Pakistan is at war with the jihadi outfits, Al-Qaeda, Taliban, and other local political-religious forces who have been nourished and supported by the establishment. They are fighting for to gain the control of Pakistan with the help of men within the armed forces. The important question is whether our armed forces are prepared to discard their cherished beliefs of having Taliban government in Afghanistan and liberating the Kashmir from India? Do they have the will to move decisively against the forces of internal religious extremism? Are security agencies capable of destroying militant’s hideout? Why armed forces did not take such an action earlier?
Is it the reason those heading these agencies have soft corner for the cause of religious militants? How can the world believe that our security forces are capable of protecting nuclear bombs when they cannot protect their own assets?
The security forces have to improve their image with their deeds. It is imperative to change the policy of the 1980s that led to the creation of Taliban and encouraged extremism and religious intolerance in Pakistan.
The folly of strategic depth, and the distinction between good and bad Taliban must be discarded. It is time that government should make functional National Counter Terrorism Authority (NCTA) which was setup in late 2009. It should be the responsibility of NCTA to chalk out a national counter terrorism plan after consultation with all stakeholders.
S T HUSSAIN
Lahore
