March 3, 2007

When 500% is just not good enough

"I am 500 percent sure he is in Afghanistan," Gen Musharraff said one month back referring to Mullah Muhammad Omar, the elusive leader of the Taliban. By now even his most ardent supporters must be getting tired of the General's verbal polemics. Even more fascinating is the General's oft repeated ability to pull out a senior al Qaeda or Taleban man from his hat , when he is seen to be under US pressure.

Consider this - over the past few years, whenever a senior US official has visited Pakistan, there has been a prized catch immediately preceding or following the visit. More interesting is that most of these have not been in the lawless tribal areas of Pakistan but in mainstream cities like Quetta, Karachi etc.

This list compiled by the BBC throws up quite a few surprises. Note that the list does not include the recent capture of Mullah Obeidullah, the No 2 in the Talibal, immediately after ( Surprise ! Surprise !) the recent Dick Cheney visit to Pakistan. Going by the number of terrorists still at large, it is going to take quite a few trips by US officials, before all can be captured.

Maybe Star World should consider telecasting the General's press conferences during its weekday Comedy Time programmes.

1 comment:

b v n said...

The other day I was wondering, who'll be asia's man of the decade ? what do you think - is there a contest for musharaff