WORLD BRIDGE BLOG

Since September 11, 2001, the U.S. government has provided Pakistan with $11 billion in military aid, a staggering sum in both absolute terms and when compared with non-military assistance. Not surprisingly, Pakistan wants this financial and logistical support to its armed forces to continue. President Asif Ali Zardari, in a recent Washington Post op-ed, urged the U.S. to “give [Pakistan] the necessary resources – upgrading [their] equipment and providing the newest technology – to fight terrorists…”

With Ambassador Holbrooke set to return shortly from his visit to the region, President Obama will soon be expected to craft clear policy priorities for Pakistan. There will be no shortage of data for him to review. Yet alongside the billions in military aid, there’s another set of figures the Obama administration should consider.

Last week the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) revealed that up to 450,000 Pakistanis have been displaced because of conflict in the northwest. Of these, more than 65,000 live in tents in newly created camps. The UN expects the total figure to rise to 600,000 in the coming weeks.

In the last six months, the Pakistani army has intensified military operations in the North West Frontier Province and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas against anti-government militants. These military operations include bombings of villages and have resulted in large scale displacement, civilian deaths and property losses.

This week’s news of a ceasefire in the Swat valley and the enforcement of Islamic law is an indication of the weak hold that government institutions have in this part of the country. Civilians are caught between insurgents and the army, and often have no choice but to flee their homes, leaving everything behind.

The U.S. government has remained silent on this issue. While it has disbursed some funds to respond to the immediate needs of the displaced through the UN and the Red Cross, few senior officials (in both past and present administrations) have expressed U.S. concerns over the fate of Pakistani civilians. The U.S. cannot shirk away from its responsibilities. It has financed, encouraged and supported the Pakistani government to root out militants on its Afghanistan border. 

Pakistanis know that the bombs that are being dropped are American made, and as Refugees International argued in our recent report, the Pakistani government is quickly losing the support of its population.

President Obama has shown he understands the need to publicly reach out to outside constituents. His administration must demonstrate a commitment to the protection of the Pakistanis through both humanitarian assistance and the promotion of civilian protection principles. President Obama should encourage the Pakistani government to take all possible measures to ensure that civilian casualties are minimized, and that adequate assistance is reaching the displaced.

This is not only a moral imperative, but an acknowledgment of U.S. responsibilities in this conflict. Eleven billion dollars come at a price.