Pakistan
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Let’s have incursions and strikes into Pakistan without their permission! What’s the worst that could happen? Oh, right:
Pakistani and American ground troops exchanged fire along the border with Afghanistan on Thursday after the Pakistanis shot at two American helicopters, ratcheting up tensions as the United States increases its attacks against Qaeda and Taliban militants sheltering in Pakistan’s restive tribal areas.
There is an unhappy pattern in Pakistani history of its military launching actions while its civilian leaders are elsewhere. Zardari was in New York at the U.N. as of yesterday, so perhaps the military thought it could freelance a bit more while he was gone. This is reminiscent of the attempted escalation of the Kargil war by Musharraf while Sharif was here meeting with Clinton, but there are the crucial differences that the Pakistanis warned us not to enter their territory without their permission and the Pakistanis will argue that they are repelling incursions rather than launching them. However, the internal political dynamic seems to be similar. Does anyone want to keep arguing that the administration’s policy here is sound?
Filed under: foreign policy, politics
Unlike the other comedies occurring around the globe, I regard this as a very serious problem, albeit a predictable one.
Even way back in the 1970s, Pakistan was always a very mercurial ally at best. They caused us a many problems as they solved during the Russian debacle, not least because China regards them as a strategically meaningful region, if not an out-and-out ally – something our sabre-rattling pols never find time to mention.
I reluctantly supported our invasion of Afghanistan in the wake of 9/11. But all of our efforts should be bent toward getting out again. I do not believe that any power that has ever invaded it has experienced anything less than some degree of tragedy in the end. There is a good reason why people like Talbot Mundy and Kipling chose the region for their darker stories. As Kipling said, “The Great Game isn’t over until the last man dies”
So, all in favor of following our enemies to the “Gates of Hell” or “the cave where he lives” even if it means destabilizing a nutso pseudo-nation of 170 million with nukes, say “aye”!
All opposed, I would suggest go fishing on 11-4-08.
India and Pakistan have been exchanging fire for their entire independent history. It is not a good thing, but it does not mean that Pakistani collapse is just around the corner.
Punjab and Sindh are the heart of the country. While the residents of these areas do not like the idea of American incursions, they view them as off-centre regions of the country. The Pashtuns themselves have mixed views towards the Pakistani nation-state – they note that Islamabad comes to them when they need men to fight the Russians, Afghans, Indians, etc., but when it is time to spend some development money, most goes to Punjab.
Pakistan has the means to avoid this – if they shake out elements of the ISI that are harboring and aiding Taliban and Al Qaeda. Quetta has pretty much become Taliban central.