tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21959228.post6944777273847626583..comments2024-03-28T09:14:52.110+00:00Comments on Sinclair's Musings: Gideon Rachman on PakistanMatthew Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05948452770723874618noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21959228.post-38265105008606384672007-05-23T07:23:00.000+01:002007-05-23T07:23:00.000+01:00My view is that some of the religious extremism in...My view is that some of the religious extremism in the north-west is partly an assertion of regional identity against the 2 main secular parties - who are stronger in Pakistani Punjab and Sindh.<BR/><BR/>The original people backed by the ISI were indeed the mujahedeen, not the Taliban, but the mujahedeen then fell out with one another and created a new refugee crisis. The Taliban arose from these refugees in Pakistani camps. However, they were able to call on international help from militant islamists whose original presence in Afghanistan had been encouraged by the US and others to weaken the Soviets.Vino Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00921732973648819318noreply@blogger.com