These were the words of now deceased Hakimullah Mehsud in an interview given to BBC last month. It is solemn to recall his words. The late Mr Mehsud, as one feels one must address him, after listening to the respectful mourning tones, of almost teary-eyed analysts, politicians, anchorpersons in the aftermath of his demise, was in it for the long haul. He was not so fickle as to be convinced of laying down weapons and becoming a peace-loving, anti-drone activist after some chat. He was not a lost soul with a misplaced sense of fighting imperialism. Nothing as quaint as that, he had ideological motivations and objectives (which incidentally are also imperialist if taken to their logical extremes) and was prepared to kill in large numbers for them.
The system of Islamic Republic of Pakistan is quite Islamic; however, it was not good enough for Mr Mehsud. Neither was democracy. He never really explained his system. However, he was clearly upset with the present one. Upset enough to kill thousands of civilians and military and police officers. That fact needs to be repeated; he was responsible and proud of the fact that he had been instrumental in killing thousands of our men, women and children. The fact bears repetition since watching the analysis on display immediately after his death, one could almost miss it. Drone attacks are illegal and a breach of sovereignty, etc. The case against them can and should be made independently. The day the leader of the organisation responsible for the most killings that this country has seen is killed is not the day to do it. This is when you, at the very least, say that your thoughts are with the martyrs and their families. Yet, the only martyr visible was apparently Mr Mehsud, and that is noxious. He was a criminal, who had admitted to mass murder.
One word uncritically and nauseously thrown around was ‘sabotage’. The context was that the killing of Hakimullah Mehsud was an attempt to ‘sabotage’ peace talks. One has to be a moral cretin to believe something like this. The TTP is not a legitimate entity, the peace talks had not really started and of course, they were by their nature doomed to fail. The slick presumption that the TTP were dead serious about negotiation and that talks would have succeeded is perfect nonsense. The TTP have never earned the right to any presumption of good faith. The TTP have also never displayed any reluctance or allowed us any respite while we begged for talks. Those attacks were also ‘sabotage’, of course up to the point when the TTP accepted responsibility. Then the TTP became Hindu-Zionist-RAW-Mossad-CIA agents, and in the next breath, they would become our estranged brothers just annoyed at drone strikes. Sometimes analysts would go back and forth between the two descriptions multiple times, within minutes. A particularly, dark moment was when the Peshawar church attack happened and the TTP disowned it. Yet, just when the blood in the veins of the apologist began to pump and they were getting in their stride, the TTP further said that in any case, they ‘approve’ of the attack as being Sharia compliant. On moments like these, one feels for the apologists and the impossibly tough task that they have. They seem undeterred though, pleasures of living the good life unfettered by reason and facts, etc.
The government, the opposition, the media — all were almost unanimous in their condemnation of the drone strike and death of Mr Mehsud. Mr Khan and the religious parties displayed such visible sorrow and heartache, a fraction of which they have never expressed on a suicide attack. Mr Khan now seeks to stop the Nato supply route in protest. The last time that the State of Pakistan did this was when our soldiers were martyred in Salala. Do Mr Khan and his party’s government seek to elevate Hakimullah Mehsud to the level of our martyred soldiers? Will Mr Khan now suggest that our flag now be at half-mast in K-P? Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, along with the rest of the federal government, did not fare any better substantively, neither did much of the rest of the opposition. Those media luminaries, who had been busy fighting their jihad against the evil designs of Malala and Dr Pervaiz Hoodbhoy, now seemed to be so grief-stricken that one could almost send them a condolence message. Those who are at their fiercest and most violent against young girls and old professors were still palpably afraid, deferential to a dead Hakimullah Mehsud. What bravado!
This is how toxic the narrative is. Mr Mehsud was a criminal, a war criminal and an opponent of civilisation and is now gone. Yet, it was hard to find anyone to state this obvious fact (notwithstanding shining exceptions). All of us are entitled to a brief breath of relief. Does it mean drone attacks are legal? Does it take away anything from the innocent civilian victims of drone attacks? No, it doesn’t, and one looks forward to a time when the obvious will not have to be stated. We can oppose drone attacks and still be entitled to our fleeting moment of relief on the passing away of Mr Mehsud. The wrongs of drones and Mr Mehsud are not comparable. Even if they were, his death is no time for that comparison. One does not have to comment on everything before one comments on anything. In this instance, the death of Mr Mehsud is the real story and there are no legitimate grounds for any sorrow. Mr Mehsud was an enemy of life and as his resolve in the recent interview displays, an enemy for life. The small feeling of triumph on his death is dampened and overtaken by the cowardice and ignorance in reaction to it. This is a war of narrative and a long war; a fact, which the now dead Mr Mehsud understood better than we evidently do.
