The Infiltration of Militants in Pakistan

The lead story in today’s New York Times is titled, “United Militants Threaten Pakistan’s Populous Heart.” It describes the disturbing spread of Islamic fundamentalism and the Taliban from the tribal areas in northwest Pakistan to the province of Punjab with major cities such as Lahore and nearby Islamabad.

Apparently, Islamic militants in Punjab and Al Qaeda, largely based in the northwest tribal areas, have entered into a close tactical alliance to spread Islamic revolution and destabilize Pakistan as a whole.

The Taliban are mostly Pashtun tribesmen, but the Punjabi militant groups have gone to their northwest strongholds for training, and, in turn, have offered logistical support for suicide attacks in the Punjab province.

Buried in the article halfway through the continuation is a small paragraph noting that one frontier town in Punjab, Dera Ghazi Khan, contains a uranium processing plant that is part of Pakistan’s nuclear program.

This article is deeply disturbing. It shows we are losing the war for the hearts and minds of the population who support anyone who is against the Americans. Our drone attacks on Pakistani territory, maybe necessary or maybe not, have alienated large swaths of Pakistani citizens. Perhaps, we need to consider a more targeted way to take out militants.

The Taliban are slowly infiltrating into the heart of Pakistan, especially in rural areas where the influence of the national police is reduced, and the militant have set up madrassas, religious schools, and demanded implementation of Shariah, Islamic law. The concession of the Swat Valley to the militants seems to have only emboldened them.

A disturbing quote from Shabaz Sharif, chief minister of Punjab, “Hearts and minds must be won. If this struggle fails, this country has no future.”