The writer served as member of the National Assembly for the MQM four times
This is due to a taciturn confrontation between the state agencies of Pakistan and the proverbial powerful agencies of the West in Afghanistan. Don’t our decision-makers on national security think there is a great flaw? It must be rectified.
The Afghans have nothing to lose. They have suffered almost every brick of their country’s structure and seen it demolished in the two most destructive civil wars since 1979. Now, the tide is turning towards Pakistan and it will, very soon, become a tsunami. Yesterday, it was Pakistan that was winning in Afghanistan. It is no longer doing so, as now, we are on the receiving end.
On May 16, two American military vehicles in Kabul were rammed by a Taliban suicide bomber in a car packed with heavy explosives. Six American troops were killed on the spot. The response in Pakistan was expected and it was swift — within four to five hours. The target was a military convoy that was ambushed on Kohat Road, Peshawar. Several soldiers died and others were seriously injured. A second attack was directed at a police station in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa injuring several cops. These two incidents occurred within five to six hours of each other.
In a third attack, on May 17 — a Friday afternoon — two huge bombs exploded in two separate mosques, killing at least 20 persons.
The Hizb-e-Islami and its leader, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, are the main culprits behind the Kabul bombing. Their spokesman, Haroon Zarghon, owned the Kabul attack. Their anger came from the discovery that US forces plan to stay in substantial numbers in Afghanistan for an indefinite period of time.
Pakistan’s concerns are rich with sarcasm. For more than a decade, American, Western and Afghan leaders have accused Pakistan of sheltering Taliban commanders leading the war against US forces. Now, it is Pakistan that is the crankiest.
The situation on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border is very grim. A substantial number of our troops have been deployed on our western borders after withdrawing them from the eastern border. And they continue to be withdrawn. But one thing is clear now. We have to take a decision about our internal policies about the Taliban and other jihadi outfits before the US withdrawal, set for 2014. Because, after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Pakistan is going to face hoards of Afghan Taliban — not only in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa but also in the farthest, southernmost urban regions of the country — carrying out terrorist activities.
We may be able to combat a nuclear war, but the Taliban issue is our weakest spot — sort of the Achilles’ heel of Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 27th, 2013.
COMMENTS (24)
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ET management, please allow my reply to GP65. GP65,
Your denials have no standing. Every 23 minutes rape in India is unparallel in human history not even in war conditions. It is indecent to quote percetages with humans, the body count and not the %ages are used for humans. They are not acceptable and Dr Manmohan Singh has been told in G8 meetings.. India stands behind saudi Arabia in women rights. You should be aware of this when you complain about women rights in other countries.
Sorry, but your writings and the attitude of the Indian Government with Pakistan leadership since partition of the land cleary indicates the presence of 'Angst' and therefore the lack of trust of your Government. This is not your fault nor is of the Indian Government but can only be attributed to historical reality when natives were mistreated at the hands of the ruling muslim conquerers and only selected were allowed in the fold of Islam; the rest in the service of the conquerers. Ths mistrust and scepticism will remain and impact the automatic function of the Brain neurons and result in irrational thinking and erronious decisions mostly based on high emotions. Your jumpiness and of others demonstrate this!!.
If you do not agree with it then be it; this is your prerogative but this is the only scientific explanation for the 'Trust' deficitl With regard to Hindu culture which has not impose any ethical or moral obligation for the school age children is real an you must be an exception if your parents taught you what 'Sins' are?
There is nothng personal but pure academic with a flavour of science, for the benefits of those who are interested in basics.
Rex Minor
ET : Rebuttal to a post drectled at me - pls. allow. @Rex Minor: Oh and one more thing. I am a child of independent India and have no angst from the Mughal rule. It is also not at all obvious to me based on any evidence available in public realm that the Taliban treat their mothers and sisters with unparalleled respect and dignity. In any case to state that one group gives unparalleled respect and dignity (implying others do not give as much respect or dignity) necessarily has to be a matter of observation not logic. Moreover a rapist may treat his own mother and sister with dignity but cannot be said to show respect for women per se. SO even if these people treated their own wives with unparalleled respect and dignity as you claim without providing any supporting facts, that would still not take away from the fact that they disempowered Afghan women during their 1996-2001 rule and given half a chance would do the same in Pakistan.Blowing up 1000 plus girls schools is just an example of their attitude.
