On 2 May 2011, US Navy Seals sneaked into Pakistani territory in
helicopters and launched a raid on one of the houses in Abbotabad where OBL was
supposedly residing, killed him, took his body across to Afghanistan before the
Pakistani forces could react and later dumped it in the sea in a dubious
manner. While most of the Pakistanis felt betrayed and enraged by this display
of unilateralism by the USA, for the latter it was a great occasion to
celebrate as they not only snatched a prized trophy in the person of OBL but
also provided with the long awaited opportunity to arm-twist Pakistan into
‘doing more’. Pakistan’s
leadership, stretched to the limit, has decided not to succumb to the pressure
and accede to unjust US demands and, resultantly, relations between the two
countries are, today, at the lowest ebb.
Soon after the Abbotabad incident, Tehrik Taliban Pakistan (TTP)
declared Pakistan as Enemy Number 1 and vowed to avenge OBL’s death. Since
then, there has been a spate of terrorist attacks in Pakistan. The number of
terrorist attacks against NATO / US forces by the Afghani Taliban have also
increased manifold, nullifying the perception that Osama’s demise would weaken
Al Qaeda or Taliban. This surely is extremely frustrating for the US leadership
who, instead of acknowledging their failures, has started to blame Pakistan
Army and ISI for abetting the Haqqani Net Work. Thus, within a span of four
months, the so-called allies in ‘war on terror’ are at logger’s head with each
other. Whether incidental or planned, the synergy of events is astounding
and the inevitable has started to happen, as in the late eighties, giving
credence to the widely held perception in Pakistan that, owing to divergence of
interests, USA cannot be trusted as a long term partner.
Thus, thanks to the faulty strategy followed hitherto and
inability to perform on ground, Pakistan, today, faces a serious
threat, both from within (the Taliban), as well as, external (USA-India Nexus,
covertly supported by Israel). As both threats, which may manifest in
different ways, are extremely detrimental to Pakistan and cannot be dealt with
simultaneously, the leadership is faced with the dilemma to choose which must
be tackled first, especially when strong indicators exist about
involvement of hostile foreign intelligence agencies in breeding internal
dissent (collusion of internal threat by a group of Taliban, and external
threat posed by USA-India Nexus). Thus, to seek solutions, we need to
clearly understand the dynamics of threats posed by the Taliban and the above
mentioned Nexus, both singly and in collaboration, our capability to counter
these threats and implications, thereof, in the shaped environment,
whereby, Pakistan, today, is seen as a threat to world peace.
As a premise, we need to acknowledge that (1) Today, Pakistan faces a strategic
decline in different spheres - political, military, economic- and the
change can come only from within. (2) The
Pakistani leadership has exploited country’s negative potential
( ie Pakistan’s potential of instability, thereby, destabilization of the
entire region) for quite some time and the world at large is now not willing to
give further concessions on this account. (3)
Both USA and Pakistan have been playing double games with each
other, using different Taliban groups, however, neither has benefited
from the strategy followed hitherto. There is, thus, a need to revisit these
strategies by both, more so, by the Pakistani leadership as failure on our part
is more pronounced and the stakes are too high.(4) The Abbotabad incident and
successful terrorist attacks by TPP have further compounded Pakistan’s problems
as questions are being raised about her resolve, as well as, ability /
capacity to tackle the multifarious challenges faced by the nation.(5) The
US leadership finds a commonality of interests with India for pursuance of
their long term objectives in the region.(6) After
11 September 2001, a new phenomenon has occurred in US politics i.e the
incumbent President must show a substantive achievement for re-election. Bush
attacked Iraq and diverted attention from ‘war on terror’ but won the elections
(though Americans are still paying the price for the misadventure). President
Obama may try to emulate his predecessor with Pakistan as the target country.
However, this time the cost for the Americans in particular and the world at
large would be beyond imagination.(7) By remaining in self-denial mode
and sleeping over issues for years, the Pakistani nation, today, is on the
death bed. To survive, we must put own house in order. But, if we must die, we
still have a choice to die honourably and be counted in history, or die
dishonourably, as we have lived as a nation.
Threat Response
As highlighted earlier,
because of the strategy hitherto followed, Pakistan, today, stands
isolated internationally, weakened internally and faces serious threats to her
existence, both from within (by Taliban), as well as, external (USA-India
Nexus). While tackling both is beyond our capability and not an option,
the policy makers have to decide which threat to be neutralized first.
