Pakistani Politics and Pursuits

The lead article in today’s New York Times, “Pakistan is Said to Pursue an Afghanistan Foothold,” describes the current machinations and politics between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Pakistan is encouraging Hamid Karzai to incorporate the network of Haqqani fighters, a major factor in the Taliban insurgency, in a power-sharing arrangement. Pakistan has long favored the Haqqanis because they also oppose and have attacked Indian interests in Afghanistan, and India is Pakistan’s arch enemy.

Meanwhile, as the article notes, the United States could be cut out of any separate peace, and the Haqqanis are closely allied with Al Qaeda. And that’s the major reason we’re fighting in Afghanistan in the first place, to deny Al Qaeda a safe haven.

The article also notes that the Haqqanis have struggled and fought together with Al Qaeda for so long, that despite present promises, it is very unlikely the Haqqanis will separate themselves totally from Al Qaeda.

The United States has been trying to get the Pakistani government to fight against the Haqqanis to no avail.

What’s wrong with this picture? The United States is pouring billions of dollars of military aid into Pakistan, and our young soldiers are losing their lives in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Afghanistan and Pakistan conspire behind our back to cut us out when we leave.