Sunday, November 3, 2013

The recent killing of the Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud by a US drone puts the precarious position our north western neighbour finds itself in.The government has come out and openly condemned the attack and killing of the terrorist leader.
For most Indians this would be an "Ahah!" moment and would confirm their suspicions that Pakistan is breeding terrorists for the sole purpose of attacking India and that somehow the 180 million odd people all agree on this one aim in life. But they would be missing at least one crucial point- that Pakistan- irrespective of whether or not they colluded with the Taliban- has no idea how to control them. The streets of Peshawar after the incident apparently wore a deserted look for fear of backlash.And why not? The Taliban has issued a threat directly to the Pakistani people saying that they "know who their real enemy is" and that their revenge will be "unprecedented".
In the backdrop of an announcement by the Pakistani PM that Pakistan would engage in a peace dialogue with the Taliban, this killing makes the nation a snake in the grass in the eyes of the terrorist organisation. That is not a perception anybody wants to give these guys who are hiding in your own backyard and feel no qualms about killing children.Oh, and the previous line is not a sentimental outburst- these guys actually do NOT care about beating up children. Among the list of leaders being considered for the top post is Mullah Fazlullah - whose henchmen attacked Malala.
And the US -as has been its wont in the western Asia- is shrugging its shoulders. They probably expected accolades for taking out top Taliban henchmen one by one. They are trying to freedom so hard they forget about the people they are freedoming for. The more they refuse to pull out of this region, the more pregnant it becomes with problems.
And in the midst of it all is the Pakistani who is battling a 9% inflation rate and petrol price hikes, unsure of whether or not to step out , and if he does, unsure if he will step back in.

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