Stern warning

General Asim Munir has rightly put it in firm words. His resolve of not engaging with the TTP is a foregone conclusion. He was absolutely on the mark as he said that there would be no more talks with the TTP, which had come as an appeasement, and vowed to crush all such disgruntled elements. Addressing the tribesmen, the Army Chief put his foot down by saying that the writ of the state “shall be upheld” and terror outfits eliminated. He sounded quite confident as he said that all future dialogue will be held only with the dispensation in Kabul, and non-state actors will be shunned from being on board. This redefined policy parameter must get a shot in the arm by choreographing all necessary muscles to defeat terrorism.

The policy to decimate terrorists is the need of the hour. Pakistan has been a victim of geography, and upheavals in its western neighbourhood, especially, had pushed it to the brink. With a loss of more than 80,000 lives, the country has hardly pulled out from the abyss of degeneration. And now the nuisance of TTP is haunting its peace and development. The COAS’ words were luckily resonated from Afghanistan as the Afghan Taliban supreme leader warned fighters against launching attacks outside the war-torn country. The Defence Ministry in Kabul issued a dictum saying that “fighting outside Afghanistan is not religiously sanctioned” and will not be tolerated. This is a welcome development as it coincides with what Pakistan has been asking for long. The Taliban rulers are in a commitment to check non-state actors, and ensure that Afghan soil is not used for jingoism against its neighbours. The reassurance from Kabul must walk the talk, and nip all such rogue elements in the bud.

The region is in need of perpetual peace, and that can only be attained by exterminating gun culture. Likewise, cross-border adventurism must come to an end. Afghanistan is duty-bound to move against all residual elements who are operating from shadows. The time to begin is now.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9^th, 2023.

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