A hyperconflict in the Pakistani borderlands

While all eyes are understandably on the siege of the Lal Masjid mosque in Islamabad, another major shift in Pakistan may be taking place.

Since last September, North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces in Afghanistan have been pressing Islamabad for the right to conduct extensive hot-pursuit operations into Pakistan to target Taliban and al-Qaeda bases.

According to Asia Times Online contacts, NATO and its US backers have gotten their wish: coalition forces will start hitting targets wherever they might be.

Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf is expected to make an important announcement on extremism during an address to the nation in the next day or two.

I find this claim hard to believe as it would seriously diminish an already weakened Musharraf, but the ATimes is usually pretty good.

This would substantially change the conflicts in Afghanistan and the Pakistani border region. In effect, this would authorize the US to openly go to war on elements in Pakistan on a scale limited by what Pakistani politics will bear.

This was written on July 3, and no announcement as of today, although I would bet the Lal Masjid standoff has pushed such an announcement back, no need for Musharraf to further antagonize the hardliners while the siege is going on.