International

U.S. restores training programme to Pakistan military
By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, FEB. 17. The United States Vice-President, Dick Cheney, has said that programmes such as the International Military Education and Training, IMET, were useful and if they were cut off as a result of sanctions ``we damage ourselves.''

Citing Pakistan, the IMET programme of which was cut off in the aftermath of its nuclear tests in 1998, Mr. Cheney said it prevented a whole generation of middle-level Pakistani military officers from getting an exposure to the American ideas, values and training.

``...when we cut those programmes off, we damage ourselves... We used to have a great relationship with Pakistan in years past and then we went through a period where it was strained. And part of that, of course, was a disagreement between the United States and the Government of Pakistan in terms of their own developments - military developments in particular,'' Mr. Cheney said, addressing the Council on Foreign Relations on Thursday.

``And that was a classic case where we moved to impose a sanction - in this case shutting off that programme (IMET). And the only losers from that is the United States. So we need to look at all of those kinds of propositions and make sure we're enhancing those relationships, not tearing them down,'' he said.

Mr. Cheney joined the others in the Bush administration to shower praise on the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, who concluded a three-day working visit to the U.S. ``We had President Musharraf in town this week, a man who, obviously, has stepped up and made some very important and very courageous decisions which we're grateful for.''

The reinstatement of the IMET programme was one of the things the U.S. and Pakistan agreed to, as part of enhancing their defence cooperation. Gen. Musharraf was apparently assured that all spares and equipment which were paid for but held back, under the sanctions regime, would find their way to Islamabad. Some of the equipment will be used to monitor the borders between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Gen. Musharraf could not have been under the illusion that he could fly back with a squadron or two of F-16s on his return journey. The Bush administration has taken note of the Pakistani interest in the fighter planes but is in no mood to act soon - particularly in an area which Gen. Musharraf himself sees as a ``contentious one.''

Gen. Musharraf's visit is being perceived here as having been ``extremely good on atmospherics.'' But, it fell far short on the substantive front with respect to any military or economic package or the much-flaunted ``mediation'' between India and Pakistan on Kashmir. The Republican administration, has, on more than one occasion in the past week, brushed aside Gen. Musharraf's notions of ``mediation'' and ``facilitation.''

And the biggest achievement of his visit has been in the restoration of Pakistan's stature, which had taken a beating under the Clinton administration.

That Islamabad had regained its stature was evident when the U.S. President, George W. Bush, said at the White House with Gen. Musharraf beside him, ``I am proud to call him a friend. I want to remind people from Pakistan that I didn't mention many world leaders in my State of the Union. But I mentioned President Musharraf for a reason. And hopefully that's an indication of my sincerity of developing a strong and meaningful relationship.''

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Fresh allegations surface in Mittal controversy
• Russia ready to invest in Indian defence sector
• Indus Basin Treaty in a limbo?
• Kuwaiti women march for voting rights
• Sharon steps up war rhetoric
• U.S. restores training programme to Pakistan military
• Pak. to get $ 300 m. from U.S.
• A case of too much spin?
• Bush gives a boost to Koizumi
• No plans to suspend talks on British AJT
• Karzai vows to ensure security
• 'He was to be made honorary consul'

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu