Memo to the Taliban: Pakistan Goes Hard

There is a such thing as extremes.  WHile my posts from yesterday and the day before spoke of history’s examples of failed policy in this region, advocating more action and better execution, this military campaign against the Taliban now may be an overcompensation in the opposite direction.

While the Pakistani government seems to finally be 100% serious about removing the Taliban threat, it seems to be doing it by any means necessary.  This is affecting the way of life for the actual Pakistani people that live in Swat Valley.  While the Pakistani military operates on this search and destroy campaign, Pakistanis are fleeing the fighting and being displaced.  This could actually fuel more resentment for the government and reduce confidence in its ability to govern.  Worse yet, it may drive supporters to the Taliban because of the harshness and zeal with which the Pakistani military is choosing to cleanse the area.

This presents interesting differences between the four players.  Although Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the U.S. all want the elimination of the Taliban (meaning the government officials supported and recognized by the U.S in these countries) they want it for different reasons and are willing to achieve it at different costs.

The Taliban are making it clear that their foothold in the Swat Valley is just a stepping stone of a larger campaign to gain more territory and influence in the region.

The Pakistani were not motivated until recently to be as vigilante in the fight against the Taliban as they are now.  THis is because the stronghold of the Taliban is growing, dangerously closer to the capital of Pakistan.  Although the fight against the Taliban is for the government’s self-interest, eliminating the Taliban would be good for U.S. interests and Karzai’s government in Afghanistan.  The difference is that the Pakistani government seems intent on eliminating the Taliban and not distinguishing between foe and civilian in the region.

The U.S. has been pressuring the Pakistani to do something about the “Taliban” problem, however soft-spoken they may have been.  This recent campaign has been publicly supported by the U.S.  but I wonder what they must be saying behind closed doors, since the citizens of Pakistan are also the victims of this on-slaught?  In spite of the U.S. drone attacks the U.S. in principle values the life of civilians and do not target civilians indiscriminately.  If there is collateral damage, you can at least expect the U.S. to feel bad…it doesn’t seem like the Pakistani government is checking the little voice sitting on their right shoulder…

The Karzai-led Afghan government needs the influence of the Taliban to diminish because it would be one less group to delegitimize Karzai’s power during the rebuilding process in Afghanistan.  I do believe that if Karzai had the capacity, he would be of the same “by any means necessary” mindset to drive the Taliban out of Afghanistan; however, he has very little “legitmate” control of many of the regions in Afghanistan, and thus little control of the soldiers and warlords that control fighters in certain regions.  

As I mentioned in other posts, the military campaign sometimes is necessary, but if it causes more death and destruction than the present conditions, then at what costs are you waging war?  History has shown that just “liberating” an area is not enough.  In addition to the vigilance being shown in seeking out and destroying Taliban operatives, the Pakistani needs to show a respect for their own citizens and needs to have some rebuilding plans in mind to aide those citizens already displaced by fighting.  They also should look to its major allies more than ever to help revitalize the area in the near future.