Pakistan has announced the launch of a new military operation in North Waziristan. This offensive comes barely days after terrorists attacked the Karachi Airport in which 23 people were killed. The responsibility for carrying out this attack was taken by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, TTP. In recent months, the Pakistan government had started a peace process with TTP. But this process was violated by the TTP many times by resorting to violence and even breaking a one month cease fire declared by the Pakistan Govt.
The attack on Karachi Airport and the subsequent attack o the ASF camp adjacent to the airport should have let the alarming bells ringing with the Pakistani authorities. Not only was it alarming that the terrorists easily breached the security cordon around the airport but managed to fight for over ten hours and then launch another attack on the ASF camp the next day. Pakistani establishment has quite often dithered in dealing with the menace of terrorism that has plagued the country and has as yet not been able to come up with a comprehensive policy of tackling this menace. Often, a military offensive against the terrorists has fallen to the lack of political consensus. Now that the Pakistan Govt has started the offensive, one hopes they are serious in eliminating this threat once for all, without being pressurized to call it off mid way.
Among the political parties, MQM has shown its unequivocal support for the offensive, while the PTI has as usual criticized it. Reiterating his partys stance on peace talks with militants, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Thursday said that an offensive in North Waziristan would unite militant forces against the Pakistani state.”Conducting such a military operation when most of the groups in NWA want talks is suicidal,” Imran said in a statement, adding that most groups in North Waziristan desire peace talks with the government. Having known Imran Khan and PTIs stance on dealing with terrorism, one is hardly surprised by these utterances from the PTI Chief. The Pakistan Govt and Army should not bother itself much with such statements and instead focus on wiping out militancy from its soil. Their single minded focus should be running a strong military offensive and also making sure that civilians dont become fodder for this war. That would give enough ammunition to the critics of this offensive and that will push Pakistan Army into a tight spot.
Pakistani political establishment will also be well advised to take heed from the recent developments in Iraq. The fighters belonging to ISIS have taken control of the city of Mosul and want to further expand their area of influence. No doubt the strength of the Iraqi army is not comparable to their Pakistani counterparts, but if the Pakistani State doesnt show resolve in dealing with the terrorist that have often hit Pakistani interest, killed civilians and security personnel and bled the country for more than a decade, a situation akin to Iraq cannot be ruled out.
The enemy for Pakistan is lurching within. It has benefitted from the States inaction for a long time now and this inaction has given them the belief that they can take on the State at will. Pakistani State has more than one reason to eliminate this menace, once for all. Nothing can silence their critics as a successful operation against the biggest threat facing Pakistan.
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