Fast eroding State sovereignty & writ of Govt
TWO shocking incidents that took place on Wednesday have brutally and
rudely shaken the people of Pakistan and it is being felt in the length
and breadth of the country that sovereignty of Pakistan has been
trampled by the US commandos and writ of the Government openly
challenged in sniper shots at the Prime Minister’s motorcade. These two
separate but otherwise linked incidents have sent dismal message to the
people about the helpless conditions prevailing in the country and
uncertain future.
Regarding Angoor Adda aggression that killed 20 innocent people
including women and children, there is widespread perception among
masses that the sovereignty of the country has been flagrantly and
deliberately undermined by our so-called friends and that too at a time
when Pakistan was actively engaged in flushing out militants in the
troubled region of FATA even at the cost of sparking resentment and
violence with far-reaching implications for overall security and
economic conditions. It also comes immediately after a high profile
sea-borne meeting that Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff had with top level
American commanders where, according to general expectations, he would
have conveyed the country’s strong protest and concern over repeated
provocative attacks in border areas of Pakistan. However, Wednesday’s
deadliest aggression throws cold water on such assumptions as, instead
of exercising restraint, Americans have raised the ante.
Angoor Adda tragedy is all the more serious because of its two
dimensions — it was for the first time that the occupation forces in
Afghanistan have carried out ground assault on Pakistani territory and
the invasion comes in the wake of expression of resolve both by the
Government of Pakistan and Taliban to maintain strict ceasefire during
the holy month of Ramazan. We had, in these columns, cautioned that
Americans, who have no regard for religious feelings or sanctity of days
or months, might try to provoke militants by carrying out attacks inside
Pakistan and that apprehension proved correct. Americans have once again
proved that they are trigger happy and have no interest in resolution of
problems through peaceful means. Ground assault is a sort of declaration
of war and Pakistan must reassess its policy and kind of cooperation
being extended to the occupation forces in Afghanistan that are the root
cause of the trouble in the region. Mere lodging of protest by Foreign
Office or issuance of condemnatory statements would not work. It is also
regrettable that Ch. Ahmad Mukhtar who adorns the mantle of Defence
Ministry, which is a symbol of prestige of the country, has churned out
sheepish remarks. His comments that ‘they must have come because of some
reason’ is reflective of the defeated mentality and inability to respond
to the situation in line with national honour. Our authorities must draw
a clear line between sovereignty and total submission, as people of
Pakistan would not tolerate repetition of such incidents at any cost.
Similarly, firing of shots at the PM’s convoy and that too on the
heavily guarded VVIP route is a message that anything could happen
anywhere and the Government is fast losing its writ even in the Federal
Capital. Law-enforcing agencies have claimed arrest of three persons and
an inquiry has been instituted which might expose those behind the
attempt and their motives but the incident itself is a grave reminder
that things are slipping out of control and the ruler cannot have the
luxury of indulging in petty politicking, blame game and confrontation.
Taliban have already accepted responsibility of the firing and according
to some analysts these were warning shots and in the words of PML(N)
leader Khawaja Saad Rafiq ‘a mock exercise’ for the real plan. This
seems to be the case as the convoy was hit when it was going from
Islamabad to Rawalpindi to receive the Prime Minister and at that time
Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani was at the airbase, about three kilometres away
from the scene. It is shocking that soon after blossoming of the
democracy in the country, a strong impression has developed that
Zardari-Yousuf Raza Gilani-led Government has totally surrendered to the
dictates of the United States and that there is no difference between
the policies of the previous and the present regimes in this regard.
Remarks of Advisor on Interior Rehman Malik, who saw no difference
between Al-Qaeda and Taliban in FATA, have further infuriated militants.
The situation is taking dangerous turn and calls for reappraisal of
internal and external policies with a view to salvaging the country,
which is sinking deep into quagmire with the passage of each day. |
