By Mamta:
The leak of classified documents by WikiLeaks might be the largest leak of military secrets since 1971 when Pentagon Papers on Vietnam got leaked but people already knew many of these things. The strategy of Pakistan and the US towards India and Iraq has been known for years but these documents have provided verification to those things. Out of these we are more concerned by the Afghan War Logs as it directly impacts our relations with our neighbouring countries.
WikiLeaks, which calls itself an “uncensorable system for untraceable mass document leaking”, has released over 92,000 classified military documents. The documents revealed that Indian road construction teams and consulates in Afghanistan came under attack more than two dozen times after the ISI paid huge amount – $15,000 to 30,000 – to the Taliban and the Haqqani network to specifically attack Indians. There have been smaller attacks and failed attempts to disrupt Indian developmental efforts in Afghanistan. Most of these events went unreported because there has been no casualty or security personnels received only minor injuries. Indian consulates in Kandahar and Jalalabad have also been attacked repeatedly but none of the staff got injured.
Similarly the papers show that the Pakistan army and ISI have been supporting terrorist organisations throughout the period 2004-09. The reports also claim that insurgents were plotting to poison beer supplies for American forces. Pakistan receives more than $1 billion a year from the US for its help in fighting the militants and this comes as a blot on its claims.
The documents clearly prove that Pakistan is interested in promoting conflicts against India and Afghanistan. It also contains the accounts of American anger at Pakistan’s unwillingness to confront insurgents who launched attacks near Pakistani border posts. After the leak Pakistan moved on expected lines. It denied all these accusations as it did in the case of Mumbai terror attacks. Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States — Husain Haqqani said: “The documents circulated by WikiLeaks do not reflect the current on-ground realities.”
The Leaks Prove:
The strategy of Pakistan has been known to India for a very long time. Hence it would be foolish to expect that Pakistan would ever agree on settlement of any issue except on its own terms. From diplomatic and security point of view — peace in the Asian region is very important and necessary for India. Any kind of trouble in our neighbouring countries is not good for India as it has a direct effect on our foreign policy, security, social and cultural relations.
The moves of the US can also be well understood. It wants to extend its influence in the region to counter China. Any accord between India and Pakistan will not suit the US interests as it would lower the chances for them having a strong hold in Asia. On the other hand Pakistan is taking help from both the US and China.
Increasing influence of India in Afghanistan is a threat to both America and Pakistan. From strategic point of view Afghanistan is important for Pakistan because if India gets dominance in Afghanistan, Pakistan would be wedged between the two. As far as America is concerned it wants to make a strong NATO base in the subcontinent. It’s like a game where everyone wants to have an edge over the other.
From eye hole coverage of the US military shooting civilians to Afghan war Diaries and much more, WikiLeaks, according to the website ” is a multi-jurisdictional public service designed to protect whistleblowers, journalists and activists who have sensitive materials to communicate to the public. Since July 2007, we have worked across the globe to obtain, publish and defend such materials, and, also, to fight in the legal and political spheres for the broader principles on which our work is based: the integrity of our common historical record and the rights of all peoples to create new history.”
WikiLeaks — which upholds the banner of freedom of information is emerging as a powerful tool. Probably the reason why U.S. Intelligence planned to destroy WikiLeaks.