Time to come down to earth

Information given to us was lacked truth, government and ISPR need to take the nation into confidence on both events.

This eventful May has left the nation bewildered, demoralised and confused. First, the Abbottabad incident left serious doubts about the capabilities of our armed forces to defend the borders. The second incident at PNS Mehran base revealed astonishing flaws in the security of key installations of our armed forces. That six (the navy says there were more) militants can infiltrate a supposedly secure naval airbase with ease, destroying aircraft at will and hold their position against hundreds of soldiers for 16 hours was something the nation could not digest. Materially, it was the costliest terror attack so far, but the psychological cost or the damage to the morale of the nation cannot be measured in material terms.

As far as the Abbottabad raid is concerned, an in-camera briefing was arranged for members of the parliament, of which certain details have trickled down to the masses. Apparently, it seems that the politicians are satisfied that they got answers to their questions. However, the nation still remains in the dark about the events and whatever they have heard, from one source or the other, is not enough. The media, in absence of concrete information from authentic sources, has resorted to panel discussions with retired military personnel known as ‘defence analysts’. These analysts, although able to give a general insight into the workings of the forces, are normally without adequate knowledge of the event they are discussing.

So far, whatever information was given to us was devoid of truth. It is time for the government and the ISPR to take the nation into confidence on both events, as well as on the war on terror. Share the problems the government is facing and people will understand. The nation must be told that our army is not equipped to fight American technology and that we try to keep the balance of power with India only at a great cost. It’s time to make people realise that even though we have the nuclear weapons, we are way behind in other fields. The nation must be taken into confidence about drone attacks as well. If they are beneficial, people should hear it from the prime minister or army chief, and not through WikiLeaks.

Additonally, it is time to act upon Article 256 of the Constitution of Pakistan, which prohibits the formation of armed militant organisations. If it was government policy to form such organisations in the past, it has proved counterproductive. Leaders of such organisations should be engaged in talks and should voluntarily disband them. Otherwise, force should be used to finish this menace once for all.

Lastly, the nation must be told that we are the poorest of the poor countries. We are a resource-starved country. We call ourselves an agricultural country, yet we do not have water. Pakistan was born poor.

It is time to come down to earth.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2011.