Daily Times

Sir: Apparently the attack on the Karachi airport has proved to be the last straw on the camel’s back. The government has decided to launch the long awaited operation in North Waziristan (NW) to flush out the local and foreign terrorists. These terrorists have been holding NW as their fort for years now, initially with the support of the state. Many are calling the operation a half-hearted action, taken in retaliation for the terrorists’ brazen attack on Karachi airport. The million dollar question is: Will operation Zarb-e-Azb succeed? The Taliban are spread across the country. NW could be their hub but their activities are not confined to NW or Afghanistan; thanks to the state policy of appeasing the good Taliban.

This operation nevertheless was important given the impunity the terrorists had displayed in attacking Pakistan’s strategic assets. The fear of a blowback in the urban areas is high, but that cannot be an excuse to leave the terrorists to their nefarious designs. The sick man’s body that Pakistan has become needs some amputation to save the rest of it. Let’s now rally behind the government in the cause, because we all had wanted this operation to happen.

Masood Khan

Jubail,

Saudi Arabia