Being frank and above board reduces misunderstandings
Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad has led to encouraging developments. Former TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan who later joined Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, the notorious terrorist outfit, has turned himself in. This constitutes the highest-profile surrender by a Pakistani Taliban commander in years and is likely to demoralise elements in the terrorist network. Naureen Leghari, a student of Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences who was radicalised on social media and disappeared two months back to join the ISIS, has been arrested. Meanwhile law enforcement agencies also foiled the attacks on the Christian community during Easter in Lahore – which she, along with her husband, was a part of. The intelligence based operation would not have been possible without a significant improvement in the capacity of the LEAs.
While the efficiency of the LEAs has improved, the perception of cherry picking on their part continues to persist. Afghan ambassador in Pakistan has expressed willingness on the part of Kabul to take out TTP Chief Mullah Fazlullah through a joint operation with Pakistan, provided Islamabad is agreeable to a similar operation against those wanted by Kabul for launching attacks inside Afghanistan from safe havens on this side of the Durand Line. US National Security Adviser McMaster has advised Pakistan to take on terrorist groups less selectively than has been done in the past. Further to pursue Pakistan’s interests in Afghanistan and elsewhere is through diplomacy rather than use of proxies that engage in violence.
Meanwhile the row between the military establishment and government over DAWN leaks has become public with ISPR spokesman and Interior Minister taking different stands. The Interior minister had originally promised to present to inquiry report in fifteen days but has failed to do so even after six months raising doubts and suspicions. The government presumably is adamant on saving the neck of someone behind the revelations made to the newspaper while showing willingness to take action against dispensable but inconsequential minions. There is a need to put an end to misunderstandings between the government and the army.