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War on Terror As the militant attacks inside Pakistan and Afghanistan have increased, Pakistan military has intensified its offensive against the Taliban and Al-Qaida militants who are hiding in the tribal areas in its North West Frontier Province. After recent months’ terrorist attacks, world’s ‘war on terror’ has become Pakistan’s own ‘war on terror’. Though in the initial stages of ‘war on terror’ Pakistani rulers had half-heartedly supported the US offensive just to keep their nation safe form its ’side-effects’ but it could not happen. They had tried to evade the responsibility that they needed to take in the war against Taliban terrorists. As they shirked to take action against the Taliban militants, militants kept on increasing their power inside Pakistan and after some time became a threat to Pakistan’s unity.

Approach Taliban was being helped by some Pakistan’s ‘internal government elements’. Despite Pakistan government’s open support to the US led ‘war on terror’ some Taliban had not lost the support of some government sympathizers. After the downfall of Taliban regime in Kabul, they had established themselves in the tribal area of Pakistan and had started strengthening their ’safe heaven’ by taking control of the local administration into their hands and had increased their attacks on the Pakistani establishment. During this process Taliban had burnt many schools and banned the girls’ education. Local tribal people who had sympathy with the Taliban had lost their interest into them. But Pakistan government was still reluctant to take action against the ‘national threat’. After change of government, international pressure, Pakistan government changed its approach against the Taliban.

Sovereignty But till then it was very late. Pakistan had reached near to get the status of a ‘failed nation’. Its economy was (still is) in shambles. Its sovereignty too was at stake as US forces had started to attack inside its territory against the Taliban terrorists. Despite Pakistan government’s protests US drone attacks are still a reality. Now week has passed without US drone attacks since last month. It is only after continuous international pressure and terrorist attacks, that the Pakistan government could understand the grim reality. Now Pakistan has, though reluctantly, accepted the US missile attacks inside its territory. In recent weeks Pakistan military has intensified its offensive and had started to take control of the Taliban occupied areas. But it is facing a stiff resistance from Taliban militants. It could control a very few areas even after weeks’ of battle. At the same time, coalition forces have also launched an operation against the Taliban militants in the border areas with the help of Pakistan military.

 Lashkars There are some positive news also for the war on terror. Local tribal people have stood up against the Taliban and have formed lashkars (groups of fighters) with the help of government to fight against the militants. With the formation of lashkars, battle between militants and the government has intensified. At the same time lashkars have started to take on the Taliban militants. According to some recent reports a severe fight had broken out between a lashkar and Taliban militants. Lashkar was ambushed by dozens of militants and in the fight score of people from both of the sides had died. Pakistan military had launched an air operation when the fight had broke out and in which most of the tribals had been killed. In the air strikes 17 Taliban militants including some foreigners were killed.