The US using Pakistan as a base will create massive instability in the area (you thought it was bad now).
Lets not forget the nuclear arms race between India and Pakistan. These countries have been having a “relatively cold war” with skirmishes and small scale fighting over Kashmir. What will happen if the US is seemingly now a major ally of Pakistan? Pakistan will trounce all over India being somewhat fearless for repercussions with US bases on its soil. Pakistan will undoubtedly have some form of civil war, probably terorism based. With constant suicide attacks on US installations (Pakistan being a long time recruiting ground for bin Laden1s Al Quaeda). Creating a new wave of terrorism.
Congrats to the US for not jumping in straight away.
Serious thought is required by the US before stirring up the ants nest.
I would be very cautious about extrapolating your experiences with individual Pakistanis. Why? Because I have a couple of friends who traveled extensively in Iran shortly before the revolution there. Those friends told remarkably similar stories about their experiences with individual Iranians.
There is a strong ethic of hospitality in the Middle East. Visitors are frequently given the royal treatment, and invited into the homes of strangers. I’ve no doubt that you were treated well, and saw lots of friendly faces during your travels.
You may be correct in stating that most Pakistanis are not anti-American; I am only saying that the anecdotal evidence you provide is not enough to establish that.
What if I back him up? I lived there for ten years and my parents still live there. 
That gives me additional cause for hope.
But obviously, given some of the televised demonstrations we have seen, not all Pakistanis feel the same way.
I will say that I was happy to see a large counter-demonstation on TV last night, in support of the anti-terrorism efforts. Another hopeful sign.
Yes, at times like this the bearded religious zealots try to rile people up against the latest “enemy”. They like to talk about our “Muslim brothers” in Palestine. Most Pakistanis are certainly pro-Palestine, but being relatively cut off from the Arab world (and with Kashmir so much closer) they normally don’t spend much time thinking about it. It is a partially-successful ploy to heighten religious fervour in the masses.
On a side-note, there is a crisis of seemingly similar magnitude almost every time I visit Pakistan. One time they tested nuclear weapons and people were preparing for sanctions and/or nuclear fallout. The next time a war with India was apparently so imminent that the airports closed and there were tanks lined up at the border (only a short drive from my house). Then there was the military coup… Most people in Pakistan are so used to this now that they seem perennially unconcerned. I hope that this blows over like the others did…
pennylane, the cause isn’t even that a majority of people dislike America outright. Granted, I have apparently been duped by a misinformed media (shows what I get for trusting people outside of Cecil) but I’ve seen Pakistani sources cite the President’s speech indicating that 10-15% of the population is at least pro-Taliban, and by implication then not a fan of the US.
That is a staggaring number, especially so if they are not geographically isolated. Imagine if 10-15% of the US population disliked Canada, and were willing to demonstrate over it? That is like a million mom march times (at least) 27. Nothing to take even close to lightly. Don’tcha’ think?
I see what you mean, erislover, and I really wasn’t trying to make light of the situation. I just felt that the population of Pakistan was being slightly misrepresented. Of course there are people holding pro-Taliban demonstrations, and I was shocked to hear that three or four people were even killed in one. But my parents informed me that the rioting was on a much smaller scale than had been expected, and that most of the protests were peaceful. I wouldn’t say that 10-15% of the population is willing to demonstrate over this issue, but those who would are probably the most volatile and dangerous elements of society. In my experience, the situation as it stands now is not that uncommon in Pakistan, but it could certainly get much worse. I’m sure that letters and faxes from Usama bin Laden urging people to his side don’t help much. It’s worked on some of the Afghan refugees - they are crossing the border back into Afghanistan to participate in the “holy war”. Things could go either way, really.
erislover wrote
But your math is way off. Even if there is 10-15% Taliban support, there is far far less who are willing to demonstrate on their behalf, and far fewer still who would take up arms in their behalf.
Completely true. Neither (I hope) is the anecdotal evidence you receive from your local news.
Twenty-two persons, mostly civilians, were killed and 60 injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the Jammu and Kashmir State Assembly here today.
Jaish-e-Mohammad, a Pakistan-based militant group, has claimed responsibility for the blast and the suicide bomber was Wajahat Hussain, a resident of Suba Sarhad Pakistan.
I would be particularly interested in the comments of Truthfinder, pennylane and kentsubra regarding this.
I would too. The Indian government is indicating that they believe the Kashmir terrorists are Pakastani based and share links with Bin Lauden. It is going to be a very difficult path for the US to successfully navigate through diplomacy.
Sadly, the death toll in the car bombing has gone up to 38 deaths.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20011002/wl/attack_kashmir_dc_4.html
Until this happened, Indian authorities in Kashmir had been saying that the Pakistan-based suicide bombers were leaving Kashmir for Afghanistan so that they could defend the Taliban. I guess this means that either they haven’t done that, or that this is a group which does not have any links to Afghanistan or Bin Laden. At any rate I have not heard the name of this group in connection with any of the pro-Taliban protests. If the head of Jaish-e-Mohammad is really calling for a “holy war” against Americans and Jews, as the linked article mentions, then what are his followers doing in Kashmir? There are no Americans and Jews there, as far as I know.
In reality, Kashmir is far more important of an issue to most Pakistanis than any of the issues which inspire Bin Laden. It is their Palestine…
Obviously the US has to walk a very fine line and it is unreasonable to expect its direct intervention in this matter. The Indian government is stepping up the rhetoric, but also knows that the US can’t and won’t do too much. It will however temper any future American response to Indian action in Kashmir.
In my opinion, its time the government showed some moxie.
Either
(a) seal the border (Line of Control in Kashmir) more effectively and reduce the influx of terrorists, and commit more resources to fighting terrorism in Kashmir. This is nothing new and obviously something they have been doing, just not very well.
My preferred option, however
(b) Recognize the LoC as the official border. It is the de-facto border and you can talk all you want about it being an integral part of your country, but historical claims are often hard to resolve. I dont believe it is worth losing so many lives over what is a political issue.
© there is the third option of self-determination or independence to Kashmir, but that will never happen. Also, if the Government yields to that, then terrorism and secession calls will multiply overnight, especially in the North-East.
Also, getting people to accept the LoC as border will be far easier in India than it will be in Pakistan. Indian politicians and diplomats are willing to do so (of course these views are expressed only in private) but without any reciprocity from Pakistan, don’t dare say it aloud.
pennylane said
Oh, they have links to Afghanistan all right. Check this link for a bio of the group: