THE Pakistani government's summer truce with the pro-Taliban tribesman in northern Waziristan, on the Afghan border, may be good for President Pervez Musharraf's political health, but it's sure hurting Afghanistan - where the Coalition fight with the Taliban is definitely on. Since the peace pact was reached, Taliban attacks in southern Afghanistan have jumped a whopping 300 percent, reports the U.S. military.
Sheer coincidence? Not a chance. Musharraf said the deal would quiet the restive tribal areas, and even expel foreign extremists from the area, as well as stopping Taliban cross-border raids. It has surely eased his woes, but it's pure bad news on the anti-terror front.
Musharraf has been helpful in fighting al Qaeda, killing or capturing nearly 700 since 9/11 - and turning some 350 over to the United States for interrogation. But the Bush administration must still pressure him - as strongly as possible - on the Taliban problem. Yet, at least for now, America has little choice but to live with Musharraf's truce. |