Reevaluating our ties with Pakistan

The death of Osama Bin Laden is a monumental victory in the global war on terror. I am proud of the American military and intelligence communities, who conducted an exceptionally well-coordinated mission. I commend President Obama for ordering the attack and former President George W. Bush for rebuilding the intelligence infrastructure whose work led to the discovery of bin Laden’s whereabouts. 

Following the attacks of 9/11, the Bush administration asked Pervez Musharraf, then president of Pakistan, whether his country would stand with the American people or with the Taliban and al Qaeda in the war on terror. Musharraf answered correctly, promising Pakistan’s allegiance to the U.S. It is now time for the Obama administration to ask the same question of Pakistan’s current president, Asif Ali Zardari, who must choose to be an ally of the U.S. or an enabler of our enemies. 

{mosads}While Americans are rightfully relieved bin Laden no longer poses a threat to our security, his ability to avoid detection raises questions about Pakistan’s involvement in efforts to eliminate terrorist networks. Pakistan has long been a critical yet questionable partner in anti-terror efforts. When terrorist organizations pose a mutual threat to our nations, Pakistani authorities have been eager to collaborate with their American counterparts. For example, Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), played an integral role in the apprehension of 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in Rawalpindi. 

However, Pakistan’s cooperation has been unsatisfactory when threats are directed toward the American people, but not the Pakistani government. Specifically, Pakistan has provided sanctuary to the Haqqani Network, a highly lethal terrorist organization that routinely attacks American forces in Afghanistan while seeking safe haven in the tribal region of North Waziristan. In September 2010, I met with American military leaders in Afghanistan who expressed frustration over the threat to our troops posed by the Haqqani Network and outrage over the uncooperative nature of Pakistani officials in addressing the problem. The inconsistency in Pakistan’s commitment to eliminating terror networks like the Haqqani has contributed to its fragile and uncertain relationship with the U.S. 

As details surrounding bin Laden’s clandestine existence come to light, questions regarding the role Pakistani military or intelligence officials might have played in harboring the terrorist leader or overlooking his presence must be answered. Like many Americans, I find it difficult to believe bin Laden would willingly locate to an Islamabad suburb, populated by active and retired military officers, without some reassurance his presence would go unreported. Additionally, bin Laden was living in a rather conspicuous compound that should have caught the attention of the famously ubiquitous ISI. 

Pakistan’s possible knowledge of bin Laden’s whereabouts, coupled with its history of inconsistent cooperation, has clearly fractured the relationship between our nations. Congress must now reevaluate the cost and benefits of providing Pakistan with substantial economic and military assistance. As a member of the Appropriations Committee on State, Foreign Operations, I am deeply concerned this support is being used ineffectively or inappropriately by Pakistani government officials. 

In the coming weeks, I will analyze whether this aid is a productive use of tax dollars that promotes our security, but the truth is our success in Afghanistan relies heavily on a cooperative partnership with Pakistan. Various American officials have also rightfully emphasized the importance of maintaining government stability and military authority in a nation with nuclear capabilities. However, Pakistan desperately needs the U.S. to remain a strategic ally and economic partner, and in light of recent events, we have gained significant leverage.

Accordingly, initial conditions must be met to ensure continued American support: the U.S. must be given full access to the bin Laden compound and its former inhabitants, components of the helicopter lost during the attack must be returned to the U.S. military, and Pakistan must work closely with us to eliminate the Haqqani Network threat. 

As the relationship between the U.S. and Pakistan is gradually reconstructed, it must be built on a foundation of trust, mutual respect and reliability. The first step in the rebuilding process must be Pakistan’s long overdue recognition that terrorist organizations operating within its borders pose a very real threat to the people of both our nations and must be eliminated.

Dent is a member of the Appropriations subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs.