Editorial

The endless battle

The terrorists just never go away

Editorial August 17, 2016

PHOTO: APP

The terrorists just never go away. No matter how often they are hit or the severity of the blows they receive, there are always new targets on the kill-list. Recent reports of the Pakistan Air Force hitting targets in remote parts of the Khyber Agency bordering Afghanistan are yet another case in point. There have already been extensive clearance operations in the Tirah Valley with Khyber I and II, and now Khyber III is striking beyond Tirah in the Rajgal valley.

These are not random strikes, they are precise and if the information coming from the ISPR is accurate, then they are of pinpoint precision, indicating good intelligence as to the location of terrorists using the area as a base. The primary purpose of the operation is to limit terrorist movements to-and-fro the border, and nine active bases were hit. There is no independent confirmation of any of the actions or of the body count and materiel destroyed. There never is, and therein lies a part of the problem at least in terms of a wider public understanding of the nature of the threat being fought by our armed forces.

The military is doing what it has been tasked to do and doing it effectively as far as may be determined. What is missing is a rolling picture of the nature of the terrorist threat, an understanding of what the state of battle is. It is not necessary to reveal operational details that are of use to the enemy, but the public at large has no holistic view of the war we are fighting at considerable cost in terms of blood and treasure.

To a degree the media can fill in the blanks, but as to informing the people of Pakistan as a whole on the progress of a war being fought in their name, then the government has signally lacked in the update department.

If the people are to own the war, then it needs to be understood, and it is high time the government engaged in a mission to explain.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2016.

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COMMENTS (3)

Sabir | 7 years ago | Reply Do the law enforcement agency has any other option? The talk has failed to bear any fruit. The stick and carrot policy did not work. Using force on there own is nightmare for any army it will remain with them till last breath. But what other option has left accept elimination for these disguise opponent.

Anti Insurgent | 7 years ago | Reply Pakistan is in anti insurgency situation. Insurgency that also get fed from north west owing to instability in Afghanistan. Pakistan needs to concentrate on a counter insurgency narrative. It means rule of law in the country. Dispensation of justice to people. Pakistan is an agrarian economy, land rights, sense of belonging to the land and its produce, share of every Pakistani in Pakistani pie all these things will mean a stake of people of Pakistan in Pakistan. They will not seek their saviours from outside of country. It requires leadership and vision. Army and military forces cannot do it all.

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