@numbers:
They should join in prayers with the innocent Pashtun families who also lost their loved ones first when they got hammered by the yanks and than by the colonial structured military, who set in long range artillery pieces against them..
Those who declare wars on others should know that there is never a winner in wars, only victims. ..
Rex Minor
ET Mods: I am responding to a person who has written to me and doing it with facts. Pls. allow.
@Rex Minor: "Once again, do not get personal! Make your comments, state your opinion and move on."
Very good advice - except you yourself have rarely followed it. You have made blanket statements about Hinduism teaches people to lie (as distinct from Abrahamic religions which don't) based on the fact that you saw one kid lie on one TV program and his parent laughed when there was nothing in the blog related to morality or honesty.
http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/14103/secularism-is-not-atheism/
You also bring up the fact about how Hindu culture disempowers women - in articles which had nothing whatsoever to do with rape or women's empowerment.
http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/16930/in-india-you-are-free-to-go-to-your-mosques-and-temples/comment-page-2/#comments http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/15573/dear-indian-media-please-stop-spreading-hate/
You do this while deliberately ignoring the facts presented to you on more than one occasion that number of rapes per 100,000 in India is much lower than most Western countries.
Unlike you, who chooses to consider all Hindus as liars because you found one Hindu kid lying - I choose to just call you out as an individual for hypocrisy instead of associating it with your faith or ethnicity.
@Rex Minor: And what of the "families including wives, mothers and sisters" of the 30,000 plus Pakistanis slaughtered by the your beloved Taliban over the years???
: ET please do not cancel my reply to this nosy number who tends to get personal, thanks!.
.GP65,
Once again, do not get personal! Make your comments, state your opinion and move on. It is not always possible for all of us to understand the opinions or view points of others, an thereore one shoul concentrate on the subject and the authors views. Move on when you o not follow. I have full understanding of the Indians 'Angst' because of having lived for centuries under the rule of Moghul Emperors and being treated as primitive natives. People with 'Angst' restrict the function of their brain cells activities required to stimulate the cells of 'Trust' ,which subsequently leads to irrational decisions by the people. The talibans have families including wives, mothers and sisters and I can assure you that if you were to think logicaly you would realize that they treat them with unparallel respect and dignity.
Rex Minor
@Rex Minor: Killing non-combatant civilians in playgrounds, mosques, markets is military tactic? To think that@Rex Minor who is so concerned about women's rights in India actually supports Taliban rule. The same TTP who blew up girls schools and shot at Malala for daring to articulate her right to education. The Afghan Taliban who during their 1996-2001 rein usurped all wonen's rights except staying at home and wearing a burkha. Amazing.
@Aysha: @kaalchakra:
No one has articulated more realisticly the situation than Kaalchakra! Is he the only enlightened one among the commentos? Why mix military tactics of the Talibans with the political stand Pakistan Government and its military has adopted. The destabilization program of the yanks in the region is now complete in line with the pattern of Somalia and Iraq. They are simply following the Vietnam tactics to arrange the safe withdrawl and some sort of protection for the collaborators. The Brits have hastened and announced to take six hundred Afghan interpretters with their families as immigrants in the UK. The majority of the people of Pakistan has backed the political leadership which supports talks with the Talibans and to revise Pakistan foreign policy. The implementaton will require total withdrawl of Pakistan military from the so called Lord Durand line which cuts Pashtun tribal settlements in the middle, restricting its activities in the air corridor and on the metalled roads only, and the declaration that Pakistan official policy will be to assist and protect all its citizens be it in KPK or Balochistan. There are no terrorists or insurgents or oulaws but people who are armed, have a large weapon industry, and have throughout history defended their territory against foeign foces. Pakistan military need not take the role of a foreign army devoid of Pashtun language and the culture of Pakhtunwali(Ummah in arabic).