The moment of relief will be fleeting indeed. Mr Mehsud’s replacement will take over and the killing will continue. The debate on drones can and should also continue. Our fight for survival will also have to carry on. However, it would have been nice and decent that on the day we learn about the death of our enemy number one, responsible for thousands dead, we say a small prayer for those that he has killed, their families and of course, to the heavens.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 3rd, 2013.
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COMMENTS (98)
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Pakistan govt has no rights crying for sovereignty which has been lost to goons in North Waziristan . It is the drone which is helping us to establish our rite there .
A well planned facts twisting article by this chap. Not a single person mourned HakimUllah death they only condemned the timing and the author shamelessly twisted the fact.Sorry to read the article meant to please his financers. Then he has the cheek to print his photo with such an anti-Pakistani article.Good luck in hi endeavours for himself.
@Lt Col Imtiaz Alam(retd): colonel saheb after taking you salary & equipment from America for so many years you have realized this today. You have been their agent to fight the Muslims of Afghanistan.
@Lt Col Imtiaz Alam(retd): Have the Americans ever claimed to be the friends of foreigners? No sir, partners perhaps or allies, though this the latter is now in doubt as well after their NSA activities in Europe have become known. By the way the Americans are known among its neighbours in south American countries as 'Gringos'; have the Pakisanis ever asked them the reason for this label? Pakistan leadership is today suffering because its ISI could not ascertain that NSA was in total control of the world wide digital communiations network. This put them in the position to listen to and even see live the conversations of the military and the civilian leadership.in Pakistan.
Pakistan leadership should realise that they can no longer think loudly or act without the knowledge of the American leadership.who monitor today friends and foes alike. .
Rex Minor
@Lt Col Imtiaz Alam(retd): When did you NOT stab others in the back ? Going back to Mughal Kings killing brothers and fathers; all the way back to Ghori and Ghazni pillaging North West India; even going back to times of Mohammed in Arabia. And you expect that USA and NATO should trust you, give you billions of aid, loans, trade, support..... Watch the writing on the wall...this double game is reaching its end....
Death is nothing to rejoice about, but a common enemy is dead. He has been responsible for the senseless killings of thousands of innocent Pakistanis. He was responsible for the attacks on our bases in Afghanistan, and proudly claimed the attempted ‘Time square bombing’ in New York City. It is surprising that some are calling him a martyr. Was he not a cold blooded murderer who had claimed responsibility of thousands of deaths? There should be no doubts that many people who had lost loved ones over the years at the hand of this terrorist are taking a sigh of relief. Let us stand in silence for a few minutes and remember all those who died at the hand of this enemy.
Abdul Quddus DET-United States Central Command
found this in India's most favorite satirical site but nevertheless makes more sense than what main time news channel rant about http://www.fakingnews.firstpost.com/2013/11/pak-requests-us-drones-to-attack-only-civilians-not-terrorists/
@B: It is very difficult for you to perceive the US as a rogue. Believe me they can never be our friends. They stab us in the back.
@Lt Col Imtiaz Alam (retd): By your reasoning, if a Lt Col in the Pakistan Army turns rouge, you would shower him with rose petals.
ETBLOGS1987
ET Mods (3rd attempt). Please allow response to someone has written to me.
@x: Let me address each of te points you asked me:
1) Death of innocent people - Death of innocent people is surely very regrettable but fewer innocent people die in drones which are pinpointed than the 5500 PAF sorties which bombed FATA.
2) Sovereignty - Every country has a right to its sovereignty but when your establishment gives permission to send drones and on occasion even pinpoints the target, then the drones cannot be considered a violation of sovereignty.
