Pakistani militants attack key NATO supply line

[piercehawkeye45]

Militants near the Pakistani city of Peshawar destroyed more than 160 Humvees and trucks bound for Western forces in Afghanistan Sunday – the latest reminder that as the world focuses on Pakistan's eastern border with India, the militant threat along its western border is still spreading.

Sunday's attack marks an intensification of a militant strategy: attacking US and NATO supply lines. Some 70 percent of their equipment in Afghanistan comes through Pakistan.

At the same time, militants are pushing outward from tribal areas toward Peshawar in a "surge" of their own – trying to make headway before President-elect Obama takes office and sends more troops to Afghanistan.

"The Taliban will want to gain maximum ground before troops come," says Ahmed Rashid, author of "Descent Into Chaos," a book about Pakistan and Afghanistan since 9/11.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1208/p01s01-wosc.html


This attack seems to come at an interesting time and I wouldn't be surprised to see more attacks on NATO supply lines in the future. For one, the Taliban is gaining massive ground in Afghanistan, they have increased their permanent presence from 54% to 72% in a years time* and they seem to be closing in on Kabul and the Northern Alliance. They will not defeat NATO in Kabul though as long as fresh supplies keep reaching NATO forces and especially not after Obama becomes president and reinforces the area.

So, many anti-NATO forces are in play here, mainly in Afghanistan and Pakistan. These could be related or not, probably both depending on scenario. In the meantime, stopping the NATO supply line in Pakistan gives advantages to many people. It will help the Taliban put pressure on the remaining NATO forces, it will help Pakistanis get rid of Western influence in the area, and it will force NATO to use other supply routes.



As seen, Afghanistan is a landlocked country surrounded by nations that are not necessarily friendly to the US or NATO. Iran, China, and Russia (north of all the Central Asian countries) will all be reluctant to allow NATO supplies through and the other options are very expensive.



One of those options is to go through the Caspian Sea. It would involve starting in Turkey, moving into Azerbaijan, crossing the Caspian Sea, into Turkmenistan, and finally into Afghanistan. I'm not sure about Turkmenistan but I know Azerbaijan does not want to be involved or wants the attention so a supply line there will be tough.


If the Taliban does succeed (or has it given to them by other forces) in really cutting off NATO forces in the next few months, Afghanistan will be a very tough job for Obama and the new administration. This area will also be interesting to watch in the near future.


*http://www.icosgroup.net/modules/rep.../press_release