Ghost Wars

Need to be on the same page

It’s the usual pattern. After every horrific terrorist incident our state apparatus huddles together and comes up with a resolve to root out extremism indiscriminately and with an iron hand.

Our civilian and khaki security apparatus and foreign policy establishment loves to blame the Indian intelligence agency (RAW) for fomenting trouble in Pakistan. We have no reason to discount that RAW is leaving no stone unturned to spread instability and chaos within our borders. But it is also a convenient bogey for our own acts of omission and commission.

If we are to believe the corps commanders as well as our foreign secretary, the Indian agency is involved in terrorist activities across Pakistan. This is an extremely alarming and unenviable situation to be in.

It means that Pakistan is imploding from within as a result of trouble being fomented by our belligerent neighbour. To make matters worse, some official circles have alleged that RAW is using Afghanistan as base to destabilise Pakistan.

Take the case of Karachi where the recent massacre of Ismaili community took place. In past few months the Rangers have conducted successful operations against extortionists and criminals ostensibly backed by the MQM. No one denies the existence of sleeper cells of the TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) operating with impunity in the city. And now we are told that RAW is also fishing in these troubled waters.

This situation might be a convenient smokescreen for our ubiquitous establishment. But at the same time it does not infuse much confidence amongst the beleaguered citizenry about the dismal state of affairs.

It means that our security agencies are fighting a multipronged war against the terrorists allegedly being aided and abetted by a bellicose foreign power. Missing the woods for the trees we are in a state of denial about the multipronged menace that is literally eating into our very entrails.

We are also in a constant state of denial about the emergence of Da’ish or Isalmic State (IS) operating within our borders. Our officialdom loves to claim that no such thing exists in Pakistan. But what is most worrisome is the IS and its affiliates taking responsibility for the Karachi massacre.

If we are to believe the corps commanders as well as our foreign secretary, the Indian agency is involved in terrorist activities across Pakistan. This is an extremely alarming and unenviable situation to be in

The Army Chief General Raheel Sharif making an air dash to Karachi in the immediate aftermath of the Wednesday massacre followed by the Prime Minister demonstrated a deep sense of urgency and immediacy about the prevailing state of affairs. However, it only exacerbated the prevalent sense of déjà vu amongst the sceptics.

After a similar outrage expressed across the board in the aftermath of the Peshawar massacre last December perpetrated by the TTP thugs, a number of momentous decisions were taken by the military and civilian leadership with much fanfare. These included making a National Action Plan (NAP) to combat terrorism and to activate the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) without further delay.

Equally important (if not more), there was much talk about changing the narrative by inculcating a spirit of tolerance and pluralism in the society. But six months down the line the state has nothing much to show on all these counts.

Again after the Karachi incident fresh resolves has been made to root out terrorism on war footing and taking multipronged steps at the highest level. As has become the new normal the prime minister, although expressing in unequivocal terms his firm desire to root out terrorism, does not seem to be in the driving seat. It is the Army Chief General Raheel Sharif who is leading from the front and by example.

The federal government, the provincial administration and the law enforcing agencies (LEAs) are focusing on Karachi. But the pervasive malaise afflicts the whole country.

It is fine to tackle the criminals backed by the MQM in Karachi. However, much more needs to be done to tackle terrorism perpetrated in the name of religion.

Driven by sheer ideological mushiness an utter lack of political will has prevented the state from moving against the terrorists with full force. RAW agents operating unhindered across the country is also a monumental intelligence failure. Real time intelligence is perhaps the only way to prevent terrorist incidents.

Of course politicisation and lack of training of the police is something that leaves a lot to be desired. But the police force that is tasked to prevent terrorism cannot overnight double as an effective counter-terrorism force. It is simply not trained nor equipped to do so.

This is where the political resolve of the government to change things kicks in. One reason that the much touted NACTA has not been able to get off the ground is simply because it is not being provided with the necessary funds by the federal government.

We are also in a constant state of denial about the emergence of Da’ish or Isalmic State (IS) operating within our borders. Our officialdom loves to claim that no such thing exists in Pakistan

But a much more serious issue is the prime minister and the interior minister ostensibly not being on the same page. Rumours are rife in Islamabad that Sharif and Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan are not even on speaking terms. Nisar was conspicuously absent from a recent high profile meeting to combat terrorism chaired by the prime minister in Karachi.

Nisar is an old and trusted PML-N stalwart. He is also personally very close to the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. Since he is heading the most pivotal ministry in spearheading counter terrorism efforts of the government, it is axiomatic that he is on the same page with the prime minister.

In any case in a parliamentary system cabinet ministers report to the first amongst equals — the prime minister. Hence at this crucial juncture either the interior minister should quit or resolve his difference with the party leadership.

Going by the past experience, once the dust settles in the aftermath of the Karachi bus massacre, it will be business as usual. But hopefully this time our leadership – civilian and khaki — will wake up and smell the coffee.

The military leadership has resolved to fire on all four cylinders. But the buck stops on the civilian leadership’s watch. Unfortunately that leaves much to be desired.

Merely claiming like an ostrich that enemy agents want to sabotage ‘Pakistan’s inevitable march towards economic prosperity and progress’ under the leadership of the prime minister does not even scratch the surface of a complex problem.

As long as our ambivalent attitude about jihadists of all hues and colours persists, counter terrorism efforts at the most can only achieve a modicum of success. Good, bad or ugly – no distinction should be made in tackling those perpetrating terrorism in the name of a distorted version of Islam.

For that to happen effectively the civilian and military leaderships should not only speak with one voice, ghost wars in the name of flawed and obsolete paradigms need to be abandoned forthwith.