3) Suspicious timing - Hakimullah had published a video taking credit for killing 7 CIA people. An announcement of 5 million US dollars of head money was made by US since 2010 - so it is not as though the decision to go after him was recent because he had agreed to peace. Your own interiro minister also says that AMericans had told them that while they could avoid drones on TTP for a limited time to facilitate peace progress - if they found Haqqani they would get him. When it took them 10 years to find OBL, why is it so suspicious if it took them 4 years to get Hakimullah? The fact is that he had bought a new home just last year, so they must have been tracking it. Such operations take months to plan and are not something that is done at spur of moment to disrupt peace talks.
4) Peace not Given a chance - Remember Nizam-e-Adl in 2009
5) Ch. Nisar's claim that he was about to send someone the next day to negotiate - If that is true then why had he not ordered the interior ministr to remove the head money of 5 crore on his head while negotiations were ongoing?
6) This action has murdered peace initiative - When killing of a Major general is not taken by Pakistan as murder of peace initiative, why is murder of a TTP leader taken in that manner? DO you see the discrepancy here?
I read in great surprise and shock at such huge support by educated people for a terrorist who has caused the death of thousands of innocent Pakistani men, women and children. Drones death are just nowhere in comparison.What has happened to the people of Pakistan. It is very confusing.
The million dollar question is, what now? The mighty United States has failed in this war, this s an indisputable fact despite its window dressing nd face saving rhetoric. Baitullah was killed, did peace come? Hakeemullah tooh his place. Hakeemullah killed, will peace come? Someone else to take his place. Their ranks and power are swelling and drones do in part make poor, vulnerable and young join them in misplaced ideology which prvides succour for their miserable lives as they lose their loved ones, innocent civilians, in drones or as a desire for revenge which is Pakhtoon culture, ingrained in their DNA. Also, just when talks were commencing, Hakeemullah killed. Isn;t the timing suspicious? If the US had such precise information, why didn't they get him earlier? Co-incidence seriously?
Hakimullah Mehsud was fighting a Proxy War for the US against Pakistan. He made the ultimate mistake of coming to the Peace Table without the blessing of the US.
@TBS: Apart from the top class analysis in the article which is how every sane civilised person should think - additionally of each and everyone of the thousands of lives lost at the hands of TTP and its ruthless leaders, instead of TTP's dead leader who in a war situation deserves to die; TBS, thanks for opening one's eyes to the time consuming work involved in locating and confirming the presence of such - in other words, it was not timed to defuse any situation. I have expressed my belief in ET comments time and again that there was no way these bestial people would negotiate peace. The only life they admire is rule of the gun and cold blooded killing of innocents. The worst sort of human beings that could exist, why anyone would want to sit at a table with them is a slap in the face of all their victims. Shame on all those disgusting politicians who have expressed remorse and anger over his death.
War is simply inefficient , uncertain especially for resource constrained country like ours. It destroys the social fabric. I don't know if the peace talks would have guaranteed peace. But apparently this is the strategy worth trying. If the liberals endorse the idea of peace with India i.e. legitimate entity there is nothing wrong with peace idea with illegitimate entity. They both have the power to kill.
@Talha Rizvi: Let'em come. It is actually good for people on either sides of the border to engage is some sort of dialogue/deliberations, notwithstanding the not-so-good relationships between the two governments. Their is no need to draw up an iron curtain between the two nations. It's more like a people to people contact, albeit in cyber world. The dialogue/discourse will go a long way in understanding the thoughts/mindsets of people in a better way, and clearing the incorrect perceptions and debunking a lot of myths, on both sides of the border. We all need to open up our minds as shut our narrow mindedness, as world is a global village now.
Hakimullah Mehsud giving interview to BBC last month. WOW, anyone can understand the point I want to made.
It is a war and most of Pakistanis are not ready to accept this reality, Pak Army have to keep the morale up so they would have to take the revenge of General Niazi and two others martyred by TtP, Pakistan media comprised of foreign agents with certain vested intersts and common is to keep people confuse, so what else can be expected from this so called free media of Pak.
He was a terrorist..........who deserved to be captured alive and tried for his crimes...People like him have destroyed and distorted the Image of Islam around the world....Him and his followers are animals who deserve to be publicily hanged...
