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Pakistani Daily Reviews US Defence Secretary's Visit

Posted on: Thursday, 22 December 2005, 06:00 CST

Excerpt from report by The News correspondent entitled: "Rumsfeld doubts Usamah in position to command Al-Qa'idah; US defence secretary visits Pakistan unannounced; praises Musharraf's role in terror war" by Pakistani newspaper The News website on 22 December; ellipses as received throughout

Islamabad: The Pakistan government had made preparations for the brief visit of US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld about a week ago when it was officially conveyed that the high-ranking US official would visit the country.

His travel here, however, remained a guarded secret. It was the Ministry of Defence that coordinated the few hours that Rumsfeld spent in Pakistan. While the main reason for Rumsfeld's visit was to bring some holiday cheer to the American troops in Afghanistan and Pakistan - and that was all that he wanted to include in his itinerary - the US embassy was convinced that a call on President Pervez Musharraf would be appreciated.

After the high-profile visit of Vice-President Dick Cheney on Tuesday [20 December] and his extensive meetings at the Aiwan-i- Sadr [President House], Rumsfeld spent very little time with Musharraf in the afternoon. The official electronic media did not cover the event.

Neither the army nor the president's office was surprised that the United States has started withdrawing its troops and helicopters from the quake-hit regions. "With the passage of time these US helicopters had to return to Afghanistan where they are also needed at this time. The troops connected with these helicopters had also to return. Our main concern is the American hospital in Azad Kashmir [Pakistan-administered Kashmir] (MASH), which is doing some excellent work," ISPR [Inter Services Public Relations] chief Maj- Gen Shaukat Sultan told The News.

According to western diplomatic sources, Dick Cheney informed Musharraf on Tuesday that MASH would continue functioning till March 2006 when it will be decided, assessing the situation on the ground, whether the US government will extend its stay or if its personnel will also return.

"The US deserves praise for its swift, substantial and sensitive response to Pakistan's disaster. Naturally, phasing out of troops and relief workers does take place over time," a senior official at the Foreign Office told The News.

According to news agencies, Rumsfeld said the US had more than 1,200 personnel in the quake-hit areas and the number of helicopters was 24. "Today there are 850 military personnel and the helicopters involved in relief work are only 12. Two medical facilities are still functioning. Aid efforts will continue."

Rumsfeld was received at the Chaklala airbase by his Pakistani counterpart, Rao Sikandar Iqbal. He later flew to Muzaffarabad and visited the main US MASH hospital. He also visited a US surgical unit at Shinkiari in Mansehra, which has been treating injured people. Rumsfeld also met pilots and crew of US Chinook helicopters at the Qasim airbase in Rawalpindi, which have been shuttling the bulk of relief supplies for millions of quake survivors.

Earlier, according to mediapersons travelling with him, Rumsfeld called Pakistan "a moderate Muslim regime in the world that is demonstrating... partnership". "I think it is important that the world recognises the relationships the United States has had in the past with moderate Muslim states and what we do," Rumsfeld said and urged that the world should "see that the activities of the United States are not to support those... who are opposed to the people, who cut off heads and engage in violent extremist activities".

Rumsfeld said he doubts that Usamah Bin-Ladin is in a position to assert full command over the Al-Qa'idah terror network. He said he found it interesting that Usamah had not been heard of publicly in nearly a year.

"I don't know what it means," Rumsfeld told a group of reporters travelling with him. "I suspect that in any event, if he's alive and functioning then he's probably spending a major fraction of his time trying to avoid getting caught."

The US defence secretary said he thought Usamah would have difficulty being "in a position of major command over a worldwide Al- Qa'idah operation, but I could be wrong. We just don't know."

He also praised General Pervez Musharraf for his role in fighting Al-Qa'idah and other extremist groups. Muhammad Saleh Zaafir adds: US Defence Secretary Rumsfeld has assured Pakistan continuation of its longstanding support to Islamabad's genuine defence needs and lauded the role of Pakistan Armed Forces in tackling odds and adversaries coming in their way during their operations.

Sources told The News that the secretary initiated his tour from Pakistan to meet the US troops posted abroad to greet them on the auspicious occasion of Christmas. Rumsfeld had detailed discussions with his Pakistani counterpart at the VVIP lounge of the Islamabad airport. He sent complimentary messages to President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz through General Tariq Wasim Ghazi. No other meeting of the US defence chief was scheduled during his trip to Pakistan, the sources confirmed.

Rumsfeld appreciated the rapport between the armed forces of Pakistan and the United States and NATO during the relief and rescue operations for the quake victims. He was of the view that the cooperation between the armed forces of Pakistan and the United States in various fields was satisfactory and had the potential of expansion. The two defence secretaries, the sources said, also discussed the close liaison between the two countries in the war on terror. They expressed satisfaction over the level of cooperation.

Later, Rumsfeld left for Kabul just before midday. He spent about four hours in Kabul before leaving for Oman where a huge American base is located. After overnight stay in Oman, he will be leaving for his next destination today.

US Armed Forces Chief of the Army Staff General Show Maker is reaching Islamabad today on a day-long visit. He is visiting Pakistan for the first time after assuming his current responsibilities. Apart from visiting his troops, the US general will have some important meetings during his stay here, the sources said. He will be third high-ranking American official visiting Pakistan in three days. [passage omitted]

Source: BBC Monitoring South Asia

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