Pakistan faces its Frankenstein's monster

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EDITORIAL
Pakistan faces its Frankenstein's monster
The Nation

Islamabad appears to be tackling the Taleban in earnest - but it will be a long struggle

BANGKOK: -- A week after the gruesome killings of 152 people in Pakistan - 133 of them schoolchildren - the government has decided to take the fight to the murderers.

As the country unleashed its military might against the Pakistani Taleban, the country's politicians have come together in a rare show of force against the militants.

The same spirit of unity is also displayed in protests staged in Islamabad and other cities against mosques sympathetic to the Taleban.

In what was billed as a historic achievement for Pakistan, President Nawaz Sharif announced this week that a military court has been set up to try terror suspects. "This nation and history will not forgive us if we don’t do anything now," Sharif was quoted as saying.

In the aftermath of the slaughter, these latest moves by the government should not come as a surprise. No one remained unmoved by the horrific incident. But whether this court and the ongoing military offensive will be a game-changer in Pakistan's fight against extremism remains to be seen.

Pakistan is no stranger to political violence. Attacks are often massive and capture the world's attention. And each time, frenzied debate erupts about the pros and cons of negotiating with the Taleban.

But, following the slaughter of innocent schoolchildren at a military-run school, it appears that the central government is in no mood to talk or seek political solutions to this problem.

In most sub-national conflicts, the aim of the non-state actor is to force the government to come to make concessions. Violence is use to show the price that will be paid should concessions not be granted. Insurgency is, after all, a form of communicative action.

But this time around, the Pakistan government is not balking. Instead, the massacre has united political rivals and forced people to speak out against extremism. And the government has sworn to crush all of forms of extremism - religious and political.

It's a wake-up call for many followers of Islam both in and outside Pakistan, who often argue that Muslims could never do this to fellow Muslims, much less schoolchildren. Too often they embrace an anti-Western narrative that basically blames the US and Europe, as well as India, for their woes.

But this time around, the massacre in Peshawar was too close to home. Pakistanis from all walks of life - especially those who like to entertain the conspiracy theory - can no longer deny the political underpinning of the Taleban attack that basically shows that there is nothing beneath them in terms of humanity, norms and principles.

But the government would be defeating its own purpose if it strays from stated principles and objectives. There is a vast difference between seeking revenge and pursuing justice.

Arresting these terrorists and trying them - even hanging them - might show the world that the authorities are doing something about it. But when you fight against fanatics who have no qualms about putting their own lives on the line, the country's due process doesn't exactly qualify as a long-term strategy.

For decades Pakistan has been permitting Muslim radical groups to plan attacks in Kashmir, Afghanistan and Western countries. The Frankenstein monster they helped nurture has begun making demands of its creator. Undoing what has been done for decades will not be easy, and the government must be committed to a long-term fight.

For the time being, it appears that the people have rallied behind the authorities. The world might well continue to complain that Islamabad is not doing enough, but if Pakistan is pledged to ceasing this decades-old practice of nurturing radicals, its leaders must stay the course.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Pakistan-faces-its-Frankensteins-monster-30250664.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-26

[dominique355]

Pakistan's military and Secret Service not only permitted the Taliban to operate from its territory but actively supported them and other terrorist groups to attack Afghanistan.

And the US knew it and still supported the Pakistani military with billions of dollars while fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan.

[FireMedic]

It more like crapping in your bed and being surprised you're sleeping in it. They have done this to themselves for so long, what did they think was going to happen? Half of the military and ISI are radical and help the Taliban every chance it gets.

[ezzra]

For long time now, Pakistan thought they can dance at two parties at the same time,

while appeasing the US in order to be on it's good side and receive all the help and assistances

in ways of funding and equipment, and still not run foul with the Al Qaida people ,

well, they were proven wrong after the barbaric and senseless massacre of the 130 children

last week that has shown Pakistan who are those barbarians that they're dealing with...

[rickirs]

One can only hope the Taliban will react to Pakistan's revived counter-insurgency efforts with even greater and sustained violence against the Pakistan population. That sounds cruel but it will sustain public pressure against the nation's political stategists whose agenda has always been the forcible inclusion of Afghanistan in a coalition with Pakistan to offset India's sphere of influence. Such an alliance cannot be achieved with an independent Afghanistan who may play India against Pakistan for its own national security purposes. A weak Afghanistan government is a pliable government.

[keebone]

Never trust a nation that habitually cheats at cricket.

[kamahele]

I think the title of this article is quite fitting. Also, while the Pakastani people believe that US drone strikes in area in which the Pakastani military has no control are the horrors of this battle, when in fact the Taliban has killed tens of thousands of innocents in Pakistan with no interference from the Pakistani military until they seized the airport.

[DavidBensen]

Does anyone else feel like a world war is looming? Has it started? How many countries need to be involved in military actions before we admit there IS a world war?

[canman]

The Pakistan politicians will make some noise about this, it will fade from the headlines and it will be back to business as usual.

[neverdie]

Does anyone else feel like a world war is looming? Has it started? How many countries need to be involved in military actions before we admit there IS a world war?

They need a big war to help drive their economist back into black....good way to kill off some little people and settle a few scores, define some boundaries.

No shortage of smoke and mirrors stuff

[mjakob007]

Boils down to Hilary said, if you reared snakes to bite your neighbors, its only a matter of time.

This insurgency has grown in the fertile soil for some 25+ years. it will not get wiped out in a couple of years even if the govt were determined. These guys have infiltrated the govt, security and all walks of life.

One of the largest drug lords still live in pakistan as a dilpomat with all immunity. this is a big mess and it will take them ages to come out of it, only if they have a consistent determined government for some 5+ years.

feel bad for the normal civilians.

[bangon04]

The Pakistan politicians will make some noise about this, it will fade from the headlines and it will be back to business as usual.

you mean like murdering young girls who do not submit to forced marriage..? or who insist upon an education?

[ScotBkk]

It more like crapping in your bed and being surprised you're sleeping in it. They have done this to themselves for so long, what did they think was going to happen? Half of the military and ISI are radical and help the Taliban every chance it gets.

I agree wholeheartedly. An old Scottish saying' Pishing (pissing) the bed and blaming the Blankets ...............

[canman]

The Pakistan politicians will make some noise about this, it will fade from the headlines and it will be back to business as usual.

you mean like murdering young girls who do not submit to forced marriage..? or who insist upon an education?

Yes