Another Day, Another Taliban Haven In Pakistan Attacked

The shadowy US forces may have again carried out strikes against Taliban thugs and their al Qaeda friends in Warizistan inside Pakistan. That would be the fifth such strike in the last six days.

Between five and seven people have been reported killed in the strike. AFP reported five "foreign militants" - a term used to describe al Qaeda operatives, were killed. The identity of those killed has not been disclosed as Pakistani security forces are attempting to reach the scene of the attack. Geo TV reported that four children and three women were killed in the strike.

The village of Gurwak is in territory run by the powerful Haqqani family. The Haqqanis are closely allied with the Taliban and al Qaeda. The Haqqanis run a parallel government in North Waziristan and conduct military and suicide operations in eastern Afghanistan. Siraj Haqqani, the son of Taliban leader Jalaluddin Haqqani, has close ties to Osama bin Laden and is one of the most wanted terrorists in Afghanistan.

The pace of attacks has increased, especially over 2007, and the spurt of attacks in the past week suggests that the US has had clear intel on where they expect Taliban leaders or their al Qaeda pals are operating inside Pakistan.

However, it is a situation that means running a delicate balance with the Pakistani government. Asif Ali Zardari, husband of the assassinated Benazir Bhutto, is set to become the next President of Pakistan, even though he'd continuing to dodge claims of cronyism and the moniker "Mr. 10%" for skimming 10% on every deal that crosses his desk. The situation in Pakistan is difficult, even if you exclude the rampant terrorism and ongoing fight with the Islamists:

Though he has won the reluctant support of the Bush administration, which views him as a willing partner in the campaign against terrorism, Mr. Zardari will assume the presidency with what many consider untested governing skills as a tough Taliban insurgency threatens the very fabric of Pakistan, a nuclear-armed state of 165 million people.

It remains to be seen how forcefully he will act against militants in the face of Pakistani public opposition to American pressure. Nor is it clear how much influence he exerts over the still powerful military and the nation’s premier spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence.

The editor in chief of the Daily Times, Najam Sethi, once an opponent and now a supporter of Mr. Zardari, said the elevation of Mr. Zardari would suit the Americans. Mr. Zardari, he said, “will learn on the job.” And indeed, Mr. Zardari, 53, has shown canny political skills as he has moved in the last two weeks to outmaneuver his former coalition partner, Nawaz Sharif, who served twice as prime minister.

But with the economy in a downward spiral and foreign exchange reserves perilously low, Mr. Zardari’s reputation for using political perches to benefit himself and his friends has left many here and in Washington worried about how he will restore economic confidence.