WIKILEAKS have created a furor internationally, by releasing mountains of classified documents pertaining to the war in Afghanistan. Although a section of the western media is sensationalizing the portion pertaining to Pakistan, it should not bother Pakistan. Of the 92000 documents released, around 180 pertain to some complicity of ISI with Taliban in Afghanistan and that too unsubstantiated. International media acknowledges that most of the reports are from paid informers and for monetary gains. Reports of Osama bin Laden (OBL)’s presence in Quetta as late as 2006; holding monthly meetings have found their way in the exposé. The Daily Mail would like to know, if the US had this information, why was it not shared with authorities in Pakistan more so confirmed reports acknowledge OBL visiting India in 2003 with the consent of US and Indian authorities. The Daily Mail wonders, why the names of US Military Personnel mentioned in the leaked documents have been redacted for security reasons but alleged names of ISI officials have been released. This has put officials of Pakistan in harm’s way. Majority of the reports are about US Army and its actions in Afghanistan, yet the entire media is focusing on unverified and unsubstantiated reports of ISI playing both sides of the field. By their own accounts, involvement of ISI in Afghanistan is based on rumours. NDS the Afghan Intelligence agencies and paid informants are the main source of information who are known to have worked to defame and marginalize Pakistan in support of India, so it was expected that it would indulge in such a malpractice to give Pakistan a bad name. The timing of the release of this report and allegations leveled on ISI and Pakistan indicate western ingratitude towards Pakistan’s contributions and sacrifices of Pakistani Nation in the War on Terror. This factor may have contributed to the conclusion that despite billions in aid from Washington and a shared threat from extremists, Pakistanis have an overwhelmingly negative view of the United States, according to results of a Pew Research Center poll released Thursday. The Daily Mail finds it interesting that most Pakistanis want improved relations with the United States, according to the poll. But most view the U.S. with suspicion, support for American involvement in the fight against extremists has declined, and nearly two-thirds want U.S. troops out of neighboring Afghanistan.
Wikileaks may be claiming that its disclosures may be in support of its mission statement of a quest for world peace, however, they reflect a collection of malicious reports based on wicked ideas to malign Pakistan Army and ISI with a view to cause aspersions on Pak-US relations and damaging the Coalition’s gains in Afghanistan. Such a report only helps insurgents as it divides the Coalition partners. Pakistan rightly rejected the contents of Wikileaks construing that these are based on nefarious designs and sadistic intentions against Pakistan. US Officials have also shown their strong disapproval of such reports and have assured Government of Pakistan for making all efforts to mitigate the negative effects. Wikileaks type propaganda reports have already been used by hostile elements against Pakistan Army and ISI in the past few years. Although present leaks indicate that Afghan Intelligence Agencies have compiled these reports, yet Indian encouragement cannot be ruled out. US Government must investigate and find out who is responsible for release of this crude info. The perpetrator of these leaks must be put to task. Such leaks can endanger the lives of International Forces and all Allies. The Pentagon has called in the FBI to help investigate who leaked almost 90,000 files from the Afghanistan war to the self-proclaimed whistleblower group. The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, has lashed out at WikiLeaks’ founder Julian Assange, stating that Mr. Assange might already have on his hands the blood of some young soldier or that of an Afghan family. American forces have experienced their deadliest month in the nine-year-old Afghan war, with 66 US service members killed in July, while 60 lost their lives in June. Thus it is the US, which must worry about the unauthorized leaks to the media and plug the gap.
