As far as ordinary Pakistanis are concerned, they do not understand the real difference between military and civilian courts; what they do understand is that terrorism and Pakistan cannot go hand in hand any longer
Dear Sir,
Through this letter, I want to thank you in particular and acknowledge the role of the Pakistani army in general for showing extraordinary resolve against the terrorists who shot down 132 innocent children in Peshawar last month. Your immediate response, with coordinated air strikes in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and prompt execution of the terrorists who have been found guilty by the courts, reassured us that the military has got our backs, a gesture that both calmed us down and lifted our spirits to fight this war in which the enemy follows no rules, shows no sympathy and relies upon pure savagery to spread terror.
Sir, I can affirm that the whole nation stands behind the armed forces today, fully aware that the cost of this war, both in the form of civilian casualties and military sacrifices, can run high. However, we also believe that the dawn of a new and safe Pakistan will eventually set in, liberating us from our fears.
Sir, since you were sworn in as the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS), we find that every organ of the state — political parties, judiciary, bureaucracy and the media — has finally united to take on the existential threat to our nation. And, for the first time, all of them have realised that the terrorists on our soil, like the parasites chewing down their own hosts, act as our enemies and not friends, irrespective of their religion or political ambitions in neighbouring countries. Although we still mourn the death of our children, we celebrate the clarity in thought that may have been the essential ingredient missing to defeat this menace once and for all.
Sir, after passing the 21st Constitutional Amendment, politicians cannot back out from their commitment. Whether they understood the limitations and inefficiencies of the civilian judicial structure, they were convinced it was the right thing to do, or they gave in after a little ‘arm twisting’. Whatever the case may have been; they have still put their trust in you by establishing military courts and agreeing to prosecute criminals through your officers. Sure, this step has irked some liberals but, sir, most members of parliament have supported it nevertheless. As far as ordinary Pakistanis are concerned, they do not understand the real difference between military and civilian courts; what they do understand is that terrorism and Pakistan cannot go hand in hand any longer. One will have to crush another for its own survival. And who do they trust to get the job done? Only you. In the end, through the recent visit of John Kerry, the US Secretary of State to Pakistan and by releasing the funds for internally displaced persons (IDPs), the US too has pledged its support in your favour. From a practical standpoint in the current circumstances, you cannot ask for better support than this. Now, sir, with all the power accumulated in your hands through military courts, political backing, public sympathy and US assistance, let us be clear that there is absolutely no room left for failure.
As always, sir, through an organised campaign, we are being fed conspiracy theories yet again, theories that almost exonerate the Taliban from incidents like the Peshawar massacre and put the major blame on India and other countries. It may very well be true but, even if it is true, we still have to consider it as the failure of our leading spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), for its inability to uncover the plot and catch miscreants before they had executed their plan. Yes sir, I agree that the CIA, RAW, MI 6 and French intelligence, all of them failed to pre-empt such an attack on their soil. But, each one of them only failed once. We, on the other hand, have failed on numerous occasions, including but not limited to the GHQ attack, assault on Karachi airport, Wagha border massacre and raids on the PNS Mehran. The time for such excuses like foreign involvement and international agenda has passed sir. We do not want unfounded theories, cooked-up explanations or unnecessary blame games. Now, we want results.
Sir, if some of the terrorists get illegal financing, even then I have to say it still falls in your domain. The agencies need to track down the money trail and block the process while prosecuting the culprits in military courts. Non-military institutions, for reasons well known to you, neither have the capacity nor the understanding to handle these complex issues. Notwithstanding its ineptitude, the ISI, with its experience in dealing with such matters, should detect and prevent such instances at all costs. If it needs assistance, you know it can be obtained in a heartbeat. However, in case of its failure to stop such funding, we must not blame the powerless and unskillful civilian institutions.
You must know that terrorism is not the only war we need to win. Our struggle has to be directed towards extremism and sectarianism too. And without taking action against sectarian organisations, neither can we win the war against terror nor can we attain durable peace. That action is the litmus test sir; we have to evaluate our army’s capability and resolve based on its success against banned outfits like Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) and Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT).
In the end, I am writing this letter to you instead of the prime minister of Pakistan because I want to set the record straight: the ultimate responsibility for the outcome of this war, whether we win it or lose, lies in the hands of the Pakistan army. We cannot blame the civilian leadership for their alleged incapacity or dishonesty anymore. In case of failure, we must realise that this is not Kargil. We cannot afford another scapegoat for sacrifice. The people of Pakistan have done their job; it is time for you to do yours.
Thank you,
Concerned citizens
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