The only good terrorist is a dead one
What Clinton said in Kolkata and New Delhi might be useful diplomacy in India but her choice of the time and place would hardly bring solace to many in Pakistan. The India-centric section of the establishment would accuse Washington of using the Indian card to pressurise Pakistan at a time when Islamabad and New Delhi are trying to improve relations as never in the past. What she said about Zwahiri being in Pakistan has received a befitting reply from Foreign Minister Khar.
That said, Islamabad cannot afford to ignore the killing and beheading of Pakistani soldiers in Miranshah. The horror should convince the political and military leadership that it is high time a full-fledged operation was launched in the agency to eliminate the perpetrators of the barbaric act and their supporters and protectors. There have been enough incidents to substantiate that North Waziristan has turned into the hub of terrorist activities conducted inside Pakistan and abroad. Hakimullah Mehsud and other TTP activists responsible for attacks inside Pakistan were provided shelter in the agency after they were thrown out of South Waziristan. Former ISI officials Khalid Khwaja and Col Imam were executed in North Waziristan. A number of European militants received training here. The kidnappers of NYT journalist David Rohde kept him there for over seven months. The Swiss couple kidnapped from near Loralai last year was brought to North Wazirsistan for safekeeping.
It is a matter of concern that the leaders of the PML(N), PTI and PDC failed to promptly condemn the dastardly action. The argument that terrorist actions are motivated by the provocation provided by Nato supplies has turned out to be fallacious as the attacks did not stop during the last six months when Pakistan kept the supplies suspended despite immense international pressure. The argument that these are caused by drone attacks is equally fallacious as these attacks have never occurred in the various Fata agencies where the militants are conducting the most desperate attacks on army and peaceful tribesmen. The government should realise sooner than later that the only good terrorist is the dead terrorist.
An excellent and thought provoking article. There is no denying the fact that Pakistan clearly needs to see its interests. Our power potential does not support the grand strategic designs being taught in the text books. We are a very vulnerable state and vulnerable to an extent that we even have not emerge as a nation. Too add to our vulnerability our policies have created that deadly enemy – Taliban. Let us have no doubt that such primitive thinking heads will never be friendly to our country. The Miran shah incident should be an eye opener.
The statecraft has no place of emotion to formulate policies but the hard realities. Our survival is linked with the positive end of war against terrorism and towards this end cooperation with NATO is absolute necessity.
An excellent and thought provoking article. There is no denying the fact that Pakistan clearly needs to see its interests. Our power potential does not support the grand strategic designs being taught in the text books. We are a very vulnerable state and vulnerable to an extent that we even have not emerge as a nation. Too add to our vulnerability our policies have created that deadly enemy – Taliban. Let us have no doubt that such primitive thinking heads will never be friendly to our country. The Miran shah incident should be an eye opener.
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