Extraordinary measures for extraordinary situation
The sincerity of purpose and commitment with which the government and army are striving to eliminate terrorism through the implementation of the National Action Plan, notwithstanding the skepticism expressed by some cynical elements, is beyond any reproach. It is quite visible from the aplomb that the Prime Minister and the COAS have exhibited through their statements and actions to eliminate the menace of terrorism. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was right on money when addressing the passing out parade of the first batch of Counter Terrorism Force (CTF), trained by the Special Services Group, expressed his unflinching resolve to crush the terrorists at any cost and providing people with a peaceful environment. The COAS who also attended the ceremony reiterated army’s commitment to train personnel of all the law enforcement agencies to enhance their capabilities to deal effectively with security and law and order issues in collaboration with the army.
It is a reality that our law enforcement agencies are not trained to handle a phenomenon like terrorism and it was imperative to raise a special force to deal with the problem, to supplement and sustain the efforts of the army in taking out terrorist operatives. The approach adopted by the government in the backdrop of attack on the Karachi airport, which led to the initiation of Zarb-e-Azab and the attack on APS Peshawar which was undoubtedly a tipping point in the fight against terrorism and the one which spurred the efforts for a National Action Plan to eliminate terrorism, is in consonance with historic realities and the strategies adopted by different nations to extricate themselves from similar situations.
It took Sri Lanka nearly three decades to quell armed insurgency by Tamils and the end came through military means. Italy had to face the wrath of the Red Brigade for two decades before it could subdue the terrorist group through a well thought out plan designed to eliminate the Red Brigade members. In both these cases the insurgents and terrorists wanted to destroy the state structure and posed a formidable threat to the existing social order. Red Brigade, an ultra-leftist group formed in Italy in October 1970 by university students, emerged from the rank and file of the 1960s worker and student protest movements, ostensibly to fight against the right wing bourgeoisie.
It had the motto to strike at the heart of the state whom it considered as an imperialist collection of multinational corporations. They wanted to create a revolutionary state through the use of armed struggle in order to create a split between the Italian government and other western alliances. The group targeted union leaders, businessmen, government functionaries and right wing politicians and security installations. It even kidnapped Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro in 1978, demanded ransom and release of their detained members in exchange for him. But neither the government nor Christian Democrat leaders accepted group’s terms nor initiated direct dialogue with them. The group kept the Prime Minister captive for 55 days before killing him. That was probably their tipping point.
The assassination of the Italian Prime Minister stunned the masses who adored Aldo Moro and ultimately led to the downfall of the group as popular support for the leftist cause waned. Immediately following the death of the Prime Minister, the Italian government and politicians alike took stock of the horrific situation and decided to wage an all-out war against the terrorist network. Eventually the Red Brigade members were either killed, arrested or chose to quietly dissolve back into the society to reorganise themselves.
A new Red Brigade emerged in 1984 which also resorted to terrorist attacks to promote their cause. However the Italian government was ready to deal with the emerging situation. It expanded its counter-terrorism operations against the network, including a robust media campaign to isolate them and create a barrier between the extremist group and the public. The strategy also included penetration of the ranks of the group by police which helped in quickly dismantling of the group. Reportedly the programme of rewards for information also played significant role in dealing with the extremists. The government effectively dismantled the group.
Our situation is more akin to the Italian situation in the 1970s and 1980s of the 20th century. The strategy to take out terrorists through military actions, as is currently going on in North Waziristan, and a crackdown on the members of the terrorist organisations by the law enforcement agencies in major cities of the country, including Karachi, are the right approaches to eliminate the scourge of terrorism. Like in Italy, we also need to isolate the terrorists and erect barriers between them and the public, a role that can best be performed by the media through cooperation with the government in regards to the measures required to ensure responsible journalism in the country.
The National Action Plan, devised in consultation with and the agreement of all the political forces, is undoubtedly a comprehensive and appropriate prescription to tackle the problem of terrorism and religious extremism through military might, strengthening intelligence network and developing a counter narrative to the narrative of the terrorists on the ideological front. Pakistan is fighting the war of its survival and therefore it is incumbent upon all the stakeholders in the future of the country to get united for a final assault against terrorists and religious extremists.
It is a now or never situation for the country and we simply cannot afford to fail in this effort. Politicking can wait for better times. Those who are opposing the policies of the government in this regard on different grounds need to revisit their stance and refrain from denting the national consensus on the issue. At the same time the government must also reach out to these forces to allay their apprehension and fears, especially the lobby expressing reservations about government policy on seminaries.
The religious scholars and ulema have a great responsibility in countering the propaganda of the terrorists and guiding the masses in regards to the true spirit of Islam and the responsibilities of the citizens towards the state viz-a-viz their rights and role in strengthening the state edifice. Similarly, all state institutions including judiciary need to play their due role in saving the state from coming to any harm and support the initiatives of the government to fight terrorism through extraordinary measures necessitated by the extraordinary situation gripping the country.