Logically, even this is not an option as to face external threat, a nation must
be strong internally. As such, Pakistan must first deal with the threat
from within (Talibanization and extremism) as once it is neutralized, external
threat would automatically be marginalized. Manifestation of the
threat, both internal and external, and suggested response, thereof, are
discussed in the succeeding paragraphs.
USA-India Nexus (Covertly Supported by Israel) There is no denying the fact
that a commonality of interest exists between the USA, India and Israel for
achievement of their long term objectives in the region. While USA’s Declared Objective is to stabilize the region and ensure that no 9/11
like incidents are planned and executed from Pakistan or Afghanistan. However
their Covert
Objectives are to gain and maintain foot-hold in Central Asia,
for which Pakistan must be brought to a level of a pliant state. US presence in
the region is imperative to deny China access to Indian Ocean / mouth of Gulf,
as well as, energy resources of Central Asia, encirclement of Iran, prevent
this region from becoming a political bloc in the future comprising major
countries including Iran, Pakistan, India, China and Russian Federation. This
bloc, when ever formed, would become the most potent power to counter the USA
as it would control the Indian Ocean, as well as, mouth of the Persian Gulf.
This bloc, however, cannot be formed without Pakistan as she enjoys a pivotal
location. As such, it’s a strategic compulsion for the USA Administration to
maintain her control over Pakistan which may manifest as physical presence or
control over Pakistan’s leadership or both. In the long term, they would like
to gain control over Pakistan’s nuclear program.
India’s perceived objectives could be access to Central Asian markets and ultimately become
a regional and super power for which Pakistan must be removed as a nuclear
irritant / reduced to a pliant state and, secondly, gain complete control of
Indian Ocean (by implication denying the same to China).
As far as Israel is concerned, at the time of
her creation as a state, the Zionist leadership had rightly concluded that for
such a small state it would be difficult to survive unless backed by a super
power. As such, they heavily invested in USA in banking sector, communications
and media/press. By doing so, they are now virtually in control of the US
Administration who have no option but to look after Israel’s interests. Now,
the Zionist elders see India as a future super power which could serve their
interests, at least in the regional context, and are, as such, investing in
her. Thus, to meet the prerequisites for
India to become a super power, as mentioned earlier, India and Israel find
commonality of interests as far as weakening Pakistan is concerned, including
her denuclearization.
Conclusions that can be drawn after analyzing the objectives of different
stake holders could be (1)
Commonality of interests between USA, India and Israel to reduce Pakistan to a
pliant state, by implication a denuclearized Pakistan. (2) USA will
maintain her presence in Central Asia, even if it means break up of Pakistan
for ensuring availability of a corridor through Balochistan (pattern being
rehearsed in Libya). Being their strategic partner, India can be given this
role in Afghanistan, if presence of a large size US force becomes untenable. (3) Geo-strategic location as gate-way to
Central Asia and emergence as a nuclear Islamic state, have made Pakistan
extremely vulnerable to power games of many stake holders, with USA in the lead.(4) As we learn from the dismemberment
of erstwhile USSR, use of Low Intensity Conflict as an instrument is the best
strategy to subdue a nuclear state. Today, Pakistan faces a similar situation
and the way she is being bled internally, through effective covert operations
conducted by hostile intelligence agencies, she would not even know when the
threshold was reached and crossed. As such, if Pakistan is to survive, she must
face this onslaught upfront and put own house in order.
Manifestation of Threat / Implementation of Strategies For pursuance of USA’s objectives in the region, former US President Bush, under the influence of
anti-Pakistan lobbies, in 2006 started to adopt a strategy for Pakistan replicating
the one followed against the erstwhile USSR in the early nineties, whereby, the
country was internally destabilized, made economically unviable and when the
situation was ripe, she was asked to hand over all nuclear warheads deployed
outside Russian Federation in Central Asia, against payment of negligible
amount. For implementation of similar strategy against Pakistan, CIA-RAW-MOSSAD
Nexus found commonality of interests with a group of Taliban – instability
in Pakistan suited both for different reasons. While for the former, to
achieve their strategic objectives in the region, Pakistan had to be
destabilized to a level or even balkanized, and de-nuclearized. Instability in
Pakistan suited Taliban / militants as, movements such as Talibanization gain
strength in the environment of weakened central authority and thrive when there
is lack of governance, deprivation, poverty and disillusionment in masses,
which provide them with the opportunity of recruitment. Policy makers in USA,
India and Israel were of the view that normalcy in Pakistan and Afghanistan
could be achieved after achievement of their objectives vis-à-vis Pakistan.
Since President Bush, started to play a double game, Pakistan responded in the
similar manner. Resultantly, as
the ‘war on terror’ suffered in Iraq due to pursuance of conflicting objectives by the USA, the history was
repeated in our region also.
President Bush’s strategy might have suited Israelis but extremely
detrimental for the region, even India, and the world at large as there were no
guarantees that Pakistan would
regain stability after achievement of their objectives. As such, President
Obama, after taking over, introduced a new strategy vis-à-vis Pakistan and
Afghanistan. For Pakistan, Obama’s strategy envisages a comparatively stable
but economically dependent Pakistan. The long term objectives would be achieved
by gaining control over Pakistan’s leadership through incentives and coercion
i.e entice Pakistani leadership through incentives and simultaneously coerce
them into submission by generating instability through use of a group of
Taliban. Insurgency in Balochistan would also be fanned for the purpose, as
well as, to keep other options open. A direct confrontation is also
contemplated with Pakistan in case of failure of above strategy by shaping
environment i.e generating internal destabilization and assisting separatist
movement in Balochistan. Possibility of even getting a UN mandate for the
purpose cannot be ruled out.
Similar strategy i.e ‘carrot and stick’ would also be applied in
Afghanistan, manifested in the shape
of punitive strikes against the non-compromising Taliban leadership and
incentives, such as monetary, share in government and deletion of their names
from the list of terrorists maintained by the UN, for those willing to
cooperate. The compromised ‘Group of Taliban’ would be used, in collaboration
with India, for achievement of long term objectives against Pakistan and China,
enabling USA to reduce their forces in the region.
Obama was hopeful of successful of his strategy
because of Pakistan’s economic dependence on USA and rampant corruption in political and bureaucratic
hierarchy. However he failed to comprehend the possible implications of such a
strategy. (1) As the success of Obama
Strategy hinges on having a sold out and compromised leadership at the helm of
affairs in Pakistan, such a leadership would mean more extremism, ultimately
jeopardizing security of the entire region, as well as, the world at large. (2) To maintain presence of US forces in
Central Asia, simmering militancy in Afghanistan and Pakistan is imperative.
Continuous state of instability, or lack of stability, has negative
implications for both countries, as well as for the region. (3) Greater ingress
by the Americans into Pakistan’s decision making hierarchy would impinge on her
sovereignty having negative fallout. (4) Since
USA is aiming at long term presence in the region, peace would remain elusive
and the region would continue to remain embroiled.
Pursuance of Objectives by India Though India remains central
in Pakistan’s threat perception, yet she must remain cognizant of the ways the
threat may manifest / is manifesting.
While India has embarked upon modernization of her Armed Forces with
developments / inductions which are apparently Pakistan specific, especially
with regard to her Army, use of military instrument by India for achievement of
her objectives vis-à-vis Pakistan is not likely. She would continue to adopt
indirect approach as hitherto in collaboration with her Allies - USA and
Israel. The factors which substantiate this argument are (1) In the obtaining environment, space
for traditional application of military instrument
is gradually shrinking and non-traditional security threats are taking centre
stage. (2) Chances of a conventional war between two STABLE nuclear
states are remote, biggest threats to any nuclear power is internal instability
and unviable economic conditions eg dismemberment of former USSR. (3) India is progressing at a fast pace, for her
the stakes are too high to opt for a conventional war, especially when other
viable options are available to undermine Pakistan. (4) In any case, achievement of India’s perceived politico
military aim i.e. “Military and economic degradation of Pakistan”, is neither
in the interest of India nor the world at large. (5) Failure to achieve her war objectives in case Indians opt
for a conventional war, would be disastrous and may result into their break up.
Why should India adopt such a course? (6) India
can and is achieving her war objectives through Low Intensity Conflict and the
way she is bleeding Pakistan in collaboration with her allies, nuclear
deterrence is becoming irrelevant. If it continues for an indefinite period, Pakistani
leadership would not even know when threshold was reached and crossed - safest
option for India. (7) India is
aspiring to become a super power and for power projection, greater investment
is required in Air Force and Navy, while maintaining a comparatively smaller,
but well equipped, Army. As such, Indian Army leadership is looking for
justification to maintain a big Army by asserting that a conventional war is
still possible with Pakistan and by exaggerating bogey of Chinese threat. While
they look for relevance, Pakistan need not follow the suit.
