Pakistan faces a lose-lose situation

KARACHI - After just a few weeks, the newly installed government in Islamabad has been placed in the unenviable position of having to choose between giving in to the demands of militants or waging all-out war on them. Either way, it's a losing proposition. At the same time, the government's attempts to alienate hardcore al-Qaeda and other militants from tribesmen in Pakistan's tribal areas are in tatters. At risk too is a whopping US$7 billion in aid from the United States for Pakistan's continued commitment to the "war on terror". The government was aware of the capture, but it kept the matter quiet as it had begun back-channel negotiations with Baitullah for Tariq's release. The price was the release of high-profile militants in government custody, including Mullah Obaidullah (former Taliban defense minister in Afghanistan) and Maulana Abdul Aziz, the former chief prayer leader of the radical Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) in Islamabad that was stormed by security forces last year. The negotiations were still in progress when the video of Tariq was released, backed by the public demand for the release of Aziz and Obaidullah and other militants - some of them linked to the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto last December, including Sher Zaman Mahsud, Aitzaz Shah and Noor Khan, all belonging to Mehsud's group. A sizeable ransom has also been demanded. Pakistan faces a lose-lose situation by Syed Saleem Shahzad