Western media and West as a whole, are quite oblivious of the actual situation and how exactly Pakistan is trying to rebuilt the shattered country with the recent steps. I request my fellow bloggers here to come together and give truth a chance.

The Swat valley, once referred to as the “Switzerland of Pakistan” is at crossroads. The truce and imposition of Sharia is considered a tactical move. However, analysts believe that this desperate act by the Pakistan government will fail to restore peace to the valley. Girls schools are shut, cables are cut, and women are back to their cages. Musa Khan Khel’s horrific murder seems to be the tip of the events that might explode soon to gobble up the whole NWFP; and quite possibly the whole of Pakistan. Pakistan government has directly strengthened the position of the extremist regime in the country. The parallel system to the constitution puts a question mark on the state of modern Pakistan.

Here are a few mixed reactions from some of my friends:

By:Sonu Purohit

First of all, let us understand the social fabric of Pakistan in some detail. From what I have learnt from a constant perusal of the leading Pakistani news-paper The Dawn, not much mutual respect is seen among Pakistani citizenry. They have never been a well-knit society. The only factor, that bundles them out as a nation is Islam. Pakistani intelligentsia has never attempted honestly to do a proper research work in their social hierarchy. Even the teachings and sayings of the founder of that nation have been manipulated by unqualified Islamic clergymen. Nobody can, under these circumstances, say that it has been a cohesive state.

In a state and society where a former Premier never felt comfortable or secure, how can men of letters be safe? Who is going to give them security cover in regions like Swat or other NWF Provinces? As there are just a handful of armed forces and police people are left over there, one would have to stretch his/her imagination quite a bit to say how these regions can be reclaimed by Pakistan establishment! Indeed the US administration too does not want Pakistan to reclaim these parts of the nation. Word is already out that Barack Obama administration has given its secret go-ahead for Pak-Taliban truce. Nobody should, then, be under the impression that the process is reversible.

Though President Asif Ali Zardari said his country needs a modern day Marshall plan to fight and contain Taliban, referring to the U.S. aid plan for Europe after World War II, it can not be said that any plan can not be misused for Talibanization of that nation.

The problem is, that Pakistan itself does not want to come out of its present debacles against terrorism and Taliban.

By:Sanwali

I will not say the “complete Talibanisation of Pakistan”, because the govt will not so easily loose hold on the country. A politician loves the power that he gets with his position and can’t loose it to Taliban or someone else. But yes the govt. may have made a mutual agreement with Taliban (some part of it will remain secret from the public). All political tactics, where Pakistan govt and Taliban will keep on playing their individual roles in the country and public will be the ultimate sufferer. The recent murder of the journalist is the start of it.

Yes! This step taken by Pakistan has increased problems for the U.S. to fight against Taliban. India also needs to be more cautious now.

By:Shreerang Atahlye

This is a brilliant tactical move by Pakistani establishment, to get out of pressure cooker situation created by the world pressure on them to dismantle their Terrorism Factories.

Now they have convinced the world that they are a victim, rather than terrorist heaven, so all pressure will be off. They will get additional aid to fight Taliban, which they will almost certainly divert to creating and training more terrorist allegedly to liberate Kashmir.

I just wonder as to if America will ever wake up to the fact that when they more in billion in Pakistan to fight Taliban, what they are in reality doing is Funding Taliban. As long as this paradox continues the World Powers will continue to find their own destruction.

As is aptly said, you can wake up a man who is sleeping, but there is no hope of waking one up, who is only pretending to be sleeping.

Both Pakistan and US administration are pretending to be sleeping and will pay a heavy price in long run for it.

Sorry but real state of affairs.

By:Hariharan Iyyer

The so called truce with the local Taliban seems to be more of a Army dictated one with tactical US approval.

On the face of it, it will give respite for the army and allow them to fight the war on the Afghan front better. Secondly for the US, it allows them to dispatch more troops and hold the elections in Afghanistan...that can then be termed as a Political success.

Other things later...however what is being done is a tactical disaster of an unlimited magnitude.

The cause effects of the cold war era policies where the US in cahoots with the Pakistani government created and armed the Mujhadeen who are the fathers of Taliban and Al-quaeda are very well known...The rationale for this was the cold war and the need for the defeat of Russia.

The growth of China and looking the other way even for things such as the Tienanmen Square massacre was a part of this Contain Russia policy.

This also seems a trade off where Pakistan accepts partly the role in the Bombay tragedy against which they are allowed this truce in Swat.

As far a Sharia stuff...nothing is really wrong like in Saudia Arabia...except the only difference is that there is Oil economics at play there...

In the NWP and the Afghanistan border regions...it is basically the poverty....lack of development...lack of education...lack of human values (especially for women) that are the prime reasons...

From the ages (after the lessening of Buddhist influence)...this area has always been ruled by tribes with chieftains who at various times linked up with different rulers and causes...there is no commonality at all.

This will be a huge blunder as the world is just accepting the creation of a state that will spread from NWP areas in Pakistan to deep inside Afghanistan...a state with arms and suicide bombers with religious fanatics and drug lords.

This is just a right recipe for a fundamental and religious war with the world taking sides and India bearing the brunt...America too will suffer...

Lets Hope Better sense prevails with Obama and he does right not just be seeing to do right. There are a lot of policy blunders in history that can make him aware of the rise before every fall...

By:K.Ramesh Babu

Pak as a nation has options either to go back to centuries back or to embrace new millennium. It can’t go in between.

Sooner or later I hope Pak’s elite go with Talibanisation. It will not be a surprise for if it really happens!

By:Francis Monteiro

It does not matter what enemies do in particular terrorist state. If USA and India get together with blessing of other countries they can wash out the terrorist countries and ask UNO to rule that state with the international army till the world is assured that each and every element of terror is wiped out.

I thank all my friends who helped in making this post. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.