THE sudden and unplanned withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and Allies weaponry remnants in Afghanistan raised serious security repercussions for Pakistan. This again boosted the morale of the splinter non-state actors and provided opportunities to them to re-organize and launch their activities. In this connection, TTP left no stone unturned to reorganize itself and started their terrorist activities inside Pakistan.
However, this time the security structure in Pakistan is different because after 25th Amendment, the former FATA (now newly Merged Districts) was under the control of civilian administration and Police. In addition, the Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps are also stationed there. The terrorists previously used to target security forces and civilians indiscriminately. Now they have changed their strategy and started targeting only security forces. The recent barbaric suicide attack on the FC Camp in the far-flung area of Khadi of Mir Ali and martyrdom of Lt Col Kashif, Captain Amad and other Jawans is an irreparable national loss. The suicide bomber struck the vehicle with the outside wall which resulted in the collapse of roof of a room and martyrdom of five army officials.
The security forces under command of Col Kashif Ali fought with extraordinary heroism and killed six terrorists. Before this, security forces in their operation killed eight TTP terrorists in Shazaka, a far-flung area of Sheewa (Miranshah), North Waziristan. In the last week of February 2024, the Police on an intelligence-based operation killed Hasan Qadir Alias Mohsin Qadir and Abaas alias Esaa of Mohsin Qadir Group in Katlang, Mardan. In that operation, SP Mardan Ijaz Khan embraced martyrdom. In all these recent operations, security forces gave a severe blow to the TTP. The ongoing unabated terrorist attacks of TTP clearly demonstrate that it has nothing to do with Islam and Pakistan and its people.
Now the need of the hour is to ensure political and economic stability in Pakistan and to frame policies for the welfare of the poor citizens of Pakistan who voted for the said purpose. After the 8 February 2024 general election, Chief Minister KP Ali Amin Gandapur’s visit and meeting with PM Shehbaz Sharif needs to be taken as a goodwill gesture and his political generosity and sagacity. Every Chief Executive of the Province requires a band of trustworthy and able civil servants and other officials to run the business of the province in a better manner and to deliver services to their electors and to do justice with a mandate given to a political party. CM Ali Amin also requested the Central Chief Executive about various legitimate demands including the appointment of Shahab Al Shah (BPS-21 PAS Officer) appointment to frame and execute policies for the wellbeing of the militancy and terrorism-hit people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The political leadership must learn from the past political history of Pakistan. The two major political parties PPP and PML (N) remained arch political rivals and exhausted all bullets to oust one another from the government. They remained engaged in Train March and Long March against one another. The incumbent President Asif Ali Zardari was sent behind bars for more than a decade. Such political confrontations in the country led to political and economic instability and increase of foreign debt and poverty in the country. Later on, their leadership realized and signed the ‘Charter of Democracy’ to put the country on track of progress and prosperity. It is also observed during formation of PDM, an alliance of thirteen political parties against PTI. The recent coalition Federal Government is also the demonstration of these political parties’ political sagacity.
President Zardari, being the symbol of Unity of Federation and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, needs to play a major role to call a meeting composed of PM of Pakistan, Chief Ministers of the four Provinces including Gilgit-Baltistan and Chiefs of defence forces and CJCS Committee to design a comprehensive National Policy to combat terrorism and to overcome the political and economic instability. ‘Zero-tolerance policy’ for targeting security forces for political scoring needs to be adopted and across the board punishment must be awarded to culprits.
The political and military leadership need to bury the past hatchet and need to restart a new beginning in the best national interests. Political victimization needs to be stopped. All foul and immoral intrigues for political reasons must be halted as these have trigger down effects on youth. The PM Shehbaz’s regime needs to comply with demands of CM KP Ali Amin Gandapur as a good-will gesture. Any political immaturity, miscalculation, confrontation, and intolerance on the part of political leadership will lead to nothing except political catastrophic scenario. The people of Pakistan especially youth in KP especially and in Pakistan have already demonstrated its resentment. The sentiments and mandate of the people of Pakistan must be honoured. All political parties and their leaderships must stop ostentatious lifestyle at the cost of taxes of poor Pakistanis. Strong resolve of the ‘Unity of the Federation’ and welfare of the poor Pakistan are the need of the hour.
—The writer is Chairman, Department of Political Science, Islamia College Peshawar.
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