The arrest of Mullah Baradar

A good post from Wardman Wire from Sunny Peter on the arrest of the Taliban's military No 2 in Pakistan yesterday

Without doubt Mullah Baradar is an important catch. He has been credited with rebuilding the Taliban fighting force into an effective military organ since it was disseminated as a result of the US-led invasion in Afghanistan in the early part of this decade. Commentators are closely evaluating the implications that the arrest will have on US-led war on terror agenda in Afghanistan.

But as he notes

Mullah Baradar’s presence in Karachi was always known, and the arrest itself was without any resistance. This raises a few pertinent questions about the timing and the authenticity of the operation. Pakistan has deliberately sought to keep the US out of operations against the terrorists in its territory, even as it provided a safe haven to Taliban & al Qaeda commanders. It is easy to assume that Mullah Baradar’s arrest is a result of a larger geo-strategic design of the Pakistan’s Intelligence Agency.

Only one real concern for the White House

A good piece in the New York Times today which probably sums up the real concerns that the Obama White House have with thir Pakistani allies

as Taliban and other insurgents have battled government troops closer and closer to Islamabad, the one thing that no one seemed to be talking about publicly is the one thing that, privately, Obama officials acknowledge is the most important: how to get the Pakistani government and army to move the country’s troops from the east, where they are preoccupied with a war with India that most American officials do not think they will have to fight, to the west, where the Islamist insurgents are taking over one town after another.

Brown on tour and a snub

It looks as though gordon Browmn has upset the Pakistani President during his trip to the country.

President Zardari has announced that he will not be in attendance at what was supposed to be a joint press conference.

This is no doubt connected to our Prime Minister's comments following the "Easter Bomb plot" arrests and after describing the area between Afghanistan and Pakistan was a "breeding ground for international terrorists".

Earlier our Prime Minister appeared alongside the Afghan President Hamid Karzai another leader in the region who has been critised by the West.

Brown said during that press conference

"I come here as a friend of Afghanistan, wanting to continue to work with you in the best ways we can to strengthen the democracy of Afghanistan, to give support to the Afghan people, social, economic and political ... help for the future and, of course, to join the work of eradicating terrorism from this area and, of course, from the borders of Pakistan as well."

(Source Guardian)

Living In Swat

With US secretary of State Hilary Clinton giving another warning to the Pakistani authorities over their policy to the Taliban.

This blog is a timely reminder of the problems that the authorities face in provinces such a Swat

As soon as Taliban entered swat and began their activities, their first step was installation of fear through show of weapon. Then, they created an atmosphere where they asked local men to have beard and women shall remain in veils, as it is Islam. With this, there remained no difference between who is local and who is Taliban. I mean who can actually differentiate among true Taliban and locals if they have the same dress code?

Problems in Pakistan as militants move into Punjab

The front page of the New York Times contains another worrying development form the tribal heartlands of Pakistan.

The attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in March in Lahore was only the most spectacular so far of the consequences of what the paper says is

Taliban insurgents are teaming up with local militant groups to make inroads in Punjab, the province that is home to more than half of Pakistanis, reinvigorating an alliance that Pakistani and American authorities say poses a serious risk to the stability of the country.

If the government does not take action on this incursion then it faces losing a large area of the country to Islamic terrorism.

Sri Lankan cricket team attacked in Lahore

The news coming out of Pakistan surrounding the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team is a devastating blow to sport and cricket in general.

It also though points to the continuing deterioration in security in the country.

Reports suggest that this was a well planned attack and will once again confirm the worst fears of cricket teams that Pakistan is not a safe place to play cricket any more.

The Sri Lankan team had filled a gap left at short notice after the Indian team pulld out following the Mumbai attacks and Australia have pulled out of previous tours.

Terror will remain a threat whilst Al Qaeda play on American disarray in Pakistan

Two interesting articles on terrorism today.

Take a look at the New York Times which claims that American policy in Pakistan is leading to an increase in Al Qaeda activity.

A plan that was meant to make it easier for special operations units to operate in the trbal areas

has been held up in Washington by the very disagreements it was meant to eliminate. A senior Defense Department official said there was “mounting frustration” in the Pentagon at the continued delay.

and according to the report

increasingly clear that the Bush administration will leave office with Al Qaeda having successfully relocated its base from Afghanistan to Pakistan’s tribal areas, where it has rebuilt much of its ability to attack from the region and broadcast its messages to militants across the world.

Meanwhile The Telegraph maintains that a report will show that terrorism will remain a major threat in the UK for three decades.

The author of the report,former Met chief Lord Stevens says

There is no doubt more attacks will be attempted against the UK and those involved are again likely to travel abroad for preparation. Others may travel to the UK for the sole purpose of carrying out attacks

adding

There is "no indication that the threat level will reduce significantly" for "at least 20 to 30 years,"