By Meher Ahmad
<[email protected]>

When I was in the second grade, I remember watching a small news special on Pakistan, specifically about the division of India and Pakistan. As a recent immigrant, even as a 7 year old, I remember being excited to see Pakistan in the news. At the time, it was a rarity to hear the country’s name on television regularly.

In the post 9/11 world, the situation has changed substantially. With the American public wary of the Iraq war, having long forgotten Afghanistan, it seems the new target is shifting towards Pakistan. As Afghanistan’s neighbor, Pakistan has long served as a safe harbor for Afghanis escaping the chaotic state there.

In recent years, that influx of Afghanis has slowed a small amount, thanks to some stabilization in Afghanistan. Instead of Afghani refugees, however, it seems that Taliban and Al-Qaeda militia have made Pakistan their new home base.

What’s difficult for those outside of Pakistan to understand is that not all of Pakistan is the barren desert land filled with long bearded terrorists. Just like any other country, Pakistan has varying groups of people and regions. The major cities of Lahore and Karachi are modern, maybe not completely in the American sense modern, but comparable to Mumbai of 5 years ago.

However, what’s changed in five years is that even the major cities are now being affected by what was previously isolated tribal warfare in the northeastern region of Pakistan. The recent attack on the police station in Lahore was shocking, not only because of the grim outcome of 11 dead, but because Lahore is typically free of such attacks. The bold attack, which Taliban claims responsibility for, was a clear message to the Pakistani government: the government has lost authority, and terrorists groups are capable of inflicting more harm.

The Obama administration has taken substantial steps towards addressing the influx of Taliban and Al-Qaeda in the region, including the missile attacks on the border region of Waziristan. Four days into Obama’s presidency, suspected U.S. drones dropped five missiles on several villages, with a clear intent to take out militia men (New York Times).

Obama has stated that if Pakistani authorities don’t take control, the United States won’t hesitate to use force without their approval (New York Times). As a Pakistani, albeit one that hasn’t visited Pakistan in four years, I have expected criticisms of Obama’s plan.

The sudden growth of Al-Qaeda and Taliban militia men in Pakistan can be attributed to a number of factors, including a wave of extremist Islam that is subtly changing the way many Pakistanis feel about Taliban ideals. However, by bombing away the problem and using force to root out terrorists, Obama will only add flame to the fire. As proven by Afghanistan, military can’t shift public opinion and general feelings of animosity towards the west. If anything, a large American military presence only increases resentment in locals.

The true solution to reducing Al-Qaeda and Taliban presence in the region is much more complicated than a military incursion, and Obama has made that clear as well. He has repeatedly stated that the war on terrorism is a complex mixture of culture and religion that must be comprehended from all angles.

In his intentions, I can’t agree with him more. But in order to destabilize these militia men and reduce the shift towards extremism, the Obama administration must act accordingly. Meher Ahmad is a reporter for the HiLite. Contact her at [email protected].