Oh, Here's Another Crisis You Might Want to Notice (2): Afghanistan/Pakistan

The New York Times reports today:

Backed by helicopter gunships, tanks and artillery, Pakistani security forces on Tuesday shut down a crucial supply line for NATO forces fighting in Afghanistan as they launched an offensive against Taliban militants who dominate the Khyber Pass region.

The famous trade route, used for more than half of military equipment for US and NATO troops, is now under constant threat from local insurgents --- under the umbrella term of "Taliban" --- who fire on convoys with rocket-propelled grenades and Kalashnikov rifles.

The official US/NATO line is that the shutdown is "a temporary irritation", but the US is scrambling to find new routes through central Asia.