CHAPTER 6

New Pakistani Government Tries Talking Peace with Taliban Militants

1. The new government of Pakistan has promised to

Find Osama Bin Laden

Prevent fundamentalists in the tribal region from giving safe haven to Al Qaedas foreign fighters

Join the U.S. side in Iraq

Keep Iran from developing nuclear weapons

2. The U.S. State Department has said that

Tribal leaders will never participate in negotiations

It wants to conduct all negotiations itself

Some of the tribal leaders are ready to work with the government

The United Nations should conduct the negotiations

3. Baitullah Mehsud of the umbrella group Tehrik-e-Taliban

Pulled out of negotiations, then called a cease fire

Attacked the negotiators

Addressed the United Nations

Formed an alliance with Iran

4. Walter Andersen at Johns Hopkins University said that

The United States should invade the tribal areas of Pakistan

Osama Bin Laden will never be found, so the United States should stop trying

The United States will have to use both the carrot and the stick in dealing with the tribal groups

Pakistan should surrender the area involved to Afghanistan