Cracking Hard Nuts

The statement given by Pakistan's Minister for Information, Sherry Rehman, during an in-camera briefing on national security, and the war on terror in Pakistan's National Assembly this week has raised many a hackle. If she is to be believed, Pakistan is in the centre of serious internal threats from a combination of Al-Qaida, Taliban and J&K terrorist outfits who want to take over the country. This statement is not entirely untrue as the Indian Security sources have confirmed that the reports of constant infiltration of Al-Qaida and Taliban elements are growing in the streets of Lahore and Karachi. In another report, a number of Taliban posters were seen in Karachi, declaring promises to provide a better government in Sindh if it comes to power. Recently, MQM leader Altaf Hussain said that more than 400,000 Talibanis had infiltrated into Karachi by now. It is too early to find out the secret outcome of the meeting between Mahmud Ali Durrani and M.K. Narayanan, both national security advisers of Pakistan and India held on 13th October, who had agreed for a joint terror mechanism.

The matter concerning terrorism generated by Al Qaida and Taliban has increased so much that even the commander-in-chief of NATO forces, deployed for taking up Al Qaida, has recently admitted that it's difficult to wipe out Al Qaida from Afganistan. Lots of manpower, money and weapons of high precision have been used by the NATO forces, yet the reports of growing Talibanisation of the border areas of Pak-Afghan are coming. Meanwhile, the occurring of bomb blasts, and killing of innocent people in Pakistan are now routine affairs. The people are making constant noise in Pakistan, asking their government to take effective measures to combat terrorism. It's very much evident from the behavior of the leaders of Pakistan that the govt. looks gloomy after the bomb explosion at Marriot.

If the situation persists like this, or is allowed to persist, then the day is not far when Pakistan would become a battleground between the Taliban and the modern people living there; a volatile neighbor would disturb the very composite lifestyle of India, and the western countries esp. the U.S. may perhaps see once again the doomsday at Manhattan ala 9/11. So what is the remedy? Do we allow this to happen and live an uncertain life at the mercy of God only? Are we so naive that we cannot handle the crisis and become prey at the hands of killers?

It's high time that the U.S. should organise a core committee that consists of military experts from the countries of Russia, China. Pakistan and India, and of course the US itself for taking the bull by the horns. By now, it's been conspicuous that the NATO army has failed in combating Al Qaida in the terrains of Afghanistan. The artillery forces of China and India running along the mountainous terrains have proved themselves unparalleled, and so they are the ones who can cause discomfort to the might of Al Qaida and exhaust them. To gain ground and information, one has to rely heavily on the Pakistani army. It's prudent to take military expertise from the largest country Russia also. The Al Qaida has grown up a Frankenstein, and couldn't be bottled easily. Putting the menace of Al Qaida out to graze, silly egoism needs to sit at the back. If these five powers take on the initiatives seriously, there is no doubt that the ascendancy of Al Qaida would be ceased in a month's time and may be erased from the land of Pak-Afghan within a period of six months.

If that cannot be done, the President of United States must uplift himself, exhibit courage and bomb nuclear weapons on the terrains of Afghanistan. Two more months are left for the President George Bush of holding the highest chair. At present, he is rated as one of the most unpopular Presidents of America. If he could muster courage and decide to bomb Al Qaida once and for all, he would at least be popular amongst a large section of people around the world.