Taking Back The Frontier ( Pashtun area of Pakistan...)

Washington Post ^ | Sunday, May 4, 2008; Page B07 | Ahmed Rashid

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

LAHORE, Pakistan -- The most dangerous place on Earth -- the Pashtun tribal belt straddling Pakistan's border with Afghanistan -- is about to get more dangerous. As the summer offensive by al-Qaeda and the Taliban against U.S. and NATO troops gets underway in Afghanistan and the militant groups threaten to resume their attacks on Pakistan's army, the newly elected government in Islamabad needs the support and patience of the Bush administration rather than Washington's single-minded desire for military solutions.

Much has been made in the United States about the possibility that Pakistan's coalition government is about to cut a deal with Baitullah Mehsud, the leader of the Pakistani Taliban who rules over much of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Such a deal would free up Pakistani and Afghan Taliban members for the summer offensive in Afghanistan.

Almost every global terrorist plot carried out or prevented since 2004 has been traced to training, funding or material support from al-Qaeda based in these areas. The key to changing the status quo in the tribal areas is major political reform. Instead of archaic colonial laws, the tribal areas need a strategic vision and political changes based on consultations with the people living there.

The Pashtun tribes in the tribal areas must be given the political and social opportunities available to all Pakistanis, and the authority of the state must prevail. Ultimately, such reforms must lead to the people making a democratic decision about their status -- such as establishing a separate province or becoming part of the neighboring Pashtun-majority North-West Frontier Province.

Benazir Bhutto spoke about the urgent need for such reforms.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Her Pakistan People's Party leads the coalition government with the Awami National Party, a secular Pashtun group whose leader, Afsandyar Wali, has said much the same.

[FreeReign]

Wasn't the WaPo hawkish about the tribal areas when Mush was in charge?

Now they go soft on their PPP friends.

It's all about politics, liberalism and power to the WaPo and its ilk.

[elfman2]

"The deal under discussion signedis inadequate. The Pakistani Taliban would stop its attacks on Pakistan's army and free several hundred hostages but would make no promises about ceasing attacks in Afghanistan."

Why are you posting this 7 week old story? The treaty is complete, third similar treaty in the region I think: North Waziristan peace agreement allows Al Qaeda to remain

Here's what's new, Sharif's Islamic nationalists party, the PML-N, is expected to overtake the secularist PPP in the upcoming elections. Majority for talks with Taliban; Nawaz rating rising

[NormsRevenge]

The Pashtun tribes in the tribal areas must be given the political and social opportunities available to all Pakistanis, and the authority of the state must prevail. Ultimately, such reforms must lead to the people making a democratic decision about their status — such as establishing a separate province or becoming part of the neighboring Pashtun-majority North-West Frontier Province.

—
ain’t gonna happen. .. but who knows, we said the same thing about Iraq too.

still a lot of scumbags in Pashtunia that should be taking dirt naps .. let ‘em sign a “truce” or whatever, things will still go boom in the night.. or would I hope so. ;-)

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The authore -- Ahmed Rashid -- was on the CNN Sunday Talk show today...and I thought it would be useful to have this article up...

And there is this howler:

Stop killing the Taliban – they offer the best hope of beating Al-Qaeda ( Barf Alert )

The author of this gem also authored this at the Huffington Post:

Fighting Iran Is a Losing Battle