Our rulers are accustomed to underestimating the worst of conditions and are habitual in not admitting an alarming situation. This reminds me of the novel Plague by Albert Camus. In the novel, a fatal disease, the plague outbreak begins. This disease first kills a young man. Soon, hundreds of people die of this disease. The unaffected people do not admit that there is a plague. This indifference of the people leads to the deaths of thousands. When it affects a majority of the people, then they admit that the plague is a real disease and is fatal to all. With concerted efforts, they all control and eradicate it. Terrorism is like the plague but our rulers have not admitted it.
It has long been propagated by Imran Khan that terror attacks are a reaction to the drone strikes. The drones completely stopped in December last year but the terror strikes continue. The PTI chairman’s version is still incomprehensible. The right wing parties have repeatedly told this nation that talks are the only solution for an end to terrorism and restoration of peace in the country. Talks have begun. A ceasefire has been announced by both the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the federal government but peace has not returned to Pakistan yet.
There have always been alarm bells during the turning of the tide — from good to bad, bad to worse and worse to worst, but the rulers always shut their eyes thinking these hard and challenging conditions will soon pass. We are fond of hiding facts and unwilling to admit even the worst situation. This blind eye approach has allowed the TTP to dominate one-third of the area of Karachi. In November 2013, the notorious Dr Naseeruddin Haqqani, son of the top Afghan Taliban leader and chief of the Haqqani Group, Jalaluddin Haqqani, was reportedly killed in a targeted attack in Islamabad. The presence and targeting of Mr Haqqani was a clear sign of terrorist networks’ presence inside the capital of Pakistan. Our rulers, law enforcement agencies and the media decided not to highlight the issue fearing an international backlash. Thus, no serious investigation was carried out about how Haqqani had arrived in Islamabad and who had killed him. If there had been a full probe into the matter, the F-8 Islamabad court attack may have been prevented or averted.
The Guardian newspaper recently wrote, “At least six gunmen in their mid-20s, two of whom were wearing bomb vests, launched the attack early on Monday in Islamabad’s legal district — a warren of cramped district courts and offices housing lawyers, judges and clerks. Witnesses said the attackers, dressed in shalwar qameez (traditional dress), fired indiscriminately and threw grenades before escaping into the city. The two suicide bombers appeared to target specific offices.” The attack was a week ago but the four attackers who fled have not been arrested so far. The attack has been claimed by the Ahrarul Hind group. Another attack recently occurred in Hangu in which six FC men were killed. This was claimed by the Ansarul Mujahideen.
The latest attacks in Islamabad and Hangu clearly reveal that peace cannot be restored to Pakistan with the ceasefire and talks. If we believe, for even a minute, the TTP version that the two groups in the mentioned attacks are not TTP-affiliated, then the question arises: what is the use of these talks when peace cannot be restored? The TTP clearly said that it is offering a month-long ceasefire, which is conditional to the release of its inmates held by the Pakistani forces. This implies that after the freedom of the TTP fighters there are less chances of the continuation of the ceasefire by the TTP. The TTP can certainly be pleased with the ongoing talks because this will pave the way for the release of its hardcore prisoners. Peace will remain elusive to Pakistan with such measures, our rulers will have to admit this one day. The prime minister has dissolved the government committee for talks. If media reports are taken to be true, the suspension of the government committee has been a demand of the TTP committee as they have called it powerless and have also demanded the formation of a new committee. It is being said that the new committee will have representatives from the armed forces too.
The Pakistan army has bravely been fighting the terrorists since 2001. They have made huge sacrifices in the war on terror. Their morale is still quite high. They are capable of clearing North Waziristan within a month, if ordered to do so by the PM of Pakistan. The Pakistan army has never laid down arms for terrorists. There is huge criticism of the PM’s formula for the inclusion of representatives from the Pakistan army in the soon to be constituted government committee for talks with the terrorists. This criticism is because the honour of the Pakistan army may be at stake if the talks fail. The Pakistan army has never bowed down before the terrorists. The acceptance of any demands made by the latter may shake the morale and confidence of the former.
The desire and urge for talks with the terrorists have always been by the right wing parties. The Pakistan army has never expressed such a desire. Whether the talks fail or succeed, the federal government will be responsible. Talks have, so far, had no impact in reducing terror acts in the country. The solution for terrorism lies in admitting whatever the conditions may be. Our rulers must admit to the nation that the talks cannot prevent Ahrarul Hind and Ansarul Mujahideen, and many other such groups from attacking the nation.
The writer is a blogger and a freelance columnist