WAR ON TALIBAN: BATTLE TO SAVE PAKISTAN

London: Whenever President Asif Ali Zardari or Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani step out of Pakistan for the good of the country a whole plethora of propaganda campaign is launched against the government by a section of the media set automatically on a tune by its invisible masters that its days are numbered, that the two leaders are at cross-purposes and that something serious is cooking for a change in the country.

Obviously this group though exercising freedom acquired by it by virtue of a vibrant democracy in the country—by its deliberate acts of omission and commission—on screen and off screen—is seen to be advertently or inadvertently– pushing an agenda that aims at undoing Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s vision of modern, progressive and secular Pakistan.

They are trying to replace it with a Talibanised state in which schools will be closed, heads would be chopped, women flogged in public and a pagan religion will take over in the name of Islam that Allah the Most Merciful bequeathed to the humankind through Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) to enlighten the darkened world as a panacea to all its ills. Ever since its advent it has been a religion of peace and compassion with no room for animosity for any other religion. Its fundamental tenet is Huququl Ibad—right of human kind on each other—that is—you would not do unto others what you would not want to be done to you.

Not withstanding the ugly facts as to how we have come to the present tragic pass we must remember that world is a stage where players play their part and fade away. However, when it comes to leadership role—some leave indelible footprints on sand of time to be remembered by the posterity for their good deeds that live after them. Others who play foul with the destiny of a nation are consigned to dustbin of history or are acknowledged as unavoidable footnotes mentioned for their misdeeds.
While not condoning the questionable role of some of the civilian leaders of the past, members of the superior judiciary, civil bureaucracy, selective elite in the society who never see any good in anything howsoever sterling it might be, most devastating impact on Pakistan’s growth on sound democratic lines with Mr Jinnah’s unequivocal emphasis that religion shall have nothing to do with the business of the state, was dealt by the constant direct extra-constitutional interventions by military dictators for over 31 years while rest was managed by pulling the strings from behind the scene to minimise civilian control on the affairs of the state.

Indeed, had General Pervez Musharraf’s presidency lasted any more than it did, he would have surely led the funeral rites of Mr Jinnah’s Pakistan. In his last days—having pushed Pakistan onto road to Talibanisation—he had the audacity to declare publicly that he was foreseeing the sad demise of Quaid’s Pakistan. Had martyred Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and other democratic leaders not bulldozed through his bunkered existence and forced him to denude himself of his uniform and hold elections over seen their transparency by the army—Pakistan would have had its swan song sung.
This government has been in power just a little over a year. It had not only inherited a mountain pile of bankrupt economy but found facing a civil-war like situation. Musharraf had left insurgency at its height in Baluchistan. Northern areas had been abdicated to Taliban– his erstwhile pre-9-11 collaborators as they were. Not only that, they were given a free hand to romp around the entire country brandishing the newly acquired AK-47, rocket launchers, well-mounted anti-aircraft guns on multi-cabined latest four-wheel drives.
Suicide bombings, chopping of heads, molestation of working women, destruction of educational institutions, Sufi shrines, execution of journalists, foreigners and rampant attacks on law-enforcers to establish their writ had become the order of the day. Establishment of the institution of Red Mosque in the heart of federal capital under the very nose of scores of intelligence and other agencies as a role model of what is in store for rest of the country, recovery of several tonnes of latest weapons and pornographic material—were allowed to operate by him with a method in his madness—to tell the world—it had only choice between him or the Taliban– with control of nuclear weapons.
The new democratic government—while ushering in peaceful and consensus-based transfer of power at the centre and the provinces—had to save the country from being declared a bankrupt state and overcome the fall-out of the sky-rocketing oil and food prices internationally. It had to indulge in high quality flurry of economic and political diplomacy. The President, the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, Federal Financial Advisor and its other top functionaries have been personally taking the initiative. President Zardari’s just concluded visit to United States has been described as “very successful and productive beyond expectations” even by his critics. It is been widely acknowledged that Zardari has got crucial support from the U.S. for his democratic government, socio-economic development and war on terror.

Every journey abroad taken by Pakistani leaders has taken them to pastures new, to attract investment and seek assistance for the rapid economic development to fulfil martyred Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s vision of making Pakistan an egalitarian state. Never before in the history of Pakistan was so much mobilised in such a short time as now to pull the country out of the quagmire of socio-economic problems.

Billions of US dollars aid committed to Pakistan by Washington, London, Japan, China and other Friends of Democratic Pakistan have plastered egg on the faces of those who wanted the nation to believe that frequent official tours abroad were merely pleasure trips. Indeed, they will soon know how sweet the pudding tastes when they will get to eat it once money pours in to power-generate the wheels of industry into motion left idle by the previous regime leading to massive unemployment.
General Musharraf’s worst possible legacy was rapid Talibanisation in the country. While he spent most of the time flirting with them when the scourge could have been nipped in the bud, he left it as Achilles heel for the democratic government to get rid of it.

Being a democratic dispensation it had to weigh the pros and cons of all the options available including dialogue and direct military action. Having failed to show the Taliban pagans the right path President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, Army Chief General Ashfaque Pervez Kiani in consultation with other leaders and parliamentarians—have at long last launched the decisive battle to save Pakistan from Talibanisation. No doubt the cost of this operation has gigantic enormity in collateral damage, dislocation of hundreds and thousands—no price is big or small for protecting one’s mother land.

The blood-thirsty Taliban had left Pakistan no choice but to sort them out. It will be Pakistani military’s finest hour when it will successfully flush and root out for all time the Taliban scourge from the face of the country. They have to do it with full force not only to secure the country but revive their image as one of the best fighting forces in the world—an image rusted by General Musharraf and his abuse of the institution.

Last but not the least, it is good to know that the government is carrying on a war footing the relocation and relief of hundreds and thousands dislocated families. It is our national responsibility to ensure that who have sacrificed their hearths and homes for the defence of the country are not only honoured but compensated and rehabilitated. All those who laid their lives in the battle—whether soldiers or civilians–their families must be provided life-time sustenance. Besides, as soon Taliban are driven our or eliminated—massive development work shall have to be put into action to provide means of livelihood, modern education and healthcare and made local population partners in the management of their affairs.

The writer is Pakistan’s High Commissioner to UK

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