Crusade against Terrorists
By the Editor

VOWING their pledge to wipe out terrorism — in its all forms and manifestations — the security forces in Pakistan have set off yet another crusade — specifically with a focus on the tribal belt. A well-coordinated operation has come in sight in the South Waziristan Agency, where at least fifty foreign as well as local militants were put to death — during the last week.

The echelon of the operation — bracketed with casualty figures — clearly rays the magnitude of the foreign militants, who are entrenched in the area.

As the reports depict, the operation is going on for several months — yet there are still some pockets of resistance. The success of such a manoeuvre also exhibits strength of mind and fortitude of the Government of Pakistan to root out militancy — and rightly so because the sanctified soils of Pakistani can — in no way — be allowed to be used for any terrorist hum, buzz or bustle.

This refutes the oft-repeated unjustified accusations by the US Ambassador in Kabul — whereby he has — very often came-out with an atypical mindset — that ‘Pakistan was not doing enough in its war against terrorism.’

If analyzed with a pragmatic way, Pakistan’s success in the fight vis-à-vis terrorism is matchless, explicitly when the figures of those killed, injured or arrested by Pakistan’s forces is steadily going up.

There is no doubt that Pakistan has — time and again — urged all foreign elements to lay down their arms and surrender before the authorities. At the same time, they were given — categorical assurances — that none of them would be handed over to any third country.

The latest avowal by a top spokesman — on this topic is as clear as crystal. Nevertheless, it gives the impression — that the foreigners — are not in a mood to pay any heeding to — amiable calls.

While eulogizing the zest of the security forces — who are all set to annihilate aliens terrorists, sneaking into Pakistan from across its’ boundaries plus those, giving such hideous figures a shelter — and for which — they [the troops], too have suffered as bough of a natural phenomenon — we are left with no option but to emphasize that it is an apt time to bring the pointless bloodshed in the sensitive Tribal Areas — to an instant end.

Every-one, engaged in the course is ought to recap — that at the time when action was initiated in Wana, the Government had — candidly articulated its strength of mind to pursue the strategy of dialogue — with the Tribal Elders — along with military solution. The exercise did pay raising hopes of peaceful settlement of the problem but now-a-days the nucleus seems to have been shifted — only on an armed aspect.

Though there are meetings of tribal leaders and influential with the top authorities, including the Governor NWFP — yet by now such a course has not led to any tangible improvement in the overall scenario.

We would, thus, suggest to the authorities — dealing with this vital issue to revitalize the process for an in-depth political dialogue — with the active cooperation of tribal elders, identified as Sardars and Maliks — and take every preventative measure to make sure that — there is no collateral civilian damages — in any style, at all.

It is an appropriate time to juggle-around-with the strategy — most exclusively, featured by love and affection towards the innocent men, women and children — who have and are — not only facing a lot of perils, swelling with every sunup but are also confronted with deaths and despair in the wake of displacement from their centuries-old dwellings — and that too without any culpability on their part.

No-doubt a strapping action against the terrorists — irrespective of their faith, cast, color, creed and credo — is the paramount need of the hour for ensuring a peaceful ambiance — all-over, yet it is ought to be in such mode that no innocent is targeted to avert — scopes of ones’ odium in place of genetic love for the sweet and lovely homeland — Pakistan.

On this topic, we would like to point-out to a public statement of the Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, wherein he vowed that the current situation in the tribal belt — can be solved — ‘just in one day.’ With such a milieu, what is the harm — in taking all the religio-political leaders into confidence?

If the Maulana or his party — the MMA has an insight — based on a miracle, marvel, mode, method or a modus operandi for the re-birth of an absolute peace in the complex terrain — of-course with evaporation of all the foreign terrorists and by showing an exit door to all the sets of vices, who give haven and asylum to such iniquitous species — from each and every nook and corner of Pakistan, as the foremost — why not to benefit from it, the plea of the MMA stalwart?

Going by the folio or lexicon of the tribal history, an operation in any method — even during the British rule in South Asia — has not served any raison d'être or proved to be a prolific upshot. It was the zestful route — marked by love and warmth, which won adore from the natives of the tribal lands — and that too in a big way. Thus the best course — left is that we should, side-by-side the current action — go for a political path — to clutch the twin cherished goals, the purging of terrorists — along with esteem and admiration from the tribesmen.

Media should have a free access to any area, it opts to visit. This shall not only help transact and transmit to the world, the real and patriotic sentiments of the tribal people — but, simultaneously erode and grind down all sorts of disinformation, as a vile twist is being given to the realities-on-the-ground plus actualities — beyond oceanic — with an odious slant and angle.

Such a stratagem by a segment of the global media, operating in diverse silhouette and means — the print, electronic and E-newspapers [papers being published on the Web] — can best be dealt with effectively — by beaming every aspect — as clear as crystal — via a itinerary, which is ought to be — as smooth as the silk.●