Vikash Anand

Taliban's reach in Pakistan has become a matter of grave concern for the entire world and it is creating far more anxiety for India and those who want a peaceful South Asia. We all are apprehensive that Taliban's control on Pak nuclear arsenal could create nuclear crisis or any type of Islamic militants' control on Pakistan might lead to unrest in South-Asia. On seeing Taliban's success in extending territorial gains a senior US intelligence official expressing his concern said it could foreshadow the creation of "mini Afghanistan" around Pakistan that would allow militants more freedom to plot attacks.

Now strife-torn Pakistan compelled its President Asif Ali Zardari to accept the truth that Taliban was created by Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI and the US. Now nexus between Al-Qaeda and Taliban has become a major concern for Pakistan. Only Zardari acceptance of this truth and counter attacks on militants are not sufficient to eliminate the Taliban from its root.

It is known by all that Pakistan is the epicenter of terrorism. Its transformation into cradle of terrorists did not happen suddenly but the process was set in motion from the very foundation of Pakistan as a country. Genesis of Pakistan was Islam. Carving out Pakistan from India Muslim leaders gave logic that   Islam couldn't exist with other religion. So they demanded a separate state for believers of Islam as Pakistan.

As far as process of spreading Taliban militancy in Pakistan is concerned, it has gathered pace since 2001. After Taliban was deprived of power in Afghanistan by US led forces in 2001, the Taliban militancy was being provided protection and shelter from Pakistan in Af-Pak border areas. As protector of Taliban militants, Pakistani Military and its intelligence agency ISI have been playing prominent role. Pakistan did it or is doing it as part of diplomacy. Perhaps, Pakistan thinks spreading unrest in neighbouring countries to block their development will favour Pakistan's emergence as dominant power in Asian continent.