Time for military action against the terrorists is now

When Japan attacked Pearl Harbour in 1942, the US dropped atomic bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki; when the Twin Towers in New York were destroyed in 2001, America retaliated by invading Iraq and Afghanistan. Its actions were swift and decisive, with no thought for the rest of world. The entire US nation, politicians and media stood united. Their courts conveniently looked the other way while “due process” was ignored under the garb of war on terror. Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA), also realising that the Islamic state is at stake, did not waste a minute in initiating the Ridda Wars against the rebels.

As if in retaliation for having held successful elections, the enemy within has launched a systematic unrelenting and ruthless attack on us. It all began with June 15, which was a black day in Pakistan indeed — similar to 1942 and 2001 in the US —when the nation watched in horror as the Quaid-e-Azam’s last abode, the Residency in Ziarat, and a symbol of Pakistan (its picture on our hundred-rupee note) was destroyed with bombs and completely burnt to ashes. Pakistan’s flag was removed and another — a separatist one was hoisted instead. This was obviously no military victory. The attack was symbolic, calculated to psychologically demolish the national spirit and show to us and the world that no one and no place in Pakistan is sacred and safe; the Balochistan Liberation Army claimed the attack and boasted: “We don’t recognise any Pakistani monument”. What happened next was equally horrible. Terrorists blew up a bus carrying girl students and nurses killing more than a dozen and then took over BMC hospital resulting in more bloodshed. This was followed by a bomb blast in Mardan on June 18, at a funeral in which dozens, including a recently-elected PTI MPA, died. Then came a suicide blast in a mosque in Peshawar on June 21 (killing at least 15), the cold-blooded murders of foreign tourists at the Nanga Parbat Base Camp and the June 26 assassination attempt on a sitting judge of the Sindh High Court in Karachi (which killed nine). For how long will we continue to tolerate this?

Our reactions are typical, something we have been witnessing for more than a decade. Leaders condemn, utter token words of sympathy, caution restraint and patience and then go about business as usual. Yes, of course, there were token walkouts by the opposition in the Senate and prayers for the dead in the assemblies. Terrorists have stuck at our core and we are still reacting only with symbolic gestures. To me, such meekness is becoming disgusting and nauseating and is exactly the reason why our enemies are becoming stronger and more aggressive.

For five years people bore heart-wrenching killings and mayhem, bravely, with patience and restraint, and hoped that the next government would break the vicious cycle with action. Now the burden falls on Nawaz Sharif who has absolute control of the federation and Punjab. Baloch nationals are in power in Balochistan with his blessings. Blaming past regimes, fist waving and empty threats will no longer work. People won’t and should not tolerate inaction anymore. It is time to take effective and decisive steps, just like the US did when faced with much less. The difference is that while America’s wars have been against enemies from outside, real or created, in Pakistan’s case, unfortunately, we have given space and shelter to and created one of the most ruthless and cruel enemies from within. Ours is not a war on terror only but, in reality, a war against zulm (cruelty) which has to be tackled differently but equally decisively. One cannot wait and exercise restraint or else this zulm will engulf us.

Nawaz has to show zero tolerance and react as if his Raiwind residence has been destroyed. Politicians have to respond as if their own daughters have been burnt alive. We have ignored the killings in Karachi and the genocide of the Hazaras for far too long. Terrorists — religious or separatist or Taliban — are beasts and should be dealt with as such. What is to be done? First, Pakistan’s armed forces, who I believe are ready for action, should be officially called in aid of the nation in accordance with the Constitution. Their agenda has to be: capture, if possible, and destroy if necessary, all these assailants. The action must go on for as long as necessary, but for it to be successful there are four essentials.

Unity: No army can win unless the nation stands united behind it. Without this, even a superpower like the US, with all its might, could not defeat the Viet Cong. All leaders have to muster wholehearted and open support for this jihad. In this, Imran Khan has a crucial role to play. He is indirectly in charge of K-P and must abandon his stance of dialogue with the enemy.

Laws: In such trying times, we must be prepared that some fundamental rights in certain affected areas, may be suspended but in order to minimise abuse and victimisation, special laws will need to be enacted, balancing the need to give legitimacy to forces to do an effective job while maintaining the minimum standards of rule of law. This could include amendments to rules of evidence and establishment of witness protection programmes to successfully prosecute terrorists. In my view, this is justified if we are to counter those who are Pakistan’s enemies and have a mission to kill us.

Defence Council: A war can become irrational and go out of control if not monitored in a transparent and structured manner. A defence council including the PM, all the CMs, opposition leaders, heads of armed services and law-enforcing agencies needs to begin the task of formulating war strategy, with Nawaz Sharif involved in day to day events, as Obama has been doing.

Long-term measures like creating jobs and education are equally important, but cannot substitute immediate action. People living in poverty are concerned with survival but intellectuals and the better off have to galvanise first. Please media, let these not become just incidents to be reported. No economy or industry will survive for long if terrorism is allowed to continue unabated. O nation believe me, long-term strategies will be useless and ultimately, either terrorists will win or the jobless will revolt or worse, both may happen. Remember, revolutions lead to disaster, violence and blood. Surely if army action is not taken now, it will be too late to exercise this option later. Let us not be a nation in slumber.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 29^th, 2013.

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