The War in Pashtunistan

WASHINGTON — The plan President Obama unveiled last week for Years 9 and 10 of the war in Afghanistan left a basic question begging for an answer: If Al Qaeda is the threat, and Al Qaeda is in Pakistan, why send another 30,000 troops to Afghanistan?

In his address Tuesday night, the president mentioned Pakistan and the Pakistanis some 25 times...

That land is not on any map, but it’s where leaders of Al Qaeda and the Taliban both hide. It straddles 1,000 miles of the 1,600-mile Afghan-Pakistani border. It is inhabited by the ethnic Pashtuns, a fiercely independent people that number 12 million on the Afghan side and 27 million on the Pakistani side...

The slaughter has changed the attitude of many Pakistanis, including government officials, about the wisdom of tolerating radical groups. And since last year, Pakistan has offered quiet but crucial support for the C.I.A.’s use of missile-firing drones, including intelligence on militants’ whereabouts.

“Now the Pakistanis are convinced they’ve crossed the Rubicon,” said one former C.I.A. officer with long experience in the region. “They know they can’t do half measures.”

Still, Pakistan is deeply divided, conditioned for decades to focus its security concerns on India. Popular opinion runs strongly against the United States. And Obama administration officials say they have not yet won Islamabad’s support for major elements of the new war strategy.

Most significantly, Pakistan has yet to agree to go after the leaders of the Afghan Taliban, or to permit American drones to hunt them in the province of Baluchistan, across the border from their former Afghani base in Kandahar. Mullah Muhammad Omar, the cleric to whom even Mr. bin Laden has pledged fealty, operates now from near the Pakistani city of Quetta, as he helps oversee the Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan...

I find the Pashtuns interesting, I was reading about how they resisted the Mongol invasion. While they have intermarried to a limited degree with all the various waves of invaders they seem to be a ancient and distinct people who live by their own code. I am not sure how such a independent people can be subdued or won over. I think that studying their culture and codes would be the key for the way to get through to them. Judging from a historical perspective they are not the giving up kind. Thanks for the post, I am interested in learning more about them.

I think that studying their culture and codes would be the key for the way to get through to them. Judging from a historical perspective they are not the giving up kind.

Going by other reports like this NY Times article, it appears the Pashtuns also have a historical tradition of pedophilia between men and young boys that they won't give up. Women are strictly segregated from men, kept covered up in accordance with Islamic law.

It's symptomatic of the challenge we face in ending the threat from the Eastern Afghanistan-Western Pakistan region. It's a barbaric, backward culture that sounds vaguely like that of the Spartans. And our security demands that these people somehow be dragged into the 21st century.

FYI, it ain't just the USA and Britain there...

Look at this.

We've been there from the start. A pity your press ignores the contribution of others.

Our war dead there now number 131 and that number still grows. While that may seem a pitiful, insignificant number to some, every one of those deaths has a family that mourns.

We have 1/10 your population, and a force in theatre of only 2500 or so. You run the numbers, because we are paying our share of the butcher's bill IN SPADES!

It's nothing against you, neverdem, I just tire of some of our associates on this site that denigrate and insult the Canadian contribution to the War on ~~Terror~~ "Man-Made Disasters".

This article not helping any of us pashtuns in many forms.We pashtuns are stuck in the underground war of the intelligence.First our land was distributed in 2 sections by the british empire known as the durand line & now we facing the war on terror in which only our people paying the price.As A pashtun I know what My culture is.My culture is entirely based on the ancient code called Pashtunwalai in which we respect & demand respect regarding any issue.All this will make sense once you enter this region.I agree with some replies & disagree with the rest.homosexuality is in every race, culture & society.It is sad to hear why we the only one pointed out as in our culture it is the most disgusting thing imaginable.We bow to no army or force if it tries to get in by force.Our people willing to help any other race that`s helping us but if they here by some negative means.Pashtun people are ready to die for the honour of his country.Next thing I want to clear is the war of the agencies.Its quite simple.Pakistan is funding its army based militants to resist against americans as on the other hands they ask for aids & funds to show the world they supporting war on terror as on media Pakistan army producing an image of fighting shoulder to shoulder with america.While america is producing some radical movements itself in this region.where as india also helping in inflaming the terrorists.This sounds complicated but once you really read through the available lines n articles on the internet, everyone reading this reply will get a clear view of what I mean.The final pharagraph I proceed is about the pashtun land. Pakistan is trying to make the durand line an international border while we pashtuns in both counteries (afghanistan & pakistan) are against it.Pakistan is funding the militants to keep the american,western & its own army occupied in this region so the face of the pashtunistan dream is wiped out from our minds (which may never happen).We are not against 21st century.every pashtun has a dream of a better life but when you are caught in the middle of war between agencies & counteries. Whatelse option you have got instead of supporting either side for the sake of a bit peaceful life? this is the question am asking you all.We are not terrorists. Yes we do resist against any invasion but if our REAL LAND is recognized by the international court & country, not even terrorism can make its footprint in our soil that is pashtunistan.
peace from a pashtun to all the world if its peace in our country Pashtunistan.

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