Take them out

The holing in of terrorists at a Counter-Terrorism Department centre in Bannu has raised hackles. The fact that a handful of militants were able to overpower the entire police station, and continue to lay siege to it sends shivers down the spine. This is a serious security lapse, and all those who are coming up with excuses should be shown the door. This terrible incident, which led to the killing of a policeman, has come just days after the nation observed the anniversary of December 16, 2014, attack on Army Public School and pledged to root out terrorism. The unscrupulous elements after defying the writ of the state are now reportedly asking for safe passage to Afghanistan, and have also freed criminals from the same jail premises.

While authorities and law-enforcement agencies are busy in parleys in an attempt to avoid bloodshed, the denominator should be to exterminate the militants at any cost. Letting them walk free will be an anti-thesis of war on terrorism, and a negation of sacrifices that the nation and the armed forces have rendered. The way out is to take them out tactically, and send down the message loud and clear that there is no room for appeasement. It has to be borne in mind that this hostage-taking has come in the backdrop of three consecutive attacks on Chaman bordering Afghanistan, which have tested the nerves of patience. This seems to be a well-orchestrated plan to bleed Pakistanis and weaken the anti-terrorism strategy of the nation. It cannot be allowed to happen, come what may.

The Bannu siege as well as other terror uprising incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are an open indicator that we have blinked somewhere. Apparently the lowering of guard is a reason that has encouraged the disgruntled non-state characters to regroup and dare to stage a comeback. It also hints at their being hand-in-glove with abettors and how compromised is our security mosaic at the local level. What is needed without any argument is to beef up the vigil and exhibit a zero-tolerance to such misadventures. Enough of talking to the militants.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20^th, 2022.

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