My Dear Friends,
Regarding Pakistan:
When the West should not have attacked pre-emptively, we did.
Months ago when Pakistan was under a different leadership, the West could and should have protected the nukes, but we did not.
Now what shall we do?
This situation is going to be decided in hours and days, not weeks or months.
This situation goes a great deal further than simple border nations. It will open a totally new chapter of world history.
Is anyone driving this bus?
Respectfully yours,
Jim
The Afghan-Pakistan militant nexus
Seven years after 9/11, the US has declared the Afghan-Pakistan border region to be the new frontline in its war on terror. Use the map to see how militants operate on either side of the border. (Text: M Ilyas Khan)
Kabul’s writ has never run strong in the remote southern plains of Helmand province. Further south, across the border in Pakistan, lies the equally remote Noshki-Chaghai region of Balochistan province.
Since 9/11, this region has been in turmoil. In the Baramcha area on the Afghan side of the border, the Taleban have a major base. The chief commander is Mansoor Dadullah. From there they control militant activities as far afield as Nimroz and Farah provinces in the west, Oruzgan in the north and parts of Kandahar province in the east. They also link up with groups based in the Waziristan region of Pakistan.
Pakistan sends troops to northwest
Pakistan has deployed paramilitary troops to northwestern districts infiltrated by the local Taliban, after US officials expressed concern over the developments.
The move on Thursday coincided with reports that Taliban fighters were patrolling the streets of Buner, a district about 100km outside the capital, Islamabad.
They were warning residents not to engage in "un-Islamic" activity and barring women from public places.
"We have decided to deploy eight platoons," Zafarullah Khan, commandant of the Frontier Constabulary, told the AFP news agency.
There are roughly 40-45 soldiers per platoon.
Clashes with police
In Buner, one policeman was killed and another wounded when unidentified men opened fire on their vehicle, which was being escorted by paramilitary forces, Syed Azhar, a police officer, told AFP on Thursday.
Several Taliban fighters occupied a police post and vacated it after some time, taking a police inspector with them, Rashid Khan, another police officer, said.
A meeting between tribal elders and the Taliban in Daggar, Buner’s main town, ended without any indication that the Taliban would withdraw.
Alarm Grows Over Pakistan’s Failure to Halt Militant Gains
By CARLOTTA GALL and ERIC SCHMITT
Published: April 23, 2009
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — As the Taliban tightened their hold over newly won territory, Pakistani politicians and American officials on Thursday sharply questioned the government’s willingness to deal with the insurgents and the Pakistani military decision to remain on the sidelines.
Some 400 to 500 insurgents consolidated control of their new prize, a strategic district called Buner, just 70 miles from the capital, Islamabad, setting up checkpoints and negotiating a truce similar to the one that allowed the Taliban to impose Islamic law in the neighboring Swat Valley.
As they did, Taliban contingents were seen Thursday in at least two other districts and areas still closer to the capital, according to Pakistani government officials and residents.
Yet Pakistani authorities deployed just several hundred poorly paid and equipped constabulary forces to Buner, who were repelled in a clash with the insurgents, leaving one police officer dead.
