General Kayani’s strong words indicate this will indeed happen. Following improved relations with Washington, there have been consistent rumours that a huge operation is to be conducted in North Waziristan and other areas.
The US has, of course, long demanded that militant strongholds in these areas be squashed. Till now, Pakistan has been somewhat reluctant, but as Kayani has correctly pointed out, no country can afford to allow a parallel force to exist within its borders even if it is hard for the army to take on its own people.
What we need to do now is to also change mindsets. The ambiguity about the militants, tied in to anti-US feeling needs to be ended. There is no reason why a choice needs to be made between extremists and the West. Both can be criticised for their faults, and a course which favours all the people of Pakistan chalked out.
This is something we need to work on ahead of any military operation. Such a drive can succeed only if people are behind it and confident that this time the Pakistan army means business. There have been too many doubts about this in the past.
If militancy can truly be wiped out, this would genuinely brighten the future of our country. The generations to come deserve this. We have suffered greatly as a result of the Taliban threat. It is time to eliminate it and we must hope that we can succeed in achieving this as swiftly as possible even though it will mean more fighting in certain areas of the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2012.
Correction: An earlier version of the editorial missed out the word 'brighten' in the last paragraph.
COMMENTS (29)
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Good News!! We desparetly need this military operation/ action against these millitants. Army should eliminate them from the surface of this earth. Give peace and harmony to the people of Pakistan. Also take action in Karachi and Balouchistan.Sick and tired of these extremists, terrorists and so called bhatta Badmash.
This decision seems to be taken under intense US pressure and hopefully with full consideration of the cost of its fall out on Pakistan. Basically this is the cost of supporting Karzai Government not acceptable to an average Afghan. Problems of this region (Afghan & Pak border areas) will only get in control once Afghanistan's Governance issues are settled for the majority of Afghans in a free and non coercive environment where they themselves decide how to run their country with guarantees for acceptance of UN charter. Pakistan will continue to pay a heavy cost for its American friendship perceived as US agents by anti Karzai Afghans. Rather than postpone this war initiative in North Waziristan till settlement in Afghanistan this decision may have positive results in prolonging the Karzai Government and US stay in this region ie prolonging the problems of this region. This will be continuity of bad news for Pakistan's economy. US Government is bulldozing Pakistan's National Security for its ego - winning an unwinnable war in Afghanistan
Der Aaye Durust Aaye. / Better late than never.
All of those against this opertion, please remember the taliban slitting the throats of our Pak soldier jawans! To support taliban is to be a traitor to Pakistan and our army... we need both force and education to solve this issue... it is better for our country's long term future... i hope Kiyana Sahib and Zardari Sahib are both agreed on this and also realise that our country's potential cannot be fulfilled until we eliminate this scourge and the mindset that creates it... Jive Pakistan!
@salman: pakisatan army is great army and i am supporting because this is army of my nation
I wonder why kayani is backtracking his words.....earlier operation within Pakistan was impossible .... now it seems Pakistan army would be involved in some operation every 3-4 yrs....
its a wild goose chase..... since targets are marked in usa and executed on ground in Pakistan ..... Kayani did not mention other threats on independence day ..... I remember things were worse 2 years back when every city of punjab was bombed.....
Things are peaceful now so why an operation now ?????
If Gen Kyani is sincere then the militants have blood of martared Pakistani soldiers on their hands but he hasnt done any thing , giving statements is easy.
Fully support army chief statement! High time to get rid of these terrorists once & for all.
Way to go General K! Let the militants know that an operation is imminent, so the leadership can escape to South Waziristan!
I hope there is more seriousness of purpose this time round, and the militant networks are not allowed to recuperate and re-emerge. They need to be completely dismantled. The rehabilitation of former militants is the next step, but the first step is the explicit use of state power to dismantle these networks and establish the government's writ in these areas.
As you sown so shall you reap. Remember since long history Pakistan with or without foreign support had been destroyed the future and lives of thousand and thousand of youngs, three consecutive generations; first training and equipped them, have been using them as buffer forces and non state actors for long at various fronts. Then after the fulfillment of own agenda these traditional forces have been started blaming and eliminating through various propaganda wars and conflicts. Blaming those innocents who lives, future and families have already been destroyed and used. It's total hypocrisy instead of peaceful and timely transition.While the number of sacrifices and struggles of yesterday Heros and todays terrorists are invaluable and were for the today world peace.
E.T. is still learning that anything the Americans say is not the 'gold standard'. Local problems like the Haqqanis demand local solutions, and the Pak Army is aware of that. Who will handle the fallout of NWA operation on Pakistani cities? Will the Americans help? No, they might send over a few more Raymond. Davis's though.
I thought Pakistan's solution for militancy/insurgency by a section of local population is to de-militarize & give them self-determination?! Atleast that's what it has been advising India!
Militancy is not tolerated by any country. Irrespective of the issue involved. Armed struggle can't be a solution to any problem. It only begets further violence.
Hope Pakistan gets control of the situation within its geography and also stops supporting terrorists/militants/non-state actors waging war in other territories.
Does anyone really believe that the Military is suddenly going to get serious about going after militants. Seems to me that it would have to spend considerable time lobbying the Pakistani public and far right political groups before that becomes a realistic option. One speech doesn't make a policy.
@faraz
Pashtunistan is not your land.
Period.
I fully agreed with you @Iqbal the only solution of this mess is Education not The Force
an uphill task, I think!! He is asking for more money . . . .???
General Pasha was busy playing domestic politics... Until he was exposed by Ch Nisar and was thankfully not given further extention.
It's time for this NRO architect to also go ... Kiyani we have had enough of you...
@entropy: So it’s ok to unleash a tidal wave of terrorism on the world as long as the Pakistan dances on the streets and distribute sweets and are safe and happy, eh Entropy?
"If militancy can truly be wiped out, this would genuinely the future of our country. The generations to come deserve this. We have suffered greatly as a result of the Taliban threat. It is time to eliminate it and we must hope that we can succeed in achieving this as swiftly as possible even though it will mean more fighting in certain areas of the country".
Proofreaders and editors totally missed the omission of a verb. The sentence should have said: "If militancy can truly be wiped out, this would genuinely improve the future of our country". At any rate, it is high time Pakistan tackled these militants and rein in their assets.
Militancy in Pakistan is its cancer. Pakistan is going downhill and I dont see any light at the end of the tunnel. To progress it will have to cut defence spending and instead divert the resources into education. Its ideology that India is the aggressor does not wash with any independent thinkers but its own people. It must abolish all madrassas and start birth control. The present birth rate cannot be sustained and if it is not addressed then Pakistan will remain in the medieval times. A debate of religion whether Islam in its present stance can continue should now come out in open.
So it's ok to unleash a tidal wave of terrorism on Pakistani civilians as long as the Americans are safe and happy, eh Express Tribune?
So finally - it dawns on the Pakistanis as the country is perilously close to the point of no return! If true, it could mean a fresh start, if not, then this is just lip service. Hopefully it is the former. Also as the author points out - a change in mindset is also needed. So here's wishing you all the luck in exorcising your demons.