Will Malala unite us against terror?
On October 11, the military top brass got together with the government to express its solidarity over yet another incident of soul-searing intensity in the name of Islam. The military declared that “it is ready for any sacrifice for eliminating terrorism” and members of the meeting chaired by President Asif Ali Zardari on the civilian side declared that they were satisfied “ with the standard of preparedness of the armed forces to take on the upcoming challenges faced by the country”. Once again, members resolved “to fight the menace of terrorism”.
Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, in fact, needed to be supported in his earlier resolve expressed on August 14 that the war against terrorism and extremism was the real war confronting the nation and that it was a war to be fought by Pakistan. He was present in the meeting and must have felt that he was not alone in his thinking although most actions taken by Pakistan in the realm of foreign policy indicated that Pakistan was no longer interested in fighting terrorism. His address in Kakul sparked controversy because it was seen as a break from an earlier policy of causing internal agitation through the Difa-e-Pakistan Council.
The resistance to calling a spade a spade is still there and it has followed a pattern since 2009, when another teenage girl was flogged by Taliban hooligans in Swat and the spectacle of the nation’s shame was shown all over the world through a videotape. President Zardari ‘ordered inquiry’ and the chief justice took his suo-motu notice, followed by parliament passing a resolution. The army, which had been a spectator for some time, finally acted and drove the Taliban out of Swat-Malakand in an operation that displaced three million people. In 2009, there was resistance from some quarters to accepting that the Taliban were a negative element under the dubious leadership of Sufi Muhammad and his son-in-law Maulana Fazlullah.
In 2012, too, there is hesitation among some elements to accepting the stark reality of what is being done to the people of Pakistan. Popular clerical leaders of one side link the Malala incident with America’s transgressions in Afghanistan and are not allowing their rage about the American blaspheming film to ebb in favour of realism. Even after nearly a month of violence and destruction of property in the country, the extremists among us are not in the mood to stand on the side of a clearly upset nation. Like 2009, it is the Sunni Council of the Barelvi ulema that has clearly given the call to oppose and defeat the Taliban. But the others are hesitant — either out of fear or out of furtive agreement with the Taliban that Pakistan has to be bent forcibly to accept a religious order which finds no favour with the people.
The army chief has asked after Malala as she lies struggling against a bullet fired into her head. However, in 2009, too, he had looked good making common cause with parliament against the Taliban. In the intervening years, the military fought half-battles at best against the Taliban in Swat, Bajaur, Mohmand, Orakzai and South Waziristan; they were half-battles because the military seemed to be fighting bigger ones against the government since it got the Kerry-Lugar aid from America and because of the memogate case. At a time when Pakistan needed global support, such diversions only made things more difficult for it. Let us hope that this time Pakistan will fight its war against terror as its own war because there is no other way forward.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 13th, 2012.
COMMENTS (19)
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*WELL there is one point i want to discuss, Lets suppose there is an OPERATION (INSHALLAH) in WAZIRISTAN, we all know that there will be COLLATERAL DAMAGE. NOW coming to my point im wondering where will all these IDPS go?? To be honest with you none of the PAKHTUN TRIBES are willing to give refugee to WAZIRI PPL,i don't see that happening. When SWAT operation started the IDPS came to the lands of their COUSINS in SWABI and MARDAN,But waziris are not so lucky,NONE of the pakhtun tribes will give them refugee or accept them willingly.They are ISOLATED and the best way they can escape from all this is to GET ACROSS the BORDER.I think this will be the most BLOODY OPERATION ever done by PAK ARMY.WHAT DO YOU GUYZ THNK ???
@Jpy: "I strongly feal a leader with the spine & caliber of Gen.Musharaf is the last chance for Pakistan in the present scenario"
I will not debate his calibre - but his spine? The man said he will come to Pakisan on March 23 but has still not come. HE does not even have the guts to ocme to Pakistan, how will he solve Pakistan's problems?
Being a bully and being brave are not the same thing.
We should open our eyes n yes unite against such savages. It's now imparative for Parliment to pass a law making education in all tribal belt, Baluchistan, Waziristan, FATA female education mendatorial n parents to be held un-conditionally responsible if they fail in this.
@i-umaid and drones are harmless male bees, why malign them.
@karma: u misunderstood him !!! Talibans means "Students" thats why he don't want to call them taliban....
It's not just the militants that are the issue. The intolerant and violent attitude which supports blasphemy, attacks on minorities, conspiracy theories and a host of other ills is deeply rooted in Pakistan. Look in the mirror -- read your own paper -- it's becoming more apparent that your a people who are without redemption.
We win or we loose, we have to fight this war against bearded rascals. Now is the time.
I strongly feal a leader with the spine & caliber of Gen.Musharaf is the last chance for Pakistan in the present scenario
Alongside millitary action, will require the joint efforts of all the Ulema, to destroy the ideology of the Taliban.
