Mideast not only tinderbox that could cause a flareup

While all eyes are on the Middle East where Israel has responded with deadly force to rocket attacks from Gaza by the ruling extremist group Hamas, there’s another region of the world that is just as dangerous — if not more so.

While no shots have been fired between India and Pakistan, tensions are running high and troops are amassing on the border between the two countries.

The difference between what is going on in Mideast and the India-Pakistan potential conflict is the threat of nuclear weapons.

Both counties have them and both have the ability to deliver them into the heart of the other. And in light of the fact that India and Pakistan have fought three wars, two over the disputed territory of Kashmir, the current threat must not be taken lightly.

Tensions between the two countries were heightened last month after the terrorists attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai. More than 170 people were killed, including six Americans; 230 people were injured.

India has blamed a Pakistan-based Islamic group, Lashkar-i-Taiba, for the attacks and has demanded that Pakistani government take action against the leaders.

But Pakistan has countered that India has not provided solid proof of the group’s involvement. However, Lashkar has been involved in violent insurgency in Kashmir for more than a decade, according to the Washington Post.

Recently, Pakistan redeployed troops from its border with Afghanistan toward the border with India. The Indian government responded with its own troop deployment.

Khyber Pass

But on Tuesday, Pakistan revealed the reason for its troop movement when it launched an offensive in the Khyber Pass against militants who are trying to cripple America’s war on a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan.

The historic Pass is the key supply line for U.S, military supplies headed across Pakistan’s western border to American and NATO troops in Afghanistan.

Fighting has escalated since the Taliban, with the backing of al-Qaida, successfully launched attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

The government of President Hamid Karzai, which came to power in a democratic election, is under intense pressure. There are provinces in Afghanistan that have welcomed the Taliban, the Islamic extremists organization that ruled the country until its ouster by the U.S-led coalition in 2001 following the 9/11 terrorist attack on America’s homeland.

The Taliban resurgence has forced the U.S. and its coalition partners to increase troop levels and to launch attacks on the Taliban’s strongholds in the isolated tribal areas in the mountains between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The Bush administration has been urging the Pakistani government to rid the country of the Taliban and al-Qaida. The offensive in the Khyber Pass is a major step toward cutting the Islamic extremists off at the knees.

Given that Pakistan’s intentions in redeploying its soldiers has become clear, India should withdraw its troops from the border area.

With tensions running high because of the Mumbai terrorist attacks, and with the people of India demanding retaliation, it would not take much to light the fuse.

The two countries possess nuclear weapons and the ability to deliver them.

That makes the situation more dangerous than what is taking place in the Middle East.