From the above it can be concluded that (1) INTERNAL STABILITY and economic viability for Pakistan assume
greater significance. (2) India is
unlikely to venture a conventional war with Pakistan, however, maintaining
balance in the conventional plane, without entering into arms race, is
imperative for Pakistan to keep the nuclear threshold at required level. (3) Low Intensity Conflict emanating from Pakistan’s
Western borders is extremely detrimental to her security as being effectively
used by our adversary to achieve her war objectives. As such, Pakistan’s strategy
must aim at neutralizing the above mentioned indirect threat at priority.
Pursuance of Objectives by Israel While
remaining in the background, the Israelis would only provide indirect support
to her allies - USA and India - through covert operations conducted by MOSSAD.
Response to USA-India Nexus Whatever strategies may be conceived
by Pakistan’s adversaries (or so-called friends), any direct
confrontation between Pakistan and USA-India Nexus would have serious
ramifications for both. While in the short term the latter may achieve
a major military victory, in the long term it would become their greatest
disaster as the depleted Pakistan would be nibbled away by the Taliban. Even
any attempt by the USA-India Nexus to denuclearize Pakistan would result into a
strong backlash, paving way for the Taliban to make inroads into Pakistani
public, an extremely dangerous proposition. If any lessons can be learnt
from history, Indians must know the consequences of sharing borders with
Taliban led Pakistan-Afghanistan. As such, Pakistani leadership
is left with no option but to put own house in order and the USA – India Nexus
with no other choice but to ensure Pakistan’s stability. Stakes are too high to
consider otherwise. This being the only factor forming the basis for
commonality of interest between the stake holders, Pakistan’s policy vis-à-vis
USA-India Nexus must focus on (1). Reduce
economic dependence on USA by putting own house in order. (2) Pakistan must recognize its geo-strategic
importance as gate-way to Central Asia and deal with USA, accordingly. The
situation can be exploited to Pakistan’s advantage. While USA is seeking
Pakistan’s help for implementation of its exit strategy from Afghanistan
(though they are likely to retain substantial forces), Pakistan must, in turn,
seek guarantees that the future dispensation in Afghanistan is not inimical to
Pakistan‘s interests.
Since trust deficit exists between Pakistan and USA due to double
games played hitherto by both, it would be prudent to involve other
international players or even UN to ensure sincerity of purpose. While
as a responsible nation state, Pakistan must fulfill her international
obligations by ensuring a halt to cross border actions by the Pakistani Tribals
/ ‘jehadis’, the US leadership must also reciprocate by allaying Pakistan’s under
mentioned concerns (1) The USA strategy for the region must aim
at seeking peace, and not anarchy, in the region. (Simmering militancy in
Afghanistan may provide them with an excuse to maintain their presence in the
country, but extremely detrimental for Pakistan). (2) Though as a long term strategy, USA envisages a role for India in
Afghanistan, at no cost such a proposition would be acceptable to Pakistan. As
such, the USA must strike a balance in this regard. (While Pakistan must
remain relevant to international community in the obtaining scenario, it has to
also remain relevant to the Afghan people as an end state). (3) Anti-Pakistan activities of
CIA-RAW-MOSSAD nexus must be curtailed in the region as their actions
to undermine Pakistan’s interests would be effectively countered at all cost.
(For the purpose, Pakistan must provide sufficient proof). (4) Any
support (both physical and moral) to dissident elements of Balochistan is
unacceptable. Indian and Afghan leadership must be ‘persuaded’ not to involve
in such activities. (5) It must be
emphasized on USA Administration that the strategy to totally bank on India as
a counterweight to China, may ultimately backfire as India has a record of
changing loyalties for achievement of their perceived objectives. Even if, the
USA Administration is seeking stabilization of the region, as vehemently
proclaimed, they must know that India has always been a factor in
destabilization, rather than stabilization, of the region. (Exposing India and
breaking anti-Pakistan synergy between USA, India and Israel, is the best
strategy to counter India’s indirect threat to Pakistan). (6) USA’s
strategic interests in the region can only be achieved if meaningful strategic
partnership is developed with Pakistan and this long term partnership can only
be evolved through winning over the Pakistani people with tangible actions, and
not by controlling / benefiting few leaders. In this regard, mere utterances or
commitments would not suffice. Recognition of Pakistan as a nuclear
state, meaningful role for solution of Kashmir dispute, acceptance of
Pakistan’s role in any future dispensation
in Afghanistan and substantial economic assistance would go a long way
in building required trust between the peoples of the two countries.
