Army to provide security during Clinton's Pak. visit

By Amit Baruah

ISLAMABAD, MARCH 22. The Rawalpindi-based 10 Corps of the Pakistan Army, which had taken the lead in the October 12 military coup, would provide security to the U.S. President, Mr. Bill Clinton, during his visit to Islamabad.

The Musharraf regime has decided that the Army, not the civilian police, be entrusted with the task of providing security to Mr. Clinton.

Extraordinary security arrangements have also been made for the American advance party which has already arrived to prepare for the Clinton visit. Army personnel were seen providing security escort to the U.S. officials.

Tight security has been provided to the Mariott Hotel Given the anti-American sentiment among the `jehadi' groups in Pakistan, the military regime is aware that the smallest of incidents could create problems for the Clinton visit. In order to ensure an incident-free visit, the Army has been called in to provide security.

Interestingly, the anti-American rhetoric of the `jehadi groups' is nearly absent. The hysterical cleric, Masood Azhar, who was released by the Vajpayee Government recently, is said to be living `quietly' in his Bahawalpur house after the authorities `spoke' to him.

Azhar, who was picked up by authorities over a month ago after he made anti-American remarks, has been sent to Bahawalpur if a report in an Urdu newspaper is to be believed.

Traditionally anti-American groups like the Harkat-ul- Mujahideen, who hold press conferences and issue public statements like `normal' political organisation, are also conspicuous by their silence.

It would be surprising if the Pakistani establishment has not gotten `in touch' with the leadership of these groups and asked them to maintain `silence' at least until after the Clinton visit.

Though the Musharraf Government is unlikely to take any `strong measures' against these militant outfits espousing the `jehadi' cause, it is aware of the embarrassment that could be caused to the Government if these groups were allowed to engage in America- bashing.

It is also evident that on the all-crucial issue of nabbing Osama bin Laden, Pakistan has washed its hands off the whole affair. At one stage, Gen. Pervez Musharraf himself had offered to visit Afghanistan and discuss Osama and related issues with the Taliban supreme leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar.

In a recent interview to Newsweek, the General stated: ``The Taliban have their own reasons for allowing him (Osama) sanctuary in Afghanistan. If anyone thinks we can order the Taliban around, he is wrong.'' Gen. Musharraf also denied that the Harkat-ul- Mujahideen was a ``terrorist organisation''.

Ideas of a visit to Afghanistan to secure progress on the Osama front were presumably dropped on account of a lack of response from the Taliban. Left to themselves, the Pakistani establishment would not have been averse to handing over Osama to the US.

The Taliban have taken a consistent line on Osama - that they would not hand him over to anyone - at best he could be tried in Afghanistan or by a committee of ulema from different Islamic States.

Quite clearly, the extent of leverage that Pakistan enjoys over the Taliban has been demonstrated by the opposition of the Afghan militia to any request for the handing over of Osama to the US.

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Section  : International
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