NATO Offensive in Afghanistan Needs to be Pushed Up

Prof Dr Colonel (Retired) K Prabhakar Rao

Of late, there have been many reports of regrouping of Taliban in Afghan sector. It is also confirmed that Taliban cadres and leaders are hiding in the most lawless province of Waziristan of North West Province of Pakistan that is famous for tribal conflicts and lawlessness too. It is also generally believed that Osama Bin Laden the most wanted and sought criminal and catch prize in the world is hiding in this province to escape arrest by the NATO forces (1). However some believe that he was already killed at Tora Bora bombings during Afghan war. What prevents Pakistan from launching military offensive against this terrorist gang and apprehend them as it is the strongest ally of USA in this sector? In fact, the provinces in Afghanistan that are adjacent to West Pakistan are being dominated by Taliban and the writ of the government runs in limited radius that too around the areas where NATO and Afghan troops are stationed. There is a great apprehension that in spring, Taliban would launch a strong offensive against the Allied troops that are 31000 in numbers and are likely to be increased by 5000 more. It is also strongly being propagated that NATO forces with the available strength would find it difficult to contain the Taliban and infact a defeat for NATO forces is being predicted (2). The casualties during the last year were 4000 dead and ground has been lost to Taliban. Taliban has been kidnapping and killing the workers including some engineers working with various firms that are engaged in the reconstruction of Afghanistan. They have shot dead UN employee Yar Mohammed, a driver for UN- habitat, the United Nations human settlement program in Western Afghanistan. Taliban also abducted an Indian engineer Kasula Surya Narayana on 28 April, 2006 who was working for Bahrain’s Al Moayed Company for executing a project for Roshan, a private Telecom company. He was beheaded subsequently and body was thrown on roadside. Taliban follows such gruesome methods for murdering their victims to spread terror. These actions are to demoralize the workers engaged in the constructional activities (3) (4).

Threat from Taliban has not diminished and General David Richards the outgoing Chief of NATO troops remarked that Taliban have been only contained meaning that threat still exists. However the morale of NATO troops is high after the tough engagement with Taliban last year in which nearly thousand Taliban cadres were slain. The Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan is backed by foreign money, terror networks and fighters coming over the border from Pakistan, the top UN envoy in Afghanistan, said on Wednesday. NATO Commanders believe that the Taliban forces comprise of Top level hard core terrorists and their leaders located around Quetta who can not be reconciled while the poor villagers who are forcibly brought in to fight are probably can be reconciled by showing them some benefit if they left the insurgency. Apart from these mischief makers, thugs, Narcotic and drug peddlers assorted criminals and terrorist groups from Punjab, Pushtu people from Punjab and smugglers also are engaged in the fight. During the rule of Taliban, drug pedaling and narcotic trade formed a great source of revenue to the rule of criminals. This trade flourished unchecked and rather was patronized by the government "The Taliban was driven out of the country," Koenigs said of the American-led invasion after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. "They are defeated, but they have not been destroyed." (5).

The government of Hamid Karzai is struggling to stabilize the country in the opposition of Taliban cadres; it is believed by NATO commanders that the people around the country do not hate foreigners including NATO forces as they are protecting the people from lawlessness, suicide bombers and general insecurity from the Taliban in the country. NATO commanders have no faith in Pakistan that bred, quartered, supported and abetted Taliban in Afghanistan during the Russian occupation of the country. Although Pakistan was an ally of USA in the struggle against Taliban, it is firmly believed that it clandestinely supports all activities of Taliban from its land and ISI of Pakistan monitors Taliban activities and plays an important role in regrouping of Taliban in the sector. Occasional operations against AlQaeda and Taliban in Pakistan yield some marginal result such as capturing and slaying of a terrorist and this is no indication of any major offensive by Pakistan against the terrorists that are being harbored in the country. Pakistan has vehemently criticized establishing of Indian Consulates in Afghan cities such as Kandahar, Mazar e Sheriff, Jalalabad and Heart and has protested. It seems Indian involvement in development of Afghanistan as a serious threat to its strategic influence. Pakistan is also much worried that its efforts in reviving Taliban are being exposed by Indian presence in Afghanistan. In such a case Pakistan should not allow any Indian embassy on its soil. In the past there have been many incidents of ill treatment o Indian diplomatic personnel in Pakistan on the charges of spying. The mistrust between India and Pakistan continues inspite of some outward show of improved relations such as running buses and few trains between the countries. There are ceremonial functions at the border check posts and exchange of sweets between the border Guards and their commanders on some festivals as a good will and these in no way have improved the relations between both these countries. The hidden daggers are always pointing at each other ready to be drawn at any point.

It will not be difficult to smash the Al Qaeda and Taliban leadership in Pakistan if USA takes charge of the operations unilaterally against Al Qaeda and Taliban in Pakistani territory. Lot of time has been wasted out on this front and USA now at least must realize the double game of Pakistan and smash Al Qaeda leadership in the country on its own (6). Of course this will cause a bitterness and heart burning in the country. Probably General Musharraf has been viewed as the best bet by America in the need of hour.

America is fully aware of Pakistan’s involvement in creation and sponsoring of Taliban against Russian occupational forces during last century and ensured that Russians were compelled to withdraw from Afghanistan. Thus, a soft corner existed all these days for Pakistan in American politics and policy and this is viewed as essential to counter rise of India as a regional super power. But this unilateral action of elimination of Taliban and AlQaeda on Pakistan soil by NATO forces is a must if terrorism is to be eliminated in the region. Pakistan should be declared as a terrorist sponsoring State. Top terrorist leaders are hiding in Pakistan, giving a long rope to them is not understood. Already valuable time has been lost. Unless Taliban’s top leaders along with Al Qaeda leadership are cornered and eliminated, Taliban would reemerge as a powerful force in the region much to the discomfort of Western Powers and would threaten world peace. USA has recently warned Pakistan that unless it goes with hammer and tong against these terrorist cadres and leadership in Pakistan, the economic aid given to the country would be drastically cut (7).

The threat of Taliban and their rise has been demonstrated in the recent attempt on the Life of Dick Cheney, US. Vice President who was on a visit to Afghanistan. The attack took place outside the base at Bagram.The suicide bomber sneaked into the camp and exploded himself causing some 14 deaths and wounding dozen others. There were however diverging views on the death toll. The vice President was safe within the base at the time of explosion as per Major Mitchell of NATO forces. Taliban have claimed that it was intended for the US. Vice President and were unhappy that they missed the target (8).

Although Pakistan faces the charge of abettor of Terrorism, Tom Koenigs, the special UN representative, said the Pakistan government was not backing the Taliban, as it once did, because the militant Islamists were a threat to its stability as well. "We face a Taliban movement, which has apparently recovered and has to be answered by a series of measures, political as well as military," he told reporters after briefing the UN Security Council. Koenigs called the Taliban an insurgency that had taken hold in five Afghan southern provinces rather than just carrying out "some isolated terrorist acts."

Although Afghan government has been requesting Bush administration for a show down with Pakistan which is the clandestine abettor of Terrorism in the region and this has been side lined by USA. The House of Representatives took a step in this direction in its recent omnibus Homeland security legislation, The Bill caters for a ban on further economic and military aid unless President George W Bush certifies that Pakistan President Musharraf is making all possible efforts to prevent the Taliban from operating in areas under its sovereign control. However this ban can be over ruled by the American President in the interests of welfare of USA and the bill also does not cover the Pentagon subsidies. The cost of buying co operation from General Musharraf for America has been very great to a tune of US $ 27.5 Billion apart from economic and military aid to a tune of US $ 4.5 Billion. Pakistani authorities are not only abetting Taliban operations, but also looking other way. Pakistani authorities prevent journalists particularly foreigners from visiting border areas without permit and the permits are rejected as a routine. Carlotta Gall the New York Times correspondent visited the areas without permit and reported that there were signs of Pakistani encouragement of Taliban activities. These suspicions were strengthened when Pakistani intelligence officials barged into her hotel room and after knocking her down took away her computer, notes and other material.