A Comment on US Strategy in the Region In
the eighties, the then US Administration spent billions of US $ to oust Soviet
forces from Afghanistan and now after spending over 450 billion US $ and
suffering heavy loss of life, they have installed Northern Alliance in power
who have remained the proxy of Iran-Russia-India for years. What guarantees the
USA has that in future Indians would not collaborate with Russia and China to
oust any US remnants from Afghanistan, if left, and may be the USA once again
requires Taliban support to oust the Northern Alliance from power? Unfortunately, Pakistan was US Ally in the
eighties and now when reverse strategy is being applied, we are again allies on
some commonality of interest which the majority of Pakistani people fail to
comprehend, and resent. One is, however, perplexed by the naivety of the
American public. Is there nobody to ask the leadership about the logic of
paying a very heavy price to achieve something and then paying many times the
spent cost to return the same. In fact, RAND Corporation has alluded to this
concept when they say that every now and then, USA must go to war to boost
economy. Same is necessitated because USA’s main industry is Defense Production
based and for this industry to run, wars are imperative. As such, as long as
this concept is there, necessitated by the US War Industry, their policy makers
would continue to create threats and then wage wars to quell these so called
threats. Thus, peace would remain elusive in the world unless the Americans
diversify their industry.
Tackling Threat from Taliban To
correctly understand and deal with the threat posed by Taliban, we need to
learn from the history which reveals that, through the centuries,
warriors from the North (Afghanistan and beyond) have been invading the fertile
lands of the Punjab and further south on one pretext or another, mostly using
religion as an instrument, carried out plundering, ruled and ultimately merged
with the society. Talibanization is another manifestation of the same
phenomenon. Again, by using religion, they are spreading like a wild
fire and the people of the region, as always, are becoming hostage to their
ideology and would ultimately succumb, unless effective and all encompassing under
mentioned counter measures are undertaken at a fast pace. (1) Talibanization like movements take
advantage of vacuum in leadership. Only a dynamic, sincere and bold leadership
with vision and capability to deliver can check their onslaught. Due to fear of
reprisal or lack of vision, the present political leadership is reluctant to
effectively counter the Taliban. If Pakistan is to survive the onslaught from
the North and the nation, as always, doomed to slavery under the Taliban, the
political leadership must rise above pursuance of self agendas and prepare the
nation to face the threat upfront.
(2) A comprehensive strategy be formulated and
implemented to improve literacy rate, achieve internal cohesion, stability and
economic viability, the surest ways to counter internal / external threat. (3) Anarchy, disillusionment, poverty, illiteracy,
general discontent and lack of governance provide environment for breeding and
recruitment for extremist groups like Taliban. As such, to check
Talibanization, misgivings of the masses must be removed and major
emphasis be laid on education. Assistance by the international
community for the purpose and its proper utilization would go a long way in
achieving these objectives. (4) To
effectively counter TTP, they must be isolated from the other militant
groups, especially Kashmiri Jehadi organizations, through well conceived covert
operations, and from the other tribesmen by undertaking massive rebuilding and
political measures. (5) Hitherto,
the media has played a very negative role by making heroes out of those bent
upon undermining Pakistan’s sovereignty. Instead of painting a true picture and
making people aware of the looming threat posed by the Taliban, most of the
anchor persons / panelists either refrain from discussing them or try to
justify their actions by putting blame on the policies of the government. This
trend would, surely, lead to disaster as Talibanization can best be
checked through AWARENESS. People must be educated,
rather than agitated, about the threat for which electronic media can play an
effective role. (6) All avenues
facilitating inroads for Taliban, such as some “Madrassas”, must be effectively
checked and controlled. Lukewarm actions and display of indifference in this
regard would be extremely detrimental to Pakistan’s security.
