"* Military reported considering pulling back from the fight
* New strategy unlikely until Musharraf’s legitimacy issue resolved

By Khalid Hasan

Washington: The Pakistan government, Western and Pakistani security officials are quoted as saying, is losing the war against “emboldened insurgent forces.”

A report filed from Peshawar and appearing in the Washington Post on Wednesday claims that the depth of the problem has become clear only in recent months, as regional peace deals have collapsed and the government has deferred developing a new strategy to defeat insurgents until the political crisis involving President Pervez Musharraf is resolved. Military officials say the insurgents have enhanced their ability to threaten not only Pakistan, but the US and Europe as well.

Military pulling back: “They’ve had a chance to regroup and reorganise,” according to an unnamed Western military official in Pakistan. “They’re well equipped. They’re clearly getting training from somewhere. And they’re using more and more advanced tactics.” The Pakistan military is said to be considering pulling back from the fight, at least partially, because of mounting losses. A Pakistani official told the newspaper, “[Pakistani security forces] are not trained for a counterinsurgency. It’s not their number one priority. It’s not even their number two priority. These are the reasons things aren’t going their way.”

New strategy unlikely: Pakistani military officials concede they are searching for a new strategy now that the old one has gone awry. But with Gen Musharraf struggling to stay in office and expected to soon step down as army chief, no decisions are likely until the question of who is to rule Pakistan is settled. “The main criticism of the deals, both in Pakistan and in the West, had been that they gave Al Qaeda and the Taliban sanctuary in which to train, plot and launch attacks.

Now, security experts say Pakistan is paying the price for not confronting the problem head-on, with insurgent groups capitalising on their newfound strength,” says the report. The surrender of 250 troops to the insurgents without firing a bullet has called into question the army’s commitment to fighting an unpopular war that requires Pakistanis to kill their countrymen. It has also exposed the army to ridicule, says the report."

Source: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default...10-2007_pg7_10

Pakistan is probably where Osama has been hiding.

Yeah most likely or in Chechnya.