Very well written... Thank you for trying to wake a dead nation. Hakeemullah Mehsud was a ruthless killer of thousands of Pakistanis. He died the death he deserved. Let us all say a prayer for all those he killed and had killed. But do not say a prayer for him as he had ceased to be a Muslim… [Anyone who thinks I am wrong on this look up surah Al Nisa verse 93] You will see the truth! Burn in hellfire Hakimellah!
@Talha Rizvi
Pakistanis are condemned to have India as their neighbour! More so because most share a common culture with one another with the exception of Pashtuns and the people of Baluchistan!
Rex Minor
No one is mourning Mehsud's death. The peace of talks were important for the people of Pakistan. Time for warmongers to pop some champagne.
"we want that it should be replaced with the Islamic system" HM's death was as per the Islamic law principal of eye for an eye. HM was involved in attack on Camp Chapman in Afghanistan and CIA lost some good members of their team. HM refused to give blood money so CIA went to President and said"Ek Drone to banta hai Boss". Obama just winked.Now the soul of deceased CIA members from camp Chapman are in peace.
MNS does not have good track record of Peace talks. See what happened to Indian PM Vajpai and now Taliban.
Because their brother agent has been killed. This exposes their loyalties to Pakistan and people of Pakistan. The biggest tragedy of Pakistan are these feudal politicians, who may join with anyone for their personal benifits. In fact in Karachi the situation detiorated only because these politicians like Sharjil Memon etc, instead of cleaning up the terrorists and criminals they patronized them for earning 'Bhatta' and got their shares.
What Nisar and Khan shows is stockholm syndrome. They got tied up with TTP and started believing in it. They believed success in bringing TTP into meeting room. But they do not have any clear agenda and what end result is desirable for people of Pak and rest of the world. So don't worry. They will feel alright only when you take out the TTP one by one. If the drones stop TTP will come up more fiercely, those thoughts make Nisar and Khan to experience nightmares.
@Gp65: Because drones were also being used to kill civilians. TTP are not 'our people' but the fact is, war has failed even by the world superpower United States. Talks were at least an option and maybe something could be achieved. The messenger was going to go THE VERY DAY hakeemullah was killed. Isn't the timing suspicious? If the US has such precise information, couldnt they kill hakeemullah sooner? or halt drones as SPECIFICALLY requested by the government to give peace talks a chance. No one mourns hakeemullah but the timing is all wrong. What is your solution? war has failed. talks have never before been given a chance.
Saroop, I think everybody in pakistan is happy that the US drone took care of mehsud, except for IK, the usual 'on tv' nutjobs and the TTP . People who are happy about the strike don't want to admit it in public to save themselves from the reprisal from TTP. BTW, No word at all from the khakis or usually hyper-active ISPR. What gives?
@American: Disgusting mentality. By the way Indian trolls should use their real names while commenting. @ Gp65: Why do you obsessively comment on a Pakistani newspaper? We have the least concern for your country so mind your own business. @pow vow: Get a life and stop commenting here Indian troll. @ Jat: Had he criticized India even the slightest bit you guys would have shown your true ugly nature. Your previous comments show your true communal face. @MSS: Do us a favor and leave this site. @ Ajay: Do you have any thing better to do then come here and troll? @ Gratgy: Indians suffer from a sick obsession for condemning others and ignoring their own faults. @ observer: Talk when you eliminated terrorists like RSS, VHP, Shiv sena etc. It seems your country suffers from mass psychosis as a whole demonstrated when you trolls spit venom when India is the least bit criticized. @ Imran Bhatt: To spite the Pakistanis the Indians are about to elect a mass murderer. Have fun when that happens. @nononsense: We are least bit interested in your country and are not going to listen to self righteous trolls like you. @lalai: Typical comment from an Indian. How about honoring Arundhati Roy, Jawed Naqvi etc.
the problem with Pakistan is it has no direction...the govt who ever is in power it has no control...Pakistan is ruled by war lord(not like Afghanistan) in different way...waderas,,jagirdar and dacoit, in rural area ,gangsters in city in the form of land mafia drug mafia ,extortion etc,and clerics in both rural and urban areas using religion to protect their interest....Pakistan has no leaders....their is difference between leaders and politicians....Leaders are the one who think about the people and their future and politicians think about next election ..people had great fate in Imran Khan...now people are realizing that he is immature regarding politics...there is difference between cricket and nation....he want to stop the NATO supply line without realizing the consequences....a country which has only 9 million dollars reserved fund...politicians are making him as a hero who is responsible of killing more than 40000 thousand innocent Pakistan...
