A forlorn hope

End of delusional politics?

The cowardly assassination attempt on Malala Yousafzai by the Taliban has shocked the whole nation. Even the normally unflappable apologists of the militants have expressed their outrage. However the ‘T’ word still remains mostly absent from the narrative.

The National Assembly and the Senate have passed unanimous resolutions condemning the dastardly attack. In a rare display of unity, the Parliament has unanimously resolved: “Until the establishment of peace in the great motherland, the rooting out of terrorists will continue.”

Perhaps for the sake of unity the Taliban were not named. There are many in the parliament who are their apologists or simply too scared for their lives.

Even after the dastardly attack, Imran Khan, the PTI leader, has maintained his stance that we should talk to the Taliban. In an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, he advocated a non-military solution maintaining that use of force would not end terrorism. The same evening he visited Malala in the hospital and offered to send her abroad for treatment.

Imran’s abortive long march to N Waziristan against drone attacks took place on the eve of the attack on Malala. Some supportive columnists in the vernacular press have even made the ludicrous assertion that US agents, to nullify the impact of Imran’s campaign against the drones, targeted Malala.

It is worth examining the stance of Imran and his ilk that want to negotiate with the Taliban. The TTP, on the other hand, has made it quite clear why they targeted a 14-year-old girl in Swat. Ostensibly her only crime being that she openly defied their edict that girls should not receive education.

Its spokesman brazenly accepted responsibility for the attack stating that “whosoever leads a campaign against Islam and sharia is ordered to be killed by sharia”.

This narrow and self-serving interpretation of Islam that proscribes education for women is obviously not acceptable to a vast majority of Pakistanis. But how many amongst our polity are willing to walk the talk? Most political parties, including the ruling coalition, are taking the path of least resistance maintain an ambivalent stance.

The Taliban have no illusions about the “infidels” who believe in a parliamentary democracy and its appended accruements. So what is there to negotiate for those who despite being part of the system vociferously advocate such a course?

The delusional amongst us – and there are many – believe that the Taliban are a function of the US occupation of Afghanistan and drone attacks over Pakistan. Once the Americans go away and Pakistan severs its ties with Washington, everything will somehow reset to normal. It will be a honky dory place as it used to be before 9/11.

The Taliban movement is a way of life supported by many amongst the religious zealots who believe that their narrow interpretation of sharia is the only way. A majority of Pakistanis, no matter how religious and anti-West, do not share their worldview. But at the same time are not willing to or are unable to stand up and be counted.

As is evident from the cowardly attack on Malala and destruction of schools by the Taliban, universal education is not negotiable so far as they are concerned. Neither is Sufistic Islam practised by majority of Muslims of the sub-continental variety – as distinct from the Saudi brand – acceptable to them.

Obviously, a parliamentary democracy, or for that matter any kind of democracy, is anathema to the Taliban. They have a lot of apologists in the media, and the militants make good use of it. But again a free media is a function of democracy and has no place in the Taliban lexicon.

As for drone attacks over the tribal areas, it is not the first time Pakistan has protested to the US that these successive and incremental attacks are a clear violation of its sovereignty and international law. As is now well known from WikiLeaks, these attacks are not without tactical approval – if not actual connivance – of our security establishment.

Instead of taking the more difficult route of launching a putsch against the militants holed up in our badlands, we let the American do the dirty job. Apart from a number of militants killed in these attacks, there is loss of innocent lives, euphemistically referred to as “collateral damage”.

Imran has boasted that if and when he comes into power he will order the air force to shoot down the American drones. Easier said than done.

The normally laconic General Kayani’s categorical statement after visiting Malala at the hospital that “we refuse to bow before terror, we will fight regardless of the cost…” is reassuring only if words are followed by action.

After top military body’s meeting on Thursday, chaired by Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff General Shamim Wynne, attended by the COAS and the top brass, it is being speculated that some kind of action is being contemplated in N Waziristan. Gen Kayani’s meeting with President Zardari gave further impetus to these conjectures.

Going by past record it seems difficult that the military will abandon its much-cherished strategic restraint. However, it is becoming clearer by the day that creeping extremism is eating through the very entrails of the state. It is an existential threat that can only be met through extraordinary measures.

Perhaps the attack on an innocent schoolgirl would be a wake up call for our leadership, both khaki and civilian. Only a delusional mind can still harbour the notion that the Taliban, whether Pakistani or Afghan, can be our strategic asset.

According to medical reports Malala has 50/50 chance of survival. God willing she will survive. But her bravery and that of her family should be beacon of light for our politicians.

The military top brass and the parliament should be on the same page on the issue. Instead of merely passing resolutions and reiterating the resolve to root out terrorism and extremism, concerted efforts should be made to unite them with a minimum agenda of rooting out the menace through concrete steps.

With general elections in the offing it is a forlorn hope that politicians will unite even on this issue. Especially those who consider extremist outfits and the right wing vote as their electoral asset are unlikely to play ball.

Hopefully, sacrifices of those like Malala, who have the courage to stand up and be counted, might bring change before it is too late.

The writer is Editor, Pakistan Today