So Much for Pakistan's Sovereignty

So Much for Pakistan's Sovereignty! Here is an excerpt from a News interview with journalist Ahmed Rashid. Imran Khan when he was here during the Ashura lull advocated all over to 'talk' with these Taliban and their sympathisrs. He has some half baked ideas on allowing them a say in local courts. But when pressed on allowing panchayat and wadeera justice he skated on thin ice. [to read rashid's interview click on the heading]

TNS: Do you see some sort of a merger between Taliban and al-Qaeda and to what extent?

AR: For the last two years there has been a very effective alliance between al-Qaeda, the Afghan Taliban, Pakistani Taliban, Pakistani groups fighting in Kashmir, urban militant groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Harkatul Mujahideen, foreign groups like the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, East Turkistan Movement in Muslim China. So I think there is a very broad-based alliance, of which Pakistani Taliban is playing a leading role because they have been the hosts of all these forces. All these forces are based in Pakistan, their leaders are living in Pakistan, their logistics and supply lines are here. So obviously, in order to run this, the Pakistani Taliban are playing a very critical role.