Islamabad:
Pakistan's Ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani arrived in Islamabad early this morning amidst a raging storm and tension over surfacing of a secret memo. The memo, allegedly sent by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari to the US, warned of and sought assistance against a possible military takeover after Osama bin Laden was killed in Pakistan in May this year.
The memo was purportedly written by Mr Haqqani, on behalf of President Zardari. So Mr Haqqani has been summoned to Islamabad to explain the issue to the country's leadership. Today, he is scheduled to meet with President Zardari and PM Gilani. A meeting with Pakistan's military leadership is also likely to take place. Mr Haqqani's primary defence is that the note is unsigned and unverified.
The memo is addressed to the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen. A copy of the memo that has surfaced on a foreign policy website says, "Requests direct intervention in sending an urgent and strong message to General Kayani that delivers Washington's message for him and General Pasha to end their brinkmanship aimed at bringing down the civilian apparatus."
The existence of this startling memo was first mentioned in an editorial in the Financial Times by Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz in October who went on to say that a senior diplomat sought his help in getting a message from Zardari to Admiral Mike Mullen.
In an exclusive interview, Mr Ijaz told NDTV that the Pakistan ambassador reached out to him saying he is a "plausibly deniable channel" for them. (Watch: Haqqani reached out to me, lying about memo now, Mansoor Ijaz tells NDTV) Mr Haqqani has, however, denied these reports.
Mr Mullen's office has been quoted as saying they received a memo, but didn't give it too much credence at the time.
For India, the memo stands out for a sub-point saying Pakistan's government - under a new national security team - is prepared to fully cooperate with the Indian government on 26/11 investigations and bringing to justice all perpetrators within or outside the government, including intelligence agencies. "This includes handing over those against whom sufficient evidence exists of guilt to the Indian security services."
Last week, after his meeting with his Pakistan counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said that India believed Pakistan's military is finally on board with the India-Pak peace process. But this memo only serves to fuel suspicions of deep divisions between Pakistan's civilian and military arms - divisions that many in Islamabad are trying to play down.
Elaborating on the reference in the memo to President Zardari's readiness to hand over the 26/11 attackers to India, Mr Ijaz told NDTV this was among several proposals "designed to win the confidence of the US administration."
Meanwhile, as the controversy rages in Islamabad, Information minister Firdaus Awan said that Mr Haqqani's meetings in Islamabad are routine in nature and there is no substance in rumours over differences between civil and military leaderships.
The US State Department has termed the issue as an internal matter of Pakistan and refrained from making any comment on it.
"I understand this is a big story in Pakistan. It's partly a domestic story. We all treat it as such. We remain in contact with Ambassador Haqqani," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.
As act 2 of this latest tale unfolds, other names are doing the rounds over possible replacements for Mr Haqqani who has offered to step down if President Zardari asks him to.
Equally curious are questions over why Husain Haqqani, who is seen by many as Zardari and Washington's darling, would need a businessman to mediate with America's leadership.
Pakistan's ruling PPP had decided on Friday that Mr Haqqani would be given a "fair opportunity" to explain his position with regard to the controversy over the secret memorandum.
Separately, Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani denied Zardari's involvement in the matter and also said his government was committed to protecting military institutions like the ISI.
He said Mr Haqqani had been called to Islamabad to provide an explanation on the memorandum.
But as Washington and Islamabad's relations sink further and divisions within Pakistan grow deeper perhaps the biggest question is: What this unfolding drama will mean for Pakistan's internal political situation?
(With PTI inputs)
The memo was purportedly written by Mr Haqqani, on behalf of President Zardari. So Mr Haqqani has been summoned to Islamabad to explain the issue to the country's leadership. Today, he is scheduled to meet with President Zardari and PM Gilani. A meeting with Pakistan's military leadership is also likely to take place. Mr Haqqani's primary defence is that the note is unsigned and unverified.
The memo is addressed to the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen. A copy of the memo that has surfaced on a foreign policy website says, "Requests direct intervention in sending an urgent and strong message to General Kayani that delivers Washington's message for him and General Pasha to end their brinkmanship aimed at bringing down the civilian apparatus."
The existence of this startling memo was first mentioned in an editorial in the Financial Times by Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz in October who went on to say that a senior diplomat sought his help in getting a message from Zardari to Admiral Mike Mullen.
In an exclusive interview, Mr Ijaz told NDTV that the Pakistan ambassador reached out to him saying he is a "plausibly deniable channel" for them. (Watch: Haqqani reached out to me, lying about memo now, Mansoor Ijaz tells NDTV) Mr Haqqani has, however, denied these reports.
Mr Mullen's office has been quoted as saying they received a memo, but didn't give it too much credence at the time.
For India, the memo stands out for a sub-point saying Pakistan's government - under a new national security team - is prepared to fully cooperate with the Indian government on 26/11 investigations and bringing to justice all perpetrators within or outside the government, including intelligence agencies. "This includes handing over those against whom sufficient evidence exists of guilt to the Indian security services."
Last week, after his meeting with his Pakistan counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said that India believed Pakistan's military is finally on board with the India-Pak peace process. But this memo only serves to fuel suspicions of deep divisions between Pakistan's civilian and military arms - divisions that many in Islamabad are trying to play down.
Elaborating on the reference in the memo to President Zardari's readiness to hand over the 26/11 attackers to India, Mr Ijaz told NDTV this was among several proposals "designed to win the confidence of the US administration."
Meanwhile, as the controversy rages in Islamabad, Information minister Firdaus Awan said that Mr Haqqani's meetings in Islamabad are routine in nature and there is no substance in rumours over differences between civil and military leaderships.
The US State Department has termed the issue as an internal matter of Pakistan and refrained from making any comment on it.
"I understand this is a big story in Pakistan. It's partly a domestic story. We all treat it as such. We remain in contact with Ambassador Haqqani," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.
As act 2 of this latest tale unfolds, other names are doing the rounds over possible replacements for Mr Haqqani who has offered to step down if President Zardari asks him to.
Equally curious are questions over why Husain Haqqani, who is seen by many as Zardari and Washington's darling, would need a businessman to mediate with America's leadership.
Pakistan's ruling PPP had decided on Friday that Mr Haqqani would be given a "fair opportunity" to explain his position with regard to the controversy over the secret memorandum.
Separately, Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani denied Zardari's involvement in the matter and also said his government was committed to protecting military institutions like the ISI.
He said Mr Haqqani had been called to Islamabad to provide an explanation on the memorandum.
But as Washington and Islamabad's relations sink further and divisions within Pakistan grow deeper perhaps the biggest question is: What this unfolding drama will mean for Pakistan's internal political situation?
(With PTI inputs)
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