Hearing of the Middle East and South Asia Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee: Defeating Al Queda's Air Force: Pakistan's F-16 Program in the Fight Against Terrorism

Statement

Hearing of the Middle East and South Asia Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee: Defeating Al Queda's Air Force: Pakistan's F-16 Program in the Fight Against Terrorism

REP. JIM COSTA (D-CA): Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I think it is timely with this hearing.

I too took notice this morning of the spokesperson for the Pakistan military that gave the warning as to American forces that are there in the Afghani-Pakistani border as to what might occur in the event that we pursue the Taliban and the other insurgencies across that border.

I've been on both sides of that border, up in Kunar province and up in, two years ago, on the Khyber Pass on the other side. And frankly, if we can't deal with the insurgent activity there and with the Taliban that continue to go back and forth we will not be able to provide the stability in Afghanistan.

I question, given not only this morning's statement by the Pakistan military but with the new leadership in Pakistan, as to their sincere desire to truly be a partner in this effort. It seems to me the changes that have occurred bring great question as to their commitment. And with the problems that have taken place with the Pakistani government and the change in regimes, I want to know what kind of process the State Department has taken to re-evaluate the level of support.

Clearly, the president thought he had a relationship with Musharraf. That is gone. Now we have an individual who, notwithstanding his public utterances, has had less than a pristine record in the past in terms of his level of the corruption that is abound that government and the history that surrounds that.

What sort of re-evaluation has the State Department taken as the power has shifted in Pakistan? It seems to me you're just doing the same thing that you've done before with new players.

REP. COSTA: The gentleman from the Department of Defense, Mr. Shivers, I know you've had folks from the Department of Defense throughout this transition with the Pakistan military, and as was mentioned by the chairman, the current head of the military used to head the intelligence department.

What sort of sense do you get by the commitment by the Pakistan military that this is a fight that they are truly engaged in? When we were there two years ago they were not only concerned about the F-16s, we were trying to get them the helicopters that we thought were more important to deal with with the insurgency and the (Waziristan ?) area and they are -- they seemed two years ago less interested in having the sort of capability to take that on as opposed to the F-16s.

Has there been a transition, a change of view on the part of the Pakistan military?

MR. SHIVERS: As you know, sir, the Pakistan military enjoys a unique position in Pakistan as a generally well --

REP. COSTA: It's been the consistent stability over 60 years --

MR. SHIVERS: Absolutely, sir.

REP. COSTA: -- amongst political turmoil.

REP. COSTA: Among the military leaders, would you say that they rank India or the threat in the provinces to be their gravest threat to their security?

REP. COSTA: Do you have an agreed-upon timeline on that transformation as to when you expect them to be proficient and able to perform the tasks?

REP. COSTA: But isn't that an opportunity for a quid pro quo vis-a-vis the F-16s? It seems to me that if we're going to make this transition that there ought to be some expectation levels here on the other end.

REP. COSTA: And do you think you're getting reassurances that they intend to meet those expectations?

REP. COSTA: Well, I think that's the only way you can judge them.

MR. SHIVERS: Yes, sir.

REP. COSTA: And so how good is the track record so far based on their actions in the last six months?

MR. SHIVERS: I think we would say that it's uneven at present. If you look to comments from our leaders in Afghanistan, Major General Jeff Schlosser just recently indicated that he thought that the counterinsurgency -- counterterrorism efforts in Bajaur agency in the north of -- North-West Frontier is having beneficial effect in Afghanistan. So they're seeing -- most recently as this offensive is being taken on by the Pakistani military, they're seeing declining violence in our corresponding provinces on the Afghan side.

REP. COSTA: And have the relationships, Mr. Camp, improved any between -- with the new leadership in Pakistan and Afghanistan?

MR. CAMP: Sir, I think a very telling point was the fact that President Karzai came to Islamabad for the swearing-in of President Zardari. I think the relationship between those two is important and is a good harbinger of a future better relationship.

REP. COSTA: It wasn't good before.

MR. CAMP: It has not been good for many years, that's true, sir.

REP. COSTA: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

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