INTERIOR Minister Rehman Maliks statement that militants backed by the nations enemies are sneaking into Pakistan from Afghanistan would confirm the notion that the Indo-US alliance is using that country as a base to destabilise Pakistan. Since the US has a strong surveillance mechanism, especially guarding the Pak-Afghan border, it is hardly possible for these militants to cross over into our territory without the knowledge and support of the Americans. Broadly speaking, the rebels in Afghanistan are busy in the fight against the US and would not be bothered about what happens on the other side of the border until and unless they are heavily bribed and supplied with weapons to target Pakistan. New Delhi from day one had been quick to exploit its presence in Afghanistan and indeed had been fishing in our troubled waters by carrying out a virtual proxy war. Mr Malik has, therefore, rightly called for maximum security checks along the Pakistan-Afghanistan international border aimed at preventing rogue elements from slipping into Pakistan. Keeping in view the Indian tactics of enlisting mercenaries and militias from across Afghanistan and turning them against Pakistan, the Pak-Afghan border needs to be patrolled more efficiently. Isnt it strange that while the militants keep pouring in from Afghanistan, the US forces deployed along the border areas do nothing to stop them? The US would be aware of the repercussions it would have on Pakistans internal security, if armed criminal groups were allowed to walk into Pakistan, but, regrettably its laidback attitude towards border security shows that it is deliberately letting this happen. As a next step, Islamabad is as usual scolded for not doing enough to drive them out. It is certainly in consonance with this strategy, that Senator Carl Levin, Chairman of the Armed Services Committee has urged Pakistan to launch a fresh offensive in North Waziristan and also against Jalaluddin Haqqanis network. It should be no secret from the American strategists that by attacking Haqqani Pakistan would be shooting its own foot, creating further instability in the country since Haqqani has a large following among Pushtuns. The US is averse to the idea of accommodating Haqqani in a negotiated settlement of the conflict either in Pakistan or in Afghanistan and hence the cry for eliminating his network. First and foremost, Pakistan must protect its national interests. While it should keep a tight vigil on the border stopping troublemakers from sneaking in, it must work towards finding a political solution to the prevailing conflict.