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Politics : Idea Of The Day -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: j g cordes who wrote (40702)	9/23/2001 7:44:40 PM
From: j g cordes	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50167

Pakistan helped sponsor the Taliban's early growth.. but it has become a disaster, Islamic drug warlords... what of India, Iran, and China.. from same article "While Pakistan has reaped some of the benefits of a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, there have been many disastrous effects. Pakistan's infamous "gun culture" is fast becoming a "gun-religion-drug culture" a synergistic and far more devastating alliance. Easier movement of goods has allowed for the easier movement of drugs from Afghanistan. Drug mafias along the border region have become wealthier and gained political influence by donating funds to major political parties. Drug mafias also play a role in the increasing violence by funding and arming extremist organizations. Increasing violence between armed gangs in Western Pakistan especially in Quetta and Peshawar is now spreading eastward into major cities like Karachi and Lahore. The number of drug addicts in Pakistani cities has risen dramatically from few hundred thousand ten years ago to a currently estimated 5 million, as is expected to increase dramatically. The increase in lawlessness and corruption has had a negative impact on Pakistan’s economy." "... Iran sees the Taliban as a radical Sunni group with demonstrated anti-Shia leanings coming to power along its Northeastern border. As the only Shia Muslim country, Iran feels a parental role towards the Shias of the world. Iran's fears of Sunni radicalism increased when a bomb explosion in Mashhad at the Shrine of Imam Reza killed worshipers. For Iran, the actions of the Taliban towards the Shias in Afghanistan have come to signify the dangers of Sunni radicalism. In 1998, Afghan Shias and Iranian diplomats were killed in Mazar-e-Sharif by the Taliban, Iran reacted with predictable outrage and threatened to invade Afghanistan. It demonstrated its resolve by holding military exercises along its border with Afghanistan. Iran's anger with the Taliban increased at the their harsh treatment of the Shia Hazara minority. Furthermore, Iran sees itself as a competitor with Pakistan for influence in Afghanistan and also as an alternate conduit for Central Asia’s resources. Iran has for some years been verbally and militarily backing the Northern Alliance and also arming the Hazaras in Central Afghanistan. China too feels threatened by the policies of the Taliban as there has been increasing unrest in its Xinjiang province bordering Afghanistan. The Uighur resistance is motivated by lack of religious freedoms, close links to the recently independent CAR states and by Han encroachment into the region. China hopes to construct a pipeline from Central Asia through Western China to further fuel the economic boom in the coastal regions of China and decrease dependence on sea routes for its energy needs. A separatist movement in western China could dampen Beijing’s plans for the pipeline. China has not yet supported the Northern Alliance and has remained neutral on the U.N sponsored resolutions against the Taliban. Instead China has chosen a different route by communicating it wishes to Pakistan, a close ally. It hopes that some degree of dialogue will prevent the Taliban's support and training of the separatists."