THE NEWS EDITORIAL
Finally we have a direct, unequivocal announcement of a decision to launch a decisive operation against the Taliban, in Swat and elsewhere. In his address to the nation, Prime Minister Gilani accused the militants of unleashing terror, preventing education for girls and terrorizing women. Though one wonders why this reality had not dawned earlier on the government. It seems to have been living in Cloud Cuckoo Land since the 'peace accord’ with the TNSM was reached mid-February. But as the saying goes, late is after all better than never. The PM has made it clear that his government plans to go after the Taliban till they are defeated. He has accused them of using Islam to further their own purposes. What is especially significant is the fact that we now have a chorus of voices speaking together. All major parties, including the ANP, have backed the operation which has begun in Swat. The army chief too has vowed to continue the mission till the logical end and has clearly signalled there is no longer any dichotomy in views. This is important given the doubts that had been raised earlier about the sincerity and commitment of various players in the battle to defeat the militants.
Now that the pledge has been made to take on the militants, there is a need to also ensure that good planning and the devising of a longer-term strategy goes along with the immediate flurry of action on the ground. The nation needs to be prepared for the fact that the bid to overcome the Taliban may take time; they have after all entrenched themselves in the northern areas over a period of years. What we need is some clear thinking on how their influence can be gradually eradicated, through education, through action against top leaders and through the offering of opportunities to people who because of a lack of choice have, in many cases, opted to align themselves with the Taliban. And as the military action will bring with it inevitable death and destruction, we need to build the popular opinion that is vital to victory in any war – especially one in which troops are forced to kill their own people. Such situations, coupled with criticism of the operation which will come, may lead swiftly to demoralization and de-motivation. To counter it, a nationwide effort is needed, incorporating the media, popular musicians, clerics, writers, sportsmen and indeed all others who have influence in our society.
The situation we have on our hands is a complex one. The prime minister in his address called for international assistance to aid tens of thousands of displaced persons. But his government too needs to adopt a more proactive role in this. The misery of people forced time and again to abandon homes cannot be ignored. This is all the more essential given the need to ensure that people gain confidence in the ability of the state to protect them. Their lack of faith so far has been a factor that has helped the Taliban rise and gain ground. To address the immense humanitarian crisis we face, the government needs to set up a special body to look at all its different aspects. The displacements may not end quickly and more will follow. International help will be required, but it is the responsibility of the federal government to also do all it can on its own, to establish better organized camps and also other housing solutions given that many of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are reluctant for cultural reasons to live without privacy and dignity. As much as possible must be done to prevent civilian casualties in areas of conflict. While these cannot entirely be avoided, the maximum effort to do so must be made – so that people eventually emerge from the war as victors, able to reclaim lives that have been snatched away from them by the Taliban.
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