The U.S.-Pakistan Alliance Holds Firm

After the attack, allies in the War on Terror are more united–but sovereignty must be maintained.

Saturday’s attack on the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad which left 53 dead and 266 wounded, “is the first incident in the capital where terrorists have used RDX and TNT explosives.” Rehman Malik, the prime minister’s counselor on domestic affairs, made clear those 600 kilos of military grade explosives (rounded out with mortars and artillery) led investigators today to a trail located in Waziristan (Northwest). In short, police experts seemed to confirm on Monday that America was targeted as a result of its land and aerial operations in South Wazirstan, one of the autonomous territories under federal control (Fata).

Waziristan at War

What could be the motivation behind it? Backstory: while US forces in Afghanistan have been in accordance with Islamabad to perform limited airstrikes in Pakistan until now, special forces took ground positions on September 3rd near the village of Angor Adda (South Waziristan), in an operation that left twenty dead and without without prior agreement from Islamabad. Seventy-four percent of the Parkistani population condemns this type of American aggression. Since the Parkistani army and government both agree that they will not tolerate another violation of its national sovereignty, even though Prime Minister Gilani acknowledges that he can’t start a war with the United States. Last Monday, a new alleged incursion of American Chinook helicopters–again in Angor Adda–would have been pushed back by shots from Pakistani militants (which Islamabad as well as the US base in Bagram will hastily deny) and Wednesday, the Pakistani army will confirm to have given the general order to its troops to fire, if a new American ground incursion was taken.

Meanwhile, the head of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, landed in Islamabad Tuesday and assured that they will no longer be any unexpected attacks.

Surprise : in the following hours, a U.S. drone flew over Sud Waziristan and fired some missiles that killed six people and blew at least a carton of arms and munitions (of the insurrection). A case of bad American “administrative coordination?” That’s what the Pakistani minister of foreign affairs ultimately concluded at the end of the week, before being refuted by the facts: the strike against a carton of munitions is the result (confirmed by the Pakistani army) of a better coordination of American-Pakistani intelligence, and among the six victims of the missile strikes, the Pakistani department of intelligence rushed to confirm the presence of “three Arabs”- meaning: three members of Al-Qaeda. In short, Washington and Islamabad have not cut off all ties and Islamabad has even reasserted that the War on Terror would be stronger after the attacks at the Marriott.

But Islamabad hopes for formal respect of its sovereignty. And it has points to make itself heard: all of the fuel used by NATO in Afghanistan passes through Karachi…

The Belgian Embassy Wants to Leave the Area.

The Belgian embassy in Islamabad ( and the residence as well) hasn’t been very lucky; like many buildings in the Northeast quarter of the capital, the Belgian buildings have been subjected to tender damages owing to the scope of the explosion on Saturday: windows and frames are to be repaired and interventions could be still increase.

Somber irony; until early August, the embassy was located in the north center area (F7/2), facing the Alliance Francaise, but in a building that at this point is exposed and vulnerable that had been decided to move further east, in the green quarter F 6/3, known for its’ supermarket and the bookstore chain Mr. Brooks. Not only is the new building more secure, but increased protection may still be added.

However, this move has significantly brought the Belgian embassy closer to the Marriott….

The current embassy is only temporary: in light of the decline of security in Pakistan, Belgium has decided to purchase a lot in the diplomatic enclave of Islamabad (in the South-east of the city, within the line of administrative building already secured by like the Supreme Court or Parliament), and build a completely new embassy there, to be completed within two years. But the ground hasn’t yet been broken.

The insecurity seems to have had a similar impact on the rotation of our ambassador, who just left Islamabad after only two years of exemplary service. A successor should be officially confirmed in the coming weeks, and this time we predict a single person. It’s true that teaching a diplomat’s children becomes problematic; after the attack on Saturday, the American school in Islamabad have shut their doors, without a reopening date given. Other amenities seem even more limited: British Airways for one has indefinitely suspended flights to Pakistan. Etc.