By Amir Zia
May 2, 2013
The News
All those advocating a policy of appeasement for these extremist forces and who want to strike deals with them stand on the wrong side of history. They can only help prolong Pakistan’s misery for a while at the hands of militants, but eventually they will be defeated.
Pakistanis should breathe easy now and feel a bit more confident about their country’s future. Yes, the good news is that the Pakistan Army – the country’s most powerful institution – is not yielding before Al-Qaeda and its local militant allies, who have long been tarnishing the sacred name of Islam by killing unarmed civilians and Pakistani security forces through cowardly acts of terrorism.
All the ambiguity and confusion created by the handful of Al-Qaeda and Taliban apologists, who brand Pakistan’s twin challenge of extremism and terrorism as an ‘American War’, should be removed after Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani’s recent assertion that the fight against an enemy that defies the constitution of Pakistan and the democratic process and considers all forms of bloodshed justified should not be considered someone else’s war.
“We cannot afford to confuse our soldiers and weaken their resolve with such misgivings,” the army chief said. No country, even the best evolved democratic states, would tolerate treason and seditious uprisings against the state, he said – underlining the importance of the unwavering support of the masses to their armed forces in any such struggle.
General Kayani’s April 30 speech on the occasion of ‘Youm-e-Shuhada’ (Martyrs’ Day) is perhaps one of his most important, timely and profound speeches in which he touched upon two key themes – democracy and Pakistan’s efforts against extremism and terrorism. The message conveyed in this speech should end the atmosphere of uncertainty and any misgivings regarding both the future of democracy in the country and the armed forces’ position on the war on terrorism. It should boost the confidence of both the barracks and the civilians and bring more cohesion and commitment among them in their efforts to defeat extremists and terrorists, who remain bent upon imposing their distorted ideology and narrow and flawed version of Islam in the country, where 99.9 percent of the population is made up of moderate and peace-loving Muslims.
The first part of General Kayani’s speech expressed the armed forces’ commitment of strengthening the democratic process, which has already been proven by the way the army leadership stuck to its constitutional role despite intense pressure by various quarters that it should act to clean up the stables.
The general rightly underlined that the success of democracy doesn’t merely rest on elections, but more importantly on the prosperity and welfare of the masses. Our mainstream political parties must pay heed to this simple and sincere advice of the army chief, who should get equal marks for keeping the country’s fragile democratic process afloat despite all its weaknesses, tales of alleged mega-corruption and poor governance. The major political parties must put their house in order on a war-footing because the country can hardly bear even one year of the kind of directionless and shady rule that was witnessed during the 2008-2013 ‘democratic era’ let alone another full five years of such term.
General Kayani also used the occasion to dispel any doubts that might linger in the minds of many that the elections could be postponed at the last minute against the backdrop of a string of terrorist attacks on leaders, workers and followers of the three main liberal political parties by the Taliban, who apparently want to weaken their electoral prospects. The Taliban threat to the former ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Awami National Party (ANP) advertently or inadvertently benefits the electoral prospects of religious and right-wing parties which are carrying out their campaigns without any fear of terrorism.
General Kayani’s most clear message, however, remains that of taking ownership of the war on terrorists and extremists, who are responsible for more than 50,000 killings of Pakistani civilians and security forces personnel since 2002. He rightly criticised those politicians and religious leaders who waste time in debating the ‘origins of the war on terror’ – incorrectly calling it a US war.
The army chief’s Youm-e-Shuhada speech should be seen as an expansion of the important theme he raised in his April 20 speech at the passing out parade of young officers in Kakul where he emphasised that Islam should always remain a unifying force.
Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the Jamaat-e-Islamis of this world should take note since they are trying their best to undermine the sacrifices made by Pakistan’s security forces and civilians in the war on terror by calling the struggle for Pakistan’s future as a US war. They are serving the interests of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban when they demand that the army unilaterally withdraw from the lawless and militant-infested northern region of Pakistan and abandon its international and national responsibility of reining in these non-state actors, who blow up schools, attack mosques, assassinate political rivals and carry out bombings and terrorist attacks targeting civilians and security forces alike.
