EDITORIAL: Pakistan – Preventing a Nuclear-Armed Taliban
![[The Telegraph, U.K.]](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/graphics/2007/12/29/ixd29big.gif)
Beyond supplying billions of dollars in military aid, is it time for the United States and Europe to get more directly involved in Pakistan’s battle against extremists? According to this editorial from Germany’s Financial Times Deutschland, a failure to do so could lead to nuclear-armed Taliban in Pakistan.
“Now after the murder of Bhutto, the West must become more engaged: those who want to prevent another Afghanistan – but this time a nuclear armed one – must put Pakistan at the very top of their list of priorities.”
EDITORIAL
Translated By Ulf Behncke
December 28, 2007
Germany – Financial Times Deutschland – Original Article (German)
Up to now, the situation in Pakistan appeared to be on a better trajectory. After weeks of unrest, the situation in the country had calmed down somewhat. President Pervez Musharraf had lifted the state of emergency and abandoned the post of army chief of the nuclear nation. The murder of Bhutto again throws Pakistan into chaos.
Initially, hopes had risen that parliamentary elections scheduled for early January could stabilize the country. In a single stroke, all of these hopes have been squelched. The deadly attack on opposition leader Benazir Bhutto will strengthen those who have no interest in calming the situation. If the assassin – most likely from the radical Islamic milieu – intended to plunge Pakistan into chaos once more, things have gone as planned.
It’s not yet clear what the long-term consequences will be of this symbolic triumph for the terrorists. What is apparent, however, is that the enemies of a democratic form of government have taken an important step toward the Talibanization of Pakistan. If the authoritarian ruler Musharraf fails to get a grip on the situation, another permanent crisis looms in this already-troubled region.
7 Responses to “EDITORIAL: Pakistan – Preventing a Nuclear-Armed Taliban”
Given the lack of foreign policy prowess exhibited to date by the current leadership in the USA, my expectations for any creative assistance coming from this quarter is quite low – regardless of how many more billions of taxpayer dollars we pump into Pakistan. Perhaps it’s time for Europe to take a greater lead role in Pakistan?
Europe? You must be joking.
First and foremost, Pakistan needs to purify its security apparatus. What help can the west provide in that endeavor?
The French and Dutch can barely manage their own “youth”, let along lend give credible input into Pakistan’s internal troubles.
Spoken like a person who I’d bet dollars to donoughts has never visted either country.
The “youth” in The Netherlands and France seem to be doing just fine from my observations in country.
I know for a fact Americans would kill for the juvenile crime rate in Holland, not to mention teen pregnancy and teen drug use.
France is less impressive, but still significantly lower than our own rates.
“Europe? You must be joking.”
I’m just tired of seeing the US be the fools who rush in with all the money and the meddling and reap so little in the way of rewards. Let someone else muck about with it for a change, afterall, how could they make it any worse?
It is incredible to see how much more dangerous the ME is just in 7 short years. I’m not sure how our country or Europe can help Pakistan, especially given the results of our latest efforts to bring back Bhutto. Pakistan is much more radical and dangerous than Iran.
Bush should have been doing more to contain the mess in Pakistan all these years rather than just throwing money and support at Musharaff and hope for the best.
Bush may say, “We don’t torture.” when we all know that he does. But (to borrow from Bush) Musharaff says, “We don’t deal with terrorists,” when in fact we all know that Musharaff does deal with terrorists and gives them free reign in certain regions of his country.
And now we have a new definition of “transparency”.
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