Afghanistan as we know it was created in the 18th century for reasons of military defense. Throughout Afghan history, there was never really any cohesive agent to bind the various ethno-religious groups which comprise the country.
Though many Afghans abhor the Taliban, to some in my community, the resilience of the Taliban and their ability to strike Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad in the heart of the Pakistani Punjab, is short of amazing. Afghanistan's dominant ethnic group is the Pushtun, not Pathan (like Desis insist on calling us), but Pushtuns who are divided based on a arbitrary colonial border.
The British failed to pacify Waziristan in 1860 and in 1936, prior to success of Gandhi's Quit India campaign led to the independence of India and the partition of the country along religious lines.
I find Pakistan's resolve something to applaud, but in hindsight, Pakistan is doomed to failure. The Afghan tribal regions cannot be pacified. Pakistan acquired one of the most fierce of the Pushtun tribes.
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Hey, nice to see someone else posting here. I was beginning to feel a bit like Will Smith in "I am legend" =)
I have been accused of being anti-Pakistani. In part, my bias is rooted in Afghan nationalism.
When Bangladesh acquired independence, it influenced some in the Afghan community and so did the emergence of Sindhi nationalism.
The solution to pacification is economic development, compulsory education for both boys and girls, infrastructure, and job creation.
Pakistan has a responsibility to educate all its people, regardless of their ability to pay for that education out of pocket.
Both Pakistan and America should stop doing the war. The debate rages. . Some believe that government should do nothing, and scale back as far as possible, especially taxation, so that the market can take care of itself. Others believe the government should launch huge works projects, or works projects that pay as little as possible, so that there's at least a fall back. However, government butting in on every action does no good save for those doing the butting, and for every action has a consequence. If there's too much government intervention for debt relief – we cripple ourselves to save ourselves, and empower the wealthy over the working.