The barbaric acts and crimes of Al-Qaeda and local terrorists cannot be forgotten nor forgiven no matter what any Imran Khans or Munawar Hasans might say. The state cannot surrender before these forces of darkness wanting to transform Pakistan into a pariah state in the international community and impose their oppressive system using the sacred name of Islam which in fact stands for moderation, human dignity and progress.
All those advocating a policy of appeasement for these extremist forces and who want to strike deals with them stand on the wrong side of history. They can only help prolong Pakistan’s misery for a while at the hands of militants, but eventually they will be defeated. This is as inevitable as day is followed by night.
Since 2002, Pakistan’s armed forces – the military in particular – have been at the forefront in the fight against terrorism. From Pakistan’s point of view, the objectives of the war remain simple; foreign militants should not be allowed to operate from Pakistani soil and be sent packing to their countries of origin. If their countries refuse to take them, which happened in most cases when these militants were caught, Pakistan as a matter of policy will hand them over to the US-led Nato forces.
The second important objective is that non-state actors – be they foreign or local – should not be allowed to use Pakistani territory for global or domestic terrorism. These objectives remain in line with Pakistan’s national interest as well as its responsibility as a member of the international community.
General Kayani would know better all the challenges and pain Pakistan has endured during this protracted conflict since he has remained on key command positions during all these turbulent times – from the head of the Inter Services Intelligence to the vice chief of the army staff and then as army chief.
It is indeed heartening the way General Kayani has articulated the mission statement of his forces of fighting both the external and internal enemies of the country in which defeating terrorists remains a matter of prime importance. Indeed, the military leadership has again raised itself to the challenge as our soldiers battle these enemies of Pakistan and Islam on various fronts. It is now the responsibility of our politicians and all the other sections of society to support this effort in all possible ways. They should all take the ownership of this war to defeat the extremist mindset and counter their narrative.
This is not the time to waver or doubt the legitimacy of this conflict. Our soldiers need all our unconditional support – because they alone have the capacity and ability to win this war for Pakistan.
May 2, 2013
The News
All those advocating a policy of appeasement for these extremist forces and who want to strike deals with them stand on the wrong side of history. They can only help prolong Pakistan’s misery for a while at the hands of militants, but eventually they will be defeated.
Pakistanis should breathe easy now and feel a bit more confident about their country’s future. Yes, the good news is that the Pakistan Army – the country’s most powerful institution – is not yielding before Al-Qaeda and its local militant allies, who have long been tarnishing the sacred name of Islam by killing unarmed civilians and Pakistani security forces through cowardly acts of terrorism.
All the ambiguity and confusion created by the handful of Al-Qaeda and Taliban apologists, who brand Pakistan’s twin challenge of extremism and terrorism as an ‘American War’, should be removed after Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani’s recent assertion that the fight against an enemy that defies the constitution of Pakistan and the democratic process and considers all forms of bloodshed justified should not be considered someone else’s war.
“We cannot afford to confuse our soldiers and weaken their resolve with such misgivings,” the army chief said. No country, even the best evolved democratic states, would tolerate treason and seditious uprisings against the state, he said – underlining the importance of the unwavering support of the masses to their armed forces in any such struggle.
General Kayani’s April 30 speech on the occasion of ‘Youm-e-Shuhada’ (Martyrs’ Day) is perhaps one of his most important, timely and profound speeches in which he touched upon two key themes – democracy and Pakistan’s efforts against extremism and terrorism. The message conveyed in this speech should end the atmosphere of uncertainty and any misgivings regarding both the future of democracy in the country and the armed forces’ position on the war on terrorism. It should boost the confidence of both the barracks and the civilians and bring more cohesion and commitment among them in their efforts to defeat extremists and terrorists, who remain bent upon imposing their distorted ideology and narrow and flawed version of Islam in the country, where 99.9 percent of the population is made up of moderate and peace-loving Muslims.
The first part of General Kayani’s speech expressed the armed forces’ commitment of strengthening the democratic process, which has already been proven by the way the army leadership stuck to its constitutional role despite intense pressure by various quarters that it should act to clean up the stables.
The general rightly underlined that the success of democracy doesn’t merely rest on elections, but more importantly on the prosperity and welfare of the masses. Our mainstream political parties must pay heed to this simple and sincere advice of the army chief, who should get equal marks for keeping the country’s fragile democratic process afloat despite all its weaknesses, tales of alleged mega-corruption and poor governance. The major political parties must put their house in order on a war-footing because the country can hardly bear even one year of the kind of directionless and shady rule that was witnessed during the 2008-2013 ‘democratic era’ let alone another full five years of such term.
General Kayani also used the occasion to dispel any doubts that might linger in the minds of many that the elections could be postponed at the last minute against the backdrop of a string of terrorist attacks on leaders, workers and followers of the three main liberal political parties by the Taliban, who apparently want to weaken their electoral prospects. The Taliban threat to the former ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Awami National Party (ANP) advertently or inadvertently benefits the electoral prospects of religious and right-wing parties which are carrying out their campaigns without any fear of terrorism.
General Kayani’s most clear message, however, remains that of taking ownership of the war on terrorists and extremists, who are responsible for more than 50,000 killings of Pakistani civilians and security forces personnel since 2002. He rightly criticised those politicians and religious leaders who waste time in debating the ‘origins of the war on terror’ – incorrectly calling it a US war.
The army chief’s Youm-e-Shuhada speech should be seen as an expansion of the important theme he raised in his April 20 speech at the passing out parade of young officers in Kakul where he emphasised that Islam should always remain a unifying force.
Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the Jamaat-e-Islamis of this world should take note since they are trying their best to undermine the sacrifices made by Pakistan’s security forces and civilians in the war on terror by calling the struggle for Pakistan’s future as a US war. They are serving the interests of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban when they demand that the army unilaterally withdraw from the lawless and militant-infested northern region of Pakistan and abandon its international and national responsibility of reining in these non-state actors, who blow up schools, attack mosques, assassinate political rivals and carry out bombings and terrorist attacks targeting civilians and security forces alike.
The barbaric acts and crimes of Al-Qaeda and local terrorists cannot be forgotten nor forgiven no matter what any Imran Khans or Munawar Hasans might say. The state cannot surrender before these forces of darkness wanting to transform Pakistan into a pariah state in the international community and impose their oppressive system using the sacred name of Islam which in fact stands for moderation, human dignity and progress.
All those advocating a policy of appeasement for these extremist forces and who want to strike deals with them stand on the wrong side of history. They can only help prolong Pakistan’s misery for a while at the hands of militants, but eventually they will be defeated. This is as inevitable as day is followed by night.
Since 2002, Pakistan’s armed forces – the military in particular – have been at the forefront in the fight against terrorism. From Pakistan’s point of view, the objectives of the war remain simple; foreign militants should not be allowed to operate from Pakistani soil and be sent packing to their countries of origin. If their countries refuse to take them, which happened in most cases when these militants were caught, Pakistan as a matter of policy will hand them over to the US-led Nato forces.
The second important objective is that non-state actors – be they foreign or local – should not be allowed to use Pakistani territory for global or domestic terrorism. These objectives remain in line with Pakistan’s national interest as well as its responsibility as a member of the international community.
General Kayani would know better all the challenges and pain Pakistan has endured during this protracted conflict since he has remained on key command positions during all these turbulent times – from the head of the Inter Services Intelligence to the vice chief of the army staff and then as army chief.
It is indeed heartening the way General Kayani has articulated the mission statement of his forces of fighting both the external and internal enemies of the country in which defeating terrorists remains a matter of prime importance. Indeed, the military leadership has again raised itself to the challenge as our soldiers battle these enemies of Pakistan and Islam on various fronts. It is now the responsibility of our politicians and all the other sections of society to support this effort in all possible ways. They should all take the ownership of this war to defeat the extremist mindset and counter their narrative.
This is not the time to waver or doubt the legitimacy of this conflict. Our soldiers need all our unconditional support – because they alone have the capacity and ability to win this war for Pakistan.
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