IDPs need special attention
Wars, invariably, create refugees. And it is sincerely hoped that important lessons were learnt from previous operations, particularly the South Waziristan offensive, which exposed unforgivable government unpreparedness for dealing with Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The camps were just not fit to accommodate the large numbers fleeing the agency, with the result that most people eventually made their way to cities like Bannu and DI Khan, putting far more burden on these cities than they could bear.
The North Waziristan operation, Zarb-i-Azb, is far better planned and thought-out than previous adventures. It is not a mere retaliatory incursion to counter or limit recent advances. It is meant as the final, most comprehensive exercise of its kind, one that will end when militancy itself has ended in the badlands. Therefore the refugee aspect must also have been worked out minutely. But there is always concern in such matters when the fine line between military and civilian responsibility, in war time, becomes hazy.
Last time, when the army was fighting in the mountains, the civilian government was criticised for confounding the IDP operation, but, as always, it merely tossed the blame back to the forces. This time around, the arrangement must be clear, and relevant arms of the government/military should be well prepared. Already, chatter from NW is cause for concern. Tens of thousands have already started marching out, and hundreds of thousands more are expected soon. There is also news of civilians trapped in the curfew, unable to flee the fighting. They will need not only protection, but also evacuation.
Pretty much the whole nation has taken the PM’s decision to fight the militancy very positively. But it is more important to win hearts and minds of the local population as opposed to other parts of the country. And if the people who suffer the most do not see active official effort to help their cause and minimise their suffering, this war will being going wrong sooner rather than later. Every effort must be made to safeguard IDPs.