Pakistan has been described as an international migraine by the former United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.  For good reason, too.  After all, this country has been in the thick of things when it comes to terrorists, the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and what have you.  Can one forget the brutal killing of the Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl carried out in Pakistan?  Most recently though, the world has been focused on the part Pakistan's intelligence agencies have played in carrying out the Mumbai attacks in India.  While there is no conclusive proof of official Pakistani involvement (conclusive proof is rare to find where spy organizations function) - Western experts have pointed out that there is no denying the fact that some former ISI (the Pakistani intelligence agency) officers were involved and that some former Pakistani armymen were involved as well.

One of the primary terrorist organizations named as the prime suspect by the Indian Government is a group based in Pakistan that goes by the name of Laskhar-e-Taiba (translated as Army of the Pure).  The founder of this organization is a mullah by the name of Hafiz Muhammad Saeed who routinely, openly gives speeches in Pakistan that call upon jihadists to fight India and establish Islamic rule in India first and then the rest of the world.  Of course, Israelis and Americans are prime targets along with the Indians - all of them being "infidels."  This group has carried out numerous attacks inside India in the last decade or two; however, it has always enjoyed official Pakistani Army protection and in fact the Pakistani intelligence was instrumental in the creation and sustenance of this oraganization.  The reason being that the Pakistanis wanted to use this group to fight Indian rule in the Muslim-majority Kashmir province of India.  However, the ideology of this group spans much wider than India or South Asia.  It seeks to establish Islamic rule over much of the wider world, like other Islamic terror groups.

Officially, this terrorist group claims to be a charity and in fact has a website and seeks donations online.  However, beside the facade lies a deadly, ruthless terrorist group that brainwashes young children into believing that waging a "holy jihad" is the path they should undertake.  In fact, post the tragic earthquake that Pakistan suffered, there were reports in the press that this "charity" had taken orphaned children under their wing and was "teaching" them at its madrassas.  Of course, what they were really doing is brainwashing impressionable youth to the path of arms and "holy jihad."  Groups like these received wads of money from the Saudis and all of it goes into manufacturing "holy warriors," much like those who came into Mumbai that fateful day and killed scores of innocent men, women and children (civilians).

The Pakistani State is being run essentially by its military.  So, even though the dictator Musharraf is gone and has been replaced by a civilian government, it is essentially the Pakistani Army that runs the Pakistani State.  Their attitude towards fighting the War on Terror can at best be described as unconvincing and at worst deception.  There have been reports recently that the Pakistani Army in fact has been actively backing the Taliban fighters against the NATO troops in Afghanistan.  It has been well known that the Taliban leadership operates out of the Pakistani city of Quetta.  Yet, the Pakistani Army has been allowing them to operate from there.  Why?  Because, it suits their strategic objective.  They'd rather have the Taliban rule Afghanistan than have a Karzai-led strong Afghan Government.  So, how can they be described as "allies" of the western world?  Their actions are costing NATO soldiers' lives.

The Pakistani Army has been given millions/billions of dollars in military aid to fight terrorists by the United States, yet what is their track record of fighting terrorists.  When they are under pressure, they hand over a couple of Al-Qaeda terrorists and the world lauds them for that.  They are being clever.  If they really were interested in fighting terrorism, why have they been unable to root out the Taliban leadership in Pakistan?  Why do they allow terrorist organizations like the Lashkar-e-Taiba to operate from its soil?  Do they believe that there is such a thing as a "good terrorist?"  Are they confused about who are terrorists and who are not?  Do they believe that some are "freedom fighters?"  Well, they aren't that naive - are they?  Fact is, they seek to be clever.  They seek to hoodwink the world.  They want the world to believe that they are fighting terrorists - but on the other hand, they want to play a double game with the NATO troops in Afghanistan and the Indians.

Its about time the US Administration realizes that supplying Pakistan F16 state-of-the art fighter jets and providing them billions in military aid (without any accountability) is not the right way to deal with this unpredictable state.  They need to ask some tough questions of Pakistan (which they seem to be doing now).  However, this focus on Pakistan needs to be maintained to ensure that the Pakistanis don't get away with murder.  If they say that their official intelligence agency (ISI) is not involved, then they should reign in their former ISI officials and terror organizations operating freely from within its soil.  They should clamp down on madrassas (Islamic religous schools) who spew venow against Americans, Israelis and Indians.  If they are indeed an ally in fighting terrorism, its about time the West asked them to prove their credentials.