The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP’s) latest position seems to be bringing the ‘mighty nuclear state’ of Pakistan to its knees. We are seeing (table) talk with the rebels who have successfully infiltrated not just the Margalla hills of Islamabad but the federal cabinet itself. It is now becoming clear that the befuddled prime minister has not decided on a course. The hawks in his coterie are acting like crows, and taking the lead by volume rather than intellect. The sane elements are being drowned out by the din rather than common sense.
In Pakistan, democracy fails because the elections throw up people unqualified to govern into positions of power where they can do the most damage. No nation in the history of the world has suffered such economic disasters as have been visited upon us by Mubashar Hassan’s ‘nationalisation’ and devaluation yet the PPP, with its insatiable appetite for corruption, has been returned to power again and again. Are we destined to be ruled by a collection of bumbling, unqualified robbers with fake degrees, which is itself a punishable offence, certainly enough to disqualify the candidate from political life? The Assemblies are packed with people with fake degrees and people who do not pay taxes or electricity bills. These lawbreakers are running this country.
This leadership has brought the country to its present state of confusion. Talks with the TTP are meaningless especially when the bulk of the nation has contempt for the negotiations. Chaudhry Nisar has successfully brought Islamabad into focus as the most dangerous city in the world — a singular achievement for the capital of the only Muslim nuclear power in the world.
The army is being hobbled and is being forced to sit with those who hold our constitution in contempt. They are enemies of the state and should be hunted down. The northern areas of Pakistan should be cleared of the non-Pakistanis and the entire region should be cleansed. However, this can only be done if the Assemblies themselves are first cleansed of the cancer called corruption. This is the weak spot, the soft underbelly, exposed and infiltrated by the TTP. All the member political parties are joining in and feeding off the body of the state without caring for the damage to its life, or the other inhabitants.
The army, under Kayani, was convinced that the TTP was a strategic partner in their fight against India, for Kashmir. Now it has turned on Pakistan and is determined to prove that it will succeed provided certain conditions are met. This extendable, long list is an excuse to complete its takeover of the state, and has been achieved by the politicians unwilling to forego their corruption, or to obey the law.
The army is already aware of the enemy for the TTP has declared itself. The politicians, by their behaviour, have also identified themselves as the enemy. With the way things are going, it seems time for the bloodletting, either by the army or the TTP — whoever moves first. The TTP is already positioned having encircled Karachi.
The army must move forward with precision strikes as TTP sympathisers in the PM house are already reciting the ‘all is well’ mantra, firm in their belief that this mantra will indeed have the desired soporific effect on their targets. While the policy of appeasement continues, the TTP moves more men into position. It seems that, like in classic guerrilla warfare, they will move when they are ready. Are we ready?
The mighty Pakistani army, the people, the politicians, the only Muslim nuclear power, are being encircled by a band of rebels of their own creation.
The writer is a freelance columnist