Khyber Pass – The Battle against Terror

“In a series of articles exploring the FATA and NWFP region that will examine the differing natures and strategies of various Al Qaeda and Taliban groups, Syed Saleem Shahzad Asia Times Online's Pakistan Bureau Chief begins his journey in Peshawar.

Located on the edge of the Khyber Pass near the Afghan border, Peshawar, with a population of several million, is the commercial, economic, political and cultural capital of the Pashtuns in Pakistan. Peshawar and its surrounds are also now the epicenter for the Taliban and other militants in their struggle not only in Afghanistan and Pakistan but also in their bid to establish a base from which to wage an "end-of-time battle" that would stretch all the way to the Arab heartlands of Damascus and Palestine”.

Syed Saleem Shahzad makes a very pertinent and irrefutable observation that “the US, where strategic journals and think-thanks had been selling the idea of Pakistan's disintegration up to 2007, and promoted the concept of a united Pashtun land, is now completely geared to take all measures to protect the unity of Pakistan. It is now believed that if Pakistan goes down, it will take its neighbors with it, with ramifications all the way to Europe and America.” (Refer to June 2006 article by Ralph Peter in the Armed Forces Journal.)

So how will your promise, President Barrack Obama, for a new start between the United States and Pakistan will be received by Pakistani people and be begun? And Pakistanis made to believe that we (the Americans) are really their friends in deed and not only when in need. Our 61 years dealings with Pakistan have been that we have ditched the Pakistani people after the Pakistani’s had met our needs and imposed sanctions on them: major examples being at the time of Indian and Russian inspired insurgency in East Pakistan 1970 when Pakistan was most allied of our allies and in 1980's after the defeat of Soviets in Afghanistan when Pakistan fought a proxy war on our (US) behalf.

President Obama this impression must be checked immediately personally by you Mr. President and the Congress. Based on our past actions the Pakistanis have all the reasons to believe that what the President of the USA gives it is conveniently taken away by the Congress in the shape of sanctions (Pressler) confirming the impression that Americans are unreliable.

Bush administration gave India a generous space in Afghanistan and then did nothing to stop covert Indian attacks on Pakistani Baluchistsn from the Afghan soil. To add insult to injury, Pakistani offers for help in Afghan reconciliation were always sabotaged by Bush administration. This deliberate expansion of Indian influence on Pakistan western border can never be acceptable to Pakistan . Obama is the first US Leader who has shown a complete understanding of War on Terror. On his very first visit to Afghanistan he had hit the nail on the head in stating, "U.S.-led war against militants in Afghanistan might be made easier if the United States worked to improve trust between India and Pakistan by sending a special envoy to resolve Kashmir dispute" and I want to add that this war will be won by bringing back trust between United States and Pakistan, which currently dose not exist because we in the US have:

By our actions since 1965 when we imposed sanctions on Pakistan, (The most allied of the allies) followed by our betrayals during Indian and Soviet inspired and supported insurgency in East Pakistan and again after Soviet defeat in Afghanistan. Now again denying Pakistan a nuclear deal for Energy resources immediately after offering one to India (a country that has always worked against our interests). We have lost all credibility with Pakistanis. They consider us as fair weather friends.

For us to be successful on the Pakistan/Afghanistan border areas (FATA and NWFP) we need to provide Economic, Energy, Education help and latest Military Equipment to Pakistan on the scale we provide to Israel. We cannot be successful if Pakistan police, para-military, military and air forces are poorly equipped and paid. Bombing from air by our CIA predators is counter productive. Aerial bombing by CIA may kill one Al Qaeda operative but collaterally it also kills 20 local civilians and produces 100 more recruits for Al Qaeda and America haters.

People in Pakistan have very strong instinct for revenge and loyalty and one good deed can earn multiple deeds in return. Let’s understand their instincts and give the Pakistanis all that they need and want. Let us not be the judges of their needs and wants.

It will be much less expensive and much less time consuming and effective (for winning the war on terror) to let the Pakistanis do the fighting and give them all they want : be it nuclear technology to meet their growing energy needs, latest aircrafts/helicopters, communications, night vision or other military equipment. Let’s not fool ourselves with secret or sensitive technology or impracticable proliferation ideas. Once a non US country gets our technology it is no longer a secret. Let’s not forget what forced Pakistanis to go to North Korea, it were our incessant sanctions imposed on Pakistan before and after the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Richard Holbrooke take note and help Pakistan with Nuclear Energy for its power needs in the same manner as India. This will enable Pakistan to focus on war on terror. If we don’t do this "Pakistan will be distracted and will seek nuclear parity with India, and China will also fume at a transparent US ploy to balance Beijing’s rise by building up India as a counterweight next door”. By denying Pakistan these capabilities we are denying ourselves a quick and victorious end to war on terror. Let's also not point accusing finger and repeat Bush Administration's mantra of do more without giving Pakistan the resources and capability it badly needs.

Joe Biden the Vice President of the United States of America is a seasoned statesman and a very brave person. He understands the ground realities of war on terror and will win this war for us and our children's safe and prosperous future. Despite ongoing suicide bombings during Pakistan General Elections of February 8, 2008 he was visiting polling stations in Lahore, Islamabad and other Pakistani cities and towns.

Obama, Biden, Hillary ClintonHillary Clinton and Holbrooke we wish you Godspeed.