hahahaha.. BKT ... Welcome to the board jiggar.

Anyhoo, ladies and gentlemen may i present to you my arch enemy in debate buddy in real life Mr. B to KT.

Tad, i understand that you have an intimate knowledge of the ground situation in Afghanistan. However what you do NOT have is an insider's knowledge of the Pakistan Government. I can assure you that BKT does.

Your perception of the Pak-afghan relationship is from a different perspective where it is understandable that Pakistan comes across as the badguy. But often actions are not perceived as they are intended, ESPECIALLY when u got bullets flying about your head.

you have to understand that the Pak-Afghan relationship has been complex. Pakistan has gone from arming and supporting the Taliban (which took considerable propoganda and brainwashing of the population to implement) at the behest of the american government. later on Pakistan was instructed to do a 180 degree turn (even though the relationship was decades old) and work against the taliban.

This has NOT been an easy feat. In fact it was a huge accomplishment that Musharraf could manage to do so without causing internal revolt. But it has not been without its repercussions. The pakistani government does NOT have complete control over the NWFP and Balochistan. These provinces are (for all intents and purposes) ruled by pro-taliban tribal and religious leaders. The NWFP government is ruled by the MMA (an alliance of religious parties) and Balochistan - well it was run by Nawab Bugti and other tribal leaders who had a big ace up their sleeve. They constantly attacked and sabotaged the Sui gas fields ( Pakistan's main fossil fuel resource).

the government has been dealing with the aspirations of indepedence of the Pushtuns and the Balochis for decades now (since before the Soviet invasion of afghanistan).

I know it looks like there is a concerted effort on behalf of the government, but what you see and feel is merely the inability of the government to enforce its writ in these areas.

Now you may insist that it is possible if only the effort is great enough.. but i would challenge that. the government CAN NOT be too heavy handed in these areas because the people of these areas are :
1) A powerbase for religous politicians
2) Supported by the religious right

To take such overt and heavy handed action (because only a heavy handed action can enforce the government's writ in these areas.. unfortunately there is no "soft approach" that works.) may lead to severe internal clashes and instability.. and you cannot expect the pakistani government to risk that.

Karzai and Musharraf are pointing fingers constantly. It is not a favorable situation, but it is also not entirely the fault of the Pakistani government.

I'm sorry you feel this way about Pakistan, but remember this.. It is NOT a backwater country.. Sure it has its problems, but those are the result of a complex mixture of circumstances. NOT because it is an evil barbarian nation.

You cannot blame BKt for feeling offended at that accusation. I mean heck, you wouldn't like it if i called all american's uneducated, and all republican racist white pigs.. firstly because its not true and secondly because.. well it diminishes YOU because you are a US citizen proud of your heritage.

So lets have a clean fight.. shall we, gentlemen?