Flaming Fundamentalism
The Taliban and al-Qaeda found a comfortable and safe niche for themselves when they scuttled out of Afghanistan and settled into Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas, where they could lose themselves among the estimated six million Pashtun people, sympathetic to their fundamentalist Islamist agenda.That secure perch has enabled them to rest easy, and their pathological hatred of the West to run amok and gain eager adherents there, and world-wide.
Pakistan's new President Ali Zardari has finally admitted what Western intelligence sources have long claimed as reality - and a truly pressing global worry, for a nuclear-armed state - that the Taliban presence in his country is "huge" and that his country's armed forces were "fighting for the survival of Pakistan".
From a small and irritating presence that was overlooked to an overwhelming threat proving impossible to neutralize.
Afghanistan's rehabilitation has suffered severe setbacks in the past year, with a resolutely resurgent Taliban, and with the added incontrovertible fact that a majority of Afghans now see no solution in the presence of NATO and UN-sponsored forces battling the Taliban.
They are weary of the strife, long for security, even if it means a return of the fanatic Islamists.
Then there is the matter of Pakistan's home-grown Taliban and their inexorable spread, with their firm intent to utterly transform first northern Pakistan, with the creation of a 'shariah state', then the rest of Pakistan, along with that of Afghanistan.
And from there, well, there are no boundaries they cannot see themselves not overcoming by sheer force of will - and unbridled violence.
But this is honourable, this is jihad. All seven of the tribal agencies making up the autonomous regions on the border of Afghanistan are now Talibanized. The Punjab is the next target, and then on to Kashmir, where the jihadists there will be pleased to make common cause. And then? Why, attack India, of course and 'liberate' her Muslim minority.
Taliban forces have easily cut off supplies to NATO troops, operating from Pakistan through to Afghanistan by attacking the supply routes running through the fabled Khyber Pass, scene to historical battles and upheavals. Pakistan's military, with its greater numbers, has been impotent to stop the Taliban.
Warns the director of the Atlantic Council's South Asia Centre: "This most dangerous spot on the map may well be the source of another 9/11 type of attack on the Western world or its surrogates in the region." Bearing in mind, yet again, wearily and with trepidation, that Pakistan is a nuclear state. A failing state.
One that pushes Washington for increased military aid; attack helicopters, night vision goggles and radio jamming equipment. Where is this equipment ultimately destined for, by default? Once again, the United States will be arming the Taliban, just as they did when they encouraged the mujahadeen in their struggle against the Soviet invaders.
But fear not, there is a new president in the United States as well, and he has appointed a resolute diplomat, one with vast experience in the area, and Richard Holbrook has hit the problem right on its flaming head: "...the most critical fact about the war in Afghanistan [is that] it cannot be won as long as the border areas in Pakistan are havens for the Taliban and al-Qaeda."
So watcha gonna do about it?
Labels: Political Realities, Religion, Terrorism, World Crises
posted by Pieface @ Tuesday, February 17, 2009
<< Home