The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Taliban insurgency

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Thursday, Jun 19, 2008
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Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Taliban insurgency

This refers to the Taliban insurgents over-running the Arghandab district of Afghanistan. Despite the presence of the U.S.-led NATO troops in the country, the Taliban have continued to rule the countryside. In a bold attack on a prison in Kandahar last week, they freed over a thousand prisoners and are now claiming that they have “liberated” villages around the city.

Although the NATO forces wield superior power, they are unable to hold the ground. They return to their bases after a successful operation and the Taliban regroup to rule the roost. The failure of the coalition forces to empower the Afghan army and the police to hold out in the countryside on their own is perhaps the root cause of such reversals.

Raunaq Rathore,

Noida

* * *

It is perhaps the first time since the war on terror began that President George Bush has taken the right stand. By endorsing Afghanistan’s right to act in self-defence against extremists operating from safe havens in Pakistan, he has put Islamabad on notice. That the U.S. at last spoke its mind on Pakistan’s culpability in Afghanistan’s internal affairs is heartening.

Capt. T. Raju (retd.),

Secunderabad

* * *

One must congratulate Afghan President Hamid Karzai for taking a bold stand on crushing the Taliban, saying he will send his troops to Pakistan to hunt them down. India, which is also a major victim of cross-border terrorism, should jettison its soft policy towards Pakistan. It should not only take a tough stand but follow it up by bombing terrorist bases in Pakistan. Unless that is done, Pakistan-based terrorist outfits will continue to strike at will in India.

C.A.C. Murugappan,

Kothamangalam

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