The Pakistani Spectator

Taliban who rose from the ashes of Afghan war now pose some very serious and alarming threat to the Pakistan. The Taliban gave up the peaceful struggle for enforcement of Shariah that was being waged earlier by Maulana Sufi Mohammad’s black-turbaned Tanzim Nifaz Shariat-i-Mohammadi (TNSM) and resorted to the use of force to accomplish their objectives. Taliban are now fighting a weird evil war aimed at their own people and they are doing nothing but weakening the roots and foundations of their own country.

There is nothing wrong in demanding the Shariah. Most of people in Pakistan wouldn’t object to that. But the problem is with the Taliban’s interpretation of Islam which is aliena to the Muslims world over. Islam is a shining, modern, open, and tolerant religion while Taliban are trying to push the people back to the dark ages. Closing of schools, denying of modern things, barring women even in veil to go about jobs and other works outside, violence and intolerance are the hallmarks of Taliban standing.

While the PPP-government continues to pay lip service to the on going skirmish in Swat and elsewhere, one is terrorized to hear ludicrous excuses for government’s inaction on this smouldering issue by some ministers who have literally no clue as what to do and what is going on and more than likely they have been nominated to the cabinet for their sly ability to pettifog clear pledges and to show allegaince to the civilian dictator, thy name is Zardari. Pardon me for mentioning Zardari, as we all know that he is incapable of doing anything worthwhile.

The Swati terrorists led by the illiterate Maulana Fazlullah are the mixed bag consisting of clueless and brainwashed extremists, jobless people, people whose relatives were killed by the bombings of security forces, people who had nothing and always hated the affluent hotel, resort and land owners of Swat and the flooding happy rich tourists, and the huge remains of Afghan Taliban. These terrorists have no mercy and kill at will. Through their FM radio, one Maulana Shah Dauran runs a show at night and issues order to the people of Swat. He warns them to behave or face the consequences.

Swat is a test case for the Pakistani security forces and for the people of Pakistan. It is what represents what lies ahead for all of us if we don’t act fast. Even FATA comes later. Swat should be the Number 1 priority for us right now. All this stuff about the marks of Farah Hameed Dogar, 17th or 18th amendement, even Mumbai attacks let alone the Gaza attacks come later. Even load shedding and price hike is not as important as the issue of Swat. All media guns, commoners’ discussions and the field and drawing room discussions should be aimed at Swat Crisis, which is likely to become Pakistan Crisis if not handled now.

Once all the civil societies, political parties, religious parties, opposition, government, security forces get united and focussed and the world behind them then a massive crack down should be carried out in the mountains of Swat. First as much civilian population of Swat as possible should be evacuated from the region and place near Balakot and Muzzaffarabad for 30 days. They would number in 1.5 million approximately. While the people would be moving security forces must protect them through cordoning off the roads and through helicopters. Makeshift camps are not a big problem to arrange, as many are still there after the reconstruction of the earthquake affected areas. Logistics would be huge and widescale but this is an emergency.

Then that should be followed by merciless and ruthless operation on the terrorists. A complete, professional, and thorough operation to rootout the cancer. No talks, no dialogue and no chitchat. Nothing. Jirgas and talks have failed and they are just an eyewash. It would be good to capture the leadership of terrorists in Swat and to prosecute them in public. Right now security forces are failing in Swat because terrorists are using the local population of Swat as shield. Once that shield is withdrawn, it would be matter of couple of days to clear the mess. Security forces have all the intelligence and firepower to quash the terrorism in the area.

And if world is really interested in helping Pakistan and if Obama really wants to bring in the change he talks about so much, he must pay back the billions of dollars to Pakistan to help wage a winning war against the terrorists. Obama must remember that there is no free meal in the world.