Counter-Terrorism: Pakistan Pays A Big Ransom

Archives

June 4,2008: Recently, the Pakistani government released two Taliban leaders (and several hundred followers), in order to get their kidnapped ambassador to Afghanistan (Tariq Azizuddin) released (along with 35 soldiers). Azizuddin was grabbed last February, while being driven through the tribal territories, to Afghanistan. The bandits who took him, sold him to the Taliban. This was a prudent move, as an ambassador was too hot to handle for a bunch of tribal bandits. The Taliban were in a better position to get the most possible in exchange for Azizuddin.

Pakistan has denied that there was a trade, despite obvious connection between the release of captives on both sides. The government goes through this charade because it realizes, even as it makes these trades, that this sort of thing simply encourages the Taliban to kidnap more government officials. The policy of "no ransom" works better in theory than in practice.

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   Contribute   Close