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| Keeps hopes alive in South Waziristan |
| Farooq Nasir Pirzada |
| Pakistan Army is again engaged in the battle of South Waziristan agency. Operation is named as Rah-e-Nijat. (Path to Salvation) launched against militants of composite nationalities. Aim is clear, purge militants from the area, with minimum civilian casualties. Also, check militants brand of apostasy which has unleashed another wave of terror in the entire country and their ideology, devoid of any regimen bringing affront to religion and harmless citizens of Pakistan.
But, militants instead of showing any contrite for their acts are sticking to their percolated typology. South Waziristan operation has two dimensions. One the operation itself, its merits and de-merits, and the other is human suffering caused by this operation, in the shape of IDPs.
Army operation’s success is directly proportional to flushing out of militants from SWA. So the anathema of terrorists can be put to hold, if not finished off completely. Army no doubt is fully accoutered for this mission and wade all odds Major General Athar Abbas, Army spokesperson, said in press conference recently “Take care of present and future will take care of itself”. True. Army operation and the IDPs are the present.
Operational prong is looked after by the Army, but, human displacement needs a careful handling both by Government and Army’s special support group. Already 250,000 have been accounted for and the number is still rising. Sorry part is the Government’s unwelcoming attitude towards these IDPs.
This needs despicability. Special support group an auxiliary of army have to put in extra safety net for IDPs so no militant can barge in unchecked. Difficult tasks, but this is what Army is meant for to show equanimity in demanding situations and do things which others cannot. Remember, SWA is not Swat.
Drawing parallels between the two will not be an appropriate course, because, Swat is a settled area, having complete infrastructure for civic amenities.
It was mullah Fazlullah who balefully discredited the Provincial government writ and needed to be harnessed. But, SWA is governed by tribal ethos. Mishandling IDPs of SWA will antagonize the tribesman ethos of self-respect, honour and dignity. Disrespect will invite an apocalypse of events in South Punjab. Something that terrorists will capitalize on for their benefit.
These are testing times for the country and our political leadership, both in Government and opposition alike, must show resolve and come out from their profuse hibernation to lead from the front. So far, their modus-operandi is hovering around, condemnation of bomb blasts, and appearing on talk shows only to bloviate their government’s policies.
This will not bring any appeasement in the country. Setting examples for fighting the war should start from the top where elite prevail and not from the tale where pauper vagrants. Pakistan Army is not short of any virtuoso, and that is evident from the sacrifices they are rendering in operation (Rah-i-Nijat). It is our political leadership which is lacking behind.
To start with, they must volte-face their policy of globetrotting the world and show allegiance with IDPs of SWA by visiting them in DI Khan and Quetta.
Second, make a policy for future, so the vacuum created by militants in SWA is filled. For this, they ought to mobilize political agent’s office and augment it with the help of Army, scouts and khasadar force in support by elders/ Maliks of the area. Idea is to reinstall the pre-structure of governance but this time on modern lines. It will not be easy, yet applicable, if cobbled together with the underlying factors of honesty and fairness.
Third, local Mehsuds are patriotic to the country and, the operation is launched to protect them from foreign militants and is not aimed against their independence once they are assured of that. They surely stand by the operation.
Constant persuasion by Government of Mehsud tribe by removing apprehensions against the operation is the important factor.
If, Hillary Clinton can meet notables from tribal areas, why cannot our government call roundtable of all political parties and listen to the major stake holder, the Mehsuds on the issue?
Fourth, Pakistan Army must think beyond SWA and shall chase militants wherever they are found in the country. This policy will give a lot of boast to those tribes who are over shadowed by militants and want to breakaway from militants brand of Islam.
This follow up exercise can only take place after Army is finished with first phase of the operation. Thereafter, the political congruence shall take its course, work must start now. Clock is ticking.
starking17@yahoo.com |
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