General Raheel’s strong commitments
Pakistan has been facing the menace of terrorism for a decade now, especially after the botched operations conducted in FATA in the years 2004 and 2005. From 2007 onwards; suicide bombings, sectarian violence and political standoffs became a daily dose for the common citizens of Pakistan that remained resilient in these tough times. Countless number of brave civilians, army officers and police officials laid down their lives for the cause of protecting the nation’s integrity. Such situations are testing times for any state and Pakistan has come a long way especially after these tumultuous events.
When the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif came to power, Pakistan was still reeling from countrywide terrorism in the form of religious and political fanatics that were at their peak of causing chaos especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Balochistan and Karachi. General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani was soon to retire as COAS and PM Nawaz Sharif had to choose a successor who had the ability to effectively counter terrorism. A number of senior generals were short-listed for the post and eventually General Raheel Sharif was chosen as the new COAS. During the initial days of General Sharif’s tenure, the government and some parties in the opposition such as the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) were pushing for a dialogue with the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) that was already splintered into various factions, for ceasefire declaration.
The key architect for the dialogue was Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, who wanted to push for peace for the greater good of the region
The key architect for the dialogue was Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, who wanted to push for peace for the greater good of the region. However, the elimination of TTP Chief Hakimullah Mehsud by a US drone strike and the mysterious assassination of Haqqani Network leader Nasiruddin Haqqani in November 2013 complicated matters that led to further violence at the hands of the TTP. On the other hand, the army leadership under the command of General Raheel Sharif patiently observed the ongoing situation and was of the view that TTP militants should be dealt with an iron hand as the terror organisation refused to shun violence and bought time to regroup under the pretext of dialogue. The dialogue dragged on for a couple of months and the turning point came when the Karachi airport was attacked in June 2014.
This turning point forced the government to change its policy of negotiations and allowed General Raheel Sharif to initiate a full scale military operation in North Waziristan to tackle the terror groups being led by the vicious Mullah Fazlullah, who enjoyed considerable amount of support from India’s external intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). This notion was later confirmed by the army’s media wing. The ongoing operation was quite effective in containing the militants, which gradually reduced terror attacks across Pakistan.
Little did the Pakistanis know that the TTP’s frustration could also lead to its ability to strike a school in Peshawar and kill over a hundred innocent children
However, little did the Pakistanis know that the TTP’s frustration could also lead to its ability to strike a school in Peshawar and kill over a hundred innocent children during December 2014. This attack was the deadliest terror strike in Pakistan’s history that was not only gruesome but also despicable. General Raheel Sharif and the new DG ISI General Rizwan Akhtar immediately went to Kabul and showed the relevant evidences of India’s involvement through Mullah Fazlullah who was hiding in Nuristan province of Afghanistan. Back in Pakistan, an All Parties Conference (APC) decided to initiate a National Action Plan (NAP) along with approving the process of conducting trials in military courts through the parliament and lifting the ban on death penalties by an executive order. Though these actions were considered politically controversial, the impact they had on countering terrorism actually proved quite fruitful for the greater good of the country as a tough stance was required than it ever was. The Pakistan Protection Act of 2014 (PPA) and the empowerment of National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) were also helpful in devising a strategy to limit the effects of terrorism. PPA itself is a draconian law that requires extensive revisions in order to comply with human rights standard. Nevertheless, it has proven itself a handful till now in capturing militants and known criminals.
Under General Raheel Sharif’s leadership, the army’s morale and the confidence of the citizens of Pakistan increased to a great extent for which he must given credit. His visits to important capitals of the world such as London and Washington DC highlighted Pakistan’s stance on terrorism that led to significant cooperation. Furthermore, his resolve to tackle ethnic terrorism in Balochistan and Karachi shows that he is a true soldier of the soil who wants peace for the country. It is hoped that under the tenure of his dynamic leadership, Pakistan is able to witness the true peace it used to have a couple of decades ago.
