All these years of our national independence the enemy was never too far, but it was firmly checked and held back over there. No more; it is too close now and is virtually knocking at the door. If a part of it is working to break our will and destroy our ethos to be a free people, its other part is striking at the very roots of our independent existence. By burning down the Quaid's Residency at Ziarat the separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has conveyed its message loud and clear that it has nothing to do with Pakistan. By killing medical college students in Quetta the Lashkar-i-Jhangvi has messaged that it would spare no blood to impose its own brand of Islam. Of course all this time both the BLA and LJ were busy wrecking havoc wherever they could, but the simultaneity of the attack on the monument that has come to symbolise our independence and the massacre of girl students aptly reflects the enormity of threat the enemy poses.
What more can come our way to forewarn us of the gravity of the threat the country and people are confronting! If the governments in place following the May 11 general election have the required capacity and desired capability to stand up to this multi-headed monster the people of Pakistan would like to know. It was brave of Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to reach Quetta and visit the burnt-down Quaid's Residency. That he would offer 'dialogue' to those who want dialogue and a 'war' to those who want a war, is talk that must walk now because too much time has already been lost in making political statements and passing parliamentary resolutions. Not that the BLA and LJ are new arrivals and that more time is needed to know their mind.
They have been enacting their bloody agenda on the streets of Pakistan for too long. Unfortunately, however, the governments of the day had miserably failed to offer the matching responses; all that was done was merely fire-fighting scandalously lacking institutional approach. It's damn frustrating that a comprehensive strategy to counter a threat of the magnitude Pakistan faces is not yet in place. Going by Chaudhry Nisar Ali's words the government would hopefully do it now.
Not that the curse of terrorism is confined to Balochistan or Karachi; if some other parts are relatively spared it is not a matter of great comfort. Only yesterday, the Rawalpindi police intercepted a vehicle loaded with enough of arsenal to destroy half the city.
That said, and notwithstanding that Ziarat Residency destruction and Quetta massacre are 'welcome greetings' sent to the new provincial government, one would like to believe that in the wake of May 11 general election there is the possibility to revamp and reinvigorate resolve to effectively engage and defeat the enemy. In place of a federal party-headed provincial government, like the one led by Nawab Aslam Raisani, Balochistan is now being governed by a coalition headed by a recognised nationalist Dr Abdul Malik Baloch. And its governor too represents a nationalist party Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP). Together, they are better placed to initiate contacts with fellow nationalists on the other side of the divide. But the success of Dr Malik's government is hostage to his administration and no chain can be stronger than its weakest link. Over the last few years the bureaucracy is thoroughly politicised, essentially not that the officers would like to be foot soldiers of their political masters, but because the otherwise is impossible. Therefore it would be in the fitness of things that the chief minister should assure blanket implementation of the apex court's order to ensure survival of honest civil servants. Last but not least, all the forces combating terrorism have to move in tandem. Even when losses of life and limb on the part of the security forces are heavy these are disproportionate to losses they inflicted on the enemy, more often the cause being intelligence failure. Therefore, not only are the intelligence agencies expected to be better trained, they are required to be equipped with latest technology, matching the enemy's. Likewise, extra efforts are in order to rid of grey areas in anti-terrorist operations, like the saga of missing persons, body-bags and midnight knocks on your door. On the face of it, there should be no problem in seeking lawful detention of a suspect. And if a detainee is required to be prosecuted then it should be followed up with full preparation within the ambit of law. All in all, fighting and defeating terrorists, be they religious fanatics, foreign-funded hired guns or disillusioned separatists, is an achievable task. Of course, it would require sincere efforts, total commitment and precious sacrifices - like the ones made by the DC Quetta, security personnel and staff nurses. And the heart goes out for the near ones and dear ones of the university students for their unremitting pain.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Balochistan cauldron
All these years of our national independence the enemy was never too far, but it was firmly checked and held back over there. No more; it is too close now and is virtually knocking at the door. If a part of it is working to break our will and destroy our ethos to be a free people, its other part is striking at the very roots of our independent existence. By burning down the Quaid's Residency at Ziarat the separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has conveyed its message loud and clear that it has nothing to do with Pakistan. By killing medical college students in Quetta the Lashkar-i-Jhangvi has messaged that it would spare no blood to impose its own brand of Islam. Of course all this time both the BLA and LJ were busy wrecking havoc wherever they could, but the simultaneity of the attack on the monument that has come to symbolise our independence and the massacre of girl students aptly reflects the enormity of threat the enemy poses.
What more can come our way to forewarn us of the gravity of the threat the country and people are confronting! If the governments in place following the May 11 general election have the required capacity and desired capability to stand up to this multi-headed monster the people of Pakistan would like to know. It was brave of Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to reach Quetta and visit the burnt-down Quaid's Residency. That he would offer 'dialogue' to those who want dialogue and a 'war' to those who want a war, is talk that must walk now because too much time has already been lost in making political statements and passing parliamentary resolutions. Not that the BLA and LJ are new arrivals and that more time is needed to know their mind.
They have been enacting their bloody agenda on the streets of Pakistan for too long. Unfortunately, however, the governments of the day had miserably failed to offer the matching responses; all that was done was merely fire-fighting scandalously lacking institutional approach. It's damn frustrating that a comprehensive strategy to counter a threat of the magnitude Pakistan faces is not yet in place. Going by Chaudhry Nisar Ali's words the government would hopefully do it now.
Not that the curse of terrorism is confined to Balochistan or Karachi; if some other parts are relatively spared it is not a matter of great comfort. Only yesterday, the Rawalpindi police intercepted a vehicle loaded with enough of arsenal to destroy half the city.
That said, and notwithstanding that Ziarat Residency destruction and Quetta massacre are 'welcome greetings' sent to the new provincial government, one would like to believe that in the wake of May 11 general election there is the possibility to revamp and reinvigorate resolve to effectively engage and defeat the enemy. In place of a federal party-headed provincial government, like the one led by Nawab Aslam Raisani, Balochistan is now being governed by a coalition headed by a recognised nationalist Dr Abdul Malik Baloch. And its governor too represents a nationalist party Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP). Together, they are better placed to initiate contacts with fellow nationalists on the other side of the divide. But the success of Dr Malik's government is hostage to his administration and no chain can be stronger than its weakest link. Over the last few years the bureaucracy is thoroughly politicised, essentially not that the officers would like to be foot soldiers of their political masters, but because the otherwise is impossible. Therefore it would be in the fitness of things that the chief minister should assure blanket implementation of the apex court's order to ensure survival of honest civil servants. Last but not least, all the forces combating terrorism have to move in tandem. Even when losses of life and limb on the part of the security forces are heavy these are disproportionate to losses they inflicted on the enemy, more often the cause being intelligence failure. Therefore, not only are the intelligence agencies expected to be better trained, they are required to be equipped with latest technology, matching the enemy's. Likewise, extra efforts are in order to rid of grey areas in anti-terrorist operations, like the saga of missing persons, body-bags and midnight knocks on your door. On the face of it, there should be no problem in seeking lawful detention of a suspect. And if a detainee is required to be prosecuted then it should be followed up with full preparation within the ambit of law. All in all, fighting and defeating terrorists, be they religious fanatics, foreign-funded hired guns or disillusioned separatists, is an achievable task. Of course, it would require sincere efforts, total commitment and precious sacrifices - like the ones made by the DC Quetta, security personnel and staff nurses. And the heart goes out for the near ones and dear ones of the university students for their unremitting pain.
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