Saturday, December 06, 2008

Let the World Run Pakistan, Not Run From It

Robert Kagan has a nice article in the Washington Post. He points out that if Pakistan cannot exercise control over what it claims as sovereign territory, then the international community should. Sovereignty is a 2-way street -- if you want your sovereignty claims recognized and respected, then you have to fulfill the obligations that come with them. If Pakistan cannot control terrorists operating out of its territory, then the world should step in and do it for them.

India may have sufficient military power to invade Pakistan in a conventional war, but it cannot risk triggering a nuclear war. Furthermore, even if Pakistan was successfully invaded, the burden of governing or controlling Pakistani territory would be impossible for India. But a wider international intervention in Pakistan has the best chance of accomplishing this.

Bill Roggio offers a rejoinder to Kagan's proposal.

1 comment:

san said...

Well, coming from Condi's mouth, it's probably just a ploy to put pressure on Pak to act. But Kagan has a deeper track record on strategizing against Islamist militancy. Even if Kagan can't set the agenda, perhaps his ideas can provide more food for thought to policymakers whose existing approaches have not met with success.