Afghan Taliban thrive as Pakistani Taliban die

Pakistani Taliban seem to be leaderless again. Their latest leader, Hakimullah Mehsud, was reportedly killed by a drone attack in the Northern Waziristan in January. Hakim had substituted Baitullah Mehsud who was also killed in US drone bombing in 2009.

Over the past few years dozens of senior Pakistani Taliban leaders have been killed by the pilotless aircrafts which are controlled by the US military.

Most of the targeted Pakistani Taliban were behind appalling attacks inside Pakistan.

Pakistani Taliban leaders are dying one after another while Mullah Omar and his senior cadres are operating freely in Pakistan’s Baluchistan Province. The existence, location and operation of the so called Quetta Shura of Afghan Taliban have been confirmed by almost everyone (even the ICRC has referred to Quetta Shura Taliban, read for instance: "Risky Ally in War on Polio: the Taliban"). In his widely-reported leaked assessment of the Afghanistan situation, the commander of all international forces in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, clearly mentions the Quetta Shura Taliban as a supreme entity which motivates, equips, directs and drives the bloody insurgency in Afghanistan.

Indeed, Mullah Omar and his al Qaeda patrons have killed more American and other NATO soldiers in Afghanistan (let alone thousands of Afghans) than Mehsuds and Pakistani Taliban that mostly fight the Pakistani military.

A question that vexes me is why are the Taliban being treated differently based on their nationality and area of operation? In other words, why are drone attacks restricted to North and South Waziristan where mostly Pakistani Taliban operate?

I hate bombs and bombings but if drone attacks are so useful in crippling the Pakistani Taliban, why are they not extended to Quetta to “dismantle, disrupt and defeat” the Quetta Shura Taliban?

Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity has already and repeatedly been breached by drone attacks and special kill/capture operations by US military in the FATA, therefore bombing Mullah Omar and his senior commanders in Baluchistan would not mean a major shift in the modus operandi.

But, this seems of the radar.

Alas! Am I suggesting bombing the headquarters of the next Prime Minister of Afghanistan in Quetta?