Taliban - Are murder and kidnapping thy virtues? (15112008)

Gunmen kidnapped an Iranian diplomat and killed his guard here on Thursday. This was the second attack on foreigners in the city in two days. On Wednesday, gunmen killed a US aid worker and his Pakistani driver in the University Town. On Sept 22, Afghan Ambassador-designate was kidnapped and his driver was killed. City police chief Dr Mohammad Suleman said the increase in cases of kidnapping was a reaction to the military operation against militants in the city and tribal areas.
These incidences have gained momentum and other than the usual targets, the Americans and Westerners, who may be blamed for their role in fighting the war on terror, dignitaries and diplomats of Pakistan friendly countries, who have no role in the war on terror are also targeted. Iran and China are two such countries. Iran has in fact never supported the war on terror and has seen it as furtherance of the American agenda, China while broadly agreeing with the underlying principle of fighting terrorism and militancy has not taken active part in any campaign. Thus, targeting these two nations' diplomats and citizens raises issues about the identity and motives of the kidnappers. It may be mentioned here that the crisis of the Hafsa seminary and the Red mosque got intensified when some Chinese citizens were kidnapped by the students of the seminary.
It is also important to note that China had stood by Pakistan and carried on development projects even in the face of worsening law and order situation, however, this Chinese commitment to Pakistan and the friendship of the two countries has made some powers unhappy because it dilutes their policy and pressure on Pakistan. But once Chinese people are kidnapped and our government fails to release them then this obviously sours the relationship. It is public knowledge that when after election the President desired to visit China first and foremost, he was politely told to first procure the release of Chinese citizens kidnapped in Pakistan.
Similarly, Iran has also made friendly overtures towards Pakistan and even made a statement (though bit of a publicity stunt) that Iran was willing to sell Furnace oil to Pakistan on deferred credit, besides this Pakistan and Iran were also of late making good progress on IPI gas pipeline project, which United States is against.
Thus, there are implications of these kidnappings which are far reaching and may be related to other issues than just the war on terror. Taliban, the militants and extremists who have adopted this label, have primarily focused on attacking either Pakistani security forces because they are carrying out operations against them or against those countries which are taking direct action against them. However, if Taliban are indeed behind these incidences then murder and kidnapping are also becoming their gory business, this atleast peels away the facade of religion and morality which these groups have used and hidden behind for so long and exposes them for the criminals they are.