Pakistan foreign minister Mr Shah's comments makes no sense.

The News

The comment by our foreign minister about the attempted bombing in New York being possible retaliation from the Taliban for drone attacks makes little sense. How can Mr Shah Mehmood Qureshi know what the precise motive was or indeed who was behind the plot that could, had it worked, have inflicted terrible destruction? As for his assertion in his interview to a US TV channel, that the Taliban will not simply sit back and allow themselves to be eliminated, this is precisely where Pakistan needs to act to eliminate them on its own. For the safety and security of our own country, we need to take measures that can lead to the Taliban being prevented from operating from our territory. To be fair, the foreign minister was desperately attempting to deflect some of the pressure that has come Pakistan's way since stories emerged about the nationality of the would-be bomber. It is also true that in the past year a great deal has been done by Pakistan to take on the militants. Its army has paid a big price for this. We cannot be responsible as a nation for every person who sets out from camps here to plant bombs in western cities. It is true also the drone strikes have created resentment and as such are a factor in the creation of animosity to the US. This is something Washington needs to see.

At the same time we need to face some facts ourselves. As Mr Qureshi said, Faisal Shahzad was indeed a naturalised US citizen. But this does not change the fact he had strong links with Pakistan. Emerging evidence indicates he might also have been connected to groups here. A joint investigation is required. For its own sake, Islamabad needs to acquire a full understanding of how militant groups reach men like Shahzad. In the past, others from similar backgrounds have taken up the militant cause. Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, the killer of Daniel Pearl, comes to mind. Where Shahzad was recruited and how he was able to cover up his beliefs as a militant convert remains a mystery that we must strive to solve. The arrest of a man associated with Pakistan in yet another terrorist plot threatens all of us in many ways. We must do all that is possible to prevent such incidents in the future and severe the links that tie militants in with ordinary young people across the country.