The army has been tested, twice in the space of a few months and come good by the grace of God, much to the consternation of the enemies of Pakistan, who had firstly, not envisaged swift success of the men in khakis in the Malakand Operation, and the traditional exemplary unison shown by the nation in rehabilitation of the IDPs back to their hearths and homes. This time around, the stunning success of its counter-operation against the terror attack on GHQ has done the country proud, to the chagrin of Pakistan's adversaries who loose no opportunity to try and ostracise the great Institution. Bruised by the ISI's stellar performance in frustrating many a plan by Pakistan's adversaries in the past, it has long been the US desire to defang the principal intelligence outfit of the country and bring it under civilian control. The first attempt was made just on the heels of PM Gilani's visit to the US last year seeking to clip the wings of the ISI and make it subservient to the Ministry of Interior. A clear message at that time from the stewards in the khakis that no intrusion in the affairs of Pakistan's armed forces will be tolerated, does not seem to have sunk in properly, which is why this crude attempt yet again, to rein in on the 'guardians' of Pakistan with the help of the 'roadmap' devised for them by Pakistan's favoured ambassador to the US through KLB. Elements vehemently opposed to Pakistan's active support to American presence in the region have now attacked GHQ. To dismiss it merely as retaliation by a wounded serpent, would be a grave mistake, as more at the back of it has already surfaced with a multiple attack in Lahore besides Kohat and Peshawar, and still more is expected to be revealed after a proper post-mortem of the attack on GHQ is conducted. It is no coincidence that soon after voicing serious reservations by the armed forces, over the demeaning and insinuating clauses in the bill about the institution, it has been subjected to a terrorist attack in a vain bid to establish its vulnerability. What would in fact need instant probe is, as to how the internal security apparatus of the country despite clear warnings even outlining details of the assault, allowed the attackers to reach GHQ parameters. Pakistanis must realise that their country is in a state of war and calls for the spirit of 1965 to blunt and frustrate the enemy, who this time is duping your own countrymen and succeeding in infiltrating their ranks. This is a far more dangerous and challenging situation, and the entire nation must rise in unison and go all out for the kill. Granted that the swift counter-action by Pakistan's Defence Forces against these terrorist attacks ought to be eulogised, but it must also be recognised that the adversary wedded to its cause, is organised and able to engage you at will, penetrate and take hostages. It reflects very poorly upon the internal security apparatus of the country, that despite pre-warning, it has so far failed to safeguard vital security institutions, leave alone the life and property of ordinary citizens. The least that is called for is round the clock combat-ready vigil of their institutions. Internal security and intelligence is the responsibility of Interior Ministry and the Pakistan Army should be rarely called upon to meet internal threat. The attack was not merely a message from the militants, of the extent to which they can penetrate, but perhaps an instigation from the powers that be to the armed forces, and a bid to draw them into the inhospitable tribal terrain historically known as the graveyard of many an army. The new wave of attacks coming from a group known as Tehreek-i-Taliban Punjab identified with one Amjad Farooqi, whose origins are different from those of Baitullah Mehsud, requires to be tackled differently. One hopes General Kayani, does not get sucked into a ground assault in FATA with the government 'go-ahead' signal at the behest of its masters, without weighing the chances of instant success of his men, and assurance of political backup and development support required for people in the region. Otherwise, Pakistani troops can ill afford to get bogged down indefinitely and expose the eastern flank of the country to Pakistan's arch enemy. The US raised hell over the Mumbai attack just because India accused the Pakistan government of involvement, to which effect till date there is no plausible evidence. On the contrary, Pakistan brought concrete evidence of Indian meddling in Balochistan to American notice. Also the Pakistani interior minister for the first time categorically named India to be behind the terrorist attack on GHQ, which could not have been carried out without external collusion. This has been corroborated by several Western and European accounts. But not only that no eyebrows were raised, any expression of sympathy leave alone condemnation by the US or UK for attack on the headquarters came days later as if it was a non-event. One would have expected the US to stand firmly with Pakistan rather than every now and then resort to apprehensions about its declared long-term strategic partner. It is perhaps time to make up for past neglect, and treat Pakistan as a sovereign equal with its neighbours, rather than discriminate and try to browbeat it to a subservient role in the region. Raising the bogey of Pakistan's nuclear assets falling into the wrong hands without a plausible reason, deliberately confusing the real Taliban demanding enforcement of Shariah, with terrorists facilitating infiltration of their ranks by inimical forces and involving the Pak Army into combat with them, tinkering with Pakistan's internal affairs and invading its ideological edifice with alien cultures, and weary of the potential of the forces, trying to brand them as a rogue army, is bound to widen the cleavage instead of building bridges. The writer is a freelance columnist.