Rex Minor
The Taliban have used the fig leaf of religion to justify murder, mayhem and their criminal behaviour. Pakistan is on a perilous course.
Cerebral Kunwar, accurate as a sun-beam in his diagnosis. Wish he would have a say in the foreign affairs in the coming weeks.
Excellent point of view. One pays for one's mistakes. But a sensible man does not keep making the same mistakes repeatedly.
@writer. This game is not so simple as you menioned here. You forget to mention Iran, India, China, Saudi Arabia and some other Arab & western coutries. Everyone is palying their part. Afghanistan & Pakistan, especially Pashtoon Areas has become a battle field among these countries. Pakistan is forced to play in this game for his survival. Blaming Pakistan is very easy but this is not the reality. There are Taliban on Afghan/Pakistan Border but Who are there in Balochistan?? Who are killing the innocent Baloch people? Will you blame the Intelligence agencies of Pakistan for these Killing? If you blame Pakistani agencies, then why are they leaving these bodies in open? Why are they not dumping them in ground, providing reasons for others to blame them?
Khalid Kunwar Yunus has hit the nail on the head. Straight forward and logical. Our government apparatus haughtily gave shelter and training to Mujahideen to fight the war in Afghanistan. After driving the Russians out, came the Americans and our security, political and foreign policy mandarins did not heed their own business and went on to needle the regional neighborhood. The government has struck many agreements of a ceasefire with the Taliban but all in vain. The result of our abject thinking and futile uneconomic decisions is there in front of us. There is still time to learn but let it be, sooner than later. Salams
The increasing spread of Talibans across the country further emphasizes the immediate institution of strong local governments in the country, with public safety commissions reporting to the mayors in metropolitan areas, who can keep a close eye on the activities of these elements through community policing and undercover agents.
The establishment for decades of occupying Pashtuns and extending borders plain failed. No there is no other way either come to the table and leave betraying Pashtuns through various propaganda. Everything was planned decades before what to do, how to and when to do. But fortunately the justice had done itself and the potential user escaped. Now the history can be reverse and the forces could move backward but its time matter and this everything was silent war against own people, once integrity and humanity.
Absolutely right. This is what I have been saying and glad that ET was printing it all the time. The day Americans leave Afghanistan is the day of reckoning for Pakistan.
No wonder MQM is so successful party. They got very honest & realistic leaders. Very true analysis.
The Taliban have won. With nothing but faith in the Truth of Islam they have now defeated both Superpowers. Pakistan has. a Clear Choice - either join with the followers of Islam to create the new just society, or join with the unbelievers and be destroyed.
@Truth: It would be so much 'useful' to point out the 'useless' elements in the article, rather than being judgmental and advising the writer
Your Achilles heel is the ideology that inspires and incites the likes of Taliban, LET etc. Most Pakistanis exhibit visceral hatred for USA and deep sympathy for Taliban types. One gives the most aid and arms while the other unleashes the most pain. Yet one is hated and the other is not. Poll after poll shows that most Pakistanis want Sharia to play an active role in daily political governance. Taliban want the same. They don't want to share power with the regimes in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They are blunt and blatant about the means. Hence the rub.
Totally useless article. The author needs at least 10 hours of counter terrorism lessons everyday,for next 5 years.
Spot on article... even from an Indians' viewpoint it is perfectly pointed to the real problem. Frankly it is not just in Pakistan's interest, but India's as well (as indeed the entire region) that this so-called "Achilles Heel" of Pakistan is rectified ASAP. Else it is chaos for us all, Pakistan in particular...
Well said Sir! Is any one listening?
Many people are of the opinion that Afghan Taliban do not share sympathy and ideology with the Pakistani Taliban. They are all the same. And they believe that Afghanistan is inevitable, their next target is Pakistan. And Pakistani military and government are not in a position to take Taliban on both sides of the border.