NWA
operation: Army to follow government orders
Waqar Ahmed
Reports about a possible military operation in the North Waziristan
Agency have taken the country by storm. Every day we hear different kinds of
stories about the tribal agency, which is a hotbed of violence and terrorism.
The international media claims that the US forces will conduct a joint
operation in the NWA, a prospect that has been totally and categorically denied
by the country. Meanwhile, we hear religious leaders, political stalwarts and
tribal elders coming out on a daily basis with conflicting statements, most of
which have no basis.
A look at the stance of the Pakistan Army shows that like the Swat and
South Waziristan operations, the institution has again declared that it will
abide by the directions of the government and national imperatives on this
issue as well. As such, it would be totally incorrect to assume or state that
the Pakistan Army will go for the operation all alone without the government’s
approval. For all reasons, it will be the government that will endorse the army
operation in the insurgency-hit tribal belt and not vice versa.
Unfortunately, some people have failed to appreciate that the war of
terror is a bitter reality in which not only the Pakistan Army but the country
on the whole is involved. In essence, it is a national effort and not the sole
domain of the army. Critically, the whole nation is collectively fighting
against terrorism and in the process it has sacrificed thousands of lives, both
civilians and soldiers. After all, the terrorists have not only been attacking
the police and armed forces personnel, they have also been killing civilians
indiscriminately.
In effect, the civilian deaths in the war on terror are much more than
the military deaths. In this national war against terror, mosques, schools,
markets, hotels, restaurants and what not has been targeted and murder orgies
committed. The terrorists have also attacked the GHQ, Recruitment and Training
Regimental Centre, Mardan, Police Training Centre, Lahore, POF Wah, Naval Staff
College, Mehran Naval Base, Kamra Air Base and many other sensitive
installations.
The war on terror is not a war of the army leadership alone; it is a
war, which has directly and indirectly affected all of Pakistan. The leadership
of the armed forces has been taking decisions about the war following approval
by the government and in the national interests. No operation has been or will
be a one-man show.
Similarly, the NWA operation, if and when undertaken, will have all
important stakeholders on board and will not be the prerogative of the army
chief alone. So, it cannot be at all claimed that this war is General Kayani’s
or the army’s war; it is a war that Pakistan has to fight in the greater
national interests with the mandate of the government.
In a speech at Kakul on August 14, the chief of the army staff sounded
the alarm, explicitly warning against the threat posed by terrorism and
religious extremism. He stressed the need for the nation to get united and face
the escalating threat head-on.
Significantly, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has broadened its
subversive activities throughout the country and has become active from Karachi
to Chitral. Quarters concerned have several reports that foreign elements and
intelligence agencies with an agenda to destabilize Pakistan are on the back of
subversive elements. Therefore, relevant quarters are convinced that the time
has come that the TTP should be neutralized, sooner rather than later, in the
NWA or anywhere else in the country where their elements are located.
It is a fallacy to claim that the war on terror is a US war. To be
sure, the war on terror is Pakistan’s own war and how it could not be when the
terrorists are killing our school going children, civilians, families,
soldiers, hospitals, markets and mosques and attacking our system of governance
and lifestyle. It is a war the people of Pakistan will win and there are no two
ways about it.
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