sep/12/08
WHILE General Kayani's statement on defending the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity would be widely hailed, many would have wished the condemnation of the killing of innocent citizens in Angoor Adda had been more prompt than delayed for a week. It would also be questioned if routine protests, to which Washington has become impervious, are the most proper response to the violation of the country's territorial integrity. It remains murky how it was possible for two dozen US Navy Seals to conduct a ground attack, spread over hours, without being challenged by Pakistani troops. If The New York Times is to be believed, President Bush, who has already declared the Pak-Afghan border a front line in the War On Terror, had given approval for ground attacks inside FATA in July. The statements of the US CJCS, Defence Secretary and White House spokesperson also indicate the Bush administration has decided to include FATA in its area of operation. According to JCS Chairman Adm Mike Mullen the war in Afghanistan, currently being lost, can only be won if the new strategy, which stresses targeting FATA, is urgently implemented. Seven attacks within 12 days indicate Washington is following a highly aggressive policy.
While General Kayani has clarified the Army's stand, what remains to be done is for the political leadership to come clean. According to the NYT story, quoting unnamed senior officials, Mr Bush had initially ordered assaults without the prior approval of the Pakistan government. However, what White House Spokesperson Dana Perino has said creates the perception that the new government in Islamabad had perhaps given a wink of approval to Washington to implement its new strategy. Prime Minister Gilani has meanwhile supported the position taken by the COAS. Considering the way President Zardari, still armed with the extraordinary powers of his predecessor, has been able to override the Prime Minister on important issues like the reinstatement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, only a clear-cut and authoritative policy statement from him will clarify the government's position.
The US attacks are a highly serious issue. All stakeholders in the War On Terror need to realize that any indiscretion on their part can lead to horrendous consequences. Unless the US is stopped in its tracks, Pakistan is likely to suffer the fate of Cambodia. What is required on the part of the government is to take all political parties on board, which it has miserably failed to do. There must not be any perception of secret deals. The Parliament has to be taken into confidence, if needed in an in-camera session, about the rules of engagement and the options the country has to stop such attacks. The US and the militants have to be confronted with a policy that has the support of all major political parties.


ONE had hoped that after the election of Mr Zardari as President things would start calming down in Punjab, the fears of the PML(N) government getting destabilised would finally be put to rest and the two major parties would, whether working in government or opposition, act in the positive spirit needed under a democratic polity. Unfortunately, however, some elements have shown a marked disposition towards keeping an atmosphere of inter-party tension alive. Their political wheeling-dealing might have been motivated by the desire to pressurise the PML(N) to rejoin the PPP-led coalition at the Centre if it wanted to maintain its government intact in Punjab. This outlook is contrary to expectations and, indeed, disquieting, considering the long and arduous struggle the politicians have just been through to oust an army dictator. The Punjab Governor's unguarded utterances and his Wednesday meeting with the Chaudhry brothers give rise to suspicion.
The interest of