The terror equation
22 October 2011
Taleban on both sides of the divide in Afghanistan and Pakistan seem
to be gearing up for a new battle. The return of disgruntled elements in
many of the pockets in the restive Pakistan’s north is a worrisome sign.
Their resolve to wage a war against the government and the army is
likely to plunge Pakistan in a renewed crisis, and that too at a time
when the United States has been increasing pressure to move against
the militants. The situation is fraught with concerns and could result in
a severe clash between the militants and the security forces.
likely to plunge Pakistan in a renewed crisis, and that too at a time
when the United States has been increasing pressure to move against
the militants. The situation is fraught with concerns and could result in
a severe clash between the militants and the security forces.
But that too would not address the root cause of the dispute, as the
militants, and the like, are in a defiant mood for long and have a
roadmap of their own as how to enforce Shariah regulations and
at the same time kick out the foreign forces from the region.
The very fact that the political dispensations in Kabul and
Islamabad are considered to be working for foreign interests
by the militants and their sympathisers, who have now
extended their reach in each and every walk of life, points
out the volatility of the situation, and one that unfortunately
lacks a negotiable solution, per se.
militants, and the like, are in a defiant mood for long and have a
roadmap of their own as how to enforce Shariah regulations and
at the same time kick out the foreign forces from the region.
The very fact that the political dispensations in Kabul and
Islamabad are considered to be working for foreign interests
by the militants and their sympathisers, who have now
extended their reach in each and every walk of life, points
out the volatility of the situation, and one that unfortunately
lacks a negotiable solution, per se.
The equation on the other side between Washington and
Islamabad is getting worse. Since the days, weeks ago,
when US commander Admiral Mike Mullen expressed his
reservations in the body politick of Pakistan Army and its
intelligence agencies for their alleged ties with pro-Taleban
elements, things have come to a head-on collision.
Islamabad is getting worse. Since the days, weeks ago,
when US commander Admiral Mike Mullen expressed his
reservations in the body politick of Pakistan Army and its
intelligence agencies for their alleged ties with pro-Taleban
elements, things have come to a head-on collision.
The growing lack of trust is failing the war on terrorism, which
has inadvertently provided the militants with a rare opportunity
to regroup and formulate a new strategy to hit at softer targets.
The reported return of militants in the valley of Swat is a case in
point, which had been swept clean by Pakistan Army after one
of its biggest internal operations resulting in displacement of millions.
has inadvertently provided the militants with a rare opportunity
to regroup and formulate a new strategy to hit at softer targets.
The reported return of militants in the valley of Swat is a case in
point, which had been swept clean by Pakistan Army after one
of its biggest internal operations resulting in displacement of millions.
This, coupled with the acute restlessness in the tribal areas of
Pakistan from Khyber to Khurram and Waziristan agencies,
is a tough challenge for a government which is bogged down
at the hands of corruption and incompetence. So is the case
with Afghanistan where the writ of President Hamid Karzai is
hardly beyond the outskirts of Kabul.
One only hopes that the high-level contacts and shuttle diplomacy
between Pakistan and the US could come to resolve the irritants
and work out a modus operandi through which the radical elements
in the region could be convinced for a dialogue. This fighting out in
the dark has hardly proved to be of any good.
between Pakistan and the US could come to resolve the irritants
and work out a modus operandi through which the radical elements
in the region could be convinced for a dialogue. This fighting out in
the dark has hardly proved to be of any good.
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