Excellent, Sir.
@Shafique Ahmed Kayani: dear sir, this is exactly you have been doing to US. you assured them your whole hearted support for WOT. but at the same time you have joined with afgan Taliban and cheeted US. you were grinning with way things went, since it suited your alter ego. unfortunately your double crossing came out of the packet, and your partner started to suspect you. your false ego promted you to think that your partner is in delicate position and would not survive with out you. but for a change he started to do things with out your knowledge or control. even then you failed to notice the signals. after numerous chaining you have realized something fuzzy. but you have not recoverd from the slumber. alas you are now when caught panting, blame your partner for all follies.
this is other side of the coin. hope you understand.
@Shafique Ahmed Kayani: yours are the only comments which one feels shows the desperation of the situation Pakistan is in. Let me explain the background history of your land where the majority of the people and their representative Government have not the initiative for creative thinking, innovation and the spirit of pioneers who rely on their foresight and not on hindsight. More than two and a half centuries ago the Indian subcontinent welcomed the anglo saxon colonialists who over a period took over the administative as well as the military control of most of the land. During this period the startegic objective of the rulers was to put a stop to the innovative and creative thinking of the populace so that no mechanisation or the inustrialisation in the land takes place. During this period the industrialisation and the renaissance were taking place in the European continent. The individuals who dared enter into industrial ventures were put away in India.!!
Now even after independence the successive Governments did not undertake any significant steps in reforming the Educational institutions which encourages and motivates the people of self reliance. Todays technology.
There is nothing spectacular in unmanned machines, for as little as few hundred bucks a drone can be built upto the most sophisticated one at a price in the range of millions. The drones which are of defensive nature can be sent into the space to knockout the beast which is hoovering over the skies of the territory which Pakistan claims to be theirs!!!
Rex Minor
I only wish they would or we would just wipe out the rest of these as well. pakistan has so much to yearn for and this mad path is not it.. We have to strive and work to build a future for our children rather then spend time on this crazy path for self destruction.
the ttp are our people americans are not our people they are like disgrunted baloch leaders who need to be brought to the main fold through dialogue the war is pointless what would you do if a Pakistani shell drops near youre house killing your relatives or how would you feel if you had to move out from your village every second month and return to find a destroyed home
@author while there is no denying that mourning mehsud is criminal in itself...you have also wrote that ..."relief will be fleeting...mehsud will be replaced by someone and things will remain same.. now the question is how to get rid of this menacr...? what do you suggest? what is your suggested solution to the problem? do you really think that military is the only option?and please do not give examples like LTTE vs SL...LTTE was an organised organization having its own territory in Jaffna..SL army had to concentrate on a particilar area.but TTP is not an organization and have tenticles from your punjab to tribal areas...how a military is going to bomb and shell the entire country....without killing more innocent people than militants? please enlighten the readers with your views about the problem?
Saroop You are brave man. I salute on your courage. Be safe and God bless you. Thanks
@afzaal khan - "A war criminal killed by War criminals. Actually for a lawyer to call Hakimullah Mehsud a war criminal is stupid, Mehsud was a terrorist pure and simple and Obama admin is war criminals. "
And how does definition changes help Pakistan? Can you not simple cut through the crap of verbal gymnastics and get practical and see the Talibanies for what they are - pure criminals?
Also when was the last time the Talibunnies shower aid on Pakistan something which the Obama admin has done - lets get out of false comparisons.... Get a life dude...
no government should ever talk to terrorists. never, never, never.
Dear Drone, about time you get it right. Pakistan is a headless chicken running in all directions..in fact as nation we must thank the west for putting some of the Talibans to sleep. Even if we would have captured Mr. Mehsud he would be out in a few days anyways knowing our fool proof jail security standards and our legal system where no one can ever get implicated due to loopholes in the prosecution system. Hence good riddance and better utilization of tax monies elesewhere so Thank you Mr. Drone.
