 |
|
The controversial claims of former US National Security Advisor, Lt Gen (retd) H R McMaster, regarding Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and its alleged complicity with terrorist groups, continue to stir international debate. In his recently published book, 'At War with Ourselves: My Tour of Duty in the Trump White House,' McMaster provides a detailed account of his experiences within the Trump administration, including the challenges faced in implementing the administration's policy towards Pakistan. McMaster argues that despite clear directives from President Trump to suspend all aid to Pakistan until the country ceased providing safe havens to terrorists, the State Department and Pentagon resisted these efforts.
McMaster's account paints a picture of internal struggle within the Trump administration, where the Defense Department, under then Secretary Jim Mattis, was planning to deliver a military aid package to Islamabad, including armored vehicles worth over USD 150 million. McMaster, however, intervened, citing the president's explicit instructions to halt all aid until Pakistan took concrete steps to address the issue of terrorism. This clash between McMaster and Mattis highlights the complex dynamics within the administration, where differing perspectives on foreign policy and the implementation of policy directives often led to friction and disagreements.
McMaster's argument is further substantiated by his revelation that despite President Trump's unambiguous stance against Pakistani support for terrorist organizations, the Pakistani government, in a seemingly provocative act, released Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, on the eve of Mattis's visit to Islamabad. This incident, according to McMaster, underscored the Pakistani government's unwillingness to change its behavior and highlighted the undeniable complicity of the ISI with terrorist groups. Moreover, McMaster emphasizes the significant role that the US's South Asia strategy, approved by President Trump at Camp David in August, played in the decision to halt aid to Pakistan, highlighting the administration's strategic approach towards the region.
McMaster's book sheds light on the internal dynamics within the Trump administration, the challenges faced in implementing foreign policy, and the complex relationship between the US and Pakistan. The book's revelations about the ISI's alleged complicity with terrorist groups, the resistance within the administration to President Trump's directives, and the lack of meaningful change in Pakistan's behavior have reignited the debate surrounding Pakistan's role in combating terrorism and the effectiveness of US policy in the region. McMaster's account serves as a valuable contribution to understanding the intricacies of US foreign policy and the challenges faced in implementing strategic objectives in a complex geopolitical landscape.
Source: Pakistan's Spy Agency ISI 'Complicit' With Terrorists, Says Ex-US National Security Advisor McMaster