Redeployment in Iraq has not yet led to improvement in ground situation. Iran remains defiant despite the loud threats emanating from Washington.
DNA Analysis
NEW DELHI: President George Bush is quite desperate. The redeployment in Iraq has not yet led to an improvement in the ground situation. Iran remains defiant despite the loud threats emanating from Washington. To top it all there is a massive resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan, with threats of a major offensive in spring.
The US attempt now is to stop this offensive. President Bush will naturally look to Pakistan now to deliver. A tough message will be delivered to Pakistan by none other than Dick Cheney. The Democrat controlled US Congress has already warned that financial aid will be linked with the President’s efforts to curb Taliban activities in Pakistan's tribal belt.
Though President Musharraf has been playing fast and loose with the US, going in for action when Washington tightens the screws and looking the other way when the focus is not on him, the fact is there is deep hatred of US policy among the people of Pakistan. Large sections in the army are also sympathetic to the Taliban. However to blame Pakistan completely for the situation in Afghanistan is also not fair.
President Hamid Karzai is the most acceptable face of Afghanistan. But the President’s control does not reach beyond Kabul. His critics would say not beyond his compound. He has not been able to give Afghanistan the leadership it desperately needs to unite against the Taliban.
Controlling Afghanistan is of course no cake walk. The British could not do so in the past. The Soviet Union with all its military might, had to withdraw. Today the US and NATO forces are in a similar no-win situation. Is Washington now looking beyond Musharraf. So far there is no indication, says analyst S.D.Muni. “As far as I can see Musharraf remains the best bet for the US.
The US forces would be nowhere without the help that Pakistan’s President has provided. After all he let the American’s launch strikes inside Pakistan territory. It would have been extremely difficult for a civilian government to let that happen,” says Muni.
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