Moin91
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Monday, September 15, 2008
by Sayed GB Shah Bokhari
One practical lesson that I have learnt after participating in the 1965 Indo-Pak war is that the moral backing of the nation adds tremendously to the fighting prowess of the armed forces. Today the country is undergoing a serious state of war. It is another thing that the entire nation is not convinced about it and hence the support that should have come forth from the nation to back up the fighting efforts of the personnel of the security forces is absent. Drumming in the notion, among the minds of simple folks, that security forces of Pakistan are not fighting for safe guarding the integrity of the country but are acting as mercenaries fighting war for America, is the biggest success of the militants on the psychological front to keep the Pakistani nation divided on this subject and hence deny the moral support that a fighting soldier while discharging life-risking obligations expects from his countrymen. The politico-religious parties are playing a very effective role, on behalf of the militants, by propagating in the mosques, through post-Friday prayers demonstrations and by issuing statements to the press that the anti-terror war is not our war but that of America.
Let us appraise if the ongoing bloody conflict between the security forces against militants in NWFP and FATA is our war? The Encarta World English dictionary defines war as “an armed conflict between countries or groups that involves killing and destruction.” Does not FATA, beside a major part of the NWFP, and sporadic incidents of terrorism taking place in the rest of Pakistan qualifies the country to be in a state of war? Pakistan is committed to and stands by the UN Charter not to interfere in the internal affairs of any member state of the UNO, particularly our neighbouring countries. If it is discovered that part of the country is being used by militant groups to impart professionally organised military training to the youth who are then launched against targets in our neighbours, is it not incumbent on the government in power to put an end to the blatant violation of the country’s foreign policy stand? If the militants challenge the writ of the government by putting up an armed resistance, does it not describe the situation as a state of war?
The ANP has always championed the cause of Pukhtuns and presented itself as the embodiment of non-violence. After taking over the reins of the NWFP government after the February 18 elections, ground realities have dawned on them that given the prevailing situation a military action against the miscreants is not a choice but obligation of the government. The ANP Chief Minister of NWFP, Ameer Haider Khan Hoti, while wrapping up a debate on the law and order situation in the province on the assembly floor on August 21 admitted that operation in Bajaur was inevitable. Foreigners mostly Arabs and Chechens were all set to declare a separate state where they had already established a parallel judiciary and administrative system. He also took the members into confidence about the grim situation prevailing in Hangu and Swat. Earlier on August 9 a briefing for the members of provincial assembly was arranged in frontier house, Peshawar to appraise the MPAs of the threat perception. A very senior officer of FATA who briefed the assembly members disclosed that the tribal area had become home to 18,400 foreign nationals. Pukhtun’s traditional jirga, (assembly of local elders) the system that settled disputes between warring parties, has become ineffective due to the presence of thousands of Arabs, Uzbeks and Chechens who are unaware of the Pukhtun tradition and riwaj. When the NWFP government sent a jirga for talks with militants before launching military action in Bajaur Agency the foreigners clearly told the jirga members they would continue their war and the government could do anything that pleases it.
An abortive attack was made a couple of weeks ago on the top American diplomat in Peshawar, Lynne Tracy, just outside her residence in University Town. Traditionally, Pakhtun society frowns on maltreatment of guests and an attack on a woman is considered unmanly. This ignoble act was carried out by militants who clearly have a foreign origin and have no concern for local custom. When Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen expresses fear that the tribal areas are becoming havens for militants, he has a point.
The unending terrorist attacks have jolted the silent populace who would not entertain the idea of armed operations against its own citizens. We cannot afford further death and destruction. There is a need for the whole nation to re-examine its approach towards the war against the militants – the only option is to stand up and challenge them, for its now a matter of our very survival.
The writer is a retired colonel based in Peshawar. Email: sismaelshah@hotmail.com
Time to stand up
by Sayed GB Shah Bokhari
One practical lesson that I have learnt after participating in the 1965 Indo-Pak war is that the moral backing of the nation adds tremendously to the fighting prowess of the armed forces. Today the country is undergoing a serious state of war. It is another thing that the entire nation is not convinced about it and hence the support that should have come forth from the nation to back up the fighting efforts of the personnel of the security forces is absent. Drumming in the notion, among the minds of simple folks, that security forces of Pakistan are not fighting for safe guarding the integrity of the country but are acting as mercenaries fighting war for America, is the biggest success of the militants on the psychological front to keep the Pakistani nation divided on this subject and hence deny the moral support that a fighting soldier while discharging life-risking obligations expects from his countrymen. The politico-religious parties are playing a very effective role, on behalf of the militants, by propagating in the mosques, through post-Friday prayers demonstrations and by issuing statements to the press that the anti-terror war is not our war but that of America.
Let us appraise if the ongoing bloody conflict between the security forces against militants in NWFP and FATA is our war? The Encarta World English dictionary defines war as “an armed conflict between countries or groups that involves killing and destruction.” Does not FATA, beside a major part of the NWFP, and sporadic incidents of terrorism taking place in the rest of Pakistan qualifies the country to be in a state of war? Pakistan is committed to and stands by the UN Charter not to interfere in the internal affairs of any member state of the UNO, particularly our neighbouring countries. If it is discovered that part of the country is being used by militant groups to impart professionally organised military training to the youth who are then launched against targets in our neighbours, is it not incumbent on the government in power to put an end to the blatant violation of the country’s foreign policy stand? If the militants challenge the writ of the government by putting up an armed resistance, does it not describe the situation as a state of war?
The ANP has always championed the cause of Pukhtuns and presented itself as the embodiment of non-violence. After taking over the reins of the NWFP government after the February 18 elections, ground realities have dawned on them that given the prevailing situation a military action against the miscreants is not a choice but obligation of the government. The ANP Chief Minister of NWFP, Ameer Haider Khan Hoti, while wrapping up a debate on the law and order situation in the province on the assembly floor on August 21 admitted that operation in Bajaur was inevitable. Foreigners mostly Arabs and Chechens were all set to declare a separate state where they had already established a parallel judiciary and administrative system. He also took the members into confidence about the grim situation prevailing in Hangu and Swat. Earlier on August 9 a briefing for the members of provincial assembly was arranged in frontier house, Peshawar to appraise the MPAs of the threat perception. A very senior officer of FATA who briefed the assembly members disclosed that the tribal area had become home to 18,400 foreign nationals. Pukhtun’s traditional jirga, (assembly of local elders) the system that settled disputes between warring parties, has become ineffective due to the presence of thousands of Arabs, Uzbeks and Chechens who are unaware of the Pukhtun tradition and riwaj. When the NWFP government sent a jirga for talks with militants before launching military action in Bajaur Agency the foreigners clearly told the jirga members they would continue their war and the government could do anything that pleases it.
An abortive attack was made a couple of weeks ago on the top American diplomat in Peshawar, Lynne Tracy, just outside her residence in University Town. Traditionally, Pakhtun society frowns on maltreatment of guests and an attack on a woman is considered unmanly. This ignoble act was carried out by militants who clearly have a foreign origin and have no concern for local custom. When Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen expresses fear that the tribal areas are becoming havens for militants, he has a point.
The unending terrorist attacks have jolted the silent populace who would not entertain the idea of armed operations against its own citizens. We cannot afford further death and destruction. There is a need for the whole nation to re-examine its approach towards the war against the militants – the only option is to stand up and challenge them, for its now a matter of our very survival.
The writer is a retired colonel based in Peshawar. Email: sismaelshah@hotmail.com
Time to stand up
