The Pakistan Problem

How does one deal with Pakistan, the supposed "ally" in the war on terror. Seemingly these guys are "friends or allies" but really what have they done apart from handing over a token few Al Qaeda leaders? They haven't handed over their nuclear scientist who shopped around the world for nuclear material and then went around selling nuclear technology to Iran, North Korea and Libya. So, one asks are these guys really "allies." And if they are indeed "allies" - why are they so hesitant to hand this scientist over? What are they up to?

Their conduct in Afghanistan has been far worse. They are supposed to be helping NATO troops fight the Taliban, but the Pakistani intelligence agency (the ISI) has in fact been supporting, harboring and facilitating the Taliban leadership and foot soldiers. So, how much is a dead NATO soldier's life worth? The "allies" talk is BS. The Pakistanis are playing the same game they played in the late '80s, after the erstwhile Soviet Union withdrew from Afghanistan. Our Pakistani "allies" then went ahead and created the Taliban and sought to view Afghanistan as their backyard and the Taliban as their henchmen. To that end, the Pakistani intelligence agency (ISI) and Pakistani troops roamed freely in Afghanistan helping the Taliban capture most of the country.

The only reason they ceased that support and tutelage was because the US gave them no choice post 9/11. It wasn't voluntarily - not by any stretch. It was a forced decision. And therefore, now they seek to revert to their old stand. They kill a few Taliban here and there that makes it to the news, but then turn a blind eye to the Taliban leadership in safehouses in Pakistan. Pakistan has been treated by the West with kid gloves. The West had been bought over by sweet talk from Musharraf, he's no longer in charge. So, at least, now, one hopes the West pushes Pakistan to do more in cracking down on terrorists and terrorism on its soil.

Pakistan presents the greatest threat to the US, of any country. The US ignored Pakistan post the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan - that move cost the US dearly. One hopes the US doesn't make the mistake of ignoring Pakistan now. They need to be kept under surveillance to ensure that they are doing more in fighting terrorists.