No operation under foreign pressure
Friday, July 09, 2010
Defence secretary, DG ISI brief security panel
By Muhammad Saleh Zaafir
ISLAMABAD: Parliaments Special Committee on National Security (SCNS) was told on Thursday that the flushing out of terrorists concentrated in a particular area in the tribal belt adjacent with Afghanistan would be carried out in a way that must not harm Pakistans vital national security interests, as the terrorists could spread to the settled areas and could cause huge loss if an operation was launched without proper planning.
No fresh operation in the tribal areas would be initiated without comprehensive planning. The authorities concerned are constantly reviewing the situation and the decision would be taken in the best interest of the country and under no circumstances any foreign dictation would be accepted.
The committee had a marathon session at the Parliament House on Thursday, which was chaired by its Chairman Senator Mian Raza Rabbani. Secretary Defence Lt Gen (retd) Syed Athar Ali and Director General Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha briefed the meeting, which was also attended by leader of the opposition in the Senate Senator Wasim Sajjad, chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman, former interior minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, deputy parliamentary leader of Muttahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi, PML-N parliamentary leader in the Senate Senator Ishaq Dar, Abdur Rahim Mandokhel and parliamentary leader of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) Munir Khan Orakzai.
In a detailed briefing about the threat perceptions and the prevailing law and order situation in the country, the committee was told that Pakistan was withstanding tremendous pressure for undertaking a military operation in North Waziristan. Nato is keen on initiation of the operation on a priority basis but the situation on the ground is fully under control of Pakistani administration, which has better understanding of the area and the situation. No step would be taken without due deliberations.
The committee was also briefed about the happenings in Balochistan and the role of Pakistans traditional adversaries in the whole affair. The great game has to be defeated and Pakistan is fully capable of dealing with it and its authorities are cognizant of the designs of its enemies.
The sources inside the committee told The News on condition of anonymity that the MPs also asked questions about the latest developments. The briefing given by General Pasha was quite candid. Interestingly, Maulana Fazlur Rehman did not dispute any of the observations and looked satisfied with the briefing.
The members were told in categorical terms that no Punjabi Taliban network exists in any part of the country and no organisation under the banner of Taliban in any particular area of the country has been found. The recent terror incidents are the handiwork of the splinter groups and persons of outlawed organisations, which have lost their bases in the tribal areas and elsewhere.
The parliamentary panel was informed that militants belonging to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other banned organisations have been eliminated but certain individuals who have the active support from across the borders are engaged in terrorist activities. A large number of terrorists, including some of their top leaders, have been arrested.
The sources said that the committee had decided to formulate a new and comprehensive strategy to deal with the menace of terrorism and issues of national security. The task would be completed by August 10. The SCNS has sought reports from the federal government on compliance of its 14 points proposed more than a year ago to deal with challenges of national security. It has sent a formal letter to ministries of interior, defence and foreign affairs seeking explanation for not implementing its previous recommendations. Some members even threatened to quit the committee if its recommendations were not implemented.
The SCNS was told that Iran and Afghanistan are fully cooperating with the Government of Pakistan. The Taliban in Afghanistan have reached the conclusion that the al-Qaida leadership had damaged their cause and in a subtle way they were parting their ways with the al-Qaida. They have almost severed their links with their counterpart in Pakistan.
The committee has decided to invite all the four chief ministers in its next meeting for a briefing on their respective provinces with regard to the challenges being confronted by them, the sources added.
Senator Mian Raza Rabbani, who is also adviser to the prime minister on inter-provincial coordination, told this correspondent later that Pakistan, being independent and sovereign country, would itself decide when and where to launch a military operation. He said undue criticism was harmful for national consensus so politicians should avoid it, keeping the national interests supreme. The issue of missing persons is a serious matter and the government will ensure their recovery, he said.
Rabbani said the committee would hold regular meetings after August 2 to prepare fresh recommendations in the light of earlier suggestions. He said the panel would take briefing from the ministries of interior, defence and foreign affairs on August 2, 3 and 4 respectively.
Mian Raza Rabbani, who met Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani last week, will have another meeting with the prime minister early next week to discuss important national security issues, the sources said.
