A number of government officials are reportedly complicit in these activities at all levels, further undermining the government’s credibility. The most significant aspect of the production and sale of opium and other narcotics has a corrosive and destabilising impact on corruption within the government. Narcotics activity also funds insurgent groups.

This crisis of confidence, coupled with a distinct lack of economic and educational opportunity, has created fertile ground for the insurgency. The Quetta Shura Taliban’s establishment of ombudsmen to investigate abuse of power in its own cadres and remove those found guilty capitalises on this government weakness and attracts popular support ...

A number of government officials are reportedly complicit in these activities at all levels, further undermining the government’s credibility. The most significant aspect of the production and sale of opium and other narcotics has a corrosive and destabilising impact on corruption within the government. Narcotics activity also funds insurgent groups.

This crisis of confidence, coupled with a distinct lack of economic and educational opportunity, has created fertile ground for the insurgency. The Quetta Shura Taliban’s establishment of ombudsmen to investigate abuse of power in its own cadres and remove those found guilty capitalises on this government weakness and attracts popular support for their shadow government. A foreign army alone cannot beat an insurgency; the insurgency in Afghanistan requires an Afghan solution.

McChrystal (and the US) fail to really understand the extent to which Indian presence has alienated the Pashtuns in Afghanistan and Pakistan. [...] Despite our best efforts, the insurgents currently have the initiative”. McChrystal admits that the current Afghan government is perceived by Islamabad as pro-Indian: “their activities largely benefit the Afghan people but increasing Indian influence in Afghanistan is likely to exacerbate regional tensions and encourage Pakistani countermeasures in Afghanistan or India.”
Pakistan must be made strong economically, targetting FATA especially. The US must not continue to keep Pakistan “afloat only” and fiddle with the Indian card in continuation wi...

McChrystal (and the US) fail to really understand the extent to which Indian presence has alienated the Pashtuns in Afghanistan and Pakistan. [...] Despite our best efforts, the insurgents currently have the initiative”. McChrystal admits that the current Afghan government is perceived by Islamabad as pro-Indian: “their activities largely benefit the Afghan people but increasing Indian influence in Afghanistan is likely to exacerbate regional tensions and encourage Pakistani countermeasures in Afghanistan or India.”
Pakistan must be made strong economically, targetting FATA especially. The US must not continue to keep Pakistan “afloat only” and fiddle with the Indian card in continuation with the Bush policy. It will not only lose Afghanistan and maybe in the bargain Pakistan, but the whole region. Take the recurring success of the drone strikes in recent months; could these be possible without Pakistani hands on the controls? If anything, this should show, along with Swat, how the Pakistan Army is the world’s best bet against terrorism. By increasing the funding and equipment to the army necessary for fighting both counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency within Pakistan, the US will win the war in Afghanistan.

The writer is a defence and political analyst. Email: isehgal@pathfinder 9.com


http://www.thenews.com.pk/editorial_detail.asp?id=201008