Dealing Terrorism Is A Difficult Task For Pakistan Now
Muhammad Khurshid
April 10, 2009
There are two opinions about the Pakistani role in war on terrorism. Either the security forces incapable to deal terrorists or there are someone with the establishment, who have been supporting and promoting terrorism. But the situation is very very critical as terrorists have been making rapid advancement towards Islamabad. Now the Pakistani media has been accepting the fact that there is threat from terrorists. There is also impression that Pakistani rulers have been creating justification for intervention from the United States. But the security forces of Pakistan have failed in their effort to eradicate the menace of terrorism.
According to a newspaper editorial comment, it would be foolish to say this had not been expected. For months it has been quite clear the Taliban have now set their sights on the whole of NWFP, and indeed on the entire territory of Pakistan, not just on the remote northern areas where they have so far concentrated their efforts. One day, not very long from now, we may see women being flogged on the streets of Islamabad or Lahore or Karachi; our Armani-suited elite may be forced into shalwars that rise above the ankle and made to grow unruly beards. The signs of what the Taliban plan are visible everywhere. There is no point living on in a state of denial.
Taking advantage of the peace accord, hordes of the Taliban from Swat have now moved south into the Buner region. They have made it quite clear they intend to take control of the area and impose the same restrictions that now rule life in Swat. Local people from Buner have sworn they will resist – but the task is not so easy. Already at least two members of a 'Lashkar' that dared to oppose the Taliban have been slain. The militants will no doubt kill others as they endeavour to spread their tentacles into Buner – and then after that to other parts of NWFP. The people of Buner and elsewhere face terrible danger.
The fact is that we are now confronting a Hydra-headed monster, capable of rearing up in various parts of our country. The Lal Majid incident in Islamabad proves even the capital is not beyond their reach. New reports suggest the Taliban aim to capture it. There has also been increasing violence in Dir, another region that lies adjacent to Swat, as the Taliban try to get a foothold there.
Our government must realize that striking deals with these extremists, attempting to appease them or reach agreements with them is a means only to encourage their growth. It is the lull in fighting in Swat that has enabled them to send truckloads of fighters into Buner. The leaders of the Taliban are canny enough to use such accords to their advantage. They have done so before, they are doing so again and they will, undoubtedly and if given the opportunity, do so in the future. The Taliban need to be tackled with all the might we can muster up. Their evil threatens us all; it could overtake us. The will to stop the militants must be found. We must act before it is too late to save a state that is now under siege.
The End
According to a newspaper editorial comment, it would be foolish to say this had not been expected. For months it has been quite clear the Taliban have now set their sights on the whole of NWFP, and indeed on the entire territory of Pakistan, not just on the remote northern areas where they have so far concentrated their efforts. One day, not very long from now, we may see women being flogged on the streets of Islamabad or Lahore or Karachi; our Armani-suited elite may be forced into shalwars that rise above the ankle and made to grow unruly beards. The signs of what the Taliban plan are visible everywhere. There is no point living on in a state of denial.
Taking advantage of the peace accord, hordes of the Taliban from Swat have now moved south into the Buner region. They have made it quite clear they intend to take control of the area and impose the same restrictions that now rule life in Swat. Local people from Buner have sworn they will resist – but the task is not so easy. Already at least two members of a 'Lashkar' that dared to oppose the Taliban have been slain. The militants will no doubt kill others as they endeavour to spread their tentacles into Buner – and then after that to other parts of NWFP. The people of Buner and elsewhere face terrible danger.
The fact is that we are now confronting a Hydra-headed monster, capable of rearing up in various parts of our country. The Lal Majid incident in Islamabad proves even the capital is not beyond their reach. New reports suggest the Taliban aim to capture it. There has also been increasing violence in Dir, another region that lies adjacent to Swat, as the Taliban try to get a foothold there.
Our government must realize that striking deals with these extremists, attempting to appease them or reach agreements with them is a means only to encourage their growth. It is the lull in fighting in Swat that has enabled them to send truckloads of fighters into Buner. The leaders of the Taliban are canny enough to use such accords to their advantage. They have done so before, they are doing so again and they will, undoubtedly and if given the opportunity, do so in the future. The Taliban need to be tackled with all the might we can muster up. Their evil threatens us all; it could overtake us. The will to stop the militants must be found. We must act before it is too late to save a state that is now under siege.
The End
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