I don’t think that killing scores of school children belonging to Pakistan’s military elite is going to deter Pakistan’s military from going after the Taliban and other extremist groups. But it might be the last straw that gets Pakistan’s government, military and intelligence services to stop trying to play both sides of the game.
This monster was created a long time ago, largely during the effort to kick the Soviets out of Afghanistan. It grew so powerful that dealing with it came to require a commitment to wage a civil war to the finish. Understandably, it has been preferable to try to use the extremists where they can be helpful, to placate them when possible, and to fight them only when absolutely necessary. But this event could convince Pakistan’s elite to finally get serious about the civil war they’ve been trying to avoid.
I don’t doubt that the extremists would ultimately lose this civil war, but it would not be pretty if it actually happens. Maybe it won’t be Syria-ugly, if only because one side will eventually prevail, but it will rip Pakistan apart and create a massive death toll.
Of course, Pakistan has been here before.
Today is also the 43rd anniversary of Pakistan’s surrender to India in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, which may be why this attack was carried out today.
