While I don’t absolve Pakistan of its terror linkages, its ironic to see Pakistan sandwiched between U.S and Al Qaeda. Its amusing to see U.S representatives walking into Pakistan every other day to take reports of its anti-terror drive while the Al Qaeda and allies bombing Pakistan almost on daily basis.

Just the other day, the Senate Armed Services Committee requested Pentagon input regarding the effectiveness of U.S.-funded Pakistani military operations against reported Taliban, al Qaeda and other-insurgent activity along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

So, Army Maj. Gen. Richard Sherlock, the Joint Staff’s director of operational planning announced that “We have a constant dialogue and work with their military and with their government officials every day to share information (and) to offer our assistance where necessary.”

You can imagine if a man named Sherlock is incharge of Pakistani Army progress report against the Osama Bin laden led Al Qaeda and Co, that too on daily basis!

Ofcource, the Pakistani’s are indirectly trying to sign a peace deal with the Al Qaeda via Waziristan. Also Pakistan is trying to be in peace with U.S by deploying 100,000 Pakistani troops against insurgents operating in northwest Pakistan’s illegally occupied but federally administered tribal areas. Needless to say, U.S doesn’t want Pakistan to cut a deal with the terrorist, while, the terrorist don’t want Pakistan to cut a deal with U.S.

While Osama Bin laden issues threat to Pakistani leadership every other video, U.S shames Al Qaeda in this respect. Says Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates “It’s only been in the last few months, in my opinion, that Pakistan has come to realize that the situation along the border with Afghanistan … potentially represents a serious threat to the state of Pakistan itself.” Imagine he says this after 90 operations involving death of thousands of Pakistani troops since this started few years back.

Just today, U.S denied possibility of attacking Pakistan. Admiral Michael Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said ” The US forces would in “no way, shape or form invade or (carry out an) attack in Pakistan.” So, there was a talk about it? U.S sounds diplomatically nice about it, but, Al Qaeda and allies make no bones out of it.

Once upon a time Pakistan welcomed both U.S and Al Qaeda, can it be said about Pakistan today? U.S helped Al Qaeda and Taliban to establish areas bordering Afghanistan as “safe havens,” today it accuses them of establishing it as safe havens. Al Qaeda and Taliban once were friends of USA, now they are sworn enemies.

The United States has accused Pakistan of not doing enough to stop militants and Osama Bin laden accuses Pakistan of supporting United States. Which is a greater terror for Pakistanis, the U.S or the Al Qaeda? This is something I would love to find out.