KARACHI:
The militant attack on the Pakistan Air Force Base in Kamra gave the Pakistan Tehreek-e- Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan yet another pretext to employ his much-favoured “disengage-from-the-US” rhetoric.
“I fear that today’s attack on the army is a reaction to Pakistan’s decision to carry out a military operation in North Waziristan,” he said. If we plan the operation, it will have implications for Pakistan. It will affect the national security, increase suicide bombings and terrorism and fan extremism, the PTI chief added.
“The war on terror has caused a lot of damage to our army,” he said.
He criticised the government for failing to address the pernicious effects of the war on the army, and said that the matter should be debated in parliament.
Sketching out a strategy for the government, Imran said that Islamabad must first disengage from the US war on terror, and then solicit the military for an operation in terror-prone areas. He added that no disengagement leads to the impression that we are renting out our military to fight the US’ war.
Reiterating the PTI’s stance, Imran said the party has consistently opposed a military operation in North Waziristan. He also said that the eight-year war has not reaped any benefits to the country, and hence the decision to continue the operation must be comprehensively reconsidered.
Furthermore, he added that it was absurd that Pakistan was bent upon military action, when American institutions always pressed for political dialogue.
In an effort to administer an ‘internal’ solution, he said that the PTI is carrying out a rally in Waziristan to appeal to the tribal people for peace.
“We should look for a home-grown solution, instead of taking orders from the US,” Imran added.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 17th, 2012.
COMMENTS (34)
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yes Absolutely,how is before 9/11 in pak now you have see how is pak.......so stop supporting to US-NATO then u will feel good pak nation
Question is not who justify (for what ever reason) such barbaric n unethical acts of TTP, question should be no one group, party, individual etc has right to distory or create fear in his or her own country or distory it's property. IK or for that matter any one else should think before extend justification for such acts.
People are expecting Imran khan should keep his silent on these matters like nawaz and other politicians but he wont do, he is the only one to speak against operation in media openly and offering to negotiate with TPP which gives an wrong impression to naive followers, opponents and liberals to slander him. imran khan has condemned every killings happened in pakistan by these talibans? he is trying to tell you that pakistanis are being killed cause thier army is supporting US-led war and bombing the tribal areas. they say every Action has an equal and Opposite Reaction!
IK suggested reason that "TTP attack was answer to possible future army action in Waziristan" It's regrettable if IK think this way. No group could should be allowed to act with such an immunity. If what IK says do hold any possible link than Army must take stern action n get rid of such renigate groups in such a manner that no would dare to challenge the State or try to blackmail. It's worthless to talk civilized language with barbarians.
IK Please let the voters know if you are with TTP fanatics or you are with the people of Pakistan. your supporting TTP you will only get votes in waziristan and few hard core fanatic Wahhabi's of Pakistan. I was your supporter ,now cannot trust you.
He and his supporters really shouldn't be surprised when they're accused of being Taliban sympathizers or terrorist apologists, when they justify such attacks on the flimsiest of excuses.
They've been attacking us numerous of times, such as the suicide bombing in Bajaur market, and on many different pre-texts, revenge for OBL, etc, so its disingenuous to claim they were prompted to commit a sophisticated planned raid due to an increased few days old chatter (which is actually something discussed for years) of a N. Waziristan offensive. And like other commentators here pointed out, how does he justify the massacre of Shia Muslims?
We have tried talks and have seen a development in the isolation of Hakimullah Mehsud, but he and other commanders are still violently attacking the state.
Wonder why Imran khan has not condemned the Manshera slaying of Shias? Does he attribute this also to joining America in the War on Terror? Does he think if Pakistan disengages itself from this war the killing of Shias, blowing up of schools, forced conversion and rape will stop. This is a cancer from the inside eating away Pakistns soul and it seems that Imran has also slowly succumbing to this without his knowledge.
I remembered Imran Khan strongly against the SWAT operation also but history proved that these millitant have been flush out through force i am afraid that here in Kpk Imran khan will lose all his party seats if he continue to support Taliban/TTP
Imran Khan how would you justify TTP attack on 25 shia passengers yesterday who were shot dead because of their sect? What did they do to these TTP barbarians? If these TTP rats are not stopped or if you are suggesting not to have an operation against them then you are actually giving a clear signal to 20% of Pak population (Shia Muslims) to pack up from Pakistan!
