ISLAMABAD:
Amid reports of an offensive against militant bases in North Waziristan, the main opposition party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), cautioned against a backlash, saying on Wednesday that any new military campaign will fuel terrorism.
“…The military should not plunge the country into a war at the behest of foreign powers,” said leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan while addressing the media at Punjab House.
Nisar said the country had been suffering as a result of the US-led ‘war on terror’, and added that “launching a new offensive in tribal areas will surely ignite a fresh wave of unrest, extremism and terrorism.”
The opposition leader also asked the military’s top leadership to abide by parliamentary resolutions, and said that considering the government’s ‘unwise decision’ to resume Nato supplies, the people would never support a military operation in North Waziristan.
Contrary to Nisar’s assertions, Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, in his August 14 address, had said: “We have opened Ground Lines of Communications for Nato troops in accordance with parliament’s recommendations.”
US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta recently stated that Pakistan was prepared to launch combat operations against Taliban militants in North Waziristan, which also serves as a safe haven for the al Qaeda-affiliated Haqqani network.
According to Panetta, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani discussed the operation recently with the top US commander in Afghanistan, Gen John Allen.
Caretaker government
Nisar said the opposition was not in contact with the government to discuss the next general elections. He even ruled out the possibility of his party negotiating with the ruling Pakistan People Party (PPP) in the near future.
On Tuesday, PM Ashraf had said that “for holding impartial and transparent general elections, we are taking the opposition into confidence. And for this we have taken a start with the consensual appointment of the chief election commissioner.”
Responding to a question about a caretaker interim government, Nisar referred to the procedure laid down in 20th Constitutional Amendment. He added that his party would contact other opposition groups after Eid.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 16th, 2012.
COMMENTS (19)
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Your right -- the military should eliminate terrorist without being asked by any foreign power.
We must assess the current situation in Pakistan. The threat of terrorism continues to grow at an alarming rate. Thousands of people have been killed in the last few years including women, children and elderly. The terrorists have been on a nonstop mission to destabilize Pakistan. They are not holding any punches, and we can no longer allow them the capacity to commit atrocities. The latest attack on the PAF base in Kamra once again proves that Pakistan’s sovereignty and safety is in danger. This is what Pakistan’s chief of Army Staff, General Kayani said recently, “We realize that the most difficult task for any army is to fight against its own people. But this happens as a last resort. Our real objective is to restore peace in these areas so that people can lead normal lives. No state can afford a parallel system or a militant force.”
We fully support Pakistan in its fight against terror, and encourage Pakistan to uproot the elements that are preventing us from stabilizing the region. But that does not mean we are deciding Pakistan’s military Plan, or want to conduct operations inside Pakistan. This is what Brig. Gen. Gunter Katz, the ISAF spokesperson had to say: "ISAF continues to dialogue with the Pakistani military through the Tri-Partite Commission on ways to improve the security situation along the Afghan-Pakistan border, Part of this effort has included discussion of coordinating ISAF and Pakistani military operations on their respective sides of the border, as well as establishing border coordination centers, but ISAF forces are not planning to conduct operations inside Pakistan. ISAF continues to appreciate the improved relationship with the Pakistani military and we'll seek opportunities to deal with terrorism in the region.”
The military has taken the right decision to take on Haqqanis, TTP and Al Qaida terrorists who have taken full control of NW and the writ of the state does not exist there. This region has become the safe havens for TTP who are mounting frequent attacks inside Pakistan. Therefore it is in the fitness of things that the military wrest back the areas from the militants to maintain the sovereignty of the state.
There should be no sanctuaries, and breeding grounds for these criminals to breed, and operate from. If Mr. Nisar doesn't understand this, he is too shortsighted than a common person, and still loves to be called a "leader". Situation is that his party's Law Minister has given free reign to the extremists for recruitment, and whose cousin makes sure that these butchers remain scott free. Why there are so many encounters in Punjab of petty thieves, and not a single encounter involving the hardcore extremist militants?
It is not in Pakistan's interest to initiate military operation in North Waziristan. Such operations are bound to give rise to wide spread terrorism in our cities. More over US and Afghan Government have initiated negotiations with the Taliban but they are pressurizing Pakistan to open up new fronts.
Nisar saheb ,if operation in North Waziristan will fuel terrorism then how come that till now making the north Wazirizztan save heaven for militants, terrorism has grown to the extent that it is now a threat to Pakistan itself So What is your strategy to eliminate terrorism other than operation in Waziristan or you do not think that no terrorism exists. So do you think that attacking the enemies of Pakistan will fuel protest by the Pakistani people as you think that theorist killing innocent people, attacking the security basses of Pakistan, are friends and patriotic people. Stop narrow minded thinking to support extremists and like minded people to garner votes . history will treat you as the silent /active of supporter of terrorism and and contributor to destroy the nation and drag it at least 50 years behind.
To not act against the terrorists would allow for them to strengthen and attack PK.
This gentleman does not make sense. What benefit do we have by not going after the militants? I believe he is prying for the popular vote by mentioning foreign forces.. Idiotic!!
then do drone attacks
will you keep dieing like rats from tehreek e taliban
So he is okay with terrorists as long as they don't bother him.
Make no mistake about it, there is war going on against the mainstream Pakistanis and liberal parties. These fanatic terrorists are attacking our citizens, beheading our soldiers, blowing up old, women and children, blowing shrines, killing minorities and smaller sects of Muslims. Yet their apologists’ rightwing parties are still opposing any army action against these terrorist killers. No wonder these rightwing parties always lose elections as the silent majority knows who they actually are? Shame on these leaders that they still make excuses for these terrorists.
@Gul Bahadur-Nisar himself is a production of General Zia's regime, one of the few chicks hatched under that regime and Ironically portraying themselves as champions of democracy just because his leadership won the longest marathon of history i.e. 7 years Lahore-Jeddah-London-Lahore! Todays atatck on our security areas in Kamra should be an eye opener for Nisar and likeminded who like the rejected clergy are bragging the nonsense that its not our war or terror! I just think him, IK and many others will only wake up when these terrorists HIT them personally!
This man is openly doing popular politics to attract right wing vote bank even though he is fully aware of the gravity of the situation created by extremists(criminals)He should know that popular politics has its own backlash.Nawaz sharif or khawja asif should give him some piece of advise if they want to avoid troubles for their party.
Hehehehehe ch. Sahib, than why don't you join Imran khan on his peace Karavan to waziristan?
Where is Mian Sb. Btw?
As per usual, he is not in the country at the most crucial time.
Nisar is always ambiguous while discussing terrorism in the country.Does he think that by closing his eyes the phenomenon will go away? He does not mention the enemy. Who are these people? Why they are against Pakistan? What they want? Who is supporting them?He should be concentrating on these issues instead of crying wolf when he does not know the wolf.If He knows the wolf he should tell the Army,Navy,Air force and Police about its whereabouts.
Nisar is good at issuing press releases but you will never see him on ground. He is just a mouth piece.