These extremist we call our our own and have this burning desire to reason and woo through talks are sheer savages..Let's not forget that they have damaged Pakistan more than drones have..Our own children, women and security forces including shias and sunnis have perished at the hands of coward suicide attacks.
If TTP cannot brinng down the drones then that's too bad. Hard luck, does not mean that you begin killing your own innocent countrymen. Mr. Mehsud like the ones before him and many who will follow are all power hungry like our politicians. Only difference is that TTP is more desperate will do what is best for them and to stay relevant. So Pakistan stands on a cross road where the nation has to choose between the lesser of the two evils, Talibanization or the politicians. Either ways even if we manage to get ourselves out of the fire we will still end up landing in the frying pan. Hence I choose the politicians being the lesser evil and Drones over Talibans anyday!!
@Harris: Hope of peace with these fanatics was and is an illusion. Stop drones, release their prisoners, withdraw from tribal areas - remember, these were the TTP conditions to HAVE talks. What could you give them other than the state and your souls to end their attacks?
the extra-secular - tone of the article lakes logic and common sense which is not commonly found in ultra liberals and worshipers of secularism, they see, understand and present only ONE-SIDE of the picture.
We don't mourn on killing of mehsood, nor we supported ttp and neither we want ttp version of Islam.
We mourn on HELPLESSNESS of our Government, Our Authorities and our Leaders. What ever they decide, American agencies sabotage it.. this has become the routine now.. any ttp leader who agreed to talk and negotiate, been killed.. and he only been killed AFTER he agreed to peace talks.. !! Couldn't CIA kill mehsood in last many years?? Why they waited him to accept offer of peace talks ?? CNN, BBC, GEO can interview Mehsood, TTP leaders, why CIA couldn't find and kill him??
it took us more than 5 year to reach a point where we could negotiate, disengage people from militancy and show them a political way to struggle for their own version of Islam.. and when it was all set for dialogue, who allowed US to intervene and interrupt all the process ?? Where are we standing now ??
We mourn on HELPLESSNESS where we, our govt and our leaders don't have any right to decide our future ourselves.
Mr. Saroop would be very happy that now the peace process will become a history and Pakistan Army will continue fighting and wasting money to achieve some undefined, unknown target. and people like Saroop will keep fooling people by showing only one side of the picture to justify his masters.
Million Dollar Question: Whose side is US on? Is it the Pakistani side? For sure US isn't going to side with the Taliban despite their open acknowledgement to talking to Afghan Taliban and allowing them to open a diplomatic office in Qatar but then why not Pakistanis taking this peace (let it be a 'so called' one) process is not supported by US. Despite all the ills of TTP the biggest evil in all context weather we switch sides or stance is US.
Pakistan's public line is that the organization responsible for murder of more than 30,000 of its citizens and whose explicitly stated aim is to nullify the constitution to be "Bad" Taliban. The national mourning at his death makes it clear to the world that our public statements are doublespeak, that we know there is only one Taliban, and that we are completely aligned with them.
Our politicians and most of our news media are shameless cowards. We will weep, take to streets, burn buses and scream for vengeance if the Indian Army kills one Pakistani.
As usual a very well written article. There are three issues here. 1. Official reaction, 2. Was he a mass murderer or not and 3. Timing of the drone attack. The official reaction is deplorable and stinks of cowardice and bending over backwards to anti state elements. The number of graves, mutilated bodies, innocent victims speak louder than the great Khan's frothing and the governments statements as to the true face of the man who was killed. Lastly those who support that the timing of the drone attack was to derail the so called pseudo peace talks, have no idea of how operations are carried out in the field. It takes months and sometime years to gather intelligence on the location of a target. As soon as such information is confirmed the strike occurs.
Author: The context was that the killing of Hakimullah Mehsud was an attempt to ‘sabotage’ peace talks. One has to be a moral cretin to believe something like this.
Bravo Mr Saroop Ijaz !
There is no love lost over the death of Mehsud...........its the timing that is a bit strange......everyone acknowledges that this war can't be won........the American's support talks , the Afghan's want talks and lately we the Pakistanis have been trying to get talks off the ground.....
Giving talks a chance even though the enemy (Taliban) don't play by rules would probably have been prudent....
