THE “issue” of Pakistan is quite hot these days. The several announced Republican candidates for President are asked about it in every interview. The question is essentially this. Is Pakistan really a help or a hindrance in the war against terror? Clearly the country does something to help the US. Supplies to Afghanistan are shipped via Pakistan. Its military does carry out actions against terrorist forces, sometimes. This may be done only because the terrorists seem to want to kill Pakistanis too.
On the other hand, the Media reports (which are always suspect) indicate that the terrorists actually control some parts of the country, and use it for safe havens, where they plot, rest and resupply. Let me assume, perhaps foolishly, that the Media reports are essentially correct. Because it seems to be a weak, and perhaps sometimes unwilling, ally some American opinion makers want the US to stop giving it aid. The US currently gives it several billion dollars each year.
This war on terror is not a conventional one. There are no organized “army” units on the other side, wearing distinguishing uniforms, and fighting according to the rules of war. They do not have flags or formal headquarters or diplomats in the UN. The enemy does not fight in formal battles, with air cover and artillery preparation. The conflict is much more like dealing with the Mafia, and the US forces are similar to police. In “real” wars the enemy cooperates by attacking, openly. In this conflict the enemy hides until he can come out to commit another act of terror.
Consider, please, “policing” the Mafia. The first goal is to get information on the organization, its members, its goals, its strength, its finances, etc. To do this the police needs to know where the Mafia chiefs are. And it is very, very useful to have a policeman working undercover. If this is impossible then the next best thing is to try to “turn” a member, and have him become a traitor. It is also helpful to observe their headquarters, and intercept their communications.
That is, having the terrorists in certain parts of Pakistan may be a very good thing for the USA. Knowing where they are increases the chances of neutralizing them. Should the Pakistan military exert its full force against the terrorists, and expel, or capture or exterminate them, then pretty much all of these highly effective tactics become pretty much impossible. Who knows where they would flee to, or who would replace them? The entire process, having been set back years, would have to begun again.
Is this really what the USA wants?
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