Missing in Mohmand

The abduction of an unknown number of Pakistani soldiers by the Afghan Taliban at a border point in the Mohmand agency throws into further doubt claims that the area is free from militant control. The incident, with the ISPR stating over 30 soldiers are missing while other sources in the area put the figure at 50 or more, exposes the problems in separating fact from fiction in a war fought in so remote a part of the country that even in ordinary circumstances reliable news is hard to obtain. The restrictions on access put in place by the military since the conflict against militants began make it next to impossible to do so.

It is possible, however, to make some deductions. The Afghan Taliban quite evidently remain a force to be reckoned with. It is unclear how frequently they are operating across the border, but it seems likely they may be doing so from time to time. It is even more likely they are working with the counterparts based in the region. This of course is how the conflict has been staged since its earliest days. The nexus between the Pakistan and Afghan Taliban and the problems involved in defending a border which is so porous that it is almost impossible to patrol adds to the problems.

It is important after this latest incident, with a number of Pakistani soldiers handed over to the consulate in Jalalabad that we sit back and take stock of the situation. The reality is we really do not know what is going on. The information we receive is dependent on ISPR hand-outs and other bits and pieces collected from sources which may have their own motives for giving it out. It is imperative the truth be told to people. We need to know where we stand. The doubts over this only add to the complications involved in waging a war we were told had in fact been won. Today we simply do not know if this is accurate or how much still remains
to be done.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2010.