Since retreating from Afghanistan in 2002 under American military attacks, the Taliban and foreign fighters have again been using the tribal areas to organize themselves — now training their sights on the 40,000 American and NATO troops in Afghanistan.
After failing to gain control of the areas in military campaigns, the government cut peace deals in South Waziristan in 2004 and 2005, and then in North Waziristan on Sept. 5. Since the September accord, NATO officials say cross-border attacks by Pakistani and Afghan Taliban and their foreign allies have increased.
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The U.S. government really needs to re-evaluate its relationship with Pakistan. It is likely that rogue elements of the Pakistani military and the ISI (the intelligence service) continue to support Islamic militants, Afghan insurgents, and terrorists affiliated with Al Qaeda. It is entirely possible that these efforst are in fact sanctioned by the government. Like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan will only support our 'War on Terror' as long as their own fragile peace remains unthreatened. As it is becoming increasingly clear, the truce between the Pakistani government and the Islamic militants camped out in the mountains doesn't look like it will hold out for much longer.
Perhaps we should look at India as a replacement for Pakisan as our strategic ally in South Asia. Our implicit hostility to that country is an obselete holdover from our bitterness at Nehru's policy of "non-alignment" during the Cold War. In almost every respect, we have more in common with India than we do with Pakistan. We would certainly gain a valuable partner in our campaign against Islamic terrorism, as India is intimately familiar with terrorism within its own borders.
-- DAE
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