Warfare is now an interlocking system of actions political, economic, psychological, and military that aims at the overthrow of the established authority in a country. This definition of modern warfare (terrorism) is from a book written by Roger Trinquier, a French writer, called the Modern Warfare: A French View of Counterinsurgency.
When westerners discuss counterinsurgency operation in a third world country like Pakistan, they always make religious intolerance and economy as an imperative to be looked in.
They also claim to be believer of the fact that for a successful counterinsurgency operation after flexing the military muscle, education and economic activity needs to be flooded in.
We all believe in it and make our priorities and plans as per the same precedence; incidentally we apply it without scrutinising our own strong and weak points with our culture and religion in the backdrop.
Swat insurgency finds its roots in incompetent judicial system which was not like that before 1969; people of Swat used to enjoy an efficient and speedy justice system. The slogan was very timely, smartly and comprehensively used by the TTP Swat.
At first, the Taliban gained public support with promises of speedy justice. But public beheadings and floggings outraged many in Swat, a former tourist paradise beneath lush mountains.
Pakistan Army operated in a highly professional manner to oust the terrorists, and the world saw another exodus in the form IDPs from Swat valley.
Military muscle did the trick, many were killed, the rest apprehended and the planet witnessed one of the speediest returns of IDPs after a successful counterinsurgency operation which has no such precedence in the history of warfare.
JAWAD RAZA KHAN
Karachi
