| Pakistan Hanging In the Balance |
| This following article is of course dated, but it is highly useful for better understanding the powerful bond that existed between the Taliban and Pakistan before the U.S. invasion, and, hence, the powerful bond that is now resurgent. |
Taliban Nearing Complete Control Of Afghanistan
Nearby nations could be destabilized
Robin Wright, Los Angeles Times
Tuesday, October 3, 2000
Washington -- A generation after the Soviet invasion propelled Afghanistan into a vicious cycle of
war, the strict Islamic movement known as the Taliban has scored a series of military victories in
recent days that have given it control of more than 95 percent of the rugged Central Asian nation,
according to senior Taliban officials and U.S. intelligence reports.
The latest offensive could mark a turning point both politically and militarily for the Taliban, which
seized power in Kabul in 1996. Clinton administration officials say it could also have destabilizing
effects in the region.
Washington and Moscow alike are concerned about the possibility that the Taliban will move more
aggressively to export its ideology into Central Asia by aiding Islamic movements now challenging
the autocratic former Soviet regimes there.
The Taliban triumph over opposition forces supported by Russia, Iran and other countries sends a
powerful message about the use of Islam as both a political and a military force.
``The governments of Central Asia and South Asia will see the Taliban's recent victories as a sign
that Islam is on the march, that the Taliban can win despite sanctions by the United States and
United Nations and despite criticism from many parts of the world,'' said a U.S. specialist on South
Asia who requested anonymity.
The opposition United National Islamic Front for the Salvation of Afghanistan -- which now finds itself
cut off from supply lines to Central Asia -- has only about a month to reclaim enough key territory to
remain a viable political or military force before winter weather isolates its troops.
In a telling sign of the Islamic Front's losses, half a dozen of the its key commanders and their troops
have defected to the Taliban, a front spokesman admitted Saturday.
``Unless the opposition can pull off a miracle very quickly, the war may be almost over,'' said a
senior administration official.``It's not a total defeat, because there have always been pockets in the
countryside beyond control and there probably always will be. But 95 percent is about as close as
any party has ever gotten in ruling that deeply divided country.''
The opposition's losses have triggered an exodus of tens of thousands of Afghans toward Central
Asia, prompting Russia to reinforce its own southern border and the border between Afghanistan
and Tajikistan, a former Soviet republic where Russia has troops stationed.
In addition, both Russia and India have expressed growing concern about a potential joint
Afghan-Pakistan front that could reshape the politics of the strategic but volatile region. Last week,
Russia dispatched an envoy to Pakistan to press the government to rein in the Taliban and to help
organize peace talks between the warring sides.
Russia is particularly concerned about Tajikistan, which is still struggling to regain stability after its
own civil conflict, and is also worried about the impoverished Fergana Valley shared by Tajikistan
and Uzbekistan, an area of strong Islamic sentiment. Afghanistan has also been a principal backer of
the Muslim rebellion in the Russian republic of Chechnya.
Collaboration between Afghanistan and Pakistan was a key topic during Indian Prime Minister Atal
Behari Vajpayee's visit to Washington two weeks ago. Washington and New Delhi share concern
about the direct and indirect implications of the Taliban's recent victories in the Muslim campaign in
the disputed territory of Kashmir. Thousands of Islamic militants have trained in Afghanistan and
been supplied by Pakistan.
Nearby nations could be destabilized
Robin Wright, Los Angeles Times
Tuesday, October 3, 2000
Washington -- A generation after the Soviet invasion propelled Afghanistan into a vicious cycle of
war, the strict Islamic movement known as the Taliban has scored a series of military victories in
recent days that have given it control of more than 95 percent of the rugged Central Asian nation,
according to senior Taliban officials and U.S. intelligence reports.
The latest offensive could mark a turning point both politically and militarily for the Taliban, which
seized power in Kabul in 1996. Clinton administration officials say it could also have destabilizing
effects in the region.
Washington and Moscow alike are concerned about the possibility that the Taliban will move more
aggressively to export its ideology into Central Asia by aiding Islamic movements now challenging
the autocratic former Soviet regimes there.
The Taliban triumph over opposition forces supported by Russia, Iran and other countries sends a
powerful message about the use of Islam as both a political and a military force.
``The governments of Central Asia and South Asia will see the Taliban's recent victories as a sign
that Islam is on the march, that the Taliban can win despite sanctions by the United States and
United Nations and despite criticism from many parts of the world,'' said a U.S. specialist on South
Asia who requested anonymity.
The opposition United National Islamic Front for the Salvation of Afghanistan -- which now finds itself
cut off from supply lines to Central Asia -- has only about a month to reclaim enough key territory to
remain a viable political or military force before winter weather isolates its troops.
In a telling sign of the Islamic Front's losses, half a dozen of the its key commanders and their troops
have defected to the Taliban, a front spokesman admitted Saturday.
``Unless the opposition can pull off a miracle very quickly, the war may be almost over,'' said a
senior administration official.``It's not a total defeat, because there have always been pockets in the
countryside beyond control and there probably always will be. But 95 percent is about as close as
any party has ever gotten in ruling that deeply divided country.''
The opposition's losses have triggered an exodus of tens of thousands of Afghans toward Central
Asia, prompting Russia to reinforce its own southern border and the border between Afghanistan
and Tajikistan, a former Soviet republic where Russia has troops stationed.
In addition, both Russia and India have expressed growing concern about a potential joint
Afghan-Pakistan front that could reshape the politics of the strategic but volatile region. Last week,
Russia dispatched an envoy to Pakistan to press the government to rein in the Taliban and to help
organize peace talks between the warring sides.
Russia is particularly concerned about Tajikistan, which is still struggling to regain stability after its
own civil conflict, and is also worried about the impoverished Fergana Valley shared by Tajikistan
and Uzbekistan, an area of strong Islamic sentiment. Afghanistan has also been a principal backer of
the Muslim rebellion in the Russian republic of Chechnya.
Collaboration between Afghanistan and Pakistan was a key topic during Indian Prime Minister Atal
Behari Vajpayee's visit to Washington two weeks ago. Washington and New Delhi share concern
about the direct and indirect implications of the Taliban's recent victories in the Muslim campaign in
the disputed territory of Kashmir. Thousands of Islamic militants have trained in Afghanistan and
been supplied by Pakistan.
| Dr. Roberto Fostor Edinger Ph.D. School of Religion and Social Ethics The University of Southern California (1995) |
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| Dr. Edinger is a historian of social issues in Latin America. He generally publishes in Spanish. This link is for one of his publications in the area of Gender Studies dealing with Pre-columbian Central America: http://hcentroamerica.fcs.ucr.ac.cr/cong/ mesas/cong5/docs/egen1.pdf |
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