Pak officers don't want to fight their own people: US expert

New York,May 3 (ANI): Even though the Pakistan Army has initiated military operation against the Taliban in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and has claimed success in some areas, the offensive might not yield the desired results, because Pakistani officers are hesitant to carry out an attack against their own people, a US expert believes.

A retired US Army colonel and author, Ralph Peters said Washington must understand that Pakistani military personnel might be facing problems fighting their own people.

"Pakistani officers just don't want to fight against their people," The Daily Times quoted Peters, as saying.

"Our diplomats and generals can't understand why Pakistan's million-man military avoids confronting the Taliban as the extremists tear into the country's flesh," he added.

Peters, while comparing the struggle in Pakistan with America's civil war said : "Look to our own history. Along the Indus River, 2009 looks worrisomely like 1861 did on the Potomac, the river which flows through West Virginia and Washington."

"After the attack on Fort Sumter, President Abraham Lincoln offered command of the Union forces to the most respected officer in the US Army, Colonel Robert E Lee. Lee was not in favour of secession," he said.

"Lee declined the offer. For all of his patriotism, he felt he couldn't lift his sword against his native Virginia, against his relatives, friends and neighbours," Peters said. (ANI)