In re this article comes a letter to the editor at the New York Times:
To the Editor:Re “The Taliban’s Silent Partner”Â? (Op-Ed, July 20):
Robert D. Kaplan writes, “Pakistan is now supporting the Taliban in a manner similar to the way it supported the Afghan mujahedeen against the Soviets two decades ago.’’
This allegation is ill founded, because Pakistan, along with the international community, has declared war on the terrorism unleashed by Al Qaeda and the Taliban.
Indeed, there are certain elements in the Pakistani tribal areas that are supporting the Taliban. But the Pakistani Army has conducted successful operations and killed about 700 Qaeda terrorists over the years.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, during her visit last month, said, “I am confident that no one wants more to see the defeat of Al Qaeda and the Taliban than Pakistan,’’ which has “suffered at its hands.”Â?
The Pakistani Army is well disciplined and well trained. Mr. Kaplan writes that after President Pervez Musharraf “come the men with the beards.’’ A large number of officers get their training and education from the West, including the United States. They uphold the highest standards of professionalism.
M. Akram Shaheedi
Minister (Press)
Embassy of Pakistan
Washington, July 24, 2006
We report, you decide.
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COMMENTS / 4 COMMENTS
Younghusband added these pithy words on 28 Jul 06 at 1:08 amPakistan really seems to be on the defensive. Check out last week’s Economist letters section:
SIR ““ Both your leader on and survey of Pakistan were unduly harsh and unfair to the country, its leadership and its people, to say the least (The trouble with Pakistan, July 8th; A survey of Pakistan, July 8th). The contention that Pakistan is not doing enough in the campaign against terrorism and extremism is contrary to the facts, which include 700 al-Qaeda operatives captured (including important targets, such as Khalid Sheikh Mohammed), 90,000 Pakistani troops deployed along the border with Afghanistan, and continuing operations in the tribal areas.For further evidence, one could point to a ban on militant groups, the crackdown on hate literature and the registration and reform of madrassas. For you to think that the witches’ brew of problems left behind after the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan are amenable to a quick fix shows a lack of comprehension about the complexity of the challenges.
Furthermore, sweeping statements such as “Osama bin Laden is widely believed to be in Pakistan”Â? (believed by whom?), and baseless presumptions such as that President Pervez Musharraf’s supporters will “rig”Â? the next national election, bring no credit to The Economist. You did not cite the giant strides Pakistan has made in trying to empower women, open up the electronic media and create more press and cultural freedoms. These actions have strengthened civil society and reinforce Pakistan’s democratisation process.
Imran Gardezi
High Commission for Pakistan
London
bp32 added these pithy words on 28 Jul 06 at 10:29 amThe first step towards recovery is admitting you have a problem.
Eddie added these pithy words on 28 Jul 06 at 2:44 pmThe question one should always wonder with the Pakistanis in the age of terror:
What is the ISI up to? How many rogue factions are still messing around in the tribal areas, Afghanistan and in Kashmir? God knows there are shadowy fundamentalists in the midst who actively seek the death of Musharaf and other reform minded politicians, officers and civilian leaders.
I say it once, I’ll say it again. That bunch is a more dangerous terrorist organization than Al-Qaeda could ever hope to be.
