PoliGazette » Pakistan launches anti-Taliban crackdown

Pakistan launches anti-Taliban crackdown

Filed under: Asia, Feature, Pakistan, Taliban — Michael van der Galien, Editor-in-Chief on June 29, 2008 @ 3:00 pm CEST

Days after the government of Afghanistan criticized Pakistan for being too soft on Al Qaeda and the Taliban, the Pakistani government ordered a military offensive against ‘Taliban fighters near the northwestern city of Peshawar.’ In reaction, Taliban leaders suspended peace talks and threatened with retaliation.

The Pakistani military offensive was also inspired by complaints that the Taliban in / near Peshawar have been trying to force Pakistanis to live according to their “puritanic interpretation” of Islamic law and tradition.

‘Major-General Alam Khattack, who is leading the offensive, said it was focused on Bara town, around 5 km (3 miles) west of Peshawar, and could be extended to other parts of Khyber.’ “It was initially planned for four or five days but it may be extended further,” he said.

The attack has inspired Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud to suspend the peace talks he held with the Pakistani government. The new Pakistani government immediately decided to talk to the Taliban when it came to power in March of this year, shortly after Benazir Bhutto was assassinated.

“The talks will remain suspended until the government stops talking about operations and attacks against us,” Mehsud said by satellite phone from an undisclosed location. He went on to say that, if the Pakistani government would not withdraw its forces ASAP, the Taliban would orchestrate an offensive all throughout the Northwestern part of Pakistan, and terrorists attack throughout Pakistan itself.

Pakistan is talking to and fighting against the Taliban at the same time. It is not quite willing to declare war on them - fearing that the Taliban may win and / or that such a war would result in tremendous domestic chaos - but it is also not quite willing to let the Taliban establish an oppressive regime within Pakistan’s borders. It’s a balancing act, and quite a difficult one at that. In essence, the Pakistani government is gambling. The gamble is that they can control the Taliban. The question is; can the Taliban be controlled?

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