Pakistan's dilemma
Pakistan is caught on the horns of a dilemma. The new President, Ali Zardari, is the widower of Benazir Bhutto, who sprang to fame mainly because she married him. He is the popular compromise candidate and with the support of other parties managed to engineer the removal of Pres. Musharraf from office.
Bhutto's party, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) is nationalist and socialist, and it has generally been vaguely pro-Western but also anti-American. Since Musharraf chose to throw his weight as the Army chief behind the Americans, this made the opposition to Musharraf, including Bhutto, even more anti-American. So when US forces in Afghanistan fighting the Taliban cross the border from Afghanistan and enter Pakistani territory, this causes a strong anti-American response that the Pakistan Govt. has expressed.
But, at the same time the Pakistani Army (which is a significant fighting force, sharing a common origin with the Indian Army in their British heritage) is fighting the rebels and the local tribesmen in Waziristan and Bajaur, the lawless north western region of Pakistan that is generally beyond the reach of Pakistani Govt. control. So they are opposing American intervention and at the same time fighting the same enemies.
A few days after Pres. Zardari made his inaugural speech, criticizing the American forces for unauthorized entry into Pakistan where they killed "civilians," there was an enormous explosion in Karachi that destroyed the Marriott Hotel. This was probably carried out by al Qaeda with tribal support in revenge for the Pakistani Army fighting them in the NW region. But, the damage to Pakistan in terms of tourism, business and embarrassment to the Govt. was enormous. About 45 people were killed and although the truck-bomb was unable to reach the Hotel due to a security barrier, there was a huge explosion and a fire that destroyed the Hotel.
That is why Ali Zadari was photographed with Pres. Bush at the White House during his trip to the UN General Assembly. Zadari and Bush know that al Qaeda has managed to survive this long because it is supported by the tribal Muslim peoples on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. If either side attacks them they simply cross the border in that desolate and mountainous region. What is needed is Pakistani-American coordination. However, there has been friction between Pakistan and Afghanistan, since Pres. Karzai of Afghanistan has criticized Pakistan for allowing Taliban to train in their territory and then cross the border to attack Afghanistani territory. So now that he has suffered this terrible attack, and now that he realizes that Pakistan alone cannot defeat the Islamists who seek to overthrow him, Zadari must start to cooperate with the US in destroying al Qaeda and the Taliban in this remote and dangerous region. Let's hope that he does so.
Bhutto's party, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) is nationalist and socialist, and it has generally been vaguely pro-Western but also anti-American. Since Musharraf chose to throw his weight as the Army chief behind the Americans, this made the opposition to Musharraf, including Bhutto, even more anti-American. So when US forces in Afghanistan fighting the Taliban cross the border from Afghanistan and enter Pakistani territory, this causes a strong anti-American response that the Pakistan Govt. has expressed.
But, at the same time the Pakistani Army (which is a significant fighting force, sharing a common origin with the Indian Army in their British heritage) is fighting the rebels and the local tribesmen in Waziristan and Bajaur, the lawless north western region of Pakistan that is generally beyond the reach of Pakistani Govt. control. So they are opposing American intervention and at the same time fighting the same enemies.
A few days after Pres. Zardari made his inaugural speech, criticizing the American forces for unauthorized entry into Pakistan where they killed "civilians," there was an enormous explosion in Karachi that destroyed the Marriott Hotel. This was probably carried out by al Qaeda with tribal support in revenge for the Pakistani Army fighting them in the NW region. But, the damage to Pakistan in terms of tourism, business and embarrassment to the Govt. was enormous. About 45 people were killed and although the truck-bomb was unable to reach the Hotel due to a security barrier, there was a huge explosion and a fire that destroyed the Hotel.
That is why Ali Zadari was photographed with Pres. Bush at the White House during his trip to the UN General Assembly. Zadari and Bush know that al Qaeda has managed to survive this long because it is supported by the tribal Muslim peoples on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. If either side attacks them they simply cross the border in that desolate and mountainous region. What is needed is Pakistani-American coordination. However, there has been friction between Pakistan and Afghanistan, since Pres. Karzai of Afghanistan has criticized Pakistan for allowing Taliban to train in their territory and then cross the border to attack Afghanistani territory. So now that he has suffered this terrible attack, and now that he realizes that Pakistan alone cannot defeat the Islamists who seek to overthrow him, Zadari must start to cooperate with the US in destroying al Qaeda and the Taliban in this remote and dangerous region. Let's hope that he does so.
posted by Jack Cohen at 8:23 AM
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