Pakistan is sinking
Pakistan is tearing apart politically and socially. And the jihadi element from within is threatening to push Pakistan out of the comity of civilised nations. First the Talibanisation of Swat then the ban on Nawaz brothers from contesting election and now the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team. All these are enough to prove Pakistan's sharp slide towards radicalisation.
Taliban has succeeded in imposing its agenda of fanaticism through the barrel of gun in Swat. And the audacity of the Lahore attack indicates the spread of this brut force close to the capital city of Islamabad, which is just 120km away. Deal or no deal, ceasefire or no ceasefire the situation remains dangerous with further deterioration. Thanks to the deal entered into with Taliban in Swat.
The Lahore attack has further increased the vulnerability of the civilian government. It has reinforced the assessment that Pakistan is falling prey to its own terror infrastructure. Now, Pakistan finds it self stuck between rising militant Islam and political instability. The government and the army face the test of proving to the world that Pakistan stands against extremist forces. Pakistan's army and civilian government have shown their inefficiency by surrendering to Taliban in Swat.
Appeasing extremism could set a precedent for Taliban and pave the way for many more beheadings, hangings, and implement extremist version of Sharia in other parts of the country. This could well start disintegration process for Pakistan.
The present government is suffering from inherent weakness of the state. Both political and military. The last thing the Pakistani society would want is political chaos. Discontent between president Asif Ali Zardari and PM Yousuf Raza Gilani, Zardari and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, and civil government and army would work only to accelerate Pakistan's fall helping Taliban gain ground. Time has come for Pakistan to decide whether to fight extremism or to milk the US in the name of fighting Taliban and al- Qaeda forces.
Pakistan is tearing apart politically and socially. And the jihadi element from within is threatening to push Pakistan out of the comity of civilised nations. First the Talibanisation of Swat then the ban on Nawaz brothers from contesting election and now the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team. All these are enough to prove Pakistan's sharp slide towards radicalisation.
Taliban has succeeded in imposing its agenda of fanaticism through the barrel of gun in Swat. And the audacity of the Lahore attack indicates the spread of this brut force close to the capital city of Islamabad, which is just 120km away. Deal or no deal, ceasefire or no ceasefire the situation remains dangerous with further deterioration. Thanks to the deal entered into with Taliban in Swat.
The Lahore attack has further increased the vulnerability of the civilian government. It has reinforced the assessment that Pakistan is falling prey to its own terror infrastructure. Now, Pakistan finds it self stuck between rising militant Islam and political instability. The government and the army face the test of proving to the world that Pakistan stands against extremist forces. Pakistan's army and civilian government have shown their inefficiency by surrendering to Taliban in Swat.
Appeasing extremism could set a precedent for Taliban and pave the way for many more beheadings, hangings, and implement extremist version of Sharia in other parts of the country. This could well start disintegration process for Pakistan.
The present government is suffering from inherent weakness of the state. Both political and military. The last thing the Pakistani society would want is political chaos. Discontent between president Asif Ali Zardari and PM Yousuf Raza Gilani, Zardari and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, and civil government and army would work only to accelerate Pakistan's fall helping Taliban gain ground. Time has come for Pakistan to decide whether to fight extremism or to milk the US in the name of fighting Taliban and al- Qaeda forces.
