Pakistan's battle for survival

INTERNATIONAL II
Alan Fisher on the threat from the Taliban

Saturday 9 May
It's being called a battle for Pakistan's very survival. For years, the group that the country funded and supported has become its biggest immediate threat.
     Back in February, the Pakistani government signed a peace deal with the Taliban in the Swat Valley. Both sides agreed that there would be no fighting in the area, no attacks on Pakistan security forces and in return Sharia law could be introduced. The Americans didn't like it. And then the Taliban moved closer to the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. So 15,000 heavily armed troops were mobilised to tackle the Taliban. Two hundred thousand people have packed up what they could and moved to escape the fighting. The United Nations believe 3,000 more are getting ready to do the same.
There are some who believe Pakistan is beginning to reap what it sowed.
     For years, even after 9/11, the country's security services reportedly gave covert support to the Taliban, seeing it as a buffer against India, its traditional rival. But with renewed strength and confidence, the Taliban has extended its control and reach. The army has accused the Taliban of holding the civilian population hostage and blocking their exit.
     Pakistan is caught in a difficult position. Politically there is little support for the Taliban or associated parties in the country, but there is huge anti-American sentiment, particularly when innocent people die in operations that are allegedly targeting militants. The government in Islamabad will be hoping for a quick win. A defeat is just something it, and America, can't begin to contemplate.
 
Sunday 10 May
Iceland is going to call a vote on membership of the EU. The new government came to power because of the financial crisis on the island. It's a coalition and the main party, led by Johanna Sigurdardottir, was very vocal in its support for EU membership even though the country has traditionally been Eurosceptic. Mrs Sigurdardotir is confident she'll win the vote even though her own coalition partners are against the idea. She wants application for membership in Brussels no later than July. A final decision on EU membership would be put to Icelanders in a referendum. Surprisingly given the country's terrible financial state, the EU has not thrown up the No Entry sign on the road from Reykjavik. It says the country could be fast-tracked to join with Croatia in 2011.
     Iceland has a population of 320,000. It had one of the world's highest standards of living but the global financial crisis led to the collapse of the country's banking system late last year. Unemployment and inflation have shot up dramatically. Many on the island believe membership of the Euro is the best way out of the crisis. It'll be interesting to see if the enthusiasm for EU membership lasts longer than the financial crisis.
 
Monday 11 May
Israel's prime minister has been to Egypt and insisted he wants to live in peace with the Palestinians. But many are anxious that Benjamin Netanyahu has not endorsed the idea of the separate Palestinian state. It's not surprising. He's due in Washington in the next week or so and the Americans are keen to float their latest peace proposal for the Middle East. You simply don't give away one of your strongest bargaining points before you walk in the room.
     There seems to be a momentum gathering behind the American efforts. It would be a tragedy for everyone if they came to nothing.