Sanction Pakistan?

Ahmed Rashid - What should the U.S. and NATO do about the allegations that there is a Taliban-al'Qaeda sanctuary in Pakistan? Are sanctions against Pakistan an option? I'm thinking through this issue. Join me....

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All Comments (22)

Nicole:

Good site! I'll stay reading! Keep improving!

Nicole:

Good site! I'll stay reading! Keep improving!

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David Jones:

Keep it steady where Pakistan is concerned. Another 5 years of the current momentum, and Pakistan will be a changed country. Music is flourishing. Media is free. Liberal and modern values are thriving. This doesn't mean it is not Islamic. It is both Muslim and Modern. I just returned from an investor conference in Pakistan hosted by Euromoney. The mood was ebulient. It is clear that the middle class is establishing itself in Pakistan. Investors are gushing. As this group establishes itself, it will spread the kind of middle class values we all care about. Moderate, stable and focused on long term growth Any sanctions will undermine this group. Don't be foolish.

Khalid Masuf:

USA

Please do not leave Afghanistan. If you do the Taliban will not only take over Afghanistan but also Pakistan. That will be the end of us 16 million Christians in Pakistan where we are 10% of the population. The governmnet falsely puts us at 2%. Many Muslims have secretly converted. The Muslim population is wholly in support of the Taliban and for us it will be "convert or else."

msa:

Get rid of Musharraf and have an elected government in Pakistan. That will help, in long term, the Taliban issue.

Summers:

The Pakistan government is playing a waiting game, expecting us to vacate and then fill in hte power vacuum Our current strategy with the Musharraf government has reached a point of rapidly diminishing returns. However, Pakistan is extremely dependent on foriegn inflows of capital: aid, diaspora remittances and private investment. We can carefully calibrate the flow of capital to put pressure on. We could also apply pressure by talking about selling advanced weaponry to India. We can also be more aggressive in pursuit accross the border, brazenly daring them to do something about it. All these methods are likely to get more results than overt sanctions.

Our expectations cannot be too high as Pakistan is a very problematic entity to deal with. We need sustained and creative forms of pressure.

JRLR:

Many Americans have expressed the view, of late, that a cure of isolationism might help the nation heal its wounds. In order that this goal be achieved more quickly, I suggest sanctions against most countries in the world ("Yes, sanction them all!), and, why not, against the whole Community of Nations. "Yes, sanction the UN as well." No doubt, that is the most inspired foreign policy one can possibly imagine and hope for, in 2007.

Kumar:

Certainly Not. Sanctions against Pakistan doesnt make any sense at all! Pakistan itself is a victim of Taliban and Afghan militancy. Musharraf and Pakistani government is doing its best to quell that militancy not just from a particular tribal area but from places as far as Karachi.

It is just unfair to blame Pakistan for the failures of Mr. Karzai's government. If only he can step out of his palace and enforce law and order with the help of Afghan tribes, Taliban would be defeated inside Afghanistan. Taliban is Afghanistan's problem. Pakistan has nothing to do with it.

Yousef Mian:

Sanctioning Pakistan is a bad idea from the U.S.'s perspective. Critics say Musharraf has not done enough to eliminate the Al-Qaeda/Taliban presence in certain parts of Pakistan (most notably Waziristan and other areas along the Afghan border). Perhaps there is some truth to that statement, but it certainly is not on account of Musharraf's apathy or any "sympathy" held for these people (assassination attempts, anyone?). Many Americans don't realize the other problems that complicate Musharraf's options in pursuing militants in Pakistan. The ethnic nationalism of certain areas of Pakistan (i.e. Balochistan, Pakhtoons) make it difficult to simply send in the army in the name of "the war on terror" without inflaming other passions that could seriously hinder any real efforts. There is more overlap between Taleban sympathy and Pakhtoon autonomy, for example, than people realize. The last thing we need is Musharraf using his resources to battle Balochi and Pakhtoon insurgents in a civil war while trying to root out militants linked to Al-Qaeda in a violent atmosphere where militarism has more a chance of thriving and going unnoticed. Musharraf has wisely decided truces these areas are a better starting point than a "quick" all out frontal assault. Pakistan's shaky national unity requires delicate care and intelligence, not the brass arrogance and ineptitude the Bush administration has shown with the quagmire that is now Iraq. Can Pakistan do more? Of course. But sanctions will not help anyone.

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