It is widely known that Pakistan fundamentally survives on American aid and once this aid is drastically cut, the country would suffer like fish out of water. Pakistan Armed forces and business houses would starve and would struggle and this is the best way to discipline Pakistan. At present moment, this is most essential. America as an apostle of freedom and liberty should withdraw support to General Musharraf who is a military dictator and President in Uniform. USA has been propagating that it advocates true democracy everywhere in the world and condemns all military rules. Sadly it has failed to follow this principle in case of Pakistan and watched as Prime Minister Nawaz Sheriff was ousted from power by the General who engineered a coup. As a matter of fact, America has patronized and supported Pakistan as a prop against growing India that rubbed shoulders with former USSR. It saw Pakistan as a balancing power with its support against more powerful India and USA sidelined India in its offensive against Afghnaistan. Successive Presidents of USA followed the same policy in Indian Sub continent. Pakistan also failed to protect it’s nuclear secrets from passing onto rogue nations. Thus, Pakistan is responsible for the nuclear instability in the world and has got Scot free after its failure. Pakistan has failed to apprehend Al Qaeda thugs who are hiding in their country and Taliban are regrouping on their soil. . Although maximum number of Terrorists and criminals are hiding in Pakistan, this nation has been enjoying American patronage and it is time truths are seen in the real sense and unilateral action by USA on terrorists should be initiated on Pak soil if US desires to put an end to this show in Afghanistan. However, there is a ray of hope in recent tough message from president George W Bush sent to Pak President over his failure to deliver results against terrorism. This was quoted by New York Times recently quoting unnamed senior administration officials. The news paper that gives most coverage on war against Iraq gave it as top a story. The recent visit of hardliner American Vice President Dick Cheney to Pakistan signifies the importance. It is believed that President Bush would tighten screws against Pakistan by restricting the aid significantly that would awaken them as this would be disastrous to the nation. . US is much upset over the peace deal between Taliban and Pakistan at the borders with Afghanistan as this has facilitated build up of Al Qaeda and Taliban that has resulted in the increase in the attacks on NATO forces (9) This is a significant development in the war against terrorism. Pakistan has been identified as the most fertile breeding ground for terrorism of all sorts in the world. It is the base for radical Islam and its rise and spread. Pep Talk by US officials to Pakistan shall not show any results and stick is the only answer to awaken them. Hope the tough message from American President would be truly followed up in days to come and Pakistan is kept under check and under control. The tragic fact is that the whole world knows that the most wanted criminals are being harbored in Pakistan there by wasting all efforts of West in fighting terrorism. On the other hand, Pakistan has contributed to leakage of nuclear know how to rogue nations and this issue has been soft pedaled. Probably, this nation may have to be checked and controlled like Iraq in long term interests for stability in the world apart from disarming it nuclearly. However for many, this may appear very harsh and a partisan stand. But writing on the wall has to be read clearly with open eyes. This is the need of present hour in the war against Terrorism. The war on terrorism is required to be fought on Pakistani soil and probably not in Afghanistan alone if terrorism is to be eliminated from the world.

Bibliography

1. Prof Dr Colonel (Retired) K Prabhakar Rao, Strategic studies into Muslim fundamentalism and its rise in India and its growing threat to India’s security across the borders. Ph D thesis, International University, Independence, USA, 2003, PP 221-228

2. Jason Burke , The spring offensive, India Today, February, 26, 2007, PP 90-92

3. From Herat in Afghanistan, UN employee shot dead in Afghanistan, Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad, AP, India, Date September, 14, 2006, PP 9

4. Ramesh Ramachandran, Indians have little or no support. Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad, AP, India, Date May 2, 2006 PP 9

5. Taliban returning via Pakistan, UN envoy, www. Express.com, Reuters posted online Thursday, July 27, 2006 at 1051 hours updated July 27, 2006 at 1054 hours,

6. Max Boot. Pakistan is promoting Afghan fire (Afghan mantalanu egadostunna Pak in Telugu) (With special arrangement with Washington Post), Eenadu daily, Hyderabad, AP, India, Date November 21, 2006, PP 4

7 Selig S Harrison, Taliban mentors in Pakistan, Deccan chronicle, Hyderabad, AP, India, Date February 27, 2007, PP 7

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8. Alisa Tang, Taliban bomber targets Cheney, Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad, AP, India, Date February, 2007, PP 10,

9. Chidanand Rajghatta, Bush doesn’t beat about Mush, Times of India, Hyderabad, AP, India, and Date February 27, 2007, PP 1

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