After tasting victory in Swat, where the Taliban forced the Pakistan government to its knees and accept imposition of sharia, Peshawar appears set to be the next big city to fall. If or when that happens, it will bring Taliban within striking distance of Pakistan's seats of power — Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Now, Taliban knocks on Peshawar's door

As the United States prepares for a troop surge and a decisive battle against the Afghan Taliban this year, there appears to be little hope that the Pakistani army, hobbled by political paralysis, can save the key provincial capital of Pakistan's Frontier province, just 25km from the Pakistan-Afghan border. The provincial metropolis is geographically important not only to Pakistan but also for allied troops in Afghanistan. For years, it was an operational base for the war against Russian troops. Now, it is equally important for the US and allied troops fighting the Taliban along the Pak-Afghan border. Nearly 100 trucks carrying supplies to the US and Nato troops in Afghanistan were set on fire a few weeks back — one of the largest operations by Taliban. "If Peshawar falls to militants, it will not take long for other areas of the NWFP to succumb," said Shahid Khatak, professor of international relations at Peshawar University. Peshawar shares borders with Mohmand Agency in the North, Khyber Agency in West and Darra Adam Khel in the South. Abdul Wali alias Umer Khalid is the Taliban commander in Mohmand Agency, Mangal Bagh is chief of Lashkar-e-Islam in Khyber while Tariq Afridi in Darra Adam Khel (with roots in another militant outfit in Jaish-e-Mohammad). Recent attacks in the suburbs of Peshawar on high-profile politicians like Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali have sent alarm bells ringing across the country. Senior NWFP Minister Bashir Bilour narrowly survived a suicide attack, while Alamzeb — a member of the provincial assembly — perished in another attempt by the militants who use suicide attacks as a routine tactic in this part of the world.