Questions abound in the public regarding the slip-ups committed by our security agencies and culpability of our politicians in being unable to prevent it. But few have asked the question ��� why now? The answer may lead us to Afghanistan.

Questions abound in the public regarding the slip-ups committed by our security agencies and culpability of our politicians in being unable to prevent it. But few have asked the question – why now? The answer may lead us to Afghanistan and its trouble-torn border with Pakistan.


Since the loss of strategic depth after the ouster of Taliban at the hands of the Northern Alliance and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) forces, Al-Qaeda and Taliban elements have shifted across the border. There is an ample body of evidence to point out that such elements are present in the tribal areas in western Pakistan bordering Afghanistan. With this came the immense pressure from USA and allies on Pakistan to act against these elements holed up in its western region. In response, Pakistan placed a sizable number of its troops in the region, but to no avail.

In recent times the growing impatience of USA has become evident in the rise in “unilateral military actions” taken by it in the region. If Pakistani troops are already present there, why was there a need for USA to take matters in its own hand? It is quite likely that USA herself does not trust Pakistan to handle the situation and even more likely, suspects certain elements in Pakistan to be either actively involved in or actively aiding terrorism (there is enough evidence in this regard too). Those same elements are, in all probability, involved in the Mumbai attack.


It is possible that the intention of the terror attack was to bring about a reaction similar to the one after the Parliament attack. Such a reaction would force the Pakistani troops from the western frontier to the border with India. Already, things are moving in that direction. This would give the much required breathing space to the terror elements in western Pakistan and an excuse plausible enough for the international community for not acting against terror elements present in Pakistan.