Pakistan - The Future - Nuclear Armed Jihadists?

[Nanfeishen]

I dont know if anyone has been following events in Pakistan, but they seem to be turning in a rather negative direction.
Historically with the War on Terror, Pakistan has been a bit of a worry, as attested by a number of articles from many different sources WRT Pakistans nuclear weapons. I.E from 2007 :

Keeping Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons Out of the Hands of Terrorists
by Lisa Curtis
Heritage Lecture #1043

Delivered June 27, 2007

The potential for the intersection of terrorism and nuclear weapons is arguably the greatest threat to American national, even global, security. As the U.S. seeks to deter the possibility of terrorists gaining access to nuclear weapons, it must consider carefully its policies toward Pakistan. The results of investiga*tions into Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan's nuclear black market and proliferation net*work demonstrate in stark terms the devastating con*sequences of nuclear proliferation by individuals with access to state-controlled nuclear programs.

Some observers have incorrectly characterized the threat of nuclear terrorism in Pakistan as stemming from the danger of radical Islamists overrunning the country and gaining control of the country's nuclear assets. However, given that the religious parties lack wide popular support and that President Pervez Mush*arraf and his senior army commanders largely oppose the Islamist agenda, the probability of this scenario occurring is relatively low. When it comes to prevent*ing terrorists from acquiring nuclear bombs, the more worrisome trend in Pakistan is the links between some retired military and intelligence officials and nuclear scientists to Taliban and al-Qaeda terrorists.

http://www.heritage.org/research/asiaandthepacific/hl1043.cfm

It seems the underlined portion of the quoted passage may prove to be on the road to actuallity, with events that have unfolded in the the last couple of days.
The first is the signing of a deal over the contested SWAT valley area:

Pakistan has signed a peace deal with a Taleban group that will lead to the enforcement of the Islamic Sharia law in the restive Swat valley.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7891955.stm

Sharia imposed on northwest Pakistan in deal with Taleban
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5745194.ece

The second more troubling news is from the President himself:

Pakistan's president says his country is fighting for its survival against the Taleban, whose influence he said has spread deep into the country.

In an interview with US TV channel CBS, President Asif Zardari said the Taleban had established a presence across "huge parts" of Pakistan.

The country had failed to increase its forces in response, he said.

"We are aware of the fact [the Taleban are] trying to take over the state of Pakistan," he said.

"So, we're fighting for the survival of Pakistan. We're not fighting for the survival of anybody else."

He also said the Taleban had extended its presence from the tribal areas to Pakistan's larger cities.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7890985.stm

Considering the source of these words , it it rather troubling to say the least.

It seems that the low probabilty of 2007 may have become a very real high probability in the short space of 2 years.

 

[medicnick83]

I hope this doesn't happen - nuclear weapons is not something one should be playing with, unless you have the FAT MAN and "baby nuke" in Fallout 3

 

[Alan]

Yeah Pakistan is very worrying. This is a clear example why you don't allow small unstable states to get nuclear weapons.

As far the the "peace deal with the Taliban". ROFL nobody is falling for that. It's simply capitulation. In fact it's a strategic defeat. Obama is not even in power for a month and already the first major set back has occurred .

India's reaction to this "peace deal" should be interesting.

 

[BBSA]

Any reaction from the US?

 

[Frankie]

Any reaction from the US?

I wouldn't expect any - they'll just keep hitting the b@stards with missiles, knowing that the Pakis have no intention of dealing with the extremists/jihadi's themselves.

 

[BBSA]

I wouldn't expect any - they'll just keep hitting the b@stards with missiles, knowing that the Pakis have no intention of dealing with the extremists/jihadi's themselves.

They are busy to take over Pakistan, I think we need more than a few missiles.

 

[Alan]

Any reaction from the US?

A great example of progressive and peaceful conflict resolution lol

 

[JK8]

They are busy to take over Pakistan, I think we need more than a few missiles.

Whos we?

 

[BBSA]

Whos we?

All right minded people.

 

[Alan]

They are busy to take over Pakistan, I think we need more than a few missiles.

Can't get troops into Pakistan. Obama won't send them, Brits have no more, Russians can't afford it either. France and Germany flatly refuse to even do their part in Afghanistan. Maybe the Chinese lol

All right minded people.

So true

 

[JK8]

All right minded people.

Lol people who use the right side of their brain imagine things and like to think about stuff that will nevver happen!

 

[krycor]

The problem with Pakistan is that, particularly in the northern territories they've been known to assist with training of the Taliban, heck that's where the telly bunnies came from and with the US doing their thang in Afghanistan you don't have to wonder too long where they headed to.. while at the same time Pakistan tried to separate the whole military control and bring in a democratic gov as US policies kinda wanted.

I think in the end the US is slowly learning the same lesson the soviets did and hopefully they can turn it around. Its funny the effects the US has had on this region, hopefully Obama tries to clean it up.

 

[Alan]

IMO the tally bunnies (lol ) would rather take over Pakistan than Afghanistan.

 

[killadoob]

Can't get troops into Pakistan. Obama won't send them, Brits have no more, Russians can't afford it either. France and Germany flatly refuse to even do their part in Afghanistan. Maybe the Chinese lol





So true

Russians alan? wtf would the Russia go into pakistan? Chinese alan, dude do you seriously think Russia and China give a kcuf about pakistan?

 

[Alan]

Russians alan? wtf would the Russia go into pakistan? Chinese alan, dude do you seriously think Russia and China give a kcuf about pakistan?

I never said they would . They do give a **** about it but hell would freeze over before sending in troops. I was just pointing out that nobody is going to put troops on the ground

 

[BBSA]

Lol people who use the right side of their brain imagine things and like to think about stuff that will nevver happen!

Definition of right minded people:

Having ideas and views based on what is right or intended to be right.

 

[krycor]

IMO the tally bunnies (lol ) would rather take over Pakistan than Afghanistan.

harder to recruit people for the job you need an oppressor and a common good ideal to blind others to do your bidings along the way, thereafter you just go extreme. They were popular because they were seen to be opposing the soviets and it was regarded as 'just' fighting occupation.

Well now that the pipelines are getting done, poppy production is up to record levels again etc its just a matter keeping things going i guess.

 

[Slyce]

I've personally been to Pakistan and the Northern territories. Was contracted to do some work there by their state bank. I've seen first hand that Pakistan is essentially a 2 state nation. One modern urban side with decent democracy loving citizens, the other very rural and tribal based society that have alarming hints of extemism in them. The 2 sides cant stand each other hence the bombings in the cities and the regular army crackdowns.

If the extremists do "take over the country" then expect a quick response from India and possibly some Arab countries. The region cannot afford another Afghanistan type situation.

 

[saffakanera]

Were in SA, what does it matter what we think. Buy a quad bike, read the Beeld and stfu.

 

[Alan]

Were in SA, what does it matter what we think. Buy a quad bike, read the Beeld and stfu.

Err because it will eventually filter down to us. A banana republic like S.A is a perfect place to set up extremist cells