National security policy

Too early to express satisfaction with the law and order

Finally, after more than six months, the government has come up with what it considers to be a comprehensive national security policy. The policy document was finalised at a meeting of the cabinet committee on national security in the first ever sitting of the body. A day earlier, Ch Nisar had spelled out the outline of the three-pronged policy. Only the strategic and operational components of the policy have been made public while it was decided to keep the third part confidential. The policy spells out a clear timeframe with a target to have an operational institutional network in place in a year. The policy comes in the wake of the Pakistan Protection Ordinance which has already enhanced the powers of the security agencies while making changes in the laws related to evidence and a considerable extension in the period of the suspects’ custody. Civil armed forces serving unauthorised persons have also been withdrawn.

The policy will strengthen the hands of those who hold talks with the militants and will provide the much needed backing to the army. Talks with the militants is the first option, we are told, while other options would be used as a last resort. This raises a number of questions. The Taliban under the new leadership have not shown willingness for negotiations while attacks by militants continue to be launched all over the country, the frequency depending on proximity from the tribal areas. The attacks on military convoys continue to take place in North Waziristan. Despite a lot of noise about negotiations that has gone on for months there is still no visible move in the direction. How long is the government going to wait for the Taliban to come to the table? And if the talks falter, what will determine that time has come to shift to the option of the last resort? The meeting was briefed about internal security as well as the situation on the LoC and Pak-Afghan border. One is yet to know if the confusion regarding the principle source of security threat has been removed. How are the sectarian terrorists, who are now targeting Punjab also, to be treated? Would the government talk to them or direct the security agencies to dismantle their networks and take them out? Despite over 10,000 taken into custody, all is not well with Karachi. It is too early to express satisfaction with the law and order situation as was done in the cabinet committee meeting.