THERE could be no second opinion about the direction given by COAS Gen Ashfaq Kayani to the General Officer Commanding with the troops at Mingora that he should focus on the return of displaced persons in peace and security and prepare a post-operation contingency plan in this regard. General Kayani was on a visit to Mingora with Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleyman. Indeed, making a sound, workable strategy for their safe return and rehabilitation ought to be the government's top priority. That would secure the best possible results from the fight against militancy, give confidence to the people to start their lives afresh, to reopen their shops and businesses and send their children to schools and colleges without the fear of disruption by militant elements. Calls of repatriation made without ensuring that a particular troubled area has been fully cleared of the insurgents, and that there was no likelihood of their return, would prove counterproductive. They might result in uprooting the people for the second time. If that were to happen, it would make it doubly difficult for the authorities to convince the IDPs to go back to their homes at a later stage when the danger had really passed. A case in point is Buner. There have been several announcements holding out the assurance to the IDPs that the terrorists have been hounded out and that they should go back and resettle. However, Monday's events - the blowing up of bridges, a school and a college - showed that the Taliban fighters had not been entirely pushed out of Buner. They were either present in certain pockets or hiding in the garb of ordinary citizens. Thus, although the troops have made gains in the area it was not safe enough for peaceful residents to live. Besides the safety of the area, it is imperative that it should be made habitable once again. With the basic infrastructure shattered, it is too much to expect the daily routine of life to resume. The Air Chief announced the setting up of a water filtration plant at Mingora. Similarly, the civilian administration should immediately take up the reconstruction work. Area-wise committees having local representation should be formed to assess the requirements of rehabilitation, in terms of rebuilding and repairing houses, shops, streets, bridges, culverts and other infrastructure. There is need to restart water and power supply where it has been interrupted and reconstruct educational institutions where they have been blown up or damaged. Although life in those areas is much simpler, the provision of basic amenities is of urgent importance.