CONDITIONS in Pakistan have clearly been going from bad to worse in this past week. Just how horrific matters are in the embattled country is made obvious by the ceaseless activities of militants, especially in the northwest. The death toll from bombs and grenades detonated by elements like the Taliban has been rising, with the Pakistan authorities virtually unable to stem the tide of violence sweeping across large parts of it. Matters are certainly not being helped by the drone attacks carried out by the Americans in Pakistan, especially along the border with Afghanistan.
What should have been, on the part of both the Pakistani and American governments, a smooth, coordinated strategy to flush out the Taliban has now become an absolute imperative. Much as the people of Pakistan, or at least a large majority of them, are no sympathizers of the extremists, they are nonetheless vexed by what they see as the implications of the American role in their country. That was a point made clear to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her latest visit to Pakistan. It all raises a very fundamental question of what the United States and Pakistan can do collectively to make things turn around to a point where a coordinated and purposeful response to the extremist threat can be made. Indeed, given that there is a public perception inside Pakistan that it is actually caught in the crossfire of a war between the Taliban/al-Qaeda and the US, it is extremely important that whatever differences exist between Washington and Islamabad be narrowed down to a point where the threat can be rolled back. The fact of the matter is that it is not just America's war but also Pakistan's. That is why the onus is on both Washington and Islamabad to devise an effective strategy to beat back the forces of extremism threatening not only Pakistan but also regional and by extension global stability. Briefly, the Obama administration and the Pakistan government (and within that equation come the US military and the Pakistan army) can go for a swift exploration of the ways as to how best the present critical situation in Pakistan can be neutralized. In other words, both countries now need to reassess their approach to the problem in the interest of a stable Pakistan as well as a peaceful region.
Pakistan's condition acquires a sense of urgency because it has been bearing the brunt of the conflict. It is essential, therefore, that in this desperate struggle against the Taliban and al-Qaeda, the United States remain sensitive to Pakistan's concerns about its dignity as a society and sovereign status as a nation. It is all the more important that such be the approach given that the threat is common to both countries.
The message is loud and clear. The battle against extremism and the forces of disorder must be won. There can be no retreat.