by Frank Davies
The Miami Herald
September 16, 2001

WASHINGTON - Pakistan, a "crucial player" in U.S. plans to mount a war against terrorism, appears sincere in its promises to assist the United States, but will face major strains in doing so, said the two members of Congress who head the Intelligence committees in Congress.

Sen. Bob Graham and Rep. Porter Goss, who met with top Pakistani officials in Islamabad for three days two weeks ago, said in separate interviews that this fragile alliance will be under severe strain.

Securing Pakistan's support, without touching off a fundamentalist Islamic backlash in that country, "makes for an extremely delicate, difficult situation," said Graham, a Florida Democrat.

Pakistan is the home of powerful Islamic fundamentalists and boasts close ties to the ruling Taliban in Afghanistan and Osama bin Laden, a prime suspect in Tuesday's attacks on New York and Washington.

Under increasing pressure from the Bush administration, Pakistan's military government agreed Saturday to close its 1,560-mile border with Afghanistan, where bin Laden and his operations have been sheltered, and allow multinational forces to use its territory and air space.

The country has 140 million people, huge economic problems, a history of instability - and nuclear weapons.

"We have to be extremely sensitive to the domestic impact in Pakistan of what we do, and their economic situation," said Goss, a Florida Republican.

Graham and Goss have more recent insight than their visit. On Tuesday, the two were having breakfast with a top Pakastani intelligence official when word came of the terrorist attacks.

"The military government is ready to help, but any operation there won't be easy," said Goss. "We saw the terrain in Pakistan and into Afghanistan - it's a huge problem, almost impassable."

The Floridians visited the famous Khyber Pass between the two countries, met with President Pervez Musharraf and other top leaders, and heard an earful about Pakistan's conflict with India over the disputed Kashmir region.

"I did not realize the depth of their animosity with India until I spent time with them," said Graham. "But Pakistan is crucial for us - just look at the map."

The threat of a nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan "is a big worry," said Goss, and another reason for the trip. But now U.S. plans for a sustained war against terrorism overshadow everything.

Graham noted that Pakistan had been a U.S. ally during the Cold War, receiving substantial military assistance, but in recent years has resented U.S. economic sanctions brought on by Pakistan's nuclear weapons development.

"They can't even get spare parts," said Graham. "They took us on French-made helicopters because the American ones can't get parts."

"They think we've been fair-weather friends, so there's work to be done," he added.

Some of that work occurred this week.

Graham said the Pakistani intelligence official with whom he met, a top general in the government, was forced to stay all week in Washington because of the shutdown of air traffic.

"He was marooned here, and I think that gave Secretary of State Powell and others in the administration a chance to really talk with him," Graham said.

© Copyright 2001 Knight Ridder.

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