Map from Geographic Guide(Click To Enlarge)
Targeting of NATO Supply Lines Through Pakistan Expands
-- Captain's Journal
-- Captain's Journal
Seven months ago The Captain’s Journal published Taliban and al Qaeda Strategy in Pakistan and Afghanistan in which we outlined a major prong of the coming strategy to cut off supplies to NATO forces through Pakistan. We followed this up with a discussion of the importance of the Khyber Pass and the Torkham Crossing, the Northern border crossing through which supplies flow, and which has been the target of attacks against fuel tankers and other traffic.
We’ve also discussed the Talibanization of Karachi, Karachi being the only port through which supplies flow. Thousands of Taliban fighters have entered Karachi in a sign of the increased enemy interest in controlling this vital hub of transit. From Karachi the supplies go to the Southwestern Pakistan city of Chaman to cross into Afghanistan or to the Northwestern province of Khyber and then to the Torkham Crossing, eventually arriving in Kabul unless interdicted by the Taliban. The Taliban have worked to close both of these supply routes. But recently they have moved their targeting South of the the city of Peshawar and the Khyber Pass. In other words, they are expanding - not moving - their points of interdiction. They are now targeting the supplies as they come North from Karachi to Kohat.
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My Comment: This describes the inherent contradictions in Pakistan. On the one hand the Pakistani Government wants peace with the Taliban, and to be left alone. On the other hand, the Taliban continuously attack Pakistani trucks, seize supplies, and murder Pakistani drivers.
The Pakistani Government will need to confront the militants, and if necessary to defeat and kill them on the battlefield. But the longer they delay these actions, the more costlier it will be in the future.