New year dissolutions

We are not certain whether a sense of humour is tolerated by the Al Qaeda-Taliban brotherhood, but their soldiers-on-the-run surely could no...

We are not certain whether a sense of humour is tolerated by the Al Qaeda-Taliban brotherhood, but their soldiers-on-the-run surely could not have stifled a chuckle this new year8217;s eve.

On the Afghan border with Pakistan North West Frontier Province 8212; site of the brotherhood8217;s relocation 8212; the War on Terror8217;s frontline allies suddenly turned adversaries. Pakistani and American forces, engaged in blowing up an ammunition dump, instead trained their weapons on each other.

A Pakistani soldier refused to back off on American instructions and shot at the lone superpower8217;s troops. In a familiar drill, airstrikes were ordered, an F-16 was swung into operation, a 500-pounder dropped, and a round of claims and counter-claims commenced.

The bomb fell in Afghan territory, said Pentagon officials, in that grey zone blurred by the Durand Line. Nope, it fell in Pakistani territory, shot back President Musharraf8217;s spokesman. A blatant violation of Pakistan8217;s 8216;independence and sovereignty8217;, decreed NWFP8217;s legislature.

What an unexpected surprise to get 2003 going. We always knew this was going to be one of America8217;s busiest years in recent memory, we were aware that the Bush White House was calling up reservists and taking inventory of bombs and bayonets. We expected Washington8217;s War on Terror to expand to new, more exotic locales. And, believe us, we were ready with our world atlases to embark on crash courses in geography as America8217;s special forces staked out uncharted terrain.

What we could never have anticipated was that American troops would veer away so imaginatively from their axis-of-evil priorities and take the war eastwards 8212; that we8217;d instead have to turn the pages to spot Angoor Adda in South Waziristan, site of the encounter.

Indeed, that we8217;d have to toss aside quickies on Iraqi and North Korean dictators, and grope for thick tomes on the Durand Line and demands for Pushtoon unity.

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Well, well, are War on Terror8217;s frontline allies reverting to disenchantment? Whispers from Washington refer to fear about Pakistani troops harbouring sympathy for Taliban remnants. Despatches from Baghdad, however, have been slower. But it8217;d take a brave gambler to bet that Saddam is not enjoying this little distraction.