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The killing of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden on May 02 in the heart of Pakistan by a Navy Seal team exposed the deep mistrust that lies between Washington and Islamabad.
Pakistan was shocked not by the finding of worlds number one terrorist in a mansion near its military headquarters, but by the fact that the US did not even bother to inform Islamabad of the raid. Pakistan, which has persistently denied allegations that its ISI is colluding with insurgents, is finding it difficult to convince the US to continue its financial aid.
In an exclusive interview with Kamna Arora of Zeenews.com, an internationally acclaimed writer, Reza Aslan, discusses the difficult but necessary relationship between the US and Pakistan.
Kamna: What is the status of already fractious ties between the US and Pakistan?
Reza: Relations between the US and Pakistan are as strained as they have ever been. Indeed, there are powerful voices in both countries calling for a complete severing of ties. This is understandable as each country has reason to be distrustful of the other. But it would be a colossal mistake for Pakistan and the United States to give in to these voices and give up on each other.
Kamna: Do you think US pressure and embarrassment post Osamas killing will push Islamabad to improve efforts in fighting extremism?
Reza: It doesn't seem to have done so yet. In fact, it is difficult to say that the Pakistani military and ISI are all that embarrassed about not knowing bin Laden was in their backyard.
Kamna: Can the US afford to sever ties with Pakistan? What could be the possible consequences if that happens?
Reza: The US has invested a great deal in Pakistan and relies on its ally to secure the border in Afghanistan and help monitor the activities of Taliban and al Qaeda militants in the North West Frontier Province. It would be a huge blow to the so-called war on terror if the US loses Pakistan as an ally.
Kamna: Can India benefit from US-Pakistan tensions? Reza: India is desperate to wean the US from its relationship with Pakistan and a few more Pakistani-inspired terror attacks in the subcontinent just might do the trick.
Kamna: Can the tensions between US and Pakistan affect Washingtons planned withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan?
Reza: Abandoning Pakistan now would reverse what gains the United States has made in the fight against the Taliban and al Qaeda over the last decade. The Taliban already has an unsteady foothold in the Pakistani region of Waziristan, and there is reason to believe that the new head of al Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri, may be hiding there. Withdrawing economic and military support would no doubt allow these militant groups to gain more ground in the country.
Pakistan was shocked not by the finding of worlds number one terrorist in a mansion near its military headquarters, but by the fact that the US did not even bother to inform Islamabad of the raid. Pakistan, which has persistently denied allegations that its ISI is colluding with insurgents, is finding it difficult to convince the US to continue its financial aid.
In an exclusive interview with Kamna Arora of Zeenews.com, an internationally acclaimed writer, Reza Aslan, discusses the difficult but necessary relationship between the US and Pakistan.
Reza Aslan is author of international bestseller No god but God as well as Beyond Fundamentalism and Tablet and Pen: Literary Landscapes from the Modern Middle East.
Kamna: What is the status of already fractious ties between the US and Pakistan?
Reza: Relations between the US and Pakistan are as strained as they have ever been. Indeed, there are powerful voices in both countries calling for a complete severing of ties. This is understandable as each country has reason to be distrustful of the other. But it would be a colossal mistake for Pakistan and the United States to give in to these voices and give up on each other.
Kamna: Do you think US pressure and embarrassment post Osamas killing will push Islamabad to improve efforts in fighting extremism?
Reza: It doesn't seem to have done so yet. In fact, it is difficult to say that the Pakistani military and ISI are all that embarrassed about not knowing bin Laden was in their backyard.
Kamna: Can the US afford to sever ties with Pakistan? What could be the possible consequences if that happens?
Reza: The US has invested a great deal in Pakistan and relies on its ally to secure the border in Afghanistan and help monitor the activities of Taliban and al Qaeda militants in the North West Frontier Province. It would be a huge blow to the so-called war on terror if the US loses Pakistan as an ally.
Kamna: Can India benefit from US-Pakistan tensions? Reza: India is desperate to wean the US from its relationship with Pakistan and a few more Pakistani-inspired terror attacks in the subcontinent just might do the trick.
Kamna: Can the tensions between US and Pakistan affect Washingtons planned withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan?
Reza: Abandoning Pakistan now would reverse what gains the United States has made in the fight against the Taliban and al Qaeda over the last decade. The Taliban already has an unsteady foothold in the Pakistani region of Waziristan, and there is reason to believe that the new head of al Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri, may be hiding there. Withdrawing economic and military support would no doubt allow these militant groups to gain more ground in the country.


when they feel why china and USA got ties with Pakistan/USA did after 911 trade centers collapse to invade afghanistan, iraq capture there resources kill their babies and deploy their army its universal rule of israel and usa forces first let their enemies fight with each other when they get weak attack them as Pakistan and India poor states doing since long wasting energies and indulging future generation in wars while global powers USA UK enjoying it pakistan its leaders officers forces depend on this worst poisnous snake who always bitten pakistan on almost every occasion drone attacks,raymond davis who murdered innocent pakistanis and left free ,bomb blasts, insecurity instability till yet very much crystal clear while pakistan never teased this stage 4 metastatic cancer usa like their xee black water under cover agents several others ,israel and india always usa favourite countries. As usa christians all religions itself becoming slave of jews who got the most cunning wicked brains on earth instead of jerusalem they spreading like parasites every where and increasing cancer every where all can see nothing happening to israel mosquito while playing with so big gulf states like arab uae ksa since years so similar Israel will never want that iran, korea become nucler power or pakistan remain nuclear power but no problem israel ,usa ,uk ,france, or india ,make or keep as much bombs they can no problems they can keep and increase them too EVILS double standards still time to attack and finish the roots and their root cause of all such propagandas fake drama makers war mongers usa israel india destroyers of earth. basicaly war is against muslims not against europe america brasil africa canada or non muslim states its true osama cia agent al qaida helped no 1 else more then usa israel helped lot israelis americans to full fill their missions dirty desires to invade free states and hold their assets to provide enviroment for attack as in past mujahideen did in russian war against afghanistan now same people r called thaliban terrorists trained and sent into Pakistan with support of Indian raw in real thalib is so poor cant eat 1 time how he fight keep so expensive guns and live happy in doing this all as dollars and raw have the qualities how to use them PIG A.. Indians to do any thing Delhi devil go and kill the most wanted terrorist bal takray from Hindu extremist gay doing worst human rights violation in Kashmir most hatred black face black hear ted ugly crow Indians ajmal kasab was trained in India similar all terrorist caught in Karachi like bihari belong to India if u that champion why don't mess with France uk usa china because they will bang Ur A..not far when their will be 1 green flag over indo pak all time jealous Indians u Russian beggars before India collapse itself beside dreaming about others get some life scums GOD WILL NEVER BLESS YOU AND BURN U FOREVER IN HELL FOR ALL U DID and doing.