Skepticism over Pak govt., army's willingness, capability to fight Taliban

Washington, May 9 (ANI): Pakistan, while announcing an all out war against the Taliban in the Swat Valley, vowed to root out extremism completely from its soil, but questions are being raised over its willingness and ability to thwart the menace.

According to a Washington Post report, there is wide scale skepticism about the government's motives and the army's will to fight against the extremists.

The report said that several people in Pakistan believe that the terror menace was created by the United States itself to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan.

It also said people in the country have a certain degree of distrust over the military offensive against the Taliban which has been initiated in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP).

"The army's new offensive is also widely viewed as a show to please the United States and gain more military aid and training," the report stated.

Moreover, some of the religious parties such as the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) have expressed their discontent over the military operation calling it 'Pakistan's submission to an American war.'

But there is also no denying the fact that anti-Taliban feelings in Pakistan have also gained momentum.

Several political and religious leaders have come out in open and lashed out at the extremists for their un-Islamic methods and aims. (ANI)