This gunning down is just a case of very bad timing or as some critics claim an attempt to stop the sides talking to one another......the jury is out on the motive and we will bear the consequences...
We are living in Cuckoo World! Totally out of touch with reality! How many SHRINKS are needed for 200 million patients?
BRAVO. very good comment. And I am more an more disappointed of imran khan. I used to have high hopes with him, but he proves more and more not to be able to deliver. Maybe he was trained to long in western concept of cultural sensitivity, but these guys don't need sensitivity, these are simple konservative murderes who enjoy their power. No freedom fighters, no anti-imperialists, no nothing. Only simple power-thirsty criminals, with whom you should not negotiate.
Great article; Brilliant analysis
Ah! you write well - and true!
He should have been arrested and tried for his horrific acts of violence. He was nothing more than a terrorist thug but we need to uphold the rule of law to develop as a nation. As for Islam, I dont think Pakistanis have a clue - the stone age afghan culture the TTP aped, even less so. If Pakistanis can learn to not litter, queue in lines, and follow traffic rules, that would be a great advance (in getting closer to islam).
I don't think that anyone is mourning Hakeemullah's death. It is moronic to consider objections being raised regarding the timing of the attack as mourning for Mehsud's death. I for one am happy he is gone but do also agree that this does not benefit anyone and only hurts any efforts being made for a dialogue with the multiple (30 to 40) TTP factions functioning in Pakistan. I am absolutely convinced that the Americans need to be kicked out of our country and any solution to this problem needs to be a purely Pakistani one. We need to own this one.
But there can be no question that Hakimullah's statement at the beginning of this article is full of brave words. Brave and forthright. No doublespeak there.
@salman: and 90% of Pakistani wont agree with your comment....
An apt and logical analysis. The scene in Pakistan after the killing of most deadly terrorist who was responsible for deaths of thousands of innocents is most pathetic and beyond ones comprehension. There is an open competition between three contenders namely Imran, Nisar and Khursheed to out do each other in condemning the drone attack which they claim to be a spoil sport as if they were in receipt of peace guarantee from the honorable Taliban who is known for its gross violation of several such peace agreements reached in the past. This unusual commotion of the political class is not for their love of either peace talks or security of the people of the country but for the lingering fear of the Taliban who has promised an unprecedented revenge on the Pakistan government whom it considers was fully complicit in the drones attack, which killed their Chief.
This is awful and strange situation, there was never such like uproar when Taliban killed thousands innocent civilian... .but when a terrorist killed by American in a place, no go area for Pakistan's security forces, it became matter of national pride & sovereignty....
Either you decide to negotiate or you just launch an atomic attack Against taliban. If you decide on negotiations, which you have already done through APC, then you cannot continue this blame game. Even after the world wars they negotiated, imagine if they had started blaming each other for all the deaths instead and continued fighting.
ETBLOGS1987 @Syed: If he was an Indian agent, why is it that Pakistani politicians are so outraged at his death.
So good to read words of sanity after countless statements of the politicians condemning hakimullah mesud s death & forgetting all the thousands of Pakistan civilian & military & police deaths that he was responsible for. Thank you Ijaz shb for have the courage to speak up
Cutting a long story short. There is no love lost for Hakimullah Mehsud or for any of the TTP but what is being grieved is that we finally had a ray of hope. Such steps while not a solution at least put fueding parties on a common path at least. Case being the IRA - MI6 dealings. That is how the situation ought to be seen. Nothing more nothing less
@Rex Minor: BTW, I somehow missed all those many "Judicial Trials" that must have been held for ALL the 30,000 Plus Pakistanis slaughtered over the last decade by (according to you) "so-called terrorists", or do YOU think that those do not count as "extra-judicial killings"???? Maybe you should tell all of us what you think the TTP types are if not terrorists!
trust me 90 percent of the people living in this country won't agree with saroop.
Our leaders are trying to make a hero of a terrorist, who is responsible for killing hundreds if not thousands of our brave soldiers. It a pity that we call them our 'leaders'. Shame on them.
