Pakistan has long been identified as the stronghold of al Qaeda. In spite of persistent protests by the country’s President General Pervez Musharraf, the truth that Pakistan is the haven for Islamic terrorists cannot be eclipsed.
The North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan is considered as the area that is outside the reach of Pakistan’s security forces. Here local rebel chiefs and Pakistan clerics have the upper hand to such a degree that the Pakistan army finds it difficult to even step into the area. And when it does, as it did on Friday, it manages to come out with meager success.
The massive gunfire fighting between the Pakistani security forces and armed militants occurred in the Swat Valley, which has witnessed a sharp rise in militant attacks in the past few months. The leader of the militant surge in the region is the Islamic cleric Maulana Fazlullah. Also known as Maulana Radio for his illegal pro-Taliban broadcasts, Fazlullah is reputed to have about 4,500 followers. He is also supposed to be connected to al Qaeda.
The Pakistan raid on the Swat Valley region appears to be in retaliation of the killing of 20 people by a suicide bomber on Thursday and also comes in response to the reported beheading of four men by the militants. Although the attack on the insurgents hasn’t been too successful, the measure is indeed a positive step for Pakistan’s beleaguered President Pervez Musharraf.
President Musharrf has been battered by accusations that his regime has failed to tackle the increasing problem of insurgency in Pakistan. Observers suggest that the General needs to reach out to the local chiefs to control the situation. In this context, the attack on the militants in the sensitive North-West Frontier Province does augur hope and optimism.
Image Source: Javno
Source: The New York Post
