Developed world sends more humanitarian assistance to Pakistan
Updated
As Pakistan continues its offensive against the Taliban in the country's north west ... the developed world is responding to the humanitarian crisis by providing more aid and assistance.
But as the military dislodges the militants from their rugged terrain in the north west there are disturbing reports that the Taliban are now regrouping in Karachi.
Presenter: Kanaha Sabapathy
Speakers: Hillary Clinton, US secretary of State; Faisal Ali Subzwari, Sindh provincial minister; A D Khowaja, Senior Pakistani police officer; Bashir Ahmed, senior fellow at the Institute of Regional Studies in Islamabad
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KANAHA SABAPATHY: In keeping with the new US strategy of assistance to the Pakistani Government to help them deal with insurgency, Washington is committing another $110 million in humanitarian aid to help with the refugees displaced by Islamabad's offensive against the Taliban in the north-west. In announcing the package, this is what US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had to say.
HILLARY CLINTON: Providing this assistance is not only the right thing to do, but we believe it is essential to global security and the security of the United States and we are prepared to do more as the situation demands. Supplies from the US are already flowing to Pakistan, but as long as this crisis persists our assistance will continue.
KANAHA SABAPATHY: Here in Australia, the Government has been hosting the chairman of Pakistan's joint chief of staff, Major General Tariq Majid, and has promised training of more Pakistani military personnel and more humanitarian aid. But there's another disturbing development taking place, that of militants moving south to Pakistan's largest city and economic hub, Karachi, to seek refuge and to raise funds. This is Sindh Provincial Minister Faisal Ali Subzwari.
FAISAL ALI SUBZWARI: They are regrouping here. We have seen large migration from Swat and all the adjoining areas. Nobody knows that whoever is migrating a law abiding citizen or is a potential Taliban who is coming here for some breathing space and time.
KANAHA SABAPATHY: Senior police officer A. D. Khowaja says hundreds of Taliban fighters have already come into Karachi from the northern tribal areas and more are coming in and merging with the other refugees, who live in poor settlements on the outskirts of Karachi.
A. D. KHOWAJA: I don't rule out the presence of the Taliban or the network in Karachi, because Karachi is a megalopolis and you don't need a visa to come to Karachi from the Bajaur.
KANAHA SABAPATHY: Bashir Ahmed, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Regional Studies in Islamabad, says what is sadly lacking is good policing and intelligence gathering. Two essential elements needed to nab militants who mingle and survive within large metropolis.
BASHIR AHMED: We need to upgrade our policing and also intelligence agencies, because it is the accurate intelligence which can take you to a locality where millions live and you nab these terrorists.
KANAHA SABAPATHY: Reiterating the need for a strong and well-equipped police force, Bashir Ahmed says this is the first time Pakistan is united as a nation to fight the threat of Taliban militancy.
BASHIR AHMED: Previously, everybody thought that it was an American war. If Americans move out of Afghanistan, there will be peace and stability. I think this myth has been exploded. They see that the Taliban was at their throat, this threat was not taken seriously.
KANAHA SABAPATHY: He says even the military, which has often been accused of holding sympathies for the Taliban, is now being backed wholeheartedly in the offensive against the militants.
BASHIR AHMED: The army cannot be used against one's own people unless all the politicians and the public opinion is behind the military. This is first time that Pakistan army has the full support of major political parties and players and also general public opinion.
KANAHA SABAPATHY: But Bashir Ahmed says the government needs to address and deal with the plight of the two million displaced people quickly and effectively if it hopes to enjoy the continued support in its fight against militancy.
BASHIR AHMED: As soon as possible, these displaced people - they should return to their home and of course, then they should be helped to rebuild them. So some financial help to be given to each family. I think the rehabilitation and settlement would be a major challenge, really.
