International migraine

The call of the US administration for Pakistan to change its perception about the actual threat to its survival as a democratic State is timely. The US has asked Pakistan to shift its focus away from the traditional rivalry with India and instead concentrate on the very real danger of the nation being overwhelmed by the Taliban. The apparent ease with which Taliban forces ‘captured’ Buner, which is hardly 100 km away from Islamabad and a gateway to the major North West city of Mardan, has done little to boost the world’s confidence on the ability of Pakistan to withstand the danger posed by the former. That confidence had already been debilitated by the fact that the Provincial Government, a few weeks ago, had signed a deal with pro-Taliban fundamentalists agreeing to impose Islamic laws in the Swat Valley. It exposed Islamabad’s weakness and hesitation in dealing with the extremists and emboldened the Taliban into its Buner excursion. In such a context the statement of Pakistan Army Chief, General Kayani, that the country was “determined to root out the menace of terrorism” and “would not allow the militants to dictate terms to the Government or impose their way of life on civil society” rings hollow. Though the Taliban has now withdrawn from Buner, this is unlikely to remove doubts that Pakistani authorities are failing to tackle a menace in its very backyard.

The growing strength of the Taliban in the districts bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan poses a threat not only to the stability of these two countries, but also the rest of the world. India has particular reason for concern, since fundamentalist forces bent on ‘liberating’ Kashmir are being assisted by the Taliban. The West is equally under threat, for Pakistan in recent years has become the cradle of international terrorism. Pakistan is a key player in the “war on terror” and weakness on the part of its administration is likely to hinder success in that direction. Most frightening is the fact that Pakistan possesses a nuclear arsenal which in the wrong hands would spell disaster. No wonder that a senior US diplomat had once labelled that country as an “International Migraine”. It might be a bitter pill for Pakistan to swallow, but the reality is that the tentacles of fundamentalism are seeping into nooks and crannies of its society, having already infiltrated into its intelligence agencies and perhaps a section of the armed forces. Pakistan so far has not done much to allay fears of an ultimate takeover by fundamentalist forces. It is high time indeed that the authorities, with international help, show that Pakistan indeed is a partner in the “war on terror” and embark on forceful action against the extremist elements which threaten global security. ASSAM TRIBUNE