Pakistan--too proud to ask for help?

joseph06

Perhaps my title isn't exactly accurate, but I can't think of anything better. With the recent statements by Mullen implicating Pakistani government suport to attacks in Afghanistan, and the Pakistani denials of any official endorsement of terrorism, I think it's pretty clear that Pakistan is in serious trouble. The problem, as I see it, is that both statements are true depending on who you talk to. That is to say, there are plenty of pro-Jihadist, or pro-Taliban, elements within the Pakistani government, but there is also a much more pro-US faction as well. With the way the government in that country is structured, it's completely plausible that ISI elements are funding terrorist attacks to suppor their agenda, while at the same time there are people working closely with the US and other partners to root out terrorists. Just look at the attack by the Pakistani-Taliban last spring that destroyed several aircraft at Karachi airbase, or many of the other attacks on the Pakistani establishment. At the same time, there's plenty of tacit support for certain terrorist elements by other arms of the government.
I think the obvious solution would be for the Pakistani government to get third party help in cleaning up their own government, but because of their nukes, and myriad other reasons, they don't want to expose how fragmented they are to the rest of the world.
Any thoughts?

waipapa13

I honestly do not think that there is a pro US faction in Pakistan, a "use their money/technology/resources when it suits us attitude" is a better observation, do some people want to get rid of Takfiri elements?, undoubtedly, but as you said there's a heck of a lot that support them, and these are people whose government in Islamabad has failed time and time again to deliver help and/or security, in some cases, this has NEVER happened.
As for how fragmented they are, is that really a secret? it's pretty obvious that their governance over large swathes of territory is nominal at best and that their public service is a deeply rifted organisation.
The third party clean them up approach is not going to work for the simple reason that no country ever has and ever will willingly submit themselves to such a thing (excluding Newfoundland),
nobody ever wants to be told what to do in their own country by foreigners, bottom line

DoctorWho

See how We welcome foreign countries pushing gun control on us.