tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11578122.post7234353182551379451..comments2023-11-02T05:48:48.115-04:00Comments on GayandRight: Pakistan fires key architect of SWAT 'peace' deal....GayandRighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763498369390166108noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11578122.post-77440746064387091242009-04-26T09:42:00.000-04:002009-04-26T09:42:00.000-04:00The Taliban are receiving support and guidance fro...The Taliban are receiving support and guidance from hardliners comfortably hidden within the Pakistani establishment. This can plainly be seen from Taliban's rapid withdrawal from the newly-seized areas after the US hollered loudly enough against Pakistan.<br /><br />The Pakistanis are playing a game of brinksmanship with the West. The hardliners within their military see Taliban and Islamist militants as the key to fighting off regional threats, whether from local separatist rebels or from neighboring rival India nextdoor.<br /><br />The occurrence of 9/11 was seen by these Pakistani hardliners as "unfortunate" but not any real skin off their nose. They are therefore unwilling to part with their jihadist assets just because these happen to endanger the Western world. In fact, hardliners in Pakistan's military establishment would sooner covertly back the Taliban Islamists in a takeover of their entire state, than surrender to the demands of foreign infidel powers that jihadism be abandoned as a state policy. <br /><br />Therefore Pakistan is playing a game of cat-and-mouse with the West. When they want to put pressure on the West, the Taliban will be given the green light to go ahead and make forays to grab more territory, which of course will be unopposed by the Pakistani state. When the US finally gets upset enough to threaten Pakistan with sufficiently dire consequences, or else ponies up more aid, then the Pakistanis signal their Taliban henchmen to immediately retreat.<br /><br />This isn't much different than NKorea's similar blackmail game against the West. When they want something, they prepare a missile test or start up their nuclear reprocessing facilities. Finally, the West gets upset enough to either make a concession or else tighten sanctions, at which point the NKoreans back off. This gamesmanship is how rogue states pursue their survival and advance their interests.sanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11939342428337531046noreply@blogger.com