US EFFORTS TO OPEN NEW CONSULATE IN QUETTA-MAY 2010

The recently unveiled US desire of opening their consulate in Quetta warrants some attention. The apparent US intent is to facilitate Pakistanis in acquiring US visa and lessen the burden on US consulate in Karachi. This US intent needs scrutiny in backdrop of two factors. First is the necessity of having a US consulate in Quetta since percentage of people applying for US visa from Balochistan is at best minimal. Second is resonance of old US mantra that so called ‘Quetta Shura’ under Mullah Omer (purportedly under Pakistan’s tutelage) has been orchestrating resistance against NATO and US forces in Afghanistan. The US desire to open its consulate in Quetta appears more relevant in backdrop of the later fact viz generation of covert response against ‘Quetta Shura’, if at all it exists. It can be asserted with fair amount of confidence that the US consulate in Quetta would likely provide a diplomatic cover under which the US will be able to coordinate its covert activities in the province, which has been somewhat difficult under present arrangements. Such US presence in Balochistan has the potential to destabilize the province, which is already plagued by a sub-nationalist movement. The implications of the US presence in Quetta on Iran and resultant Pak-Iran relations also merit consideration. The latest US overture also needs a mention in light of fact that the Government of Pakistan in the past has allowed the US to enhance its covert presence in Pakistan by allowing elements of US sponsored private security contractors in the country. Cognizant of contingent implications, it is hoped that the Government of Pakistan this time will exercise prudence, divorce itself from its US centric obsession and take decision in the best interest of Pakistan without any prejudice.

Tahir Terry · Monday, May 19, 2010

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