Pakistan Taliban eyes Afghan-style takeover
http://atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/SOU-01-130214.html
Pakistan Taliban eyes Afghan-style takeover
By Tanveer Jafri
Feb 13, '14
Pakistan has increasingly become a target for terrorist violence, particularly sectarian attacks, over the last two decades. As security forces prove no match for the insurgents, the wealthy and intellectual elites are fleeing the country.
The spread of extremism has hurt the country's international image. This was worsened by a Human Rights Watch report released last month which reported that terrorist groups are operating with complete immunity in certain regions.
It is as if the government and military have either closed their eyes to terrorist activities or they are simply incapable of dealing with them. Concerns are being expressed that the insurgents will soon take over Karachi, as armed groups have done in cities in Iraq and Syria.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and army chief General Raheel Sharif face the seemingly insurmountable tasks of improving morale among security forces while also combating the spread of terrorism.