(7) Taliban pose threat
not only to Pakistan but also to the region and the world at large, and, as
such, the international community must fully back Pakistan in countering the
threat. Playing double games in this regard would be extremely
counter-productive. (8) Since
Talibanization like movements adopt an indirect approach, military
response is normally counter-productive. As such, military operation must only
be undertaken against Taliban if absolutely warranted and that also after
shaping required environment. Effective covert operations are the best
solution, for which our intelligence agencies must be revamped and
geared up to face the challenge upfront. If by compulsion, a military operation
is required to be undertaken in a particular area, it must be conducted after
fulfilling following prerequisites. (a) The
operation should be legitimized by the parliament unequivocally, taking full
ownership. (b) The operation should
be out rightly supported by the masses in general, media, political leadership
and, in our case, religious clergy also.
Army as a Major Player in
Thwarting Internal and External Threats
Army is an institution which has intake from the
middle class, lower middle class and the lowest middle class, it picks people
from the roads, streets or even slums and irrespective of caste, creed,
religion, sect or ethnicity, elevates these individuals from nothing to a level
where they have everything - financial independence, status, honour, dignity
and all that in one generation. In return, at the individual level, each
individual in uniform is expected to perform and the nation at large, which has
invested and continues to invest a lot in the Armed Forces, expects results.
Having high expectations, the nation was
jolted by the intelligence, operational and security related failures
as manifested in 2nd and 22nd May incidents, having
serious ramifications for the country. As the ensuing developments indicate,
the strategy supposedly being followed by the military has apparently back
fired and the Armed Forces have failed (at least in perception) in what the
media calls ‘performance audit’. And, on top of that, in the obtaining
environment, the military leadership decided to take the back seat (for the
time being), causing a paralysis in the political leadership and leaving a
vacuum for other power centers to fill. Unfortunately, besides undermining each
other, these aspirant power centers opted for the easiest way to climb the
ladder i.e by undermining the Army. Thus, in the last two months, the nation witnessed the worst kind of Army
bashing, as never before.
While no sane person in Pakistan would oppose the
idea of dilution of Army’s authority and status hitherto enjoyed. This
dilution, however, should span over a period of time with the other power
centers behaving in a manner that the process does not turn into or give
impression of a clash of institutions. Such a state would be extremely
detrimental to Pakistan’s security as the Army still is very relevant to
the security of this country and if this institution is undermined, nothing
would stand in the way of those bent upon undermining Pakistan. Thus,
the ongoing process to degrade Army must be reversed, perceptions are needed to
be changed and conspiracies in this regard are to be effectively responded as
such, and not as individual events. The Army, notwithstanding its remarkable
performance in Swat and South Waziristan, also needs to undertake certain
measures to revive its diminishing image. (1)Improve performance, deliver and shun
weaknesses that impinge on her abilities to do so (2) Ensure transparency
in accountability for failings, both professional and moral.(3)Ensure
smooth dilution of its status as the only center of gravity, but from higher
moral grounds.(4) While in the obtaining environment, Pakistan must
remain relevant to the international community,
the Army’s actions must be a manifestation of national aspirations.
As such, the political leadership must take ownership and prepare public
opinion before any military operation is launched against own people, or
perceived to be own people, involved in militancy.(5) Perception that Armed
Forces have gradually turned into a corporate entity also, must
be allayed by taking practical remedial measures.(6) Besides performance on
ground, fight on the intellectual plane is imperative to thwart
the designs of conspirators, both internal and external, who are mostly using
media as an instrument.
Conclusion To meet external threat, a
country must be strong internally. An economically unviable, internally
destabilized, religiously polarized and ethnically divided nation, led by inapt
leadership can not meet the internal and external challenges faced by Pakistan
today. We need to put own house in order for which each institution must play
its due role, within their respective domains, instead of power games to
undermine each other. Stakes are too high to play such games.
While USA-India Nexus (covertly supported by Israel) may be
considering neutralization of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal as one of their long
term objectives, materialization of Taliban related threat from within would
surely provide them with the excuse to get UN mandate for achieving the same.
Moreover, for threats, like the one posed by Taliban, nuclear deterrence
becomes irrelevant, and, therefore, more dangerous. As such, the
Pakistani leadership, while remaining cognizant of and taking effective
safeguards against the threats posed by the external forces, must never have
any ambiguity about tackling the internal threat first. If we can overcome the threat posed by
Talibanization and become internally strong, the external threat would
automatically recede with no weakness to be exploited and our nuclear
deterrence intact.