As the United States finds itself embroiled in a global war on terrorism that is spreading across many nations, it is time to re-evaluate just exactly who our real friends are. It is now clear that Pakistan is not one of them.

Since the beginning of the war on terror in October 2001, Pakistan has claimed to be a staunch supporter of the American objective to root out and defend against al-Qaida and Taliban forces fleeing Afghanistan. Pakistani leader General Musharraf has continually promised that his country would never become a sanctuary for terrorist refugees and that he would work hand-in-hand with the U.S. government to eliminate any safe haven for insurgents.

But as the old saying goes, actions speak louder than words. So what has Pakistan really been doing behind the scenes?

With Taliban resistance stiffening in the past few months, it has become clear Pakistan's embattled border province of Baluchistan has become a staging ground for Taliban and al-Qaida forces launching assaults on Afghani and American forces. General Musharraf has assured the United States time and again that his government is firmly committed to rooting out insurgents in the Afghani-Pakistani border regions. Yet now the truth about Pakistan's real position seems to be leaking out.

Of course, Pakistan's primary concern in the region has always been countering its nemesis, India. To most Pakistanis, the Northern Alliance was seen as a pro-Indian faction. Thus, having the Taliban in power was actually beneficial to Pakistanis.

After 9/11, the United States and Pakistan entered into somewhat hasty negotiations as the U.S. military prepared for war in Afghanistan. Because of U.S. pressure and the fear that the United States would ally itself with India instead, Pakistan was in effect forced to comply with American demands to cease its support of the Taliban and pursue al-Qaida leaders. Nevertheless, underneath it all, Pakistan's interests still remained the same.

According to Barnett Rubin of Foreign Affairs, "Supporting the Taliban was so important to Pakistan that Musharraf even considered going to war with the United States rather than abandon his allies in Afghanistan."

The Pakistani military had spent years supporting the Taliban in their common border areas, and Musharraf even lobbied to Washington in an attempt to install a "moderate Taliban" regime in Afghanistan instead of letting the Northern Alliance take over.

In the end, Musharraf reluctantly agreed to "cooperate" with the United States out of fear of the United States aligning itself with India instead. In turn, the United States allowed for the safe return of hundreds of Pakistani intelligence agents and military officers from Afghanistan.

This avenue of escape cleared the way for many Taliban and al-Qaida fighters to find refuge in Pakistan, where they could lick their wounds and regroup. The Pakistani government has done little to counter this influx of terrorists and Taliban agents into their country, and thus, five years later, the Taliban has reconstituted itself as a real threat to the security of the fledgling government in Afghanistan.

The border region has returned to a state of chaos and warfare with the Taliban launching offensive after offensive. While none has been successful, it is obvious that the refuge provided in Pakistan has made real victory over the Taliban nearly impossible.

Also in Foreign Affairs, James Jones, a Marine general, stated that the Taliban headquarters is in Quetta, Pakistan. It is also widely believed that this is the same region in which Osama bin Laden has found sanctuary.

The most disturbing reports are those involving direct Pakistani aid to Taliban militias. Intelligence reports have provided strong evidence that ISI, Pakistan's intelligence agency, has been providing sanctuary and rearming Taliban forces, a report that Pakistani officials sternly deny.

But according to a document leaked to the BBC by Great Britain's Defense Academy, a think tank run by Britain's Ministry of Defense, "Pakistan (through the ISI) has been supporting terrorism and extremism — whether in London on 7/7 or in Afghanistan or Iraq."

Washington politicians seem to be perfectly willing to accept what the Pakistani government has been telling them. Afghani President Karzai has repeatedly warned the United States that the Pakistani government is fueling the Taliban insurgency, yet the United States continues to claim that the problem is being dealt with and that Musharraf is a friend of the coalition.

Whether or not it is true that high-ranking officials in the Pakistani government are actively aiding the Taliban is a serious question to consider, but according to Foreign Affairs, Pakistani leaders are perfectly able to disrupt the Taliban, and they are choosing not to.

Unfortunately, Washington continues to cover for Pakistan because it does not want to lose its only ally in the region. But if Pakistan will not even put forth an effort to corral the Taliban that runs rampant within its own borders, then it is obvious that the United States cannot consider Pakistan a true ally. Either way, there is no way that Pakistan should be receiving any kind of military or economic support until they get tough on the Taliban.

Joe Trovato ([email protected]) is a freshman majoring in journalism.
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