This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/3933

Prognosis Poor In Pakistan's Non Battle With Taliban

April 26, 2009

Prognosis Poor In Pakistan's Non-Battle With Taliban

April 25, 2009 - San Francisco, CA - PipeLineNews.org - With elements of the Taliban closing in on Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, the besieged government still appears to be lacking the will to confront the growing threat.

Sweeping out of the group's stronghold in the Swat Valley, the Taliban recently was able to take over a key adjacent district, Buner with only 400-500 mujahideen.

The Pak's weak response was led by local police forces who though having the advantage of superior numbers were nonetheless soundly beaten by the Taliban, after which the government negotiated what amounts to a surrender of sovereignty in the area similar to that which it agreed to in Swat.

Hanging the balance is Pakistan's nuclear stockpile which is estimated to contain approximately 60 deliverable weapons which now could conceivably fall under control on the radical terrorist organization.

The country's lack of effective response has alarmed DC officials, with U.S. Senator Jack Reed [D-RI] stating, "It illustrates there is a lack of political will in the Pakistan civilian leadership to confront these Pakistan Taliban. The Taliban sense this huge vacuum that they can pour into." [source NY Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/24/world/asia/24pstan.html?bl&ex=1240804800&en=00c6c1fd04ee13be&ei=5087%0A].

Seemingly oblivious to this challenge, the Pak Army continues to be deployed against India, the country's traditional enemy. http://www.pipelinenews.org/index.cfm?page=pakistanid=4.25.09%2Ehtm

This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/3933