Letter to the Editor
Formerly published on The WASHINGTON POST, DEC-13-2009, by K. N. Pandit.
re: response to article of strategy of war on terror
Dear Editor:
The cogent and specific point in the analysis of George McGovern (A sharp turn toward another Vietnam, 13 Dec) is that Taliban, as such, are not pronouncedly anti-America. They are fighting the American troops for the reason that US wants to impose a puppet government on them, no matter corrupt or not corrupt. Their fault is that they have opted to protect Osama bin Laden, the villain of 9/11, and thus have come to be identified with anti-American Theo-fascists responsible for that carnage. Before launching attack on Kabul, which put an end to the Taliban control of the capital, the US should have made all efforts to cut a deal with the Taliban clarifying that in case of their refusal to provide Osama shelter and military support, the US would have no objection to their return to power in Kabul. But that was never done and the battle was carried all the way to the rugged terrain of NWFP. Noticeably Osama sought hideouts in NWFP, which is under the control of Pakistan, just because he knew that the strong Theo-fascist segment of Pakistani society and sections of her military and administrative establishment would provide him and his operation network crucial protection and logistical facility to evade arrest or liquidation. In addition, his jihadi legions are regularly reinforced by ideologically indoctrinated and physically trained Islamic student volunteers churned up in thousands of seminaries in Pakistan. The US and NATO have not done good homework to identify the real enemy and the region that should have come under their direct assault. Pakistani leaders played the game with far greater smartness. While denying any knowledge of the whereabouts of Osama and his networks, they extracted more than the pound of flesh without making any tangible concession. It is still time for the US to have a new look on Afghan imbroglio, change the stance and reach the real targets in Pakistani cities and villages so that supply of recruits is choked. George McGovern is right in saying that in Afghanistan, the US is going the Vietnam and Iraq way. Theo-fascism is not breeding in the rugged mountain terrains of Afghanistan. It is breeding in thousands of towns and villages of Pakistan.