(Arabic daily, Kuwait, 11.5.2009)
By Dr. Shamlan Yousuf Al-Essa
Once again Pakistan is in world media headlines due to worsening security conditions and due to the Pakistani military's strong action against Pakistani Taliban insurgents. The Pakistani military offensive came after the US President met with the Pakistani
President in Washington last week, when the US administration stressed the importance of fighting the Taliban and Al-Qaeda inside Pak territory. Washington says that Taliban threatens the US interests in the region, especially after it started waging attacks
on the areas near the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.
Conditions had become grave after the Government of Pakistan surrendered Swat Valley to Taliban last February. The Pakistani government took this step after the Pushtun Mujahideen intensified their attacks on the north-west frontiers, leaving very few options
for Islamabad especially after the Pakistani Taliban extended their influence outside Swat Valley towards Islamabad, forcing the army to launch a military offensive against the extremists. The Pakistani Prime Minister declared a military offensive, stating
that he will not allow his country to become a hideout for the terrorists.
The Government of Pakistan supported this policy. President Zardari announced that he supports the US objectives in Pakistan, stressing that his government will comply with the conditions laid down by Washington. Pakistan took this new stand after the US
Administration and the US Congress announced additional aid of US$ 7 billion to assist growth and the Pak economy. But Pakistan's pro Washington stand will keep this state in an embarrassing position internally especially because it is the security machineries
that have set up and equipped the Jihadis to use them in Pak conflicts against India and Afghanistan. The second problem is - how to deal with the Pushtun tribes who are scattered in the tribal areas in the north-west border with Afghanistan.
The new US Administration, in coordination with the NATO countries that have large forces in Afghanistan, is trying to bring about stability in both Pakistan and Afghanistan. But the Obama administration is attaching special importance to Pakistan in view of
its location and its importance as the largest Muslim country after Indonesia. More so, because this state possesses nuclear weapons and Washington is keen to ensure that this weapon does not fall into the hands of the terrorists. Also, the fighting in Pushtun
areas in the north and Balouch areas in the south threatens military supply routes and increases the problems for the US and NATO forces in bringing a law and order situation in Afghanistan.
As far as the role of the GCC countries is concerned in the Pak conflict with Taliban and Al-Qaeda, the GCC countries have played an indirect role in politicizing the situation in Pakistan because these countries have directly assisted the establishment
of religious schools and seminaries, which later on became a springboard for Pak and Afghan Taliban movement. Also the Islamic charity organizations in the Gulf have extended financial and moral support to the Mujahideen in Kashmir in their long war against
India. The Arabs, including the Gulf Mujahideen, took part in the long war in Afghanistan against the Soviet forces, with American help at that time. After the break-up of the USSR, Al-Qaeda started operations against the American forces especially after the
collapse of the Taliban state in the aftermath of terrorist attacks on New York and Washington in 2001. Today, a big responsibility lies on the Gulf countries to support the Pakistani government and the US policy in Pakistan and Afghanistan since putting up
a challenge to the terrorists in these two countries is the only guarantee against the return of terrorism to our region. The issue of fighting terrorism is an international issue and we must have a role in it before terrorism attacks us in our countries.
(Translation from Arabic)