These are the worst floods of Pakistans history which have destroyed 650,000 homes, more than the 2005 earthquake disaster had done. Some 12 million, nearly 10% of the countrys population, have been affected, about 1,600 killed and thousands more missing. As the Armed Forces of Pakistan struggle to tend to needs of the three million people rendered shelterless, it goes about establishing relief camps in areas around the country, rescuing people trapped in water, shifting them to safer places and providing them provisions for day to day survival, the security strategists must be worried about security implications of this unavoidable and all-consuming engagement. The country is already fighting a full-fledged war against terror at home and both its eastern and western borders are vulnerable to threat from old adversaries. There are also increasing fears that charities linked to Islamic militants could cash in on the growing anti-government reaction in the areas that have been Taliban strongholds until recently. There is also a possibility that militant groups could use charities as a front in their fight against government to gain trust and support of people in Pakhtunkhwah. Anything that pulls down the present government in the rage against ineffective response to floods could have security implications in the fight against Taliban. The Taliban have actually taken advantage of the confusion to launch some attacks too. The floods have caused infrastructure and communication functions to be paralyzed which is a new worry as the communication gap is hindering pass on of information in flood-hit areas. Meanwhile, the menace of target killing has also started in Karachi during these floods. Keeping all of this in view, the government must also realize gravity of the situation and should not be sitting on its hands. It has so far been able to avoid taking the responsibility of rescuing people as the onus remained on the Army. The Army has, no doubt, won hearts of people with its utmost dedication and devotion to the task. But that is also, in a way, a failure of the government. The President remained on a foreign tour and those left at home continued to score points against each other while people were left dying. Let us allow the Army to concentrate on the overall security situation and have government do everything else. We have a long way to go before we start rebuilding the infrastructure but we must begin. Let us also join hands with the Armed Forces to restore the security infrastructure in flood-hit areas. -SYEDA NAYAB BUKHARI, Rawalpindi, August 10.