“Taliban have become mercenary killers and taking actions to appease those providing them money and arms. The links of all recent terror acts in the country go to Waziristan. The tribal elders of Waziristan have demanded of the government to conduct military operation in the region and eliminate terrorists completely.”
These are the words of our federal interior minister Rehman Malik. He was talking to reporters after Saturday’s attack on the GHQ. This sudden statement makes one think that if it wasn’t for this attack the government wasn’t very willing for the operation in waziristan or were they afraid to say it out loud? After the killing of Baitullah Mehshud and the successful undertaking of Operation Rah-e-Rast, taliban activities seized for some time in our country, only to resurface in the form of Islamabad bombing, Peshawar suicide blast and then the attack on GHQ under the leadership of their new chief Hakimullah Mesud whose reputation tells that he is as ruthless as the Baitullah, maybe more.
The new Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsud, source AFP
It makes us wonder whether the resurgence of taliban activities is just a last ditch effort of a dying organization or a warning of the future. Whatever the case may be, the successful completion of Operation Rah-e-Rast resulted in the deaths of many taliban leaders and a large number of their so called ‘army’. Those who could run, spread in different areas. Even a common man could have guessed that their new rendezvous point would be Waziristan.
It has long been believed that Waziristan has been the root of all the terrorist activities in Pakistan and now even our President sees this. We deeply appreciate his courage for at last telling India ‘We know it’s you’. The fact that Manmohan Singh completely brushed it aside is another story, but since the start of this taliban insurgency in Pakistan, Waziristan has been seen as their center of operations. Therefore the need for a thorough operation in Waziristan was never denied by any true patriot, but their were certain elements that stood against this for a long time. People who try to get personal benefits from national issues. Be it NGO’s who muster their own popularity and importance by interfering in business they don’t even fully understand, or be it the politicians who care about the 2 to 3 years of their reign and don’t give a damn about what happens to the country after them. When they talk they say that the armed forces are killing ‘us’. Heck, those people don’t even live in their provinces and their areas. They all have their very own VIP suites in elite hotels. Hardly or should i say never have i seen a government official who feels what the people of Pakistan feel, who has lived the life of a common Pakistani man. Then who are they to have a say about the well being if this nation.
The only valid hindrance in the way of this operation was the fact that a large number of civilian lives would be at stake and of course the problem of accommodating the IDP’s. Except that not much should stand in the way of this operation. It has been 62 years since we got independence. It’s time we really get free.
The Taliban Infected Areas of Pakistan
The elders of Waziristan have themselves requested the army to start the cleaning out operation because they now realize who their real enemies are. When we talk of this operation be sure of the fact that the army won’t be fighting against Pakistanis. They won’t mostly be fighting against Muslims even. All these talibans are getting foreign aid and are mostly of foreign nationalities. Even if a small percentage out of them are Pakistanis then damn them all. Do we really need to stand up for them even if all they do is let us down? The proof was surprisingly given by our own president when he said that we have found foreign currency and markings on weapons being used there. It’s hard to believe that our president took such a brave step but me must applaud the fact that he did. Operation Rah-e-Rast led to huge damages to civilian property and same can be predicted for the operation in Waziristan, but i would say that’s a small price to say for a better country to live in. Don’t think that i’m saying this because i live in a city which wouldn’t be affected by this operation. The fact is that no matter which city we live in, everyday we get up, turn on the TV and see the same old headlines. A location, The size of the bomb, Number of Injured, Number of deaths and which hospital they were taken too. We go out but before that our mothers give us a routine lecture of avoiding public places and coming back home soon. How many people get calls from friends and relatives whenever some act of terrorism is committed in your city asking you if you are safe? The sad truth is that we are living in an environment of uncertainty. Where every loud sound or every small tremor reminds us of suicide blasts. Where an old man sitting at the end of a bus when says ‘Allah-o-Akbar’, fills hearts with fear and not peace. Such is our state and we need to break free from this. Even if we have to sacrifice our homes or our properties for it. I say even our lives are a small price to pay for it. If the soldiers of our armed forces are ready to fight for us than why can’t we fight for ourselves. If they can give blood for us why can’t we support them. 62 years before Quaid-e-Azam started a movement for freedom. A nation joined hands with him and so he succeeded. Its time we join hands with our army in this movement for freedom. Let us not oppose it rather support this operation …. and let us be ready to sacrifice a little of our own comforts to support our affected brothers and sisters when the need arises…. Let us make them feel a part of us if they come to us …. It’s time again to become ‘one’ nation ………
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We all as ‘one’ nation must support Pakistan Army. Waziristan is the next ditch after Swat. After the successful military operation in Swat, almost when the peace is prevailed in the region, we should now have a hand on Waziristan. God be with us, ameen
i read both the blogs you have written …for this one…. i think you have painted one side of the picture, if you go in the past as far as zia’s time these TTP ( tharik e talban pakistan) were trained by our and usa combined teams to fight against the formae USSR , after the defeat of USSR these TTP which were called MUGHEDEEN at that time were left with all the soficticated weapons with no leadership which could have motivated them to live a normal life, after the invasion was repulsed, these peoples or MUGHEDEEN were left without any means to live a normal life ….. the power vacume in afghanistan made them fight amongst themselves for the power ,,,, the taking over of afghanistan by them gave them a sence of absolute power means ” crupt absolutly “.
the indians who had a bitter pinch of east punjab during the time of zia were on the out look of a situation where they can pay back in the same coin utilized these peoples against pakistan and unfortunatly our leaders never raised any voice against this on any forum ,,,, in my openion because of petty personal gains ( may it be civil or army regime)
in my openion these peoples would have been enrolled in the army and a seprate unit would have been formed,,, this shopuld have solved the eir problem three prong ,,
1. trainned unit to fight against the insugency / any forign aggression as these peoples were very well trained for GURILLA warfare.
3. they should not have fllen in the hands of anti pakistan forign powers for the sake of money and other meager gains.
2. proper controll could be excercised on them.
3. sence of insurity amongst these peoples and a sence that they have been used as tissu paper would notprevalled amongst them.
now comming over the present situation yes you are right that they shopuld have been taken to the task of their doings … but a very carefull planning is required to solve the issue by ensuring minimum co lateral dammage to the innocient peoples which in my openion is the most ifficult part aof the new plans with pakistan army. Always praying for the well being of the Pakistan Army…. god may give our army courage and wisdon to solve this very impotaint issue with utter wisdom ,,,, because this is the alst trumph card in our hands and god forbid any thing goes wrong their will be no remidy for the mistake.
well…the thing that is much more intense is not how the army should conduct the operation, but its what will be the aftermath of this operation.
ALHAMDULLILAH, pakistan armed forces today are one of the most operationally skilled forces in the world. They can plan and execute a very smart operation. the govt and the planners should be more concerned about whether after the operation, the tribal areas would again be left neglected as they have been for the past 62 years ?
will they still be called federally administered tribal areas or they would be given a much needed political representation in our parliment?
will any special funds be allocated to them for rehablitation or again after the operation the govt will leave them to fall prey to the hands of miscreants and anti pakistan forces ( india, israel,america etc)???
operation is compulsary to eliminate anti pakistan elements, but what is much much more important is the planning and execution of a system which would bring those people development, education, awareness and above all justice and equality.
So that they start owning this country as much as we do !