New Delhi, October 18
As US helicopters took off from Pakistan and paradropped their troops near Kandahar before break of dawn today, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf may be in deeper trouble soon and chances of toppling of his military regime have increased manifold.
According to classified information received here through diplomatic channels, the growing public unrest within Pakistan against the government’s support to the ongoing “Operation Enduring Freedom” in Afghanistan could endanger the very life of General Musharraf.
The US action signals the launch of their second phase of military operation: the much-awaited ground action. The move also signifies the USA’s eagerness to finish the operation in the next couple of weeks before the onset of winters and the holy Ramazan period.
The fact that the US helicopters took off from Pakistani bases for landing troops in Afghanistan exposes General Musharraf to a far graver risk than ever before, well-placed sources said here today.
Already there have been violent incidents in south Waziristan where exchange of fire took place between the local tribals and the Pakistani security forces in which many people were injured and 1,600 tribals arrested.
General Musharraf’s unenviable position, well-placed sources here said, becomes more acute because of the conflicting perceptions of the USA and Pakistan on two crucial matters, both relating to post-Taliban scenario: the role of former King Zahir Shah and the Northern Alliance.
During General Musharraf’s meeting with US Secretary of State Colin Powell, discussions on the outline of the new framework centred on King Zahir Shah. Under the plan different factions and interest groups would nominate candidates for an interim Afghan ruling council. General Musharraf said political process needed to be put on fast track in order to forestall the possibility of a political vacuum.
General Musharraf’s comments reflected Pakistani fears that the Northern Alliance forces fighting the Taliban would seize control in Kabul. The vacuum that would be created after the toppling of the Taliban regime must not be filled by the Northern Alliance. He
also
made it clear to the USA that the alliance must not be allowed to take advantage of the air strikes by capturing more territory.He claimed that the USA had agreed to his concerns. But Washington says that there is no such understanding.
With Pentagon officials claiming that the fall of Mazaar-e-Sharif is imminent, US warplanes broadened their attacks on the Taliban frontline formations.
Significantly, Iran has already rejected the post-Taliban solution suggested by Pakistan. It has said in clear terms that the legal government of Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani should play a fundamental role in the future government.
