Reading Rahimullah Yusufzai's article on Pakistan's 'Battle for South Waziristan' (November 2009) was a pleasure. The writer has great insight on Pakistani affairs. He rightly points out that with United States breathing down Islamabad's neck to take the ongoing fight to Wana and North Waziristan as well, this may turn out to be just one battle in a war that could go on for years.

The writer mentions in the article one Tahir Yuldashev, an Uzbek leader who was killed recently. Yuldashev was an interesting character. It was about the time when Soviet Union was losing its grip on Central Asia that Yuldashev founded his Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan in 1991, when he was all of 24 years. The aim was to establish a pure Islamic state in Uzbekistan. He and his band of fighters were wanted men in the country. When the pressure got too much for them they escaped to Afghanistan.  There was a death sentence hanging on the man's head in his country. The UN also lists his group as a terrorist organisation.

It was when Yuldashev was in Afghanistan that he got to know of Al Qaeda's 9/11 plans. He passed on the information to Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil, Taliban's foreign minister at the time. Muttawakil sent an envoy to the U.S. to convey the warning. Yuldashev was afraid that a bruised America would retaliate and dislodge his safe haven in Afghanistan.

After the U.S. launched the attack on Afghanistan, Yuldashev and his men shifted base to Pakistan. Later he was to become the mentor of Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud. Yuldashev provided some 2,500 of his Uzbek fighters to Mehsud. It was also his men who provided security cover for Mehsud. 

Both Mehsud and Yuldashev perished in U.S. drone attacks in Waziristan. Is it any surprise that Washington continues with the use of drones? These have proved to be very effective killer machines in the war on terror.
Sattar Qureshi
New Delhi

India and China
In his article “Ill winds are blowing' between India and China (November 2009), David Watts points out that 'in the past the Indian authorities have gone out of their way to avoid confrontation with the Chinese, backing down whenever Beijing expressed displeasure…' It seems far too many writers find fault with New Delhi for buckling before Chinese intransigence. But it's easy to write that, and easier to talk that way. Decisions have to be taken by responsible leaders occupying hot seats of power; and decisions have to factor in long-term cosequences.

That giant of a communist country with superior economic and military power sits literally on India's head. China also has less concern for military men dying in action; and any country that does not mind its soldiers perishing in wars is a dangerous country to fight against. That's the reason why South Korea is apprehensive of going to war with North Korea.

Besides, it serves little purpose for either country to even think of going to war. They are both trying to grow economically and improve the lot of their poor millions. War will set them both many years behind.

Arthur Wheaton
Northampton

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