KEY ISSUES

Afghan Taliban Uses Pakistan as Base to Pursue Power in Afghanistan

The Afghani Taliban is a powerful insurgent group that has been fighting to establish a fundamentalist Islamic state in Afghanistan, although, moderates may be willing to accept a power-sharing arrangement.

Taliban fighters forced out of Afghanistan by the US-led war, have slipped across the border into Pakistan bringing war and conflict to that country. The Afghani Taliban fully control towns and regions in the border area from where they launch attacks into Afghanistan. The US has responded with drones attacks that drop bombs on suspected Taliban strongholds inside Pakistan terrority, while the Pakistan military undertakes operations to try to regain control from the Taliban. Some armed tribal 'self-defence' militias have been organised and effectively limited local Taliban control in their communities.

The multi-faction fighting has resulted in many Pakistani civilian casualties and internally displaced persons.

Local Pakistani Support for Taliban

One factor hindering the ability of the Pakistan military to regain control over Taliban-held territory is local Pakistani support for the Taliban and for its goal of an Islamic state in Afghanistan – and in Pakistan, as well.

Conflicting Interests Between Pakistani Government, Military and Inter-Services Intelligence

Since September 11th, the Government of Pakistan has supported the US war in Afghanistan – out of fear of reprisals if it didn’t. Government support has extended as far as permitting the hugely unpopular US drone attacks (while publicly condeming them). It has long been suspected, however that some factions of the Pakistani military, and the military Inter-Services Intelligence in particular, have been actively supporting the Taliban within Pakistan. The Government will have to gain full control over its military if it is to resolve its Taliban problem.

EXACERBATING FACTORS

U.S. Use of Drones

Since 2004, the United States has used drones (automated aerial vehicles) to drop bombs on suspected strong holds of Afghani Taliban in Pakistan. In their pursuit of the Taliban, injuring and killing more and more civilians each year. The majority of Pakistani people oppose the US drone attacks against Taliban and al-Qaeda targets in Pakistan (and believe that the US, not the Pakistani Taliban, is the biggest threat for the country).

Lack of Economic Development / Education in the FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province

The Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province lag far behind the rest of Pakistan in their level of development. Part of the appeal of the Taliban in these regions, is that local people hope the Taliban will increase their living standards in a way the Government never has.

Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA)