Where does our nation’s
failure lie? We must at last confess that we could not sincerely fight the war
on terror within our borders. Governments did not come up with a comprehensive
strategy and action plan to fight against global terrorism after 9/11 and
terrorism affecting the foundation of our nation-state even prior. Actions were
taken only as a matter of reactions against particular, isolated incidents.
For example, the Zarb-e-Azb only came into being after the brazen attack at the
Karachi Airport took place in June this year. Why could we not clean up our soil
from foreign terrorists and militants coming from Saudi Arabia to Uzbekistan and
elsewhere? Our soil became a favorite sanctuary for terrorists all over the
world. Political parties also created their militant wings. Why did the Pakhtun
culture and society, especially in tribal areas, provide shelter and protection
to these terrorists? Is this not our national failure? Are we still reluctant to
change it?
The terrorist attack at the Army Public School in Peshawar on 16 December would
not have taken place without ‘local support’. They were from Swat, Khyber
Agency, along with Afghans and Uzbeks. They were linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban
Pakistan (TTP).
The old administration system erected by the British and retained by the
successive governments in Pakistan cannot be maintained any longer. A new system
of governance should be introduced with the Army in the centre until the
situation returns to normalcy. The region should be fully integrated with the
rest of the country through political universal franchise representation.
The existence of foreign terrorists, militants, and extremists, should a
zero-tolerance point. The Army should especially target all such elements and
society should clean up their muhallas, masjids, madaris, imam barghs, churches,
and the places owned or rented by such elements. Now we should not tolerate the
sympathizers of terrorists, militants, and extremists belonging to any fiqh,
school of thought, political party, and organization.
Enough is enough. Afghan refugees should immediately be repatriated to their
homes ‘with or without honor’. Over 35 years, the soil of Pakistan was misused
by refugees. Terrorism and religious-ethnic fundamentalism was associated with
the Afghan war, Mujahideen insurgency, Taliban ascendency, and the post-9/11
war. Let’s get rid of this situation.
Cleaning up our home is necessary. Unregistered Afghan nationals should be
deported immediately and registered Afghan refugees should be sent back within a
couple of months. We cannot tolerate them on our soil until December 2016. Until
then, our schools, colleges, and universities should not be opened. Interior
Ministry and Ministry of Frontier Regions should undertake these immediate
measures.
Incidents taken before the Karachi Airport attacks, were considered lesser evils
and so comprehensive military action was not launched against terrorists and
militants. Moreover, why was the Zarb-e-Azb type of military action not
considered essential during 11 September 2001 -June 2014?
That successive governments could not come up with an all-round strategy against
terrorism is our foremost national failure. The house was divided. As many as
eight Prime Ministers were installed in the post-9/11 period with a military
General in full command; yet terrorism could not be eliminated. There were
supporters and sympathizers of terrorists and militants. Even terrorists and
militants funded the politicians to win elections, and we did not rise against
terrorists and militants even after we lost 50,000 lives to terrorist attacks.
We must accept that as a nation, we did not comply with our responsibilities and
were thrown out for two generations to terrorists. Unfortunately, eight
successive governments and two generals were a lost story. Now the nation looks
towards General Raheel Sharif, hoping that the PML (N) Government will perform
differently from their predecessors and we must win the war against terrorism to
ensure peace. The 20-Point National Action Plan against terrorism, put forward
by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, is a commendable move.
Now eyes are turned to the military courts. They should not be used for
political maneuverings or against politicians. They should only be used to
eliminate terrorists. We have entered into a decisive moment against terrorism.
The lifting of the moratorium on the death penalty is Pakistan’s internal
matter. The outside world, EU, and UN need not meddle or exert pressure on
Pakistan on how to tackle its legal system against terrorists. China stood by
Pakistan against its anti-terrorism plan. Let us remember that capital
punishment has been retained by 58 countries including the US, China, Japan,
India, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, and UAE; all for good reason.