PAKISTAN is increasing its stake in the war on terror as is reflected
by the strange move to deploy more troops on Afghan border. According to
ISPR Director-General, troops are being moved to an area opposite
Afghanistan’s Helmand province to block any Taliban trying to flee from
a US offensive launched there on Thursday.
Nearly four thousand American marines and 650 Afghan troops have started
a massive assault in Helmand in what is being described as the biggest
American military operation after Vietnam war. As Helmand borders
Balochistan province, it is but natural for Pakistan to take
precautionary measures to prevent militants from crossing over to this
side of the border. However, it is quite obvious that Pakistan has
neither sufficient number of troops nor latest equipment and technology
to seal the border effectively and as a consequence there is every
probability that Taliban would make their way to Balochistan and the
NWFP where they might join local and foreign militants that are already
fighting Pakistani troops and are engaged in subversive activities.
Therefore, as was widely feared, the surge in Afghanistan would create
more problems for Pakistan and the country might not be able to respond
to the situation satisfactorily due to various limitations. It is
strange that the United States and NATO are putting onus of checking
both way infiltration on Pakistan – the country should stop Taliban or
militants from this side from crossing over to Afghanistan and should
also take care of those who would flee from the neighbouring country.
And Pakistan is succumbing to the pressure at the cost of its own
security and survival. No doubt, Pakistan is a responsible and
front-line State in the war against terror and is going out of the way
to cooperate with the United States in this war but this cooperation
should not jeopardize our own security and defence. Pakistan is already
doing beyond its military and economic capacity and has suffered
immensely both in terms of men and material. Why the United States and
NATO occupation forces that have at their disposal every conceivable
weapon, equipment and gadget should not man the border to prevent
infiltration? This is because they are not willing to risk lives of
their men and lives of Pakistanis are worthless. We believe that
Pakistan Army should not accept undue responsibilities that could harm
its own interest and that of the country.
