Iqbal.. as per you style, a well reasoned and moderate response..
But I think you may have misunderstood the intent of my post.. All that I was saying is that Mush picked a pretty bad time to try and expunge any responsibility by Pakistan for the Taliban...
We can all share responsibility for what occurred during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and the creation of the Mujahidin. But but what happens afterward, including the formation of the Taliban, and the rumoured involvement of Pakistani military officers and soldiers dressed as Taliban, in the conquest of Afghanistan seem to point squarely towards the ISI...
Now the question is whether the ISI was (is?) essentially a power unto itself and a non-cooperative rival to Pakistan's military forces? I believe this has been the case, certainly as both sides competed with each other to come up with a winning strategy for capturing Kashmir.
Thus, while I place considerable blame upon the ISI, this is not to assert that I'm blaming all of Pakistan. I understand the concept of what the ISI might have been trying to achieve.. an internally strong and unifying government, repressive though it might be, but one that is likely too weak to threaten Pakistan while it concentrates on Kashmir.
I'm just not sure if there might not have been a better way than to permit the creation of an Islamist state in Afghanistan which would certainly have implications upon Pakistan's secular political factions.
I mean.. if they create or facilitate the formation of a Taliban style regime in a neighboring country, it can only undermine any secular aspects of your own society.
Frankly, I'm frightened for Pakistan Iqbal. I'm not at all sure that we're not seeing a weakening of Pakistani governmental will to face down the Islamist elements within the society, and especially the MMA. And I know you applaud the loya jirga that was arrived at declaring peace and an end to terrorism in Pakistan, but that's not apparently doing anything for Afghanistan at the moment...
But again.. please don't mistake my words as somehow impugning all of Pakistan, because I don't mean it this way... I certainly feel the complexities you describe and understand that this is going to take time. We've only taken the first "baby steps" towards attempting to bring reform and assimilation to some of these intolerant (and ignorant) regions and this struggle is going to go on for decades. But somehow I'm getting the sense that Musharraf is bowing out on confronting terrorist violence and looking to pass the buck..
As always, I appreciate the difficulties any secular Pakistani people are facing.
Hawk |
