Pakistan

Operation in North Waziristan

I would like to ask the writer some questions.

Letter June 03, 2011

LONDON: This is with reference to Shaukat Qadir’s article of June 3 titled “No need for operation in NWA”. I would like to ask the writer some questions. 1) Is it all right to allow non-state actors such as the Haqqanis to rule what is part of Pakistan? 2) Does the government of Pakistan have no responsibility towards Pakistani citizens who are living in the area where the Haqqanis hold sway? 3) What is to be done about reports which by all accounts suggest that North Waziristan is being used to launch attacks into Afghanistan, given that Pakistan is not at war with Afghanistan or Isaf? 4) What about training camps set up in North Waziristan, which captured would-be suicide bombers have pointed to? Is it acceptable that they be allowed to continue to operate? 5) Does the writer deny that when a military operation happened in South Waziristan, many Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan leaders and fighters fled to North Waziristan and are still there? 6) What about the network of smuggling, kidnapping and other criminal actions which go on in the region? Should they be allowed to continue? 7) If all is well in North Waziristan, why do we have 30,000 troops deployed there? As a nation, have we become so weak that our ‘interests’ lie in protecting militants? 9) Shouldn’t the militants in North Waziristan be seen as criminals to whom we have ceded our sovereignty? 10) Will the writer or anyone in the establishment explain how groups on Pakistani soil are allowed to have their own militias?

Nadir El-Edroos

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (1)

ZUBAIR AHSAN FAROOQI | 13 years ago | Reply @Nadir El-Edroo! Dear you have raised some valid questions. I do understand the need for flushing out the undesirable elements from Pakistani lands however the most relevant question which might be the biggest impediment against such an operation is a serious doubt about the capacity and capability of a crippled state to carry out such an operation without having the means to contain the blow back since the problem is very complicated and has political dimensions as well. The biggest challenge that the Pakistani state is facing today is not terrorism which is as much a consequence of utter failure of successive governments to deliver as the follies of myopic Pakistani and American military establishment in the region. The real challenge is to win back the trust of the pakistani public and to give an unconditional hope to Pakistanis and I have no qualms in admitting that the present discredited and rotten political dispensation is incapable of reaching out to people, building a relation of trust and galvanizing the support of the masses transcending ethnic, religious and ideological divides . Furthermore there are also serious doubts about the technical capabilities of our institutions to take political initiatives along with the military operations for restoring peace permanently. 9 longs years of WOT bear out the fact that these military operations, rather than addressing the issue of militancy have further radicalized the society and complicated the problems. Remember! corruption, nepotism, distrust, perception of being american toady have created vacuum and have become the breading ground for radical thoughts and terrorism and as long as these conditions exist, no military solutions could bring any peace and restore sovereignty of the State Ist and foremost we must reorient our struggle towards dislodging the current oppressive elite and voting in to power a credible leadership capable of introducing a new political, socio-economical and military paradigm rooted in the will of people and capable of deliverance. Only such a home-grown leadership can chart out an independent course of action to address the issue. And there is where Imran Khan and his party PTI become so relevant to the future of Pakistan because he is perceived to be honest, trust-worthy, patriotic and fiercely independent leader by a large percentage of Pakistanis and he is the only Pakistani figure of international stature who could connect to the Western and Indian public, has huge respect in the international community , has the sympathies among the radical elements and therefore is in a unique position to initiate a dialog between West and the radical elements within Muslim society. If anyone is having a reservation about Imran Khan, I would request them to please mention any other alternative. But one thing is for sure unless we redefine the relationship between State and its subjects, our downhill slide would continue. No quick-fix please.

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