One appreciates a befitting reply by one of your readers in response to a highly dangerous article by Kahar Zalmay, a Pakistani-Afghan reportedly associated with the Pakistan Embassy in UK, published in an English daily in which Mr Zalmay painted the army as a repressive force, holding the people of Swat at the point of gun.
He also argued to end the presence of army in the area. But the most pertinent question is why the successive governments, especially the sitting provincial and federal governments have failed to take seriously the recommendations forwarded by the military leadership, which strongly stress upon an early replacement of effective civilian setup, making the police and civil law enforcement agencies responsible for maintaining peace and keeping law and order normal.
Even the common man in Swat and Malakand area argues that initially the problem was of a DPO-level which could have been solved, if the TNSM was handled and contained in by police right in time. The mystery, however, that the situation was deliberately let go out of control under a well thought out directed agenda remains to be solved. The answer perhaps lies in the sacking of the then Malakand Division Commissioner who had been providing grounds, spaces and entry permissions to the Fazlullah-led terrorists.
Even now when the situation in Swat has come to normal – there are hardly any incidents of terror – the alternate arrangement, neither by the provincial government nor by the centre has been made or even envisaged.
Should the army that has rendered sacrifices of thousands of its men in the battle for Swat hand over the control to the civil administration that is not fully capable of dealing with the insurgency?
Mr Kahar Zalmay has filed the story while sitting in London, based on feeds he got from his ‘sources’. But on ground the situation is different. I, during my frequent visits to Swat, since the return of IDPs, am witness to civilian population’s great trust on the armed forces. Their cheerful faces speak volumes for their secured homes, schools and businesses.
During participation in the recently held three-day “De-radicalisation Conference” in Swat, one observed a great deal of satisfaction and thanksgivings on the faces of people of Swat who actually made this event a success with their active participation, especially the school girls and boys have now launched a permanent campaign against de-radicalisation.
One witnessed the residents come out in streets with the food in their hands only to share with the personnel of security forces standing guard on duty to protect them day and night.
Afzal Khanlala’s statement which the writer has quoted must be enough to nullify Mr Zalmay’s claim. In fact, the extent of cooperation and commitment which the people of Swat has shown, not only reflects their hatred against extremist and terrorist tendencies, but also demonstrates their unflinching faith on the security forces which in Gen Kayani’s leadership has rightly come up to their expectations.
I would like to advise the people of other areas where troubles are being fomented by the enemies of country to follow the footsteps and spirit of the people of Swat, as well as the people of Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera, Peshawar, Haripur, Attock, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and up to Karachi who extended generous hand to the three million displaced people and helped make their early return possible. At this moment one should not miss eminent scholar Dr Farooq’s greatest contribution towards de-radicalisation – in the process, he paid the price of his life.
ESCHMALL SARDAR
Peshawar