Pakistan on the Brink?
| Date | Friday, September 11, 2009 |
| Location | US Capitol, Room SC-6 |
September 11, 2009 — John R. Schmidt, a former senior officer in the U.S. Foreign Service who was Political Counselor at the US Embassy in Pakistan (1998-2001) and who currently teaches a graduate seminar on “Pakistan and the Islamic Threat” at the George Washington University’s Elliot School of International Affairs, joined us for a discussion on the precarious state of Pakistan and the threats that emanate from within its borders.
On Friday, September the 11th, the Security for a New Century Study Group hosted a briefing given by John R. Schmidt on the current state of Pakistan’s internal turmoil. Mr. Schmidt is a former senior officer in the U.S. Foreign Service, serving as Political Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan from 1998-2001. Currently, he teaches a graduate seminar on “Pakistan and the Islamic Threat” at the Elliot School of International Affairs the George Washington University.
His remarks covered a wide range of topics, but focused predominantly on the challenge to Pakistan’s government from the rise of Islamic extremism, both inside and outside the country. This threat is magnified by Pakistan’s pattern of rotating ruling parties that act as patronage networks whose primary goal is to distribute favors and resources to members of their network.
The situation is further complicated by the nuanced relationships and strategic decisions Pakistan is faced with in regards to its relationship with Afghanistan, India and the United States. Pakistan maintains a delicate balance by trying to limit Indian influence in Afghanistan, given the ever-present concern of conflict between Pakistan and India. Simultaneously Pakistan must combat domestic terrorism and keep its border secure. This has created an odd cleavage in its distinct relationships with the Afghan Taliban and the Pakistani Taliban. On one hand, Pakistan chooses not to actively pursue the Afghan Taliban, forcing the U.S. to maintain its presence in Afghanistan and thereby limit India’s influence. On the other hand, Pakistan avidly engages the Pakistani Taliban due to its terrorist operations inside of Pakistan.
Ultimately, this is a complicated issue in which new developments occur every day. On the day of the briefing itself, the Pakistani army captured a key Taliban official in the province of Swat as part of its offensive there. Both the dynamic nature of this country’s peril and the strategic importance of the region it is in make Pakistan and its internal turmoil a pressing issue of daunting complexity, but one which must be understood if it is to be resolved.
Why is there such a difference in Pakistan's policy towards the Afghanistan Taliban vs. the Pakistan Taliban?
Security for a New Century (SNC) is a nonpartisan study group for Congress. We meet regularly with U.S. and international policy professionals to discuss the post-Cold War and post-9/11 security environment. All discussions are off-the-record. It is not an advocacy venue. Please call 202-224-7560 for more information or write to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).