Washington, February 6, 2009: Senator Kerry, chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said: ‘In my conversations with Admiral Mullen … there is a sense of some transformation-of a willingness to engage in some transformation. I also find that both General Pasha and General Kayani are likewise committed.’
Tokyo, April 17: Within 71 days of Kerry statement, Friends of Democratic Pakistan, upon U.S. prodding, pledged $5.28 billion.
Washington, June 11: Within 125 days of Kerry statement, the U.S. House of Representatives passed The Pakistan Enduring Assistance and Cooperation Enhancement Act authorizing $1.5 billion per fiscal year for non-military assistance to Pakistan plus $300 million for FY2010 and such funds as may be necessary for ¿Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capabilities Fund– plus $300 million in Foreign Military Financing.
Washington, June 24: With 138 days of Kerry statement, the U.S. Senate passed The Enhanced Partnership With Pakistan Act authorizing $1.5 billion per fiscal year for nonmilitary assistance to Pakistan.
Washington, June 2009: Congressional conferees authorized $1 billion for coalition support fund reimbursements (Pakistan receives around 80 percent of the total) plus $896 million for embassy expansion plus $539 million in Economic Support Funds.
Islamabad, July 24: Syed Saleem Shahzad, Asia Times Online Bureau Chief in Islamabad, one of Pakistan most perceptive journalist, wrote: ‘The seamless friendship between … Admiral Mullen and General Kayani has cemented the relationship between the military establishments of the two countries to levels not seen since the 1950s…. The result is that Islamabad and Washington are in a position to implement coordinated, long-term policies in the region, which include action against militants, moves to improve ties between Pakistan and India, especially their dispute over divided Kashmir……..’
Islamabad, July 30: Syed Saleem Shahzad wrote: ‘Intense U.S. efforts and assurances have put Pakistan and India on track to renew their dialogue process over key contentious issues, such as divided Kashmir. An important upshot of this is that Islamabad has begun a crackdown on jihadi assets…..’
South Waziristan, August 5: Within 169 days of Kerry statement and within 45 days of Saleem Shahzad article, a U.S. unmanned aerial vehicle fired two air-to-surface Hellfire missiles that killed Baitullah.
Washington, August 7: Within 171 days of Kerry statement, the IMF increased its financial support to $11.3 billion.
Kashmir, August 10: Within 10 days of Saleem Shahzad article, India Ministry of Home Affairs began withdrawing four battalions of the Central Reserve Police Force from the border.
Islamabad, August 12: Within 180 days of Kerry statement, the Ministry of Defense told The News that ’32 officers have been retired and others will be fired within the next few months in government efforts to streamline the ISI.’
Islamabad, August 18: Lieutenant-General Nadeem told Reuters, ‘Pakistan army was short of equipment….’ The same day, Holbrooke assured that the U.S. shall ‘expedite delivery of equipment requested by Pakistani army.’
For the record, within days of Kerry February 6 statement, U.S. drones shifted focus to anti-Pakistan Taliban in South Waziristan. Since February 6, with an average of one strike a week, South Waziristan has been hit 23 times; areas controlled by Baitullah have been hit 15 times. For the record, Mian Habib-ur-Rehman of Harkat died in police custody and Shah Abdul Aziz of Jaish was sent to Adiala. Qari Saifullah was arrested on August 17 and Maulvi Omar the following day.
Are Pakistan’s strategic thinkers merely shifting their sail with the wind? Or, are they actually turning on their jihadi assets? Is a ‘transformation’ underway. Senator Kerry somehow seems convinced.