Traitors in our midst
The massacre of 131 schoolchildren at the Army Public School in Peshawar is an atrocity unparalleled in its cruelty. For Pakistanis across all divides, it was a tipping point in their attitude towards the country’s war on terror. By choosing the most defenceless and innocent as their targets, it was the point where the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan crossed an unspoken line that made even those on the fence see them as products of an inhumane ideology.
The report of the judicial commission that probed the grisly December 2014 terrorist attack has finally been made public, and it in turn has revealed some startling facets. There are, of course, details of myriad security lapses that led to the unspeakable tragedy. More alarming, however, is how certain residents within the school’s vicinity provided the terrorists, who crossed the border from Afghanistan, shelter before they carried out the heinous atrocity.
The report, made public on the orders of the Supreme Court, minces no words while describing the ‘unpardonable’ assistance provided to the militants. “Had our own people not provided shelter to the terrorists, the militants would have never succeeded in their nefarious design. But it is abysmal that our own blood played hand in glove with enemies,” it stated.
The revelation is infuriating – and rightfully so. How many lives could have been saved if those who facilitated the terrorists had listened to their conscience? Once the anger subsides, however, we as a nation and our leaders in particular should take some time to introspect.
Pointing fingers and labelling traitors is an easy task. While the facilitators of the APS attack must be made an example of, our only hope to prevent such a gruesome tragedy in the future is to identify and eliminate the mindset that made it possible. Extremism is a fire that is bound to consume everything if not put out in time.
It is not out of place here to remind the authorities that the National Action Plan that was devised in the wake of the APS tragedy to counter terrorism under a comprehensive strategy has so far failed to produce desired results.
Published in The Express Tribune, Septe0mber 28th, 2020.
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