Pakistani Pancakes

How about a joke... what the difference between Pakistan and a pancake? I don't know of any pancakes that got nuked by India. What? Too soon?

-Krusty

A few months ago, the new government of Pakistan decided that it couldn't defeat the Taliban elements in the tribal regions. So they signed a treaty giving them autonomous control over the Swat Valley. Apparently, this put blood in the water and the Taliban commander has mobilized his troops and nearly taken full control over an adjoining region (Buner) and are moving into the district of Haripur. Most distressing about all this, is that the neighboring region of Haripur (Attock) contains two nuclear plants that churn out the material needed to maintain Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. This region also gives the Taliban strategic positioning should they decide they want to go for the throat and take the capital, Islamabad, which is only 60 miles away.

There are scenarios that have been planned out where we might go in and try to either seize or destroy the nuclear reactors, but there is essentially nothing that we can do if the Taliban try to take the capital. What this does is put a huge onus on India. Obviously India will not stand for a militant Islamic government in control of Pakistan. The question is, would they invade with massive ground forces, or would they send in nuclear armed bombers to irradiate the Taliban controlled regions. We don't know and given the bitterness of the feud between Hindi and Muslims on the subcontinent, I would not be shocked by India going nuclear somewhat early in the fighting, especially if they think they can neutralize Pakistan's nuclear arsenal with a first strike.

I don't think Lord Marbury or Gerald will be able to solve this one anytime soon.