Expanding war: edit in The News, June 27

The first targeted suicide bombing has killed two soldiers in Muzaffarabad. Till now, Azad Kashmir had not been caught up in the bitter war between militants and the military being fought in Pakistan. The attack on an army vehicle has dangerous implications. The Kashmir area has a sizeable military presence, given its disputed status with India. The potential for attack is immense. Such a development could also bring extremist forces still based in Kashmir into the conflict and thus make it even more complicated than it already is. The expansion of the war is something Pakistan must avoid at all costs. The militants have indeed used similar tactics in the past, by bringing the bloodshed into cities and towns across the country. They may be planning a similar strategy in Kashmir. There is indeed also growing desperation in the militant camp, given the onslaught of the military. The visit by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani to South Waziristan underlines the determination to tackle the militants. What is important at this point is to work towards ending the war as soon as possible. This of course is easier said than done. The killings in Muzaffarabad demonstrate once more that we are dealing with a ruthless enemy. The Taliban must be prevented from succeeding in this. There is a need also to build opinion in Kashmir against terrorism and by doing so possibly prevent that region too stumbling into a war that has already taken a heavy toll on almost everyone who lives in this part of the world. http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=185144