Re: Who finances Taliban? Finally the truth comes out
Probably, militants are getting funding from a variety of sources, both foreign and domestic, including the Pakistani spy agency.
Saudi Arab and Iran are said to be baking the warring factions in Kurram Agency with money and weapons. These countries have been involved in the sectarian politics of Pakistan for a long time and their motives seem to be ideological. Strategically and geopolitically, the interests of Saudi Arabia and Iran are alighned with Pakistan, who would like waekening of US/NATO position in Afghanistan.
For Iran, Taleban are opportunity as well as threat. For Saudi Arabia, ther are an immense opportunity that can defend Saudi interests vis-a'-vis Iran and the West as well as can help advance Wahabi ideology and Saudi political clout. They are also an opportunity for Pakistan thinking in pure military terms but politically, economically, socially, and increasingly strategically as well, they are turning to be a great threat. The problems they may bring upon Pakistan include internal destablization, destruction of infrastructure, radicalising of local population, erosion of state authority, and providing an excuse to NATO/US forces to invade Pakistan.
Further, one should also not rule out the role of ISI and military in exacerbating the militancy just for the sake of some non-pragmatic and irrational patriotism. The motives for this may range from gaining a strategic upper hand or foothold in Afghanistan to ensuring a constant inflow of US money. Pakistani generals are notorious for corruption and earning some easy money no matter at what cost to masses.. One should not forget how General Safdar, posted as GCO Peshawar, was accused to embezzle tens of millions of dollars. The proverbail greed of higher military bureaucracy may be a strong contributing factor in all this.
There are other explainations of the situation as well e.g. Pakistan's military bureaucracy is making it more risky and expensive for US/NATO to invade FATA, by strengthening militancy there. This cannot be ruled out. The links of ISI with Jalaluddin Haqani, Mullah Ummar, etc. are well-established. Rise of individuals like Mualana Fazlullah, Mangal Bagh, etc. and the unwillingness of authorities to take action against them till the media and civic society make hue and cry raises suspicision about the role of the state in all this.
An important question is, if the militants are supported by different countries and players, then there are many militant groups at cross-purpose with each other. So they must be fighting togethor. Instead, to-date they are unified under a single command.
Anyhow, it is clear there may be shadowy group supported by different sources. Actually, when law-and-order breaks down, things become messy and different players/countries back their own proxies that have divergent and conflicting goals.
Whatever, some suggested here that Pakistan increase support to Taleban in Afghanistan and to Kashmiri fighters in Kashmir. I think it would be too adventurous looking at the state of Pakistan's economy and political stability. It is high time Pakistan redefines its foreign policy by negotiating different contentious issues with the neighbouring countries. Otherwise, it will suffer the consequeces of ambitious foreign policy.