U.S. needs new Pakistan policy to defeat al-Qaida

Bob Jack, North Las Vegas

Monday, Dec. 27, 2010 | 2:04 a.m.

A new American policy toward Pakistan will be needed if the Taliban and al-Qaida are to be defeated in Afghanistan. Pakistan is playing both sides against the middle in this conflict — seemingly aiding the United States by halfhearted fighting of the Taliban and al-Qaida, who find safe haven in the rugged Pakistani tribal areas next to Afghanistan.

Pakistan’s strategy is to hedge its bet that once Americans leave Afghanistan, it will retain a friendly Taliban regime in Afghanistan to the west to offset Pakistan’s perceived greatest threat of India to the east.

Unless the United States toughens its position with Pakistan, and takes over and controls the war on Pakistan’s turf, it will be unable to defeat the Taliban and al-Qaida forces.

This strategy is proposed:

1. Curtail American dependence on the Pakistani military to root out the Taliban and al-Qaida in tribal areas of Pakistan. Instead use NATO forces and CIA operatives to clean out enemy forces in these areas. This will cause the Pakistanis to boil over in anger, but it is necessary if there is any chance to defeat the enemy.

2. Cease and desist paying approximately $2 billion annually in military and humanitarian aid to Pakistan.

3. Strengthen relations with India.

4. Prepare for probable

Pakistani unrest and increased Islamization in Pakistan due to increased American military action in the Pakistani tribal areas and securing Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.

5. Remember the reason we are in Afghanistan is to prevent the return of al-Qaida and to eliminate the protective shield the Taliban provided to the terrorists.

These are the only realistic actions that will lead to possible achievement of American objectives in Afghanistan. Otherwise, I believe that Afghanistan may be a dead-end street.