Crossroads

The remote region of North Waziristan in eastern Pakistan has become notorious as being a hub for some of the world's most dangerous militants, members of al Qaeda or the Pakistani Taliban. Just recently, al Qaeda's deputy chief Atiyah abd al-Rahman is thought to have been killed by a US drone strike near the Afghan border.

US officials hailed his death as a major victory, but Pakistani officials have said there is no confirmation as yet. If confirmed, Rahman's death could deal a major blow to al Qaeda, which is still reeling from the death of its head Osama bin Laden just three months ago in Pakistan.

Security experts are on the alert. Pakistan, with its 180 million inhabitants, many of whom are illiterate, and its feudal structures is becoming a hotbed for Islamism. The dubious intelligence structures and the fact that the country has the atom bomb are frightening to many observers. Islamabad has been criticized by the US for not doing enough to combat terrorism.

Lieutenant General Talat Masood served in the Pakistani army for 40 years. Since retiring he has been a consultant on political, military and nuclear matters for the Pakistani defense ministry and for US firms. He describes the radical Taliban and the Haqqani network as "representatives of their tribes."

"Pakistan thinks it has to live with these tribes even if the US goes away," he explains. "It does not want to antagonize them and therefore it gives first priority to fighting militants opposed to Pakistan." He adds that the government is not that interested in getting involved with the Afghan Taliban an Afghan militants. "There is a difference in perception as well as priorities."

Breach of sovereignty

The West also has a different perception and raises its eyebrows at such a setting of priorities. Whereas in the US and in Germany the death of terrorists such as Osama bin Laden or abd al-Rahman is greeted with relief, satisfaction or even pleasure, the news conjures mixed feelings at best in Pakistan. Even among Pakistanis who are very outspoken in their opposition to terror.

Not only do the US' unmanned drone attacks breach Pakistan's sovereignty, they also do not have any legal justification. Moreover, they are often far from being accurate. The Washington DC-based think tank, the Brookings Institution, estimates that for each terrorist killed, some 10 innocent Pakistanis die.

Masood thinks that the best way of fighting terrorists would be "to get the support of the Pakistani people." For this, he says the government needs a very good understanding of the root causes of militancy and of radicalization in Pakistan and should have a "counterstrike-insurgency policy." Moreover, he says that if there were better employment prospects and education, people would be more likely to support the government in its endeavors, hinting that more democracy would calm the flames of radicalism.

Dialogue is crucial

Olaf Kellerhoff from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation's Pakistan office agrees that weak politicians and a strong army which is more and more at risk of being infiltrated by members of Islamic movements such as the ultra-conservative Wahabism are a cause for concern.

"A Pakistani journalist who had revealed certain connections between al-Qaeda and the military was recently killed. Some members of the military are going in this direction even if it is not the general trend."

However, Kellehoff warns against relegating the country to the status of "rogue state," saying that what Pakistan and its people need is respect as only this can open the door to dialogue which right now is crucial - more than ever.

Author: Ute Hempelmann / act
Editor: Ziphora Robina