Al Qaeda, the ISI, and you
The NYTimes has an interesting (if curious) article on the Pakistani government, the ISI and their relationship to the various militant groups ranging from the Taleban to the Kashmiri independence groups.
It's an odd article because it feels like it's saying something huge, but at the same time, I couldn't find anything to excerpt. The short version is that the apparatus of the Pakistani government maintains current ties to and some cooperation with the various violent militant groups protecting the asset for future utility.
Maybe my lack of excitement is because, around here, that's been the working premise all along.
(AP) "Military officials said that about 3,200 Marines are being told to prepare to go to Afghanistan — a move that will boost combat troop levels in time for an expected Taliban offensive this spring."
(WaPo) "the new Marines will deploy to the British area in Helmand and will be available to augment Canadian forces in neighboring Kandahar."
It's an odd article because it feels like it's saying something huge, but at the same time, I couldn't find anything to excerpt. The short version is that the apparatus of the Pakistani government maintains current ties to and some cooperation with the various violent militant groups protecting the asset for future utility.
Maybe my lack of excitement is because, around here, that's been the working premise all along.
(AP) "Military officials said that about 3,200 Marines are being told to prepare to go to Afghanistan — a move that will boost combat troop levels in time for an expected Taliban offensive this spring."
(WaPo) "the new Marines will deploy to the British area in Helmand and will be available to augment Canadian forces in neighboring Kandahar."
posted by mikevotes at
8:08 AM
2 Comments:
I think Pakistan's hot/cold relationship with India is probably the key. No Pakistani leader can afford to alienate the Pashtun.
By
Anonymous, at 9:55 AM
I think that's a fair argument, although that semi-unaccountable lever of force is also useful in dealing with long term rivals Afghanistan and possible future rival China.
These groups have a potential utility that would make them hard to let go.
By
mikevotes, at 11:32 AM
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