to Tehran in the space of a month in June and July to attend discussions on
terrorism, militancy and narcotics in the region, as well as economic and energy cooperation.
991

Baloch Separatism
Iran and Pakistan share a 700-km common border that separates the Baloch people, who agitate
for increased autonomy and freedom in both countries. Baloch grievances in Pakistan have
already been detailed, and Iranian Balochs are similarly ethnically distinct from regime elites,
and economically and politically disadvantaged. Historically, both Tehran and Islamabad have
collaborated on suppressing Baloch nationalism, which both perceive to be a threat to regional
stability and territorial integrity.
992
This was particularly true during Irans Shah era when Iran
sent Cobra attack helicopters to help Pakistan put down Baloch dissent during the 1970s.
The rise of virulently anti-Shia group Jundullah has complicated relations in the post-2001
period. Jundullah, a Sunni Baloch group believed to stage out of Pakistani Balochistan has
mounted several high-profile terrorist attacks in Irans Sistan-Baluchistan, against sectarian and
regime targets. In 2005, it was believed to be behind the attempted assassination of President
Ahmadinejad during a visit to the province, as well as the kidnappings and executions of Iranian
security personnel.
993
Hostages were occasionally taken across the border into Pakistan.
994

Jundullahs attacks have grown in lethality in recent years, and have particularly centered in
Sistan-Baluchistans provincial capital, Zahedan.
In 2007 a car bomb in the city killed 18 Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC)
995
and attacks in
2009 and 2010 targeted mosques in the city, including the Jamia mosque in July 2010, which is
believed to have killed some IRGC officers.
996
In 2009, Jundullah also assassinated several
senior members of the IRGC, including the chief provincial commander, and the deputy
commander of the Guards ground force, General Noor Ali Shooshtari.
997
Jundullah is also
believed to be heavily involved in the opium trade between Balochistan and Iran.
Pipelines and Ports
Balochistan can be a important energy and trade transit corridor, and has been subjected to the
intrigues of various regional rivalries. After the fall of the Taliban in 2001, the warming
Pakistani-Iranian relationship soon began to manifest in various pipeline projects, particularly the
Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) pipeline that came to be colloquially known as the peace pipeline.
Pakistan is the lynchpin of the project, serving as both an end-market for Iranian energy, as well

991
M K Bhadrakumar, Pakistan, Iran become natural allies, Asia Times, July 19, 2011. Available at http://bit.ly/o2TSkJ
992
Chris Zambelis, Violence and Rebellion in Iranian Balochistan, Jamestown Foundation, June 29, 2006. Available at
993
Ibid
994
16 Iranian police taken hostage, Press TV, June 14, 2008. Available at http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/59884.html
995
Ali Akbar Dareini, Bomb kills 18 Revolutionary Guardsmen in Iran, Washington Post, February 14, 2007. Available at
996
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10655900; Iran executes three men for mosque bombing, BBC News, May
30, 2009. Available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8074978.stm
997
Iranian commanders assassinated, BBC News, October 18, 2009. Available at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8312964.stm


as a transit route for Iranian attempts to reach Indian markets. In February 2002, Iran and
Pakistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conduct feasibility studies,
998
but
the project has since stalled, particularly due to American opposition. India has increasingly
backed away from the project, and the project now appears to be primarily a bilateral attempt to
resolive Pakistans domestic energy crisis. Recent statements by Iranian officials have indicated
that the pipeline to Pakistan will be operational by 2013.
999

Iran and Pakistan are also seeking to expand economic and transport ties with Central Asia, and
have used ports and road links to anchor their strategies although Iran has focused on routes
that would largely bypass Pakistan and most of Afghanistan. Pakistan has invested in the
Chinese-built and financed Gwadar port on the Makran coast, which sits a mere 180 miles from
the mouth of the Straits of Hormuz.
1000

China favors Gwadar as a critical means to reduce its reliance on seaborne energy imports that
must transit around India and through the Straits of Malacca, as well as project power into the
Indian Ocean. The US has supported Gwadar, as a means to isolate Irans attempts to build up its
Chabahar port. Chabahar, which is Irans attempt to alleviate congestion at its Bandar Abbas
terminal, is strongly supported and co-developed by India. India hopes to build it up to provide it
with access to Afghanistan, and help reduce Kabuls reliance on Pakistan for economic transit
routes.
1001

!

998
A Report on a Press Conference Addressed Jointly by the Ministers for Petroleum and Natural Resources of Pakistan and
Iran, Foreign Affairs Pakistan, Vol. XXIX, Issue 2-4, Feb-April 2002. Available at http://ipripak.org/factfiles/ff88.pdf
999
M K Bhadrakumar, Pakistan, Iran become natural allies, Asia Times, July 19, 2011.
1000
Christian Bleur, Central Asia Seaport: Gwadar or Chabahar, Registan, August 20, 2007. Available at
http://www.registan.net/index.php/2007/08/20/central-asias-seaport-gwadar-or-chabahar/
1001
Christopher Jaffrelot, A Tale of Two Ports, Yale Global, January 7, 2011. Available at
http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/tale-two-ports

xi. conclusions
It is tempting to offer the usual round of policy options for regional cooperation, for political
change, and for dealing with internal security issues. The basic problem Pakistan faces, however,
is that it cannot deal with any of its current security problems unless it addresses their underlying
causes by carrying out effective reforms that are actually implemented on a large scale.
Pakistan is not yet a failed state, and may be able to muddle through almost indefinitely. It does,
however, have a failed, self-seeking elite, and a failed approach to effective governance in the
face of the combined impact of massive population growth and an extraordinarily young
population. Pakistan has consistently prioritized reactive and inherently short-term policies in
favor of a cohesive long-term and sustainable integrated national security and economic
blueprint that accounts for both internal and external threats.
Pakistan has the dismal history of supporting military confrontation at the expense of national
development and its real grand strategic interests. Its military may be the most powerful political
force in the state, but it has also been consistently one of the most destructive. The fundamental
irony of Pakistans long struggle with India is that it has built up its military at immense cost
without creating internal stability, with the net result that its total national security efforts are
more of a threat to its own grand strategic interests than India is.
The Afghan conflict has contributed to these problemsjust as the actions of the Pakistani
government have contributed to the Afghan conflict. The Afghan War, however, is only one part
of Pakistans problems and its internal challenges are far more serious sources of violence and
instability. Pakistans reliance on the military, and the significant weaknesses in its rule of law
capacity have resulted in difficulties in confronting both violent militant forces, and organized
religious groups. Their ranks are augmented by significant inequalities in access to basic
economic and developmental goods and services, and to security, along provincial, class, ethnic
and religious lines.
Pakistan faces very serious challenges but it cannot move towards true stability, towards
development, or toward meeting the real interests of its people, as long as its elite does not come
to grips with its own shortcomings, do not stop blaming other for its problems and deficiencies,
relying on rhetoric and repression rather real reform. Until these changes occur, solving any
given security problem will at best buy time in one narrow area, while the overall situation
deteriorates. As long as Pakistans political and military elite are self-inflicted wounds, the
country cannot move forward.


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