LAHORE – Since gruesome gun-attack on country’s youngest girl education campaigner, Malala Yousafzai in Swat has angered the entire nation; it has closed the doors for any possible peace talks between Islamabad and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) once and for all.
Highly-placed military sources confided to The Nation on Wednesday that the desperate attack in which Taliban elements openly targeted a teenage girl, has irritated the top commanders in the Pakistan Army, apart from the political leadership.
According to them, the military strike in North Waziristan Agency (NWA), the safe haven of Taliban and al Qaeda militants as portrayed in Western media, is imminent notwithstanding the country’s Armed Forces are already overstretched.
The authorities are also assessing the situation after the Army operation is launched in the NWA as the brutal assault has sparked outrage across the country, where people are demanding strong action against the Taliban, urging the Pak Army to strike against the terrorists wherever it is needed. The assault triggered protests in the cities all over the country while the public in general and students in particular held prayers for Malala’s early recovery on Wednesday.
Official sources said that the attack has also disturbed the political leadership as intense debate is underway in the Federal Capital whether a full-fledge strike is a must or only surgical strikes could help flush out militants from the insurgency-infested northwest Pakistan. The statement of the Taliban spokesman, Ehsanullah Ehsan, claiming that they would not spare her even if she survived has added fuel to the fire. The Taliban’s claim is very much disturbing and is being taken very seriously by those who matters in the policymaking.
“The threat posed by the militancy suggests that Army action in NWA is in the best interest of Pakistan,” a senior official in the Defence Ministry told TheNation on the condition of anonymity.
However, he said, considering the internal dynamics of the country, it is important to comprehend that timings and magnitude of the military operation in NWA should be decided by Pak Army.
Well-informed sources said that the military has already suggested to the Federal government that “the internal dynamics of Pakistan dictate that a detailed and comprehensive strategy be formulated to cleanse areas infected by terrorism through shrewd corrective measures and judicious action with least collateral damage. Such strategy has to be indigenous one with blend of native society.”
“The visibly angry (military) Generals were seen keeping their fingers crossed during a closed-door meeting at the GHQ,” a military source familiar with the development said on Wednesday, requesting his identity not to be revealed. “Enough is enough. The red-lines are crossed and no more patience,” the source quoted one of the officers as telling his fellows.
At a time when the attack has angered the entire nation, all eyes are on GHQ in Rawalpindi as far as action against the militants is concerned.
“Presently, there is no ongoing military operation in NWA but the strike is imminent,” another source in the Defence Ministry said.
The Tuesday’s attack has triggered protests against the Taliban across the country, a rare phenomenon in a society where militants enjoy public support to some extent.
“Despite horrible and terrible Taliban bombings that shook the country during the last four to six years, we had never seen such public anger against Taliban,” a security expert said, adding, the attack on the 14-year-old rights activist has changed the scenario.
The students and civil society are on the streets. The politicians are condemning the brutal attack and the people are whispering against the Taliban at public crossings, he added.
It is important to mention here that the Indian officials and media, at the same time, have launched propaganda against Pakistan by projecting that US troops may get directly involved in NWA in case Pakistan Army undertakes an action in that area.
“Such propaganda is aimed at creating doubts about Pakistan’s commitment to war on terror. It is also a desperate attempt by the enemies of the country to indirectly force Pakistan to undertake operations in NWA,” the experts said.
According to them, international leaders and the coalition on War on Terror must understand that military operation against own people and own territory have far reaching implications, envisaging prudence and maturity of mind by visionary leadership.
There is no doubt that terrorism needs to be fought against and eliminated from Pakistani soil but Pakistan should reject all external pressures and propaganda onslaught against its sovereignty and matters related to national security.
Military strike in NWA around the corner