III Expenditure on defence has been enormous, with nothing to show for that expenditure. In such conditions, it is natural if Islamists and fundamentalists offer wholly untenable interpretation of Quranic injunctions and the so-called duty of jihad. It is an extension of that train of thought which impels TTP to claim that girls are not supposed to go to school: obviously TTP men think that their women are their property that they can use and dispose of at will. Even the fatwa issued by Barelvi maulanas does not go far enough to say that such interpretation of Quran is wholly wrong. Besides, Barelvi maulanas and their Sunni Ittehad Council command only a small part of space in the religious discourse in Pakistan. Even the resolution of the National Assembly does not go far enough in condemning fundamentalists, who are really obscurantist to an extreme degree. All said and done, there is nothing that the people of Pakistan can look forward to with hope. Concluded.
II Meanwhile, the State and society of Pakistan have to face the wholly untenable interpretation of Islam as offered by Pakistani Taliban, even if Pakistan insists on calling them militants and not terrorists. Secondly, successive governments in Pakistan have not paid adequate attention to development and economic growth, without which the aam aadmi is reduced to pitiable conditions. Besides, education for the most part has meant madrassa education, with complete negation of everything that modern education stands for, namely, inculcation of an open mind and the scientific attitude: these categories just don’t apply in Pakistan’s case. In terms of the use of resources, it has been said that something like 90% of the revenues are spent on expenses of government and the armed forces and meeting obligations of subventions from sources like IMF, WB, ADB, etc., leaving little for development expenditure. The fact is that for an age the State of Pakistan has lived beyond its means.
If people of this country and army have ultimately realized that it's a defining moment then they should tighten their belts for a long struggle. The extremists want to impose a bigoted and fanatic regime in the name of religion. They unequivocally declare that either its going to be "their way" or "noway" and they can provide every justification for killing people, looting banks, kidnapping for ransom etc. etc. Their sympathizers are everywhere, so its going to be a tough task which not only needs an iron will but many tough decisions on various fronts. Lets hope that the words will materialize into reality and we as a nation see the dawn of an enlightened and peaceful Pakistan.
This tragic event may finally give the Army the support from the Pakistani public that it needs to finally move into the Waziristans! However, great leaders also grasp great tactical opportunities when the occur, in this case the Army should ask NATO/Americans for tactical air support DURING THIS OPERATION, using Pakistani/NATO forward air control teams to bring the massive firepower of the US down upon the TTP/Haqqanis/militants to finally erase all "safe havens" and permanently bring the writ of Pakistan to the agencies! IF THE ARMY COMES TO THE WAZIRISTANS, THEN IT MUST STAY THERE FOR GOOD, NOT LETTING THE TERRITORY SLIP AWAY AGAIN.
Sir, this is a million dollar question whose answer will come out as the coming days and weeks unfold. But the answers we have got is that it has exposed the Taliban apologists; the PTIs, the JIs, people in the present govt etc who are still in the "good Taliban, bad Taliban" era. It must be clear to one and all - The only good Taliban is the Dead Taliban, and drones will help us achieve that. Regards, KKB
We will not unite against the Taliban. It’s a Fact! Unfortunately Malala issue will die down in two weeks or so. We will then be back to our usual conspiracy theories which are primarily used to indirectly support the Taliban and their ilk. It’s sad but true!
the point is that though pakistan is the second most muslim populous state but many people will agree with me that Pakistan has the worlds largest divided muslims who claim their version of Islam is correct and they have the right to execute those who dont agree on their viewpoints thanks to the policy of Gen. Zia and some muftis who amalgamated religion into Politics and state. Still there are some leaders in Pakistan especially religious leaders are hesitant to speak against TTP thugs. I was really sad when i heard Jamat e islami leader telling Viewers that Malala and his family had some collusion with BBC and west. This is a thought that is really poisoning the entire Pakistan. If TTP is barbaric then sympathizer of TTP are the same side of the same coin. I pray for Malala's speedy recovery and i would also appeal to Jamat e islami Head leader to watch her interviews and speeches, i can surely say that he is a nationalist and a patriot.
Today, Rehman Malik was on CNN-IBN (India). The way he was trying to protect the 'good name' of Taliban made my stomach churn. He was saying we shouldn't say Taliban shot Malal, it was some other organization (he used some crazy name)!!
Taliban is a hydra headed monster. These are all folks with different name - one purpose - Pull as many people/countries as possible to 10th century.
You talk of Unity when Pakistan's Interior minister can't even name the killers!!
Uniting against terror will not matter one whit unless Pakistanis are also willing to shoulder responsibility for defeating them rather than pointing their fingers at India, the U.S., Martians, Zionists, liberal extremists, or whatever the day's flavor of blame is.