Pakistan: This is war

If there were any reservations, tactical or strategic, about launching an all-out military operation against militants in North Waziristan these had ceased to exist for quite some time. The military high command had relented on its rejection of Americans' demand for action and the government-sponsored peace overtures to the militants' apex body, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan were leading nowhere. A kind of target-specific operation was on, but the blowback it tempted was disproportional to the gains on the ground, the terrorist attack on Karachi airport and massacre of Shia pilgrims on Pak-Iran border being the disturbing aftermath. With the month of Ramazan less than a fortnight away the window for a result-oriented move against militants and their sanctuaries in North Waziristan was getting shorter by the day. Then there on the horizon have unfolded quite a few high-profile militancy narratives that are rich in psychological promise to serve as morale-boosters for the terrorist outfits in Pakistan.

In Nigeria, the Boko Haram has literally put the state and its forces out of action in almost one-third of the country. In Iraq, the holy warriors of the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) are now knocking at the door of capital city by scoring stunning battle victories against the defenders of the nation. In China, the extremists have stepped up their attacks graduating from their status of knife-wielding criminals to suicidal attackers. No wonder then both the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Uzbek militants promptly claimed responsibility for the attack on the Karachi airport, which on that day of action was the main story on world media outlets. Rightly then one final and decisive move against the curse of militancy couldn't be put off any further. How urgently, and comprehensively, this operation was needed is obvious from the nation-wide instant support it received. Given that the action against militants in North Waziristan Agency is an internal issue and it involves our own people, the time taken by the government to finally go for it has logic to it. The prime minister was of the mind that military operation should be the last option, and now when such an action dictated its justification the government is on the 'same page' with the military leadership. The comprehensive action against foreign and local terrorists has been launched 'on the directions of the government', says the Pakistan Army's spokesman Major General Asim Bajwa, with Defence Minister Khawaja Asif adding that the operation would be decisive.

This war on terror being a national endeavour its outcome is going to be more critical than any other war Pakistan fought before. Not only the government and the military have to be on the same page; the entire nation, particularly the political parties too should be on the 'same page'. What message other than that we as a nation are not one on this war against terrorism we would be sending out to the world at large by making anti-operation statements and holding anti-government rallies as soldiers engage forces antithetical to all that Pakistan stands for. In this narrative where do the PTI rally at Bahawalpur (later, it postponed its programme on security reasons), Tahirul Qadri's revolutionary landing in Islamabad and Sheikh Rashid's train march fit, while military operation is on in tribal areas. Their leaders need to revisit their plans, and ask their workers to come on streets vociferously pledging all their support to officers and jawans fighting the blood-addicted forces of the evil. A divided nation is never the winner of a war.

If the much smaller ISIL force has made spectacular gains against the half million strong US-trained Iraqi military the only reason are the clashing perspectives hosted by the principal political stakeholders of that country. Also, we need to accept the fact that terrorism is not a localised affair confined to North Waziristan; it is a curse that permeates the entire national landscape, effectively pre-empting the possibility of its piecemeal handling. When military struck at Uzbeks' hideouts in tribal areas they hit back in Karachi, and their affiliates murdered two dozen Shia pilgrims in Balochistan. Rightly then while announcing initiation of the operation the ISPR has underscored the need for 'co-ordination with other state institutions and law enforcement agencies ... (to ensure) these enemies of the state will be denied space across the country'. Of course, the ISPR could say only this, beyond that, it is the patriotic duty of the political parties, religious groups and all other segments of society to behave and act as a united front against the terrorists, be they extremist fanatics or foreign-funded saboteurs. This war is not about gain or loss of territory, nor is it a score-settling venture. It's all about Pakistan and it must be won whatever the costs.