Afghan Press Author: Rooh-ul-Amin

Taliban have intensified their raids on the Nato logistic terminals in Peshawar.

They have torched more than 300 containers and trucks including 500 Humvees–the American armoured vehicles, since December 1, 2008.
Each single Humvee costs US $ 10,0000 and the damage of Nato military assets is estimated at billions of dollars. Since the first attack, Nato has been floundering to seek an alternative route for the supply.

In this regard, General David McKiernan, head of Nato-led troops exposed that talks with the northern neighbouring countries of Afghanistan are under way. The role of foreign forces in Afghanistan has brought a rift between the US and German forces. To conceal the security lapses the US forces have been chiding the Germen soldiers for their sluggishness. Security analysts believe that war on terror for America is not winnable. As America is hell-bent on the war or terror it is intended to send more troops to Afghanistan to curb the rising threat of insecurity.

The additional troops would be deployed in Logar and Wardak provinces, located on the southern flank of Kabul. Currently there are more than 67,000 troops and more are likely to be deployed in the next few months. In case the additional troops are deployed then the Nato will have to receive 70,000 containers in Afghanistan annually.
It has been already receiving 80% supplies through the G.T road, which goes through Khyber Pass.

The rising threat of Taliban’s organised attacks can be gauged of McKiernan’s words when he said; “the aim of the additional troops is to check the rising threat of insurgency from the southern side of Kabul”.

Like Afghanistan, here also the Taliban are a constant threat for their interests and have organised attacks on the Nato supply terminals in Peshawar.
The attacks on the terminals on one hand has totally baffled the Nato forces in Afghanistan while on the other it is also a head reeling issue for the government of Pakistan.
For the Nato, the success or failure of its anti-Taliban adventure in Afghanistan is tied with the timely supply of food-ration, and other military assets. In case the Taliban succeed in complete blockade of the route, the foreign troops in Afghanistan will surrender to them. Lashkar-e-Islam, a pro-government Taliban faction, which is active only Bara Division of Khyber Agency, is also flapping its wings for gaining control over the route. The outfit does not like the presence of Al-Qaida or other foreign elements, which indeed is a mascot for the area. Will the government be agreed to assign the surveillance of the route to a Taliban outfit, is also a question. If the government agrees what would be the conditions from Lashkar-e-Islam and will the Nato be prepared for that?

A few days back the notion was rampant among the masses and the law and order enforcing agencies that Taliban, are making their way towards the capital city of NWFP and the way is not so far that they will overrun Peshawar.

And indeed the Taliban showed this notion true to some extent when they successfully carried out seven organised attacks on the Alfaisal terminals, world port logistics and Bilal terminals in Peshawar. To overcome the issue the provincial government is seeking to recruit more police constables.

The attacks compelled the ANP-led government in NWFP to discuss it in its provincial cabinet but the sense of insecurity among the masses goes deeper with each passing day.

Every now and then the government repeats the same rhetoric that the case is under investigation and the terrorists would be brought soon in the balustrade of courts. On the ground the writ of government in Peshawar and tribal area has tumbled headlong. Since the general election of February 2008, the government has been striving to make the masses believe that the situation will come towards normalcy but inversely it has left the masses totally frustrated.

Because of the fear and insecurity, some of the residents of Hayatabad, which is near to Khyber Agency, have already sifted their families from the township wherefrom the terrorists have already kidnapped Iranian attaché and other important foreign diplomats.

According to the Pakistani Taliban the attacks on the terminals will go on until the ISAF stops its drones’ attacks in FATA.

The recent drones’ attack at Miranshah challenged the determination of Taliban and disillusioned them that the foreign forces in Afghanistan will bring a halt to its aerial attacks in tribal belt.

Observing the whole scenario it is not hard to deduce that it will turn out to be a stiffhinged and thorny issue between the US and Pakistan.

In both the cases Pakistan will come under pressure.

If Nato succeeds in getting an alternative route, it will fearlessly carry out more drones’ attacks in FATA. And the increase in the drones’ attacks will add fuel to the already flaming fire of public rage against the government.

If it fails in finding out alternative path for the supply then also Islamabad will come under more severe lashes. The worsening situation can deprive Islamabad of its millions of dollars that it has been receiving in trade and aid from Washington. The Taliban have inflected a huge loss on America with these attacks, in case, any further damage is inflected on the Nato forces’ terminals in Peshawar, the US will surely be not hesitant to ask for the indemnity of its losses.

Thus the government is convulsed with the attacks on the Nato logistic terminals and the issue has turned a bone for Pakistan, stuck in its throat, which cannot be swallowed or spit out.

Russia has already offered an alternative route for the supply of goods and military assets to the Nato forces but there is also a barrier because it has no direct frontiers with Afghanistan and the route will go through the Central Asian States, which will add to the US economic burden in its war on terror.

Moreover during the snow falling season there would be secession in supply to foreign troops in Afghanistan. Like Taliban the Qazi-led Jamaat-e-Islami also demanded of the government to cancel the trade agreement with Washington and must shun the shipment of the Nato’s containers through Khyber Pass. It is another topic whether the demand of Qazi Hussain Ahmad was apt or inapt but he tried to pressurise the government anyway. The Taliban are fully aware that the Terminals and route is double-edged weapon and it is as important for the Nato forces in Afghanistan as a windpipe. On one hand they want to lasso the Nato, so that it can be pressurised in stopping the on-going series of drones’ attacks in tribal belt. On the other hand they want to destabilise the already frayed relations between Washington and Islamabad.

If the Taliban succeed in gaining control of the route it will worsen situation for both of the parties–Nato and Islamabad. The day when the Taliban will get control of the Khyber Pass it will be a jinx for the foreign forces stationed in Afghanistan. According to some reports the security lapses have brought a rift between the US and German forces in Afghanistan. The American troops have been constantly chiding German troops for all the lapses and rebuke them for their sluggishness. Their main aim is to conceal a likely defeat and security lapses.

And the defense analysts infer it with the sagging confidence of the foreign forces in Afghanistan.

No doubt the US has intended to send more troops to Afghanistan but the defence analysts believe that the war on terror for America is not winnable.

For the Taliban also it is hard to get control of the route and Khyber Pass because the whole it is already proliferated with Frontier Constabulary and Khyber Khasadar Force. It is also said that Nato and Islamabad are pondering over the use of aerial transportation system so that to bypass the use of G.T road, which goes through the sinews, and terrains of Khyber Pass.

But here comes also a hurdle because for that purpose the Taliban can target Peshawar airport or the Budhbair airbase. Looking to the complexity of the issue the governor of NWFP, Owais Ahmad Ghani has ordered for the deployment of 1000 security personnel to be backed by quick-response security squad and jet-aircrafts. The erection and construction of more security check-posts is also under discussion. This seems a bit realistic approach but require a tough vigilance on the part of the security personnel and any laps in security will invite to more disastrous attacks from Taliban.

When the number of security forces will be exceeded in Afghanistan as it was exposed by McKiernan in his press conference, it will require more supply and the demand for more supply will fourfold the importance of the Pak-Afghan international route. It means the issue is going from bad to worse and the ultimate pressure will come on Islamabad, which has been already mired in the bog of afflictions since the attacks on Mumbai hotels. The contractors and the drivers have also denied to keep continue the supply of goods and military assets to the Nato forces in Afghanistan. To mitigate the fear of contractors and for a quick vigilance the government has decided to back the containers with helicopters.

It shows the Nato needs supply through any means and Islamabad will have to deliver the supply by any situation. In case it fails for the surveillance of the route and terminals, America can demand to take the route in its own hands. But here a question mark arises, whether Islamabad will accept such a demand, which will tarnish the already defaced image of the government. And such a step will put at stack the already crippled sovereignty of Pakistan. Overall the new government in Pakistan seems the runner in the race and the US will use its traditional weapon; the allegation of terrorism and it will not be diffident to label Pakistan as a terror exporter country and supporter of Taliban.