Leading from the front

Is the PML-N leadership up for it?

That the high level security meeting on Tuesday ended without any detailed briefing to media strengthened the perception of differences still prevailing in the echelons of power. Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah expressed apprehensions that a clash between institutions might be in the offing. Subsequent leaks to the media indicate the military maintained that since the TTP had crossed the red line by attacking ranking ISI officers, targeting Karachi airport and brazenly claiming both the incidents, there has to be a sterner response to the attacks.

The soft corner for the TTP entertained by the interior minister continues to create problems for the government. The PML-N administration is being accused of avoiding action against the militants to avoid a backlash in Punjab, described as the biggest incubator of sectarian extremists and jihadis. The government only seems to own Lahore and Rawalpindi, said Khursheed Shah on Tuesday. The charge was earlier levelled by Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon.

The five-hour long terrorist assault on the biggest airport of Pakistan has revived concerns abroad about the safety of the country’s nukes. When asked the question on Tuesday, Deputy Spokesperson at the State Department Marie Harf told media that Washington believed the Pakistani government understood the importance of protecting its arsenal, including things related to its nuclear programme.

Pakistan has passed through the worst extremism since 2011 and has sacrificed about 50,000 civilians and military personnel. This should have enabled it to set up the best security system in the world. The ease with which terrorists have broken into Mehran and Kamra bases and stormed Karachi airport carrying heavy weapons, tells a different story. The plans announced last year by interior ministry about evolving a counterterrorism strategy centred around NACTA finally ended in smoke. For over a year, Ch Nisar has pursued only a single-point security policy of placating the Taliban. This is giving birth to a perception that the government has capitulated to the terrorists.

While the government wasted time in fruitless talks, the TTP launched devastating attacks right inside Islamabad besides attacking LEA personnel as well as civilians all over the country. The internal strife after Hakeemullah’s killing has now taken the shape of bloody infighting, splitting the Mehsud fighters, the strongest TTP component. This is the best time to strike at the terrorists beginning with the Fazlullah-Khorasani groups. One expects Nawaz Sharif to realise that the policy of talks has led to nowhere. The prime minister should address the National Assembly and declare that henceforth the country would fight the terrorist groups with the full might of the state. Thus as the Supreme Commander he should lead the operation from the front. This would remove the despondency in the country caused by lack of action on the part of the government. The active ownership of the operation would also put the seal of civilian authority on it.