Apr 22, 2003 12:49 PM
2409 Views
(Updated Apr 22, 2003 12:49 PM)
Its not Pakistan's turn after Iraq much as the Govt. of India would wish so.
Pakistan is too important for the US as an ally. Its no secret that the terrorist outfits that are scattered across Pakistan and Afghanistan were all trained and armed by the US to repel the Soviet forces occupying Afghanistan. The CIA and other secret services of the US were deeply entrenched in the mess that they created in that region. Pakistan was used as a frontline to control and monitor these armed tribal gangs. When the Soviet Union collapsed these terrorists were denied further support by the US. It was no longer feasable for the US to justify its support since their purpose of banishing the Soviets was served. It seems to me that during this period of denied US support, people like Osama Bin Laden came out openly against the US. Pakistan was left to take care of these terrorists on its own. Due to its inability to control them well, Pakistan turned these terrorists against India and gave them a new purpose and cause for which to fight for.
After the war on Afghanistan things got complicated for the US. Its new found allies in the former Soviet Union, like Turkmenistan and Tajikistan (which border Afghanistan and Pakistan) began to demand complete control over these terrosist groups. US has interests in these former Soviet block states like Oil and Nuclear related projects. Thats why the US still uses Pakistan as a controlling agent for taminf these terrorist groups. Moreover, Pakistan still bears considerable influence over the tribal populations inhabiting Afghanistan.
Pakistan is still the dirty boy who doesnt mind running dirty errands for the US in exchange for a fee. It still continues to be an 'ally' of the US. Thats why the US turns a blind eye to Pakistan's state sponsored terrorist activities.
Given the uncertainty over the activitiy levels of terrorist groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan (via-a-vis war on Iraq) I would suggest everybody to stay away from Pakistan.
