The United States has taken Pakistan into confidence over a new US military alliance to fight the growing global presence of the self-styled Islamic State (IS), said Daily Times. The new alliance, called “Sahel to South Asia” is expected to be announced soon by the White House. “Pakistan has been consulted by the US at the highest level,” according to a top government official. Pakistan will take a formal decision after conducting consultations with all domestic stakeholders over joining the alliance, added the official. “IS has presence in Afghanistan, and they maintain close collaboration with militant organisations, and if not tackled they can pose a threat to Pakistan’s security,” the government official further said.More details are expected to be worked out through a high-level meeting between the military leadership of both countries, once the alliance is officially announced and made public by the US. The development comes after US National Security Adviser (NSA) Susan Rice called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif at the General Headquarters (GHQ) last week, where she “appreciated and acknowledged Pakistan Army’s sincere efforts and sacrifices in the war against terrorism.” During the meeting, matters of mutual interest – including the security situation in the region – were discussed. The threat of IS cannot be wished away, as the most troubling element of its expansion is the fact that the “concept” of IS travels very quickly and, as evidenced in Afghanistan, affiliated groups set up franchises themselves that replicate the original IS in methods and goals. The ideology of IS has immense popularity and the slogans on the walls and leaflets in favour of the organisation appearing in many cities of Pakistan should be a wakeup call to the authorities on the need to anticipate its potential rise in Pakistan. The Foreign Office (FO) has admitted this serious threat, but the Interior Ministry seems to be in denial. The Pakistani state should get on one page on the issue and not put out contradictory messages. To wait for establishing operational links of IS within Pakistan would be too late as any number of existing militant groups can pledge fealty to the leader of IS Abubakr al-Baghdadi and begin operating in an autonomous manner. Disgruntled Taliban commanders have already made a nascent South Asian chapter of IS called Khorasan and security officials have reportedly arrested a local recruiter for fighting in Syria. These details already hint at IS beginning to make its presence known in Pakistan, hence it is critical that the notion of joining the burgeoning military alliance is not shot down by conflicting domestic stakeholders. It is possible that joining in another military alliance with the US while tensions exist between the two countries and the appetite for taking part in a war against a new global terrorist threat would be deeply unpopular decisions on the political front. However, the need to put a stop to the brutal, genocidal actions of the IS from taking root in Pakistan outweighs any other concern, and the only way to achieve that goal is by a coordinated global effort with shared intelligence and resources.
pk.shafaqna.com
