hello, I am gathering research and writing a paper on the possibility of the pakistan army defeating the taliban. I know thier are some highly well rounded and educated people out there and I was wondering what you all thought. Providing sources would be greatly appreciated.
Not a very easy question. You now will also need to ask, which Taliban? In most narratives, there is a good Taliban and bad Taliban. In the Pak narrative, correct me if I am wrong, there is Pak Taliban and Afghan Taliban.
Defeating the Afghan Taliban, does Pak see it as a threat or strategic asset? Currently, the AT focus is on Nato/us forces. Also, Pak will see it as a hedge tool. So, till there is some drastic change in the overall Pak outlook, difficult to see Pak taking any action against them.
Pak Taliban, who are the Pak Taliban? One needs to understand, that the Taliban are not a single group. There are various groups who will call themselves the Taliban. People will keep moving between groups. Its as good as a business for them. Will Pak take action against them. They are trying. Will the action work? Difficult. The problem is not just strategic, but, also social and economic. The main thing that needs attacking is closure of the illegal arms manufacturing units. Can that be achieved? Only a Pakistani can answer that. Personally, I think it is difficult and will take more than a decade to achieve. Once that unit is closed down, how will you employ the people? How will you educate them? Understand that this mess will take at-least a generation to clean. Provided there is a need seen by the Pak strategists.
So to answer your query, area sanitisation can be acheived in the short-run. But, holding that sanitised area and maintaining that sanitisation is a complete different ball game.
