One of many madrasas in Quetta in 2008. Credit Alex Majoli/Magnum, for The New York Times
What Pakistan Knew About Bin Laden -- Carlotta Gall, New York Times
Shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks, I went to live and report for The New York Times in Afghanistan. I would spend most of the next 12 years there, following the overthrow of the Taliban, feeling the excitement of the freedom and prosperity that was promised in its wake and then watching the gradual dissolution of that hope. A new Constitution and two rounds of elections did not improve the lives of ordinary Afghans; the Taliban regrouped and found increasing numbers of supporters for their guerrilla actions; by 2006, as they mounted an ambitious offensive to retake southern Afghanistan and unleashed more than a hundred suicide bombers, it was clear that a deadly and determined opponent was growing in strength, not losing it. As I toured the bomb sites and battlegrounds of the Taliban resurgence, Afghans kept telling me the same thing: The organizers of the insurgency were in Pakistan, specifically in the western district of Quetta. Police investigators were finding that many of the bombers, too, were coming from Pakistan.
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My Comment: Regular readers of this blog know that I have been a long time harsh critic of the Pakistani government in their support of extremism. This analysis by New York Times only confirms this opinion.
1 comment:
It is primarily India's involvement in Afghanistan that drives US-"ally" Pakistan's involvement via Taliban against the US. Understandably, Pakistan doesn't want to become an 'Indian sandwich.' The constant US overtures to India, with high-ranking visitors, haven't helped either. And of course allying with an enemy is a first, even given the unpopular drone-rocket strikes.
General McChrystal noted all this in his 2009 assessment.
General McChrystal's Report
Aug 30, 2009
'Afghanistan's insurgency is clearly supported from Pakistan. . .and are reportedly aided by some elements of Pakistan's ISI [Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence ]."
"Indian political and economic influence is increasing in Afghanistan, including significant efforts and financial investment. In addition, the current Afghan government is perceived by Islamabad to be pro-Indian. While Indian activities largely benefit the Afghan people, increasing Indian influence in Afghanistan is likely to exacerbate regional tensions and encourage Pakistani countermeasures in Afghanistan or India."
Obama, Dec 1, 2009, West Point:
. . .Third, we will act with the full recognition that our success in Afghanistan is inextricably linked to our partnership with Pakistan.
So the ridiculous troop-killing US military presence in Afghanistan has gone on and will continue -- it's just good politics.
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