IK please get real!
Imran has the right solution.
No self respecting government or nation would make a decision on the threat of violence by a a section of the people. If IK thinks Pakistan should not attack the militants because they will retaliate, he would also not steps as a PM to, for example, raise taxes or increase bus fares or whatever unpleasant tasks the government of the day needs to perform.
Many IK fans are also fans of the army chief. How do they reconcile the chief's statement that "this is our war" and that militancy needs to be destroyed with IK's views?
Imran is naive... does he really think that TTP planned and executed the attack within days of NWA Operations news? US stays in Afg or not, TTP is a real problem for us to deal with.
He (IK) is such a naive person.........how can he become a leader when he cannot face the bitter truth that taliban are our enemies. Just because we dont want them to attack our instalations we should let them scott free and let them murder all and sundry.
So we should let them rule North Waziristan, and hope to live peacefully in the rest of Pakistan. That is what you mean Mr. Khan? Is Waziristan not our a part of our country? Should not we have writ of the state established over there? Does the rule of militants in Waziristan affect our sovereignty in any way?
Please I.K be a true Pakistani Terorism is terorism there should be no excuses You are either with Pakistan or with them chose one boat not one foot in eachIK Did you take note of your Comrade request to AMEER ULL MOMINEEN MULLA UMER TO ENSURE SAFE PASSAGE FOR YOU ON WAZIRISTAN TRIP IN YOUR PRESENCE IN R PIDI JALSA
What do we under stand of this
"war on terror" is a biggest fraud. it is not our war. This war is initiated to occupy and weakened the Islamic countries. It is a part of American World Order. in other words, it is "American World Disorder"
Imran should understand the state yielded its authority to militants in the 80s and 90s, and these militants have immense coercive power. They won’t simply dismantle themselves. Active militants are in tens of thousands, but potential reserves are in hundreds of thousands. A sign of weakness on part of the state could have catastrophic effects. I am amazed how Imran fails to see the ideological dimension. TTP, whom he calls pushtoon nationalist killed Shias yesterday who have absolutely nothing to do with the war. TTP has killed thousands of pushtoons. And TTP has thousands of non-pushtoon elements in it; it in no way represents pushtoon aspirations
@Supressed, Opressed, Depressed: Yes it has become our war, the question is why did it have to become ours. Dont you understand what Imran is saying. Stop bombing civilians. If they're allied with you the flow of recruits into TTP will seize and then with the tribals on your side they will be wiped out quite easily.
The British spent 50 years fighting the IRA, now SInn Fein members sit in the House of Commons and there is no more fighting. Even there it was a negotiated solution not a military one.
I disagree with Imran on this one, this is not just America's war anymore, we have suffered alot and will continue to suffer for the forseeable future unless these terrorists are eliminated. Just look at their ideology and their mission; to establish the islamic system in pakistan. This can never happen. Especially their version of islam. We have to take them out whether they are in north waziristan or in islamabad.
Before making Haqani network over enemy.... Govt must do something for TTP.
A true leader who always puts Pakistan ahead of everything. Long live IK
Military operation in terror prone area? I can smell another u-turn by Imran khan, but this one for the better. I would support him if he agrees to eliminating terrorists.
If pak army won't conduct an operation. These militant will make stronger camps in Pakistan. I remembered a comment from Indian Government in mid-90's that Pakistan should control militants else one day these will create problem in Pakistan.
the only person sane enough to realize this... the "liberals" are too emotionally charged up to have any rationality left in them...
So instead of an operation , our army , navy and airforce should politely lie down like sacrifical lambs and wait to have their throats slit by barbarians??? that sounds like a ridiculous plan.
Khan sahib these brutes are not disfranchised minorities (otherwise minority sects or minoritiescould have been the ones to rationalise these acts , but they have thankfully restrained themselves), they are inhuman monsters and are unlikely to listen to reason. If they did would they not ask themselves why the are killing the common soldiers, policemen ,and scholchildren who have not caused them any harm.
No political leader seems interested to mediate instead IK. The solution IK is suggesting is the best and can bring peace and prosperity in the country. Thanks Allah we have at least one man with us.