Pakistan shifted further towards chaos and potential Islamism today. Whilst the Taliban insurgency continues to expand across the North West Frontier Provinces, the High Court banned Nawaz Sharif from holding electoral office. One of the feudal populists thrown up by Pakistan's grubby politics, this decision destabilises the country by destroying the potential for power to change hands via elections. President Asif Ali Zardari effectively outlawed his rival and the most popular politician in Pakistan. Adding to this chaotic mix is the lawyers movement, demanding the restoration of the previous Supreme Court, and contemptuous of the puppetry displayed here. Their plan to hold popular protests will no doubt be supported by the Pakistan Muslim League -N.
To add to the powder, the murderous Taliban, relaxing after their usual slaughter of innocents (how do they differ from other evil bastards?) and have killed 25 to 30 daily over the last six months in Kurram tribal agency alone. It is reported that Iran is becoming more concerned over a faltering Pakistan and its potential takeover by extremists. Their nukes will face east as well as west.
Earlier, Tehran cautioned Islamabad over the 'silent massacre' of its Shia community by the Taliban in the country.
"The incidents that have occurred against Pakistan's Shia community
are a plot to create conflict between the region's Sunni and Shia
population," said Iran's Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani.
"We have warned Islamabad over the incidents and we will pursue the matter," he added.
With the ceasefire in the Swat Valley, Pakistan's sovereignty has now shrunk as territory is conceded to the new Talibanistan in exchange for peace. Every chunk leads to a shrivelling of the post-British state and a dim future of perpetual warfare:
But the most dangerous consequence is the loss of land. The Taliban now control vast territories in the southeast of Afghanistan and north and west of Pakistan. They are steadily carving out a Talibanistan -- a state perpetually at war -- that will nestle between Afghanistan and Pakistan and prey on both of them for territory, for fighters and for resources.
Pakistan has now become a strange and complex entity in which contradictions not only endure, but also seem to thrive. Parts of it are stable and rich (like Punjab) while others like the NWFP are in complete chaos. It has recently returned to democracy and civilian rule and yet parts of it are in the hands of authoritarian anti- democracy militias. It is an American ally and yet many of its citizens are at war with America. These contradictions are fault lines that will eventually lead to an implosion.
Al-Qaeda have a new base from which to plot against the West and they are in striking distance of gaining the nuclear weapons if Islamabad falls to the Taliban. The implosion could result in a thorough realignment of alliances in the Middle East as Iran finds itself in the frontline against a nuclear armed extremist state that hates the heretics to the West and the Hindis to the East.