Young Pakistani Army Officers May Be Defecting To Taliban: CQ

CQ:

A retired Pakistani general confided a deep worry to a friend in Washington last week: that some young officers in Pakistan's regular army have become increasingly sympathetic over the past few years to the Taliban and their brand of radical Islam.

Read the whole story: CQ

Comments

[The Krds]

04:09 PM on 05/12/2009

Defections are a serious problem. They are not as serious, however, as the Taliban agents that have infiltrated the military. They are there, and Musharraf was able to eliminate them, but Zardari is too weak to take action against them without getting killed. We would need to reinstall Musharraf, eliminate traitors, and re-engineer Pakistan's military to fight militants if Pakistan has any hope of surviving.

[Asad Khan]

04:00 PM on 05/12/2009

hi, I am looking the fact here that there might be such officers those are unaware of politics and intelligence games, that's why they look at the surface of issue while they don't know what is going on behind the screen, as they feel sympathy for Taliban and Pashtuns.
A new fact has been raising against America by militants that America is paying Pakistan for killing pashtuns while clearing this fact that America is dealing with pakistan therefore we must start jihad against America. Which is taking another place against America, amid young generation is being guided by these elements against America. in this result, a new point is being pointed by militants Which we already know they are working on Russian agenda, It is, therefore, advised that American democrats Clearly ensure that there is difference between terrorists & Muslim people. And America is not against Pashtoon belt, Moreover, Islam prohibits suicide attacks so why suicide attacks are carried out either on muslim and non Muslims. After providing such fact to the world they would presume that America is not against Pashtuns but terrorists.

[GeorgeP922]

03:19 PM on 05/12/2009

Wow this sounds like some rediculous propaganda and or ignorance from over here.

In Pakistan the military IS the government, they have 1 million standing, ranking them in the top ten armies.

You can hope and expect that if their commanding officers are not executing them on sight for treason, then the Americans' will catch up with them, or Pakatini artillery will.

[vishix]

10:03 PM on 05/12/2009

Pakistan's military created the taliban... why wouldn't there be sympathizers in there? Some of their officers are more hardcore islamists than the taliban. Read up on it, it's truth.

[mesmorize3]

12:39 AM on 05/13/2009

Read up on this.

"The Indian Army has been shocked by the arrest of a senior Military Intelligence officer on suspicion of involvement in a bomb attack by Hindu extremists in western India in September."

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5107111.ece

[Alethia]

02:20 PM on 05/12/2009

Your attempt at disinformation is not going to work.

Pakistan constantly is the target of malicious rumors. It constantly and unfairly gets portrayed as India's "evil twin."

I suppose if their country survived a conspiracy to break it in half 35 years ago (it became stronger after the break-up), it can survive this kind of onslaught.

[vishix]

10:02 PM on 05/12/2009

It's not misinformation, it's the truth. Pakistani military is more taliban than the taliban! This is common knowledge among those who have been following the downfall of Pakistan.

Being in denial will not help save this failed state. The 1971 breakup had a terrible effect on their psyche. Since then they have been more violent, bitter, intolerant and belligerent. The day is soon coming when Pakistan will be just another sad chapter in human history.

[mesmorize3]

12:50 PM on 05/13/2009

I guess your beloved india is a failed state too since violence and intolerance is often directed at minorities....

[Norge]

02:14 PM on 05/12/2009

Wow, that is serious.

[outnow]

01:03 PM on 05/12/2009

"Shock and awe" does make many Pakistanis believe all the more in jihad. The Rand Foundation so found. The goal would be to win their hearts and minds. But that can only be done if we have their best interests at heart, not our own. It seems that the control of resources and potential pipeline routes is creating a serious and highly unstable regional conflict as the US moves into the traditional spheres of influence of China, India, Russia in this volatile region. A civil war of sorts is already beginning and military and other operations are moving in. A humanitarian crisis is in the making. Pakistan may be split up or controlled by the U.S. China is voicing concern about the situation as they have used Pakistan as a counterweight against India, and India is uncertain of its future relationships in the region and with Washington.

The economy is bad in the U.S. so the use of military force can gain access to oil and gas in Eastern Asia is the New Great Game. The U.S. Navy rules the waves and we control the air, too. But the ground will be unstable in this region for the remainder of time. A huge tragedy is in the making for everyone.

[TheFactIS]

12:45 PM on 05/12/2009

I don't blame them. Why k i l l your brothers and sisters for the sake of American Imperialism?

[aturner18]

01:29 PM on 05/12/2009

I don't think these people think the taliban are their brothers. Especially the photo of the pakistani holding a sign saying "say no to taliban." check the slide show out.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30648446

[TParrish]

04:36 PM on 05/12/2009

Yes, and those stickers people have been wearing on their clothing, "Go Taliban Go" do not mean what they would here in the football-loving USA. They mean "Go Away". However, it is not inconceivable that the army could have been infiltrated.