My issue is... as an Ex-Nationalist leader and the Chief editor of the Nationalist Monthly I developed a number of contacts which are now helping me in providing information for my book and they give me negative reviews. I initially as a journalist wrote only to defend Pakistan but apparently its the job of one to look at things critically and analyze. We can't write for the purpose of giving a positive view of Pakistan but give a story, usually with negative connotations. as thats what big publications make their money from.
Our minds reporting on all the negatives eventually become "used to things" but we also know a number of things others don't. I can qoute figures firsthand and know the situation within because of my contacts and my research. I will tell you Secur things are very bad currently and not a lot is making sense.
I will give you two case studies:
South Waziristan was claimed to have been cleared. Only one sub-division Sararogha is cleared. Locals say Taliban are everywhere, army says area is cleared. Army is only at hilltops, outposts and check-posts. Regular attacks are carried out by militants. @
TaimiKhan who i believe is a soldier himself recently made the claim that these attacks come from North Waziristan somehow. By magic? Tiarza has no border with North Waziristan and has seen attacks. Even the Bhittani belt to the east has seen attacks by commander Asmatullah Shaheen Bhittani (Operation Rah E Nijat) I think if we really need an operation it has to be in South Waziristan. Correspondents tell me Hakimullah still comes to Ladha at night as he pleases and after banging his wife slips away quietly. The forces often know about militant movements... but orders are to engage militants only when they fire at security forces. Otherwise nothing.
Lets move to Orakzai. Now lower Orakzai is at peace... but my friend from Kalaya (the HQ) informs me that lower orakzai (a subdivision) is the only one cleared as yet despite almost constant skirmishes near Kalaya and Sultanzai (You won't find those on the map-inside info
) (Operation name was Khwakh ba de sham)
Now lets look at the leadership:
The Pakistani Taliban's top leaders - The Long War Journal
Till now only Muslim Khan, the past spokesman for the TTP has been captured. Other important people killed or captured are Hakimullah or Baitullah's (previous TTP chief's) sons. Other than that no one has been killed. You can take a look at that list. Either those who died, died in a drone strike.
So I think we seriously have to rethink our role in this war. If we can't beat a ragtag militia do we really have a part in the war? Second, we often cite US/Indian support. But then... it should have provided us with a morale boost to fight them? If US support is the reason they are surviving and thriving... then public should be told about it... furthermore it also means allying ourselves to US is a wrong move.
We are a very confused people Secur, we have no foreign policy. US signed a nuke deal with India and offered them better F-16's than us. We are in a situation and things can begin to get better only when we drive the Taliban out. Not just that, boost morale.
For an independent researcher like me all I find is failures.
I would say... we have no strategy in mind to beat terrorism just like we have no foreign policy plans. US is going to abandon us as it had after 1980's. We need to plan what to do.