DND Report
Islamabad, Pakistan: Several think tanks, researchers, and academicians working in the field of geopolitics are claiming that the US Department of Defense, Intelligence Community, and political sphere are not as synchronized as they had been in the past but it does not mean that they try to overpower each other. The balance is delicate and ‘managed’ but not as ‘aligned’ as in the past. Even the recent U.S. intelligence breach related to Israel’s plans to strike Iran is being considered the ‘result’ of ‘emerging realities’.
Related Story: US scrambles after Israel war plan leak: What to know
The theory is available in Western media that the abrupt withdrawal of US forces ordered by the Biden Administration and the hawkish political locus over Ukraine are two important events that have crafted a new balance among three partners—the Defense—Lawmakers and the Intelligence Community. In the Afghanistan fiasco, all three of them publically tried to hold each other responsible for Kabul (airport) debacle. The situation is more or less the same in the Ukraine scenario where politicians promise military hardware while the Department of Defense says that stocks are not ready and Intelligence networking claims that there is no chance to win so the Defense and Political cadre must avoid burning oil uselessly. Regarding the Palestine-Israel standoff; all three stand together but not for directly attacking Iran; therefore Biden administration is scrambling to determine if the Israel leak is a result of a hack or internal work.
Related Story: Who leaked US classified docs on potential Israeli attack plans?
The breached documents were only meant to be viewed by the “Five Eyes” — the U.S. and its allies Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom but are now available publically. FBI says it had launched an investigation into the incident and was “working closely with our partners in the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community.” The office of the chief of staff to Christopher Maier, the assistant secretary of Defense for special operations is under the radar and the name of Defense Department staffer Ariane Tabatabai is in the news.
The theories available for this leak include; Iranians hacking the U.S. intelligence services and leaking the document as part of their psyops against Israel; someone within the U.S. government may have leaked it; the Biden administration may have arranged the leak itself to delay the Israeli attack; the Israelis may have leaked this themselves to divert Iran’s attention by getting them to look for an attack in all the wrong places and the leak is done by someone within Five Eyes state or a NATO ally. Whosoever leaked documents, it is a much-talked reality in NATO headquarters as well as in Pentagon circles that Biden’s refusal to stop Netanyahu from starting the largest war in the Middle East since World War II would serve nobody.
Senior Western analysts are demanding ‘responsible statecraft’ as, according to them the ‘reckless’ political moves have already damaged Western military power in the last five years. If the recently written letter of 62 US lawmakers to President Biden to take action against Pakistan (that borders Iran and Afghanistan) is taken in the backdrop of the fragile balance among the Defense—Political cadre and Intelligence Community of the United States, one can understand that such political rhetoric would not in Washington’s interests rather this political move would be counterproductive for Defense and Intelligence Community.
Furthermore, CENTCOM believes that the sitting military leadership in Pakistan has been playing a pivotal role in fighting out terrorism in the region and it (Pakistan’s military leadership) must be supported and appreciated. According to CENTCOM’s viewpoint, Pakistan has been paying everybody in the same coin who tried to destabilize the fragile peace in the region and Pakistan’s COAS Gen Asim Munir has proven it.
Unipath is a professional military magazine published quarterly by the Commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) in its October Edition published a headline story titled ‘A Forceful Voice Against Violent Extremists’; explaining that Chief of Army Staff Gen. Syed Asim Munir upholds Pakistani security through turbulent times and his leadership shall be commemorated as whose foremost commitment resides in the security, stability, and prosperity of Pakistan.
Related Story: A Forceful Voice Against Violent Extremists
It is pertinent to mention that UNIPATH is an international publication for military personnel in the Middle East and South and Central Asia region and select articles are written by Unipath’s staff under the guidance of the US Secretary of Defense who believes that publication of this magazine is necessary for conducting public business as required of the Department of Defense by law.
The article says that since his assumption of command in November 2022, Gen. Asim Munir has charted a course that has spanned from resolute military actions against extremist outfits to astute military diplomacy and he has dealt with countless challenges, encircling grave security threats, growing extremism and the persistent onslaught of hybrid warfare and he has been mitigating all challenges.
The article shared information that under the leadership of Gen Asim Munir, thousands of intelligence-based operations had been conducted against terrorists and their facilitators.
The writer signposted that:
“Pakistan’s sovereignty was challenged on January 16, 2024, when Iran carried out a series of missile and drone strikes within Pakistan’s Balochistan province resulting in the deaths of two innocent children. To express its resolve and redeem its stature, on January 18, Pakistan conducted a meticulously planned and precisely targeted series of military strikes based on credible intelligence against terrorist hideouts in the Sistan-o-Baluchistan province of Iran. This operation, codenamed Marg Bar Sarmachar, resulted in the elimination of several terrorists”.
The writer also appreciated Gen. Asim Munir for assisting the government in the functioning of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and the Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI) to attract foreign investment and ensure food security and for forging economic partnerships with the Arabian Gulf states and the United States.
The writer appreciated the skills of COAS in Military diplomacy stating that in December 2023, Gen. Asim Munir visited the U.S., marking a pivotal moment in Pakistan’s expanding military and diplomatic relations with the U.S. and this visit was both symbolic and practical, with high-profile engagements that highlighted the multifaceted nature of Pakistan-U.S. relations.
“Gen. Asim Munir’s approach to military diplomacy has not only strengthened Pakistan’s relations with key global partners but has also underscored the nation’s role in promoting regional peace and stability. As Pakistan navigates through intricate geopolitical dynamics and internal challenges, Gen. Asim Munir works to guide the Army and nation toward a future marked with professionalism, resilience, prosperity, and unity”, commented the writer.
Weirdly, the letter written by US politicians considers these acts of Gen Asim as “military rule with a civilian facade, and with the government losing sight of governing by “making political repression its singular focus,”.
Any researcher can review the situation that US Defense demands in the region are being frustrated by the US political cadre that is easy to be influenced by lobbying firms and reckless to take action and use rhetoric of ‘human rights’ or democracy and reckless statements strongly damage military might of United States first in Afghanistan (abrupt withdrawal for rhetoric of ‘greater good of Afghans) and then in Ukraine where US Defense Department and Intelligence Community were suggesting ‘cautious policy’ but politicians were hawkish to get involved. In the CENTCOM region, the US needs an adult partner such as Gen Asim Munir whose skills are being appreciated by the CENTCOM publically while the US political cadre in its letter to President Biden is accusing the same person of ‘violating democratic principles and human rights’ and conditioning ‘any future cooperation with Pakistan on measurable improvements in human rights practices’.
Related Story: 62 US lawmakers urge Biden to put pressure on Pakistan to release jailed Imran Khan
At the time when CENTCOM is saying that Gen. Asim Munir’s tenure as the Chief of the Army Staff has been characterized by determined action against extremism, proactive measures to address security challenges, and a commitment to fostering socioeconomic stability, 62 US lawmakers are accusing him for his intervention into the political sphere. The CENTCOM appreciates the skills of COAS Gen Asim in fighting out a formidable challenge in the form of fifth-generation warfare, a complex blend of conventional and unconventional tactics (social media warfare) but the letter of US politicians considering these moves as a ‘crackdown on social media and the internet as part of a broader effort to suppress political activism, which it deems to be “anti-state propaganda” and “digital terrorism.”
The above-mentioned situation can be considered ‘dangerous’ for US partners in sensitive regions in the Middle East and South Asia because a majority of countries in these regions are already losing trust in the US establishment and there is already global disapproval for the “US sanctions-driven” treatment of Washington.
It’s hard to walk away from a winning streak, even harder to leave the table when you’re on a losing one.
