What happens when a series of violent activities carried out by a terrorist organization fail to prompt any serious action? When leaders of mainstream political and religious parties offer justifications on behalf of the militant extremists, and propagate false narratives, which misguide common people during a time when clarity is critical? When the elected government of the country purposefully shuts it eyes to any and all recent developments, just so that it can remain insistent on a strategy, which simply cannot achieve results? The answer is the stories that make the headlines almost every day. It’s the same news of civilians and security personnel losing their limbs and lives at the hands of terrorists, same old words of condemnation and appeasement that follow, and the same inaction which ensures that the vicious cycle remains intact and running.
A suicide blast killed at least 13 people, including 5 security personnel, in RA bazar, Rawalpindi, on Monday. This was the second attack within 24 hours, which was carried out to specifically target the armed forces. Earlier, 20 security personnel were martyred and at least 30 injured as a result of a bomb blast in Hangu. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) accepted responsibility for both attacks, and claimed that they were carried out to avenge the deaths of their former chief and deputy chief, Hakimullah Meshud and Wali-ur-Rehman. The TTP had also extended the offer of talks after the attack in Bannu.
The TTP’s post-attack statements reveal that it understands what needs to be done, and what needs to be said after it has been done. It sees our weakness, and is more then willing to exploit it, as enemies do and should. The plan is to continue killing civilians and security personnel as long as the state doesn’t surrender. But, it is also counting on inaction from the state, since the military is actually capable of fighting and defeating it as it did in the Swat operation. It is in its interest for its actions to be viewed as reactionary, rather than being driven by the greed for power and control, which doesn’t coincide with the image of righteous men fighting in the way of God. It is also in its interest to conjoin the idea of peace with the end to drone strikes. In short, it is to operate in a manner that enables the pro-talks camp to blame everything on drones and the US.
It is hoped that the people see through the façade, and identify their real enemy. The danger lies within. There should be no doubt over the fact that it is our war to fight. The government is running out of time, like the rest of the country. Something needs to be done, now. We all know what it is.