Inching towards a policy for blood donor recruitment

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia told the US to ensure more safety at Pak-India borders to get absolute results in the war on terror while letting Islamabad authorities fully concentrate on its Afghan boundaries to combat al-Qaeda.

A latest US Embassy (Riyadh) cable, released by WikiLeaks, quoting Saudi authorities, provides that Pakistan would feel more comfortable and focused on checking terrorists when its Indian side is in a safer position.

“If we want one hundred percent from them (Pakistan), we should make them feel more secure on their border with India,” Riyadh cautioned a visiting US general early this year in a detailed meeting.

The Saudi Assistant Minister of Interior Prince Mohammed Bin Naif and US General Jones had a half an hour meeting on January 12, 2010 minutes of which were dispatched to Washington by its Riyadh-based Ambassador James B Smith on January 19, 2010.

As both discussed US and Saudi efforts to combat al-Qaeda extremists in the region besides Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and Iran, the Saudi minister is quoted by Smith saying “Pakistan must let people know that it is fighting a war to keep Pakistan united and its people safe.”

Prince Mohammed told the US militaryman that King Abdullah “has concerns about the Pakistani government; the biggest problem is the army.” General Kayani is a good man; I asked him, Prince Mohammed recounted, whether or not his soldiers, when they visit their villages, wear their uniforms, or if they changed into civilian clothes. “He told me that they change to civilian clothes.”

US Ambassador Smith wrote in the communication with General Jones noting that the Obama administration’s approach in Pakistan and Afghanistan reflects many of the same lessons that the Saudis have learned. “That is why the US is working with a new emphasis on national reunification in Afghanistan.”

“The approach includes reducing the emphasis on military operations while exerting new efforts to encourage reconciliation. In order for this strategy to succeed, Gen Jones cautioned, it will be essential that Pakistani territory no longer be available as a safe haven to terrorists.”

General Jones, the US Embassy Riyadh cable provides, assured Prince Mohammed that the US is working to reduce Pakistani-Indian tensions, and emphasised that what is most needed at this moment is for Pakistan to choose which path it wants to take.

Ambassador Smith further quoted General Jones in the cable that the first step is to dislodge the terrorists; if Pakistan resolves to do this, they will find that the US will help them for some time to come. “The Pakistani ISI also needs to act with greater consistency.”

In the meeting, General Jones also noted Riyadh’s influence with Pakistan and emphasised that the US is looking for Saudi Arabia’s support.