The IISS assessment has described Pakistan’s economic performance and wide-ranging structural reforms as impressive. It also referred to acceleration in economic growth, improvement in public spending, reduction in debt burden, increased fiscal efficiency and lowering of poverty rates.
On Pakistan’s political situation, the institute’s analysts said despite vulnerabilities, President Pervez Musharraf continues to be the most effective figure in the country’s governance and would continue to handle counter-insurgency efforts in the tribal areas with the support of the army.
23 February 2008: APP
ISLAMABAD, Feb 23 (APP): An influential British think tank has held Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud responsible for the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and the “most deadly threat to the West”, second only to Osama bin Laden. Nigel Inkster, Director International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) described Mehsud also responsible for the terrorists acts in Britain, Spain and across Europe, at the launch of the flagship publication of IISS in London.
Deputy chief of M16 a year ago, Inkster claimed that under Mehsud the Neo-Taliban emerged as the most significant threat that could soon become a global menace by expanding their outreach from tribal areas to across the world.
He underscored the need for Pakistan to improve its counter-insurgency strategy in FATA with a judicious mix of military action and political process.
The institute’s Director General, Dr John Chipman, highlighted various security measures taken by Pakistan including deployment of 80,000 troops and beefing up border security checkpoints to fight militants.
He said internal stability in Pakistan was a major international security issue, bound to draw diplomatic interventions.
The IISS assessment has described Pakistan’s economic performance and wide-ranging structural reforms as impressive. It also referred to acceleration in economic growth, improvement in public spending, reduction in debt burden, increased fiscal efficiency and lowering of poverty rates.
On Pakistan’s political situation, the institute’s analysts said despite vulnerabilities, President Pervez Musharraf continues to be the most effective figure in the country’s governance and would continue to handle counter-insurgency efforts in the tribal areas with the support of the army.
They warned that international community should not make the mistake of “writing him off”.
