Pakistan Pretends to Fight Taliban, for U.S. Cash
September 08, 2008 | 7:32:48 AMCategories: Agony Of A-Stan, Perils Of Pakistan  
Perhaps, despite all the evidence, you still believe that Pakistan is an authentic American ally, against Al Qaeda and the Taliban. Dexter Filkins’ remarkable story in this week’s New York Times Magazine ought to cure you of any such notions:
So here was Namdar — Taliban chieftain, enforcer of Islamic law, usurper of the Pakistani government and trainer and facilitator of suicide bombers in Afghanistan — sitting at home, not three miles from Peshawar, untouched by the Pakistani military operation that was supposedly unfolding around us.
What’s going on? I asked the warlord. Why aren’t they coming for you?
“I cannot lie to you,” Namdar said, smiling at last. “The army comes in, and they fire at empty buildings. It is a drama — it is just to entertain.”
Entertain whom? I asked.
“America,” he said.
Which means, despite the billions in aid Washington gives Islamabad, the job of fighting extremists in Pakistan has fallen on the shoulders of the American military. Hence this morning’s report: “Five missiles fired from an American pilotless drone aircraft Monday hit a large compound in North Waziristan belonging to one of Pakistan’s most prominent Taliban leaders.”
[Photo: AP / BBC]
ALSO:
- U.S. Commandos Hit Pakistan; Islamabad Howls
No More Civilian Casualties in Afghanistan Strikes- French Vow to Keep Fighting in ‘Besieged’ Afghanistan
- 12,000 More Troops to Afghanistan
- Taliban Kills 10 French Soldiers in ‘Complex’ Ambush
- Afghan Bombs on the Rise
- ‘Manned UAVs’ for Afghanistan Surge?
- US Army Looks to Russian Copters for Afghanistan
- ‘Complicating Factors’ in Afghanistan Surge
- No More ‘Collateral Damage’ in Afghan Attacks?
- Afghanistan = Jihadists’ New War of Choice
- Inside Afghanistan’s ‘Narco-State’
- More Air Power for Afghanistan
- Scenes from the War on Terror’s ‘Central Front’
- Heartbreak and One-Ton Bombs, in Afghanistan
- Afghanistan to Get ‘Big Brother’ Cameras
- Is Iran Behind Afghanistan’s ‘Superbombs’?
- Devil Dogs Get Another Crack at the Taliban
- Why Pakistan is Qaeda’s Best Base
- Pakistan Cutting a Deal with Bhutto’s Killer?
- How To: Wage a Tribal War in Pakistan
- More U.S. Troops, Gear to Pakistan
- Taking Iraq’s ‘Tribal Playbook’ to Pakistan
- Musharraf Blames U.S. for Afghan, Pak Problems
- Musharraf: “We Are Not Looking” for Bin Laden
- Bhutto Killed by Laser Weapon, Pak Paper Says
- Bhutto Inquiry FUBAR; Scotland Yard Called In
- Who Killed Benazir?
- Bhutto Assassinated
- Bhutto Survives Double-Bombing; Dozens Dead
- Uh, Oh: US Commandos May Head to Pakistan
- Securing Pakistan’s Nukes
- Pak Dictator Getting His US Money — in Cash
- Musharraf Fights Political Foes, Ignores Jihadists
- Musharraf Uses US Cash to Fight India
Yes they are
american army wiped taliban out of afghanistan in 7 days, and pakistan is wasted 7 years and not done anything.. pakistan is not allowing usa army to attack into pakistan saying that it would be voilation of there territorial integrity, which is a big lie
THEY ARE INFACT PROTECTING TALIBAN FROM AMERICAN ATTACK
what difference does it make, if talibani dies by American bullet or pakistani bullet, only thing it makes difference that they die
taliban and osama are living in pakistan happily,
Its a lie that Pakistan is fooling America. The truth is US is allowing Pakistan to fool itself. Besides, it is an old saying that one who is asleep can be waken, not the one who just fakes that he is asleep. It is not that the whitehouse does not know what is happening, it is purposely turning a blind eye towards the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The US does not want another coffin on its way to the US, And Pakistan dosn’t want the flow of US aid to stop. Its a perfect match. Now the ground reality is that Coffins are still being sent to US and well the aid continues. …