Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

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

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (44573)	9/11/2003 3:40:05 AM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50167

Pakistan’s sincerity in terror-fight being questioned <THis nonsense never stops, as Mush is being personally made a target, the naysayer continue to hit Pakistan, imagine a Mullah driven Pakiland!> Ike By Khalid Hasan WASHINGTON: Pakistan’s sincerity in fighting terrorism is coming under increasing questioning as more and more reports pour in of Taliban resurgence in Pakistan’s tribal areas. In recent days, a number of press reports on the subject have appeared in the American press, all of which have put a question mark on Pakistan’s true commitment to the war on terrorism. While President Musharraf is not denied credit for placing Pakistan at the front of the US-led military campaign, doubts are expressed about the overall commitment of the Pakistani military and intelligence establishment. The recent arrests of a number of army officers because of their suspected sympathies for Qaeda have further deepened the feeling of unease that is felt about Pakistan and its role. India has taken full advantage of the situation and missed no opportunity of sowing doubts about Pakistan’s sincerity and the value of its commitment. Painting itself as a victim of terrorism, it has held Pakistan responsible for every terrorist incident that has taken place in India. Pakistan has been often described as the “epicentre of terrorism”. The growing solidarity between India and Israel needs to be seen in this context. Not surprisingly, a report in the New York Times Wednesday begins thus, “Two years after the Sept 11 attacks, questions are growing about whether Pakistan is mounting a sincere effort to crack down on a resurgent Taliban and other Islamic militants.” According to the report, “the Pakistani military is credited by American officials with excellent cooperation in hunting down members of Qaeda. But members of the Afghan government and some Pakistani political and intelligence officials suggest that Pakistan is not doing all it could to stop Taliban forces from using its territory and that some elements of Pakistan’s army are harbouring Taliban and Qaeda members.” The report quoting Pakistani intelligence officials says the most likely hiding place of Osama bin Laden is in the tribal areas along the Pakistani-Afghan border. Overwhelming public support for Mr. bin Laden continues to thwart efforts to arrest him. Such support, says the report, is also evident elsewhere. Islamic militants are again operating openly in Pakistan. Last Friday afternoon at the Red Mosque in the center of Islamabad, Fazlur Rehman Khalil, the former head of Harkat-ul-Mujahedeen, delivered a sermon to hundreds of worshippers as police officers lounged outside. He supported Osama bin Laden’s call for attacks on the US and Western interests. Noting that after the 9/11 attacks in the United States, Gen. Pervez Musharraf banned the group, the paper adds that it now operates under its new one, Jamiat-ul-Ansar. Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri told the New York Times correspondent in an interview that Pakistan was fighting terrorism and Islamic extremism by all possible means. He cited the influx of 3.5 million Afghan refugees into Pakistan over the last 25 years and scoffed at the idea that Pakistan would try to destabilise its neighbour. The report noted that the US has shown no sign of questioning Pakistan’s commitment to fighting terror. President Bush called President Musharraf on Monday to thank him for Pakistan’s contribution, according to the Foreign Ministry. “American officials believe that the Pakistani intelligence services have been thoroughly reformed since Sept. 11, 2001, and are now committed to fighting both Islamic extremism and terrorism. Western diplomats say the Taliban is building up its forces along the border and running a recruiting network inside Pakistan. But they see the problem as one of Pakistani capacity and politics, not will, and say they have seen no evidence of direct aid from Pakistan’s government to the Taliban. The report added that Afghan and Indian officials, as well as some Pakistanis, contend that the Pakistani military, its allegiances torn, is playing a double game with the United States. Pakistan serves up the occasional Qaeda fugitive to appease American officials, they say. At the same time, it makes little effort to eradicate the Taliban and other militant groups that serve its foreign policy goals. Pakistani hardliners see Northern Alliance commanders that dominate the Afghan Defense Ministry as Indian allies and warn that Pakistan is being surrounded by hostile neighbors. The newspaper pointed out that senior Pakistani government and intelligence officials had dismissed the idea that their country might seek to foment trouble in Afghanistan for strategic reasons. “Whatever the real extent of Pakistan’s assistance, there are signs that the invasion of Iraq, as well as disappointment with the American effort to rebuild Afghanistan, have deepened an ambivalence in the lower ranks of Pakistan’s army and law enforcement agencies. dailytimes.com.pk