Pakistan Is Steadfast Against Terror: We aren't appeasing the Taliban or terrorists in Swat

Wall Street Journal ^ | March 4, 2009 | PK President Asif Ali Zardari

[Sergeant Tim]

Last week's trilateral meeting in Washington between U.S. leaders and the foreign ministers, military and intelligence leaders of my country and Afghanistan was a crucial step forward in the war on terrorism and fanaticism in South and Central Asia. For the first time, Pakistan, the U.S. and Afghanistan agreed on a coherent military and political strategy to isolate and deal with those intent on destabilizing our region and terrorizing the world. ... We have not and will not negotiate with extremist Taliban and terrorists. The clerics with whom we have engaged are not Taliban. Indeed, in our dialogue we'd made it clear that it is their responsibility to rein in and neutralize Taliban and other insurgents. If they do so and lay down their arms, this initiative will have succeeded for the people of Swat Valley. If not, our security forces will act accordingly. Unfortunately, this process of weaning reconcilable elements of an insurgency away from the irreconcilables has been mischaracterized in the West.

[Sergeant Tim]

Mischaracterized in the West?

100,000 to 150,000 Taliban are currently under arms in the tribal and federally adminstered areas of Pakistan and PK's military has been virtually been pushed out of most of those areas. An 8,000 to 14,000-strong 'Shadow Army' manned and led by al-Qaeda, "foreign fighters," regional terrorist groups, and Taliban is organized in 3 to 5 brigades similar to al-Qaeda's pre-9/11 shock troops against the Northern Alliance, Brigade 055. The PK government keeps making truces with the Taliban, the Taliban breaks them all, and the government does nothing in response.

Click to enlarge map

Frankly, Mr. Zardari's opinion piece totally lacks credibility. In the Army, we often referred to such tripe as coming from echelons about reality.

[Srirangan]

The Pakistan Army weild all real power in Pakistan. The only other entities that can call any shots are the Taliban/Al Qaida.

Mr. Zardari and his Govt. are just a rubber stamp and nothing more. All he can do is write opinion pieces in western journal.

[Sergeant Tim]

Ping!

[familyop]

Most of what we’re seeing from the media about politics and war is dishonest to the extent of being obviously bizarre and hysterical—all of the prominent, sponsored media. Iran and Pakistan are the enemy’s sources of materiel and training, but there’s a global house of fraud and slavery to protect (schemes and propaganda involving freight fuel prices and the propped-up dollar).

[jenk]

"coming from echelons about reality."

Is that like 'emanations from penumbras?'

[Sergeant Tim]

Actually, it was supposed to say ‘above reality.’

[Sergeant Tim]

I think the WSJ publishing his op-ed means they wanted to expose him for a fraud.

[happinesswithoutpeace]

/mark

[Islaminaction]

Pakistan is playing a two-faced game with us. They take billions of dollars from us and throw us a bone once in a while. The are lying when they say they are not appeasing the Taliban. They just allowed them to have Sharia law in Swat Pakistan.

[WildMiracle]

Am not sure why US is still believing in what porkistan says