Is the nation backs the military

In continuation of my previous article, “The Bloody Drama” I had tried to analyse the sustained and precise attacks of the terrorist through out Pakistan. Though the main targets are Peshawar and Islam Abad, but if they wish they can hit any place, at any time. I had expressed my explicit opinion that miracles should not be expected from military action. Though very late, but they are doing their best. I tried to put my humble opinion that what are we reaping the harvest, sown by our own short sighted, opportunist military dictators. Our agencies showed them all their tricks, but failed to learn theirs. They have outmanoeuvred our agencies.

The armed forces are fighting a shadow, with a strong mind frame, in a pitch dark. As I pointed out in my last article, there is no weapon, which can match a frame of mind. They are present everywhere and seen nowhere.

Their precision of targets and tactical strategy is an eye opener for all of us. Ii is impossible to have a sustain wave of attacks with minimum loss. The logic of war lies with them; to choose the target and terrain. Their battlefield experience is longer than the whole career of some senior officers.
To conduct such war is almost impossible without the roots in the important section of society, including agencies, armed forces and political organization. Divinity is the mother of a blind faith or dogma. Blind faith has no comparable counter offensive arm, to match. It makes the life meaningless and death more attractive. One looses his interest in this world around and starts dreaming of the countless bounties of GOD, in the world after. This frame of mind is shut to all logic. When logic loose its relevance, the human is worse than a beast. Destruction gives him/ her happiness and pleasure. The person is completely disassociated from the surrounding and is focussed only on the target. By and large, the less privileged class is more vulnerable to these temptations.
As mentioned before without roots in the informed section of society, they are paralysed. They have to be uprooted from the society to be defeat. The agencies gains more importance and assume the role of mind and eyes of the combating force. Their incompetence can turn the table up side down and could be disastrous. The situation turns more dangerous, if the rogue elements have infiltrated the important section of the society. It is the national resolve, which deliver victory. The backing of this resolve is the source of strength for the force in combat.
Is our military force having the resolve of the nation on their back? Have we succeeded in uprooting them from the broad base of the society? These are crucially important questions and must be addressed to, with serenity and logic. We must be honest and to the points in our analysis. Nothing should deter us from the truth and there is no room for compromises, reconciliation and political scoring.
Let us have a look of their prime targets? They are the provincial and federal establishments, armed forces and their subsidiary organisations. In civilians, their targets are nationalist, democratic forces; with liberal thinking civil societies and journalists. If we closely observe their victims; there is hardly any from religious parties, sectarian organization and any brand of Muslim leaguers . I mean to say M.L. (N, Q, F, etc.). While the army has launched its offensive in the most difficult terrain, either to condemn the action or to talk of political negotiation or remain non committal at this stage, is practically the same, as supporting rogue elements or to withdraw the nationwide resolve on the back of the armed forces. It is not the time to remain mum, but to be in support or against. There is no grey area. Neither it is the time to look for political capitalization.
We as a nation have the right to put the question to those, to know their standing at this crucial time? It is a serious matter, if the officers in GHQ are not safe, how on earth these elements roam around so freely, with no protection or fear? The hands may not be visible but they are palpable and logic tells us that we are correct in our analysis. After all these were the elements, which were comrades in arms of the military dictators, who started this game. There are many lines of thoughts converging on their past record, which is supportive to make sense out of the guess. It will an immoral to play a double game at this juncture. Here; no foreign force is involved, it is our army against the foreign rogues and thugs. They are serial killers. We all know, that ultimately it will be dialogue that will resolve the matter, but it has to be from the position of strength, not with shadows in pitch dark, but with people in broad daylight. It clearly points out, the roots of the rogues in the society and provider of the shelters and when in cordon to show them exit. Self-deception is suicidal, to shut eyes from the facts, can damage the whole country and may succumb to this foul play.
Once the fire is brought under control, the national army is the alternative to keep an eye on the bounce back of the terrorists. I am personally against raising the local Militia Force. Such forces can be used, by insider or outsider vested interests, against each other and can be detrimental to our national aspirations. I think that a national army instead of local army should be raised from the public and should be trained by ex army jawans and officers should be under provincial jurisdiction. The recent decision by the provincial government, to raise an elite force of 1000 from ex army soldiers is commendable. I think it will be much wiser to broaden its base on national level, to minimise antagonism in future. It is point of importance for provincial government of Pukhtoonkhwa to ponder over it. We have a bad precedence in our history of warlords in Afghanistan. The local lashkar may assume that role or they may be used by vested interest.
To guarantee the success, it would have been much advantageous, if there were no mistrust between Pukhtoons and the army. This can be minimised by least collateral damage and a well thought policy to provide them facilities, when they vacate their area, followed by rehabilitation and restoration of infrastructure after the enemy is flushed out. The civil federal government should take steps on international level now; to gather resources to launch a master plan, to avoid the disappointments, as in the case of Swat. The foreign office should launch a worldwide campaign. It is a war for global peace and the global fraternity must respond to the construction of FATA, PATA and the province as a whole. If the out side aid is not acceptable to Nawaz Sharif, we won’t mind the contribution from the enormous wealth, he has risen from the day when he joined Gen Zia establishment. We need investment in our area, to alleviate poverty, deprivation and backwardness of last 62 years, we don’t mind the source, from where it comes.
Let me remind the readers, that once Winston Churchill was asked that since all wars are conducted by army generals; why they should not have the authority when to start and end? He replied that the conduction of war is the domain of military generals, but to stop or start a war is social science, politicians better decide it.
Prof. (Dr.) Khurshid Alam.. Khurshid.alam10@gmail.com Dated 19th Oct. 2009