I've discussed the importance and role of Pakistan in South Asia before. Now CIA officials are taking a hard line with the ISI (Pakistan's intelligence agency) regarding their involvement with militant groups. Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has denied the supposed links.The ISI ran arms to the Mujaheddin and other Afghans fighting against the Soviets. Back then it was with CIA backing, but Pakistan retains a vested interest in being seen as an ally of whatever group grabs power in Afghanistan. The new coalition government wants to see democracy thrive in Afghanistan. It would promote peace and stability within Pakistan and increase their international standing. But their porous border in the FATA region prevents any such events. The ISI could certainly, with CIA help, close this border, or at least tighten it. But there are factions of the ISI that are more than happy to assist the Taliban in their various nefarious activities, and take a nice cut off the top. In addition to this, the military men running the ISI are hedging their bets by supporting both sides of the power struggle in Afghanistan. They are stuck in an outdated mindset and hoping for an Afghan ally, regardless of who is in power, to counter the perceived threat from India.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. The stability of Afghanistan and the entire region is hinged on a working relationship between Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan. The US is right to force the ISI's hand and demand a legitimate and appropriate response. But military and intelligence aspects must be tempered by transparent, civil structures. We should be encouraging, and diplomatically maneuvering for, civilian control of the ISI. Counter-terrorism requires a civilian, not military, response. We should help Pakistan in developing just that.
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