Nobody really cares about Mehsud, and nobody really is idolizing him. The left (if you want to call it that) is trying to portray Imran and the government as Taliban sympathizers but the fact is Mehsud was just a face of the opposition. The face of the other side of the table. Talks were agreed upon and should have followed through that is what the election was about, if your arrogant minds can't wrap itself around this fact then too bad. I would ask why people like this Mr. Ijaz not write an article when there were people from Waziristan had traveled to DC to tell the world about their lives. Great work by the media just ignoring them.
So keep on feeding people lies about religious parties being sympathizers, the narrative is flawed at the core.
Author is absolutely correct in all he has written. If any one is mourning Hakimullah's death then he/she is in total denial of all wrongs committed by the TTP. The US has done an enormous favour to Pakistan.
@Hayat: NZ govt has to confirm the location of these 'nice' people, that is why.
@Indigent: All Taliban are bad. All Pakistanis are bad. Birds of the same feather mourn together
Mr Ijaz I had to get up and salute you. Great article.
Excellent analysis. Mr. Nisar's statements are for public consumption. May be the establishment can hold a state funeral for Mr Mehsud. I am willing to bet that Pakistan will not go to the extent of Salala event. The US funds that have just been released need to flow. China and Saudis haven't opened any taps yet.
Saroop, totally agreed! Can someone stand up and offer a prayer for victims of terrorism?
In the process of fooling the world, Pakistanis ended up fooling themselves.
I agree that these barbarians do not deserve any sympathy. But at the same time,what is the definition of a war criminal? Because at this time there are many 'personalities' ,who are given respect throughout the world,while their crimes are much worse. The definition should apply to all equally.
This is a war being waged by Salafi jihadists against the rest of the muslim world, and the western world.The goal is to overthrow existing states and set up salafi takfiri states around the world and eventually link them under the umbrella of a salafi caliphate.
That is why the TTP continues to reject the pakistani state's constitution, its founding principles, and democratic system , because they are looking to take over the state as per the directive from their masters.
Hopefully the Pakistani establishment and the US are smart enough to realize that this war cannot be won just by targeting the non-state foot soldiers such as the TTP. At the end of the day, the fight must also be taken to the ' non state directors' sitting in Saudi , dreaming of a salafi caliphate and orchestrating diabolical insurgent groups like the TTP around the world.
The reaction to Hakeemullah's death is typical of a slave mind. Trying to justify every atrocity in the name of religion while bashing the poor helpless souls like Aasia Bibi, Pervez Hoodbhoy and Malala because they don't fear the later ones.
Not expecting this comment to be published but can't resists :P
A war criminal killed by War criminals. Actually for a lawyer to call Hakimullah Mehsud a war criminal is stupid, Mehsud was a terrorist pure and simple and Obama admin is war criminals.
I once read this article from a WW2 Compilation ... by some RAF pilot about the Luftwaffe... "CONFUSION was THEIR BUSINESS" .. I think it apltly describes usss guys.. right now
The author is in the wrong profession? Can any one imagine hiring this lawyer to defend a confirmed murderer? He is even pleading for extra judicial killings for suspected terrorists making judicial trials unnecessary.
Rex Minor
i hv never seen such a confused nation...here u r devastaed by ttp and u r mourning killing of its head,,,we in india wish all those terrorist in our country and other country eliminated no matter wat...
@Hayat:
when a temporary ceasefire had been announced from both sides…
Really?The ceasefire by TTP?When, where?If there was a ceasefire,it was the Government.TTP killed 6 soldiers only 3 days ago.
In Pakistan elimination of terrorists is considered a sad occasion. They let the terrorists escape their prisons, and imprison the person who helps to find and eliminate the terrorist.. Can pakistan be considered to be in need of extermination from the bugs of psychosis?
Allah wouldn't have stoned and destroyed Qoum-e-Loot. He was basically a border smuggler, who had joined the left back Russians, i.e. Tajiks, Uzbeks and Chechins to conduct terrorism in the FATA Area, They were organize armed and financed by the Indians, under cover name TTP, on the lines of "Mukti Bahinis" in East Pakistan. In the name of Shariah they were killing innocent people. Whereas Shariah never allow killing of innocents. These are just Munafiq, defaming Islam and Muslims on the behest of the Indians. They should be illiminated at the earliest, before they cause further damage to the Muslims.