Policemen collect evidence outside the site following the brazen attack in DI Khan. PHOTO: REUTERS
In such circumstances, the intelligence failure is unacceptable. The only way to thwart militant activity is to gain prior knowledge of their plans. By now, after so many years of tackling militancy, our elaborate intelligence networks — funded by public money — should have made inroads into militant set-ups, allowing them to gain important information. Only through such means can we ward off the kind of action seen in DI Khan. An assessment needs to be made of why such information is apparently not coming in, so that gaps can be plugged and the entire security structure re-examined as required so that it can be set up in a manner designed to prevent the kind of security nightmare that unfolded on July 29.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 31st, 2013.
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Pro Taliban or Pro Pakistan ! No third option
Had we taken stern action against perpetrators of Bannu Jail attack , this incident would have been avoided.
Lets talk with brothers of ours !
Such jail-breaks will occur again. Mark my words.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/584095/di-khan-jail-break-authorities-knew-two-days-before-attack/
While all the things mentioned are not untrue,but obviously some diligent intelligence officers are working;they forwarded the information about the attack as much as 48 hours prior,but obviously no action was taken. Intelligence agencies alone can not get rid of militancy. It requires action by law-enforcing agencies and military.(off course,without a citizens' support nothing will succeed)
Without accountability being pinned on those whose lapses allowed the daring jail break, such events will continue with monotonous regularity. Observers outside Pakistan are shocked with the public and government apathy and lack of interest or will to tackle the menace of Terrorism. Clearly as pointed out elsewhere instead of the Intelligence Agencies making deep inroads into the terror network, the reverse has happened. Without collusion and support from within such daring raids cannot be carried out. Is it so difficult to use Jammers in prisons where high value targets are kept ? If Pakistan continues to drift without a will to change the status quo, external Powers who are financing its survival may lose interest. There will also be questions whether the supporters of Terror are now on the verge of coming to Power using the same Government structure, which should have destroyed them or kept them at bay.
Where Militants dare --- reminded me my most favorite picture- Where Eagles Dare.
Sir this is not a time for analysis or introspection its a time for action. I propose a Civilian Martial Law. Let there be Military deployment in every city and every major Insitution. A tank at every corner will rebuild public fairth and confidence. This is cancer and it needs chemo no point in carrying on as sual.
"By now, after so many years of tackling militancy, our elaborate intelligence networks — funded by public money — should have made inroads into militant set-ups, allowing them to gain important information. "
By now, after so many years of increasing violence against military and police targets correlated with increased funding of intelligence networks, aren't Pakistanis entitled to suspect that the militants have made further inroads into intelligence networks, rather than the reverse?
Nothing, it appears, is enough to hold public officials accountable. Those that are elected are too scared or too corrupt to carry out their mandates. Only continuous "people power" exercised on the street would be enough to do the job, coupled with an ideology that elevates civil rights over both arbitrary power of the state and radical Islam.
Are Pakistanis ever going to gather enough courage to do the job? Why do we Americans hear in response to this question, "You want us to do it all ourselves!" rather than resolution to do what must be done? The British Indian Army - composed largely of Muslims - didn't complain like that; it's motto was, "Give us the tools, and we will do the job." Pakistan has had the tools - an army with weapons and a population that prefers moderates to militants - for ages; what it appears to lack is will.
Rubbish - get rid of the militant and you don't have to worry about "their plans".
The policemen seem to be looking for any piece of paper where the escaped militants may have left their address where they may be contacted.