Onus of responsibility... By Masood
15 October, 2012
When, in 2009, the Pakistan Army decided to launch an operation in Swat to flush out the terrorists, they vowed not to allow anyone to establish a state within the state. The army was successful to an extent and the terrorists were driven out of the valley, though that now appears to have been a tactical retreat. Their attack on Malala Yousafzai proves that all is not well in the valley. This unfortunate attack is the obvious outcome of an incomplete agenda as the Taliban are not limited to Swat valley only. They are present all over Pakistan. They have already established their writ in the tribal areas and are now threatening the rest of the country. Is their attack on Malala shocking enough to open our eyes to the dangers the country is facing? Vows, talks, speeches, editorials and articles are not adequate when it comes to standing in the way of barbarity. The Pakistan military, government, politicians, civil society and, most importantly, the Taliban apologists have to wake up. The apologists can no longer justify their aggression as a reaction to drone attacks. They need to understand that the drone is a product of the Taliban; it is not the other way around. Let the Taliban cease their activities, stop cross-border and internal terrorism, free the tribal areas and kick out all radical foreigners, and drones attacks will stop the very next day. This is a fight against an ideology whose followers are determined to enforce it at gunpoint. Our response should be two-fold: the use of military force to weaken the terrorists and the negation of their twisted religious beliefs on the ideological front. Time is running out for Pakistanis. The Taliban are on the warpath to radicalise the entire population. If not stopped they will convert the country into the epicentre of global terrorism. The army cannot make a dent until they tackle certain mosques and madrassas, which are breeding grounds for terrorists. After the Malala attack, the onus of responsibility lies with the civilian government and army to act, not only in the tribal areas but to flush out the Taliban from cities and towns all across the country. MASOOD KHAN
Jubail, Saudi Arabia
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