Pakistan heading towards anarchy, cautions author

[foxbat]

---

---

Pakistan heading towards anarchy, cautions author | | DAWN.COM

YORK: A Pakistani journalist and best-selling author cautions that Pakistan is heading towards anarchy in his new book that offers solutions for his country’s frayed ties with the United States and how US peace talks with the Taliban is crucial in its exit strategy from Afghanistan.

The writer, Ahmed Rashid, who frequents the dinner tables of the world’s top leaders offering advice, gives a dire assessment of the region he has reported on for more than 30 years in “Pakistan On The Brink: The Future of America, Pakistan, and Afghanistan” released in the United States this week.

In his fifth book the Lahore-based prize-winning journalist says he fears Pakistan is on the verge of a meltdown and blames both Pakistan and the Obama administration for the deterioration in their ties due to a series of destabilising incidents, including the US raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

Pakistan’s escalating problems are rooted in its reliance on US aid, its complex politics, the government’s lack of control over both its military and intelligence service and its failure to protect minorities and secure regions controlled by the Pakistani Taliban and other militant groups, the book maintains.

That spells more trouble for Washington if such groups gain further control in a nuclear-armed country where the military now largely controls foreign and security policies and has taken the lead in relations with the United States, he said.

“Pakistan has all the potential of becoming a failing state,” Rashid, 63, said in an interview, explaining the title of the book that follows bestsellers including “Taliban” and “Descent Into Chaos” that were translated into dozens of languages.

“I feel very much that the lack of state control, the lack of state authority is going to mean there is going to be increasing anarchy in many different parts of the country,” said Rashid, who has received numerous death threats and was named by Foreign Policy magazine as one of the top 100 global thinkers.

Taliban deal crucial

Rashid argues that the Obama administration has fueled Pakistan’s paranoia by locking it out of peace talks with the Taliban, not discussing its decade-long Afghan war and exit strategy and increasing relations with economic powerhouse India, Pakistan’s nuclear-armed neighbor and regional rival.

In turn, Pakistan has made little effort to meet US demands to weed out insurgents operating from its safe havens, including the Pakistani Taliban and the Taliban-allied Haqqani network held responsible for many attacks inside Afghanistan.


Calling those opposing positions “the standard” for ties between Washington and Islamabad since the beginning of the Afghan war, Rashid called upon both sides to “break the logjam.”

“There has to be a greater willingness by Pakistan to show when and under what conditions it would be willing to give up the sanctuary for the Taliban,” he said. “And on the American side, there needs to be greater American trust in discussing their withdrawal plans and future plans with the Pakistanis.”

The two countries reached crisis point after a November incident in which Nato aircraft killed 24 Pakistani troops.

Pakistan shut down Nato supply routes into Afghanistan and have demanded an apology and a halt in drone strikes.

“There is so much distrust now, on both sides,” Rashid said, adding ties “are certainly not going to return to what they were where there was almost a carte blanche for the Americans to do what they like in Pakistan. That is not going to happen again.”

Peace talks between the Taliban and United States must be the cornerstone of the US exit strategy from Afghanistan, said Rashid, adding that Pakistan, which has long harbored Taliban leaders, must be included in the talks.

“The key issue is to get a political settlement with the Taliban that leaves Afghanistan in peace,” Rashid said. “You do not want to leave Afghanistan in a state of civil war.”

Rashid criticised contradictory policies of the Obama and the previous George. W. Bush administrations, including ten years of US emphasis on a military solution rather than diplomatic talks, which Rashid believes has left more Afghans and Pakistanis radicalized.

Rashid cautioned Obama against waiting to announce more details on the US exit strategy from Afghanistan for fear of losing voter support in his re-election bid in November.

The author said the Republican presidential candidates were “more confused than Obama” on Afghan peace talks and withdrawal.

“They don’t know which policy to follow.”

[graphican]

Pakistan heading towards anarchy, cautions author | | DAWN.COM

Pakistan’s escalating problems are rooted in its reliance on US aid, its complex politics, the government’s lack of control over both its military and intelligence service and its failure to protect minorities and secure regions controlled by the Pakistani Taliban and other militant groups, the book maintains.

Pakistan's escalating problems come parimarily from USA and their fondeling with 10s of internal matters which are directly related to politics, terrorism and corruption. BUT Its papuuu argument that escalating problems are because government is not able to control Army or ISI. Both army and ISI are wroking under this government even at time when majority of the countrymen wants them to "Do something". So don't agree with that part. Regarding minorities, its an issue but not something which is fundamental and responsible for the anarchy.. here in Pakistan even the majority is facing same and in many ways more problems. So don't agree with this part either. Finally the Taliban - if this article was written in 2009 then I would had said the same but on 2012 as we talk, taliban are at 1/10 of their potency to hurt.

In my assessment, USA and its fondling with the political parties and weightless, valueless and directionless political parties, primarily the government and opposition are mostly responsible for whatever is happening.

[53fd]

Oh look who it is, Ahmed Rashid, the US stooge, who's been proven wrong time & time again on his predictions for Pakistan.

[lem34]

Oh look who it is, Ahmed Rashid, the US stooge, who's been proven wrong time & time again on his predictions for Pakistan.

How many times have we heard that Pakistan is finished??? It's like little mice praying cat will die.

[Rafi]

60 years plus, and all we do is get stronger.

[SamranAli]

i hav seen pak becoming stronger. Dnt knw its becoming failed. Wet dreams.

[jetti]

The Naxals will conquer Delhi soon and the new peoples republic of india will be born. Two can play at this.

Naxals are being finished as we speak..they are so desperate they have kidnapped 2 tourists now.. lol.. BTW if naxals capture delhi, they are even more anti pak, anti religion xtreme commis

[lem34]

The Naxals will conquer Delhi soon and the new peoples republic of india will be born. Two can play at this.

You mean like this. Back on topic are people suggesting this is where Pakistan is headed cos I disagree

Maoists blast bridge, torch trucks in Bihar

You are here: Home » National » Maoists blast bridge, torch trucks in Bihar
Maoists blast bridge, torch trucks in Bihar
Patna, March 23, 2012 (IANS)

Maoists blew up a bridge and an office and set ablaze six trucks in Bihar's Jamui district during their two-day strike to protest the arrest of top Maoists leaders, police said Friday.

Nearly 100 armed Maoists attacked Khaira block office in Jamui, 200 km from here early Friday, triggering a blast in the building and setting ablaze paddy crop kept at a procurement centre.

"The Khaira block office was blasted by Maoists. The building was badly damaged," an official said.

According to police, Maoists used dynamite to blast the block office building.
After blowing up the building, the Maoists raised anti-government slogans and then escaped into the nearby forest.

In a separate incident in the district, Maoists set ablaze six trucks and blew up a bridge. They also pasted posters at different places warning local administration to stop combing operations against them.

Maoists late Wednesday night blew up a railway track, torched two mobile phone towers, one tractor and four vehicles during their strike in Jamui and Banka districts

[jetti]

You mean like this. Back on topic are people suggesting this is where Pakistan is headed cos I disagree

Maoists blast bridge, torch trucks in Bihar

You are here: Home » National » Maoists blast bridge, torch trucks in Bihar
Maoists blast bridge, torch trucks in Bihar
Patna, March 23, 2012 (IANS)

Maoists blew up a bridge and an office and set ablaze six trucks in Bihar's Jamui district during their two-day strike to protest the arrest of top Maoists leaders, police said Friday.

Nearly 100 armed Maoists attacked Khaira block office in Jamui, 200 km from here early Friday, triggering a blast in the building and setting ablaze paddy crop kept at a procurement centre.

"The Khaira block office was blasted by Maoists. The building was badly damaged," an official said.

According to police, Maoists used dynamite to blast the block office building.
After blowing up the building, the Maoists raised anti-government slogans and then escaped into the nearby forest.

In a separate incident in the district, Maoists set ablaze six trucks and blew up a bridge. They also pasted posters at different places warning local administration to stop combing operations against them.

Maoists late Wednesday night blew up a railway track, torched two mobile phone towers, one tractor and four vehicles during their strike in Jamui and Banka districts

tell me which mainstream new channel reported this.. They keep attacking and run back in to the forest. Now they **** scared that army has been deployed and are asking for talks.. lol.. their days are numbered

[danger007]

and terrorists will conquer islamabad.......... And can i posts links related to terrorist blast in pakistan...silly guys

[Bond]

of-course all of the Pakistan's problems can be attributed to USA , India & Israel... all of these countries do not any have any other job other than meddling in to Pakistan's 'Affairs'... I am sure most of the suicide bombers & religious fanatics are pushed in to the pakistan by these hostile countries...

[nalandapride]

We see Pakistan economy already facing huge crisis and more than 40,000 people have died in insurgency/terrorism in Pakistan in last 10 yrs. Pakistan is indeed facing a tough time.

[jetti]

ttp will soon lay their hands on pak nuke through radicalised officers... thats my fear for the pakistanis

[CaptainJackSparrow]

The Naxals will conquer Delhi soon and the new peoples republic of india will be born. Two can play at this.

Frankly, I would be very afraid as a Pakistani if that were to happen.

You know how communist countries treat their enemies (points to China)

You know how communist countries treat each other as in a brotherhood of sorts (points to cuba, russia and china)

...I'd be scared to shyt if I were a Pakistani and India, a nuclear power country of 1.2 billion slated to be among the next biog powers on the planet and hostile as anything to Pakistan, were to become a commy state.

...now you whine about how I'm havin' an inferiority complex, ruffy.

[Rafi]

---

---

We see Pakistan economy already facing huge crisis and more than 40,000 people have died in insurgency/terrorism in Pakistan in last 10 yrs. Pakistan is indeed facing a tough time.

Having been to india, and seen the starving masses, india is indeed facing a tough time, Naxals are present in more than 1 third of indian states.

ttp will soon lay their hands on pak nuke through radicalised officers... thats my fear for the pakistanis

And they will use it on india, without a doubt, they hate india to the max.