By allowing the Taliban to establish Islamic law in part of its territory, the Pakistani government has shown an extraordinary weakness and unbelievable naivety.

Today, the news is not good from Pakistan. The Taliban are less than 100 miles from Islamabad, terrorizing the population.

This situation questions the concept of democracy and whether it is universally good for any country. It was in the name of democracy that President Asif Ali Zardari was elected, but his ability to bring stability to his country is questionable. Some countries are run by dictators with iron arms to bring stability. Democracy, a word dear to Westerners and exported for many reasons, is not a magic word to bring peace and stability in non-Western countries.

Pakistan is in great danger of losing the war against its extremists. Pakistan is a nuclear nation. Imagine the danger of nuclear weapons falling in the hands of Allah‘s fanatics. Clearly, the Taliban and other extremists want to control the whole country.

The Pakistani government and the Taliban cannot live together in peace. The Swat deal was pure utopia. As the Vili of Congo say, “The snake and the crab don’t sleep in the same hole.”