Is the Taliban Going to Take Over Pakistan?

The Taliban are advancing in Pakistan and weakening the government's control over the country. This brings Pakistan to the center of concern worldwide.

Recent news from Pakistan brings to notice the alarming situation of Taliban advancement in the country. World leaders, organizations and media have their attention focussed on the country.
The following article aims to shed light on some aspects of the Taliban-in-Pakistan situation in order to better understand the complex politics of the area.

Who are the Taliban

Literally the word "Taliban" means students. These were students educated in madrassahs that were built with the assistance of the United States and their allies during the time of Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. The Taliban governed Afghanistan from 1996 till 2001 when the US attack of Afghanistan began.

Why did the US attack Afghanistan

1. The Taliban government brought a strict measure of Shariah law in Afghanistan. During their reign, a wave of Islamism swept the region. Pakistan, being its ally at the time, had the potential to be the next Taliban target.
2. Also, because of Afghanistan and Pakistan's geo-political location, this meant trouble for the larger political-economic scenario of the region.
3. More popularly, it was believed that the Taliban were promoting Muslim militancy. After 9/11 this fear proved real. The US believed that the Al-Qaeda was bred in Afghanistan under the Taliban.

What is Pakistan's Stance Towards Taliban Since 2001

Uptil 2001, Pakistan was amongst the three countries that officially recognized the Taliban government in Afghanistan. It was after the attack on Afghanistan by the United States that Musharraf's government changed its stance and Pakistan became United States' active ally in war against terrorism.
Several hundred people have been killed in Pakistani military attacks in Pakistan's northern areas, where Taliban/ Al-Qaeda activity was feared. Since then militant repercussionary attacks within Pakistani borders have been rampant too.

Why Are There Repercussions in Pakistan

1. Taliban comprise largely of the Pashtun ethnicity in Afghanistan, which also forms a large population of North-Western Pakistan.
2. The US funded Madrassahs were built in Pakistan during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. These madrassahs are still located and running in Pakistan.
3. Over a million Afghans migrants, since the Soviet-Afghan war, live in Pakistan.
4. The border between Pakistan and Afghanistan has historically allowed easy access to the Pashtuns living on both sides of the border.

What Do They Mean by Taliban Advancement in Pakistan

The problem with the current situation in Pakistan is that the term "Taliban" has become very confusing. It is unclear whether the Taliban in Pakistan are the same as the Taliban government in Afghanistan, or the larger, apparently more wide-spread group Al-Qaeda. During the repercussions, many splinter groups came to rise resenting US imperialism, and sympathizing with the Afghan civilians suffering from the attacks. These splinter groups also resented the Pakistani military killing Pakistanis in the northern areas of the country.
The Taliban in Pakistan, being led by Sufi Muhammad, have brought the Shariah law in North-West Frontier Province and taken control over several villages in the North. The fear of a Taliban take-over has reached threatening levels in Punjab, where the capital city is located. However, many commentators still argue whether Taliban is a party, a group of people, or a thought-process, and whether attacking them would reap the results the Pakistani government wants to see.

What are Pakistan's Fears

1. The Taliban militants toppling the country's peace.
2. Pakistan turning out to be like Afghanistan.
3. Being sandwiched between Taliban on the West and India on the East.
4. The Indian intelligence being behind Afghan insurgencies in Pakistan. India had more consulates in Afghanistan than even in the US.
5. The situation getting out of control and creating an excuse for the US to enter Pakistan officially.

How Can This Situation be Tackled

1. By advocacy and campaigning within Pakistan. This should target the country's masses and aim at changing the so-called Taliban school of thought that apparently encourages militancy and use of arm-power.
2. By more involvement from the Pakistani media. The media should not only thrash the Taliban but also provide alternatives to the masses so that they have a clearer vision.
3. The United States has to continue supporting and empowering the Pakistani government to fight the intellectual, media, political and military wars against this insurgency.
4. The Western politicians and media also play a pivotal role - they should avoid hyping up the Taliban fear which instead makes the Pakistani government feel weaker and out of control. This will only aggravate Pakistani fears as mentioned in point 5 of "What Are Pakistan's Fears".
5. The US should balance its relationship between India and Pakistan wisely. By showing more support for the Indians versus the Pakistanis, the US will be provoking the same fears that have been mentioned in points 3 and 4 of "What are Pakistan's fears."

Posted in: Politics