Talks with the Taliban in Pakistan?
An insightful comment IMHO and opens with:
Quote:
The two successive attacks last week on pro-Taliban cleric Maulana Fazlur Rahman, who heads Pakistan's largest religious party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), caught many observers by surprise. Yet these attacks against a strong supporter of the Taliban give credence to increasing evidence of rifts among the Taliban factions in Pakistan, whose central leadership - insofar as one can say the movement has a central leadership - is underground, and their organizational structure shattered in face of the increasing number of drone strikes and military operations. Yet this division masks new efforts by Taliban supporters in the Pakistani government to bring some militant groups, including the group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) back in the fold, as the country's military and security services plan for the future.
Ends with:
Quote:
Indeed, while no one can deny Pakistan's connection with the Taliban and other groups, both local and foreign, analysts and security officials believe some fighters have escaped the grip of the country's intelligence services, leading in part to the rash of recent attacks on government installations and even pro-militant figures. Even as Pakistan re-orients its strategy towards militants as part of their planning for Afghanistan's future, these "splinters" may continue to wreak havoc with the government's best-laid plans.
On other threads IIRC we have discussed the impact of talks with the Afghan Taliban, including arrests of leaders and Pakistan's relations with others.
Link:http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/posts...an_in_pakistan
I still remain puzzled how serious strategists in Pakistan, overwhelmingly still military-dominated, see a positive national role for "splinters", who might just set off a crisis, even war with India.
Note I do not dismiss talking to insurgents, which the UK has followed in secret, well sort of secret to the public, in Northern Ireland and of course the much mooted talks with the Afghan Taliban of late.
A great deal of ruin in a nation
http://www.economist.com/node/18488344
Quote:
The future would look brighter if there were much resistance to the extremists from political leaders. But, because of either fear or opportunism, there isn’t. The failure of virtually the entire political establishment to stand up for Mr Taseer suggests fear; the electioneering tour that the law minister of Punjab took with a leader of Sipah-e-Sahaba last year suggests opportunism. “The Punjab government is hobnobbing with the terrorists,” says the security officer. “This is part of the problem.” A state increasingly under the influence of extremists is not a pleasant idea.
The Article summed up four troubling threads that have a negative impact on Pakistan:
1. Pakistan's strategic position
2. Islam's role in the nation
3. A useless government
4. Dominance of the Armed Forces
Refining the hypothetical
by positing two things ("Let's Pretend the Unthinkable 02"):
1. US withdraws military forces and military aid from South Asia and the Middle East.
2. US continues trade and commerce and economic aid in South Asia and the Middle East.
Why would any nation refuse to trade with the US under those circumstances, and elect a "Shut the Door" policy vs the US ?
Is there any military advantage to the US by continuing military forces and military aid in South Asia and the Middle East - other than to enhance US military operations in South Asia and the Middle East ?
Let's also be clear: "Never Again, but ..." (re: military force) does provide exceptions for presently-undefined "extreme cases".
Regards
Mike