PAKISTAN: 'Good riddance but battle far from over'

The country's English-language newspaper editorials share positives, concerns about death of Taliban leader

The Times of India
Sunday, August 9, 2009

New Delhi --- 'Good riddance, killer Baitullah' -- screamed the lead headline in Dawn newspaper on Saturday. Other English newspapers in Pakistan have also welcomed the death of the top Taliban leader. However, they have underlined the point that the war against militant extremism is far from over.

The Dawn editorial describes Baitullah Mehsud as Public Enemy No 1 and as someone "with an endless supply of suicide bombers." The newspaper says that while Mehsud’s elimination is welcome, it raises the spectre of retaliatory strikes.

The Nation says Mehsud's death would be a major set back for militants across the country but also points out that it would be dangerous to conclude that this signals the end of militant extremism in the country in any way.

In a well-written editorial, The News says the operation that killed Mehsud will be "seen as a significant CBM, confidence building measure, between the Pakistan military and the Americans, where a trust deficit has bedevilled the relationship for many years."

The editorial, 'Taken Out,' also discusses the possible consequences of the Taliban leader's death. "With Mehsud gone so may have cohesion, allowing our own forces to exploit the splits and differences between the various groups."

"With Mehsud dead, the Taliban are much less likely to be able to mount the kind of threat that they presented to the state in 2008 and the early months of 2009. Talibanisation has been dealt a blow but it is not dead..."

Date Posted: 8/9/2009