The announcement by the Pakistan government that the Taleban have closed in around Peshawar and the deployment of police forces around the city has sparked various reactions. Some people took it seriously and thought the provincial government of NWFP [North West Frontier Province] would quickly collapse. Others thought the Pakistan government's assertion was just propaganda aimed at implementing secret policies and conspiracies to make special gains. The Pakistani military establishment, which has obtained huge sums of money from the west under different pretexts, wants to forge such activities to obtain money. On other hand, this strategy is aimed at countering NATO's recent accusations against Pakistan of interfering in Afghan affairs. They want to show that they also have come under Taleban attack to the extent that one of their cities is on the verge of collapse. Thus, they want to prove that the accusations are unfounded and that Pakistan does not support the Taleban. This inability to fight the Taleban is demonstrated at a time when Pakistani army suppressed the Mullah Fazlollah led Taleban of Swat [District] in a matter of half a day. The army forced them to retreat to remote valleys, killed some of them and captured others. Later, the mullah was forced to sign a peace agreement.

It is not right to think that the Taleban would try to capture Peshawar without a green light and advice from America and Britain. Even illiterate people understand that these two countries would not tolerate the establishment of [such] a state in an area of great interest to them. Let alone the fact that the Pakistani army is equipped with nuclear and conventional weapons, Phantom-16 planes [as published], are in a position to easily crush this group at any place, and not let them take a single step towards Peshawar. When the Afghan National Army, which cannot be compared to the Army of Pakistan, can repel a strong Taleban attack in Arghandab [District of southern Kandahar Province], how come the army of Pakistan cannot do so? Only those oblivious of the extent of British and American influence on Pakistan and unaware of Pakistani politics can take the threat of such an attack [on Peshawar] seriously.

Pakistan is well aware that the countries which support it will help it in difficult times. Pakistan also knows the people of Afghanistan are not in a position to stand against Pakistan. They are so upset with the government of Afghanistan and Afghan rulers that there is no way they will respond positively to any call by these rulers to stand against Pakistan. They will also not help the Taleban though. The formation of the state of Pakistan was the result of a policy of creating crisis in the region. With its retreat from the Indian subcontinent, Britain wanted to keep this region in a permanent state of unrest and tension to ensure that there shall always remain an opportunity for the presence of colonialist countries. They wanted to create an opportunity for the future. Here it comes now. Fifty years later, the British have come to the region with military forces to reap the harvest of seeds they had sowed fifty years ago. They reap the fruits of billions of dollars that come from narcotics trade. They also earn considerable money by owning 24 per cent of investment in Pakistan. America has far greater objectives than the British in the region. They think of the entire Asia, its markets, highways, gas and petroleum resources, Uranium resources, cheap labour, checking and limiting the influence of Russia and China, quelling liberation movements, controlling governments and several other movements. Therefore, it is not so easy to let a city like Peshawar to collapse and these powers sit hand on hand witnessing Peshawar's collapse. Peshawar's role in regional politics over the past 30 years has been more significant than that of Islamabad. At the beginning, [Afghan political] parties were established in this city. Later, during the war against [former] Soviet Russia, the city became an important centre of decisions making, and establishment of [transitional] governments [in exile] of Afghanistan. The decision to shift opium poppy crops from the surroundings of Peshawar to Afghanistan was also taken in this city. Logistical supplies of American forces during the attacks against the Islamic Emirate of Taleban also took place from the same city. After the re-emergence of the Taleban, Peshawar became the centre of decision making once again. For the first time, al- Qa'idah and the Taleban established the capital of their caliphate in Waziristan [tribal area] of this [NWFP] province. Later, a peace deal was signed in Swat [District of Federally Administered Areas, FATA]. During the period of rivalry between America and Soviet Union, Peshawar was used as an airbase for American spy planes to make flights, one of which was finally brought down by the Soviets. These planes took off from Peshawar, cross the Afghan air space and flew all the way across Soviet Union and landed in one of the North European countries. These planes made videos and took images of important places in Soviet Union territory and sent them to the CIA headquarters. Today, Peshawar is as important for America as it was in the past. Without America's willingness, it is very naive to believe in the announcement that Taleban have decided to surround and capture Peshawar.

The Taleban have most of their forces in Dara Adamkhel, Swat, Bajaur, Mohmand, Bara, North Waziristan, Der and Malakand areas. Most of these forces have direct or indirect links with the Taleban. These forces have always demonstrated willingness to fight in Afghanistan and India, which is part of Pakistan's strategy. Therefore, Pakistan does not need to eliminate these forces. However, this coordination is designed in higher levels [of authorities] in such a way that the lower levels either do not understand it or they ignore it. After announcement of support of Baitullah Mehsud [Pakistan Taleban's leader] of Tahir Yaldash [Uzbek commander in tribal areas], and the killing of 22 members of a tribal jerga by militants loyal to Baitullah Mehsud, two mullah's [Mawlawi Nazir and Mullah Gol Bahador] have announced that they will establish their own party to fight Baitullah Mehsud and Tahir Yaldash. Mullah Omar [Pakistani Taleban's spokesman] who is a resident of Bajaur is trying to prevent this divide between the Taleban. However, Tahir Yaldash's coalition partner Baitullah Mehsud sees ISI conspiracy in this issue, which shows the influence of ISI within the Taleban. Mawlawi Sufi Mohammad and his son in law Mullah Fazlollah's close links with ISI is known to everyone. These relations [of the ISI] with Waziristan are also very friendly. Staged clashes between the government and Taleban are not taken seriously by many people. The establishment of a new movement substantiates this point of view.

At the same time, a new movement called Kill Mullahs has been established in Peshawar. They have asked the government to allow them carry guns. This situation also shows that factional divide and confrontation is taking shape in the province. When Afghans are beheaded on charges of spying for Americans in Bajaur [Agency of Tribal areas of Pakistan] in the presence of security forces who do not show slightest reaction, but rather provide security of the event, this can only be interpreted as a compromise between them [security forces and Taleban]. Pakistanis say that if Afghanistan makes peace with criminals like Mullah Mutawakil [former Taleban minister of foreign affairs] and Mullah Za'if [former ambassador of the Taleban to Islamabad], why Pakistan cannot make peace with criminals like Mullah Fazlollah and Mullah Sufi Mohammad. It is a subject of question as to what conspiracies are under way by the western countries. These two forces (America and Britain on one hand and al-Qa'idah and the Taleban on other hand) guarantee the presence of each other on two sides of the border. This situation will continue in the region. Neither Kandahar nor Peshawar will fall, unless there is agreement [on part of America] for this scenario to occur. Such decision does not seem to have been taken place. These manoeuvres are staged by the Pakistani government, and have little to do with its western allies.

Originally published by Arman-e Melli, Kabul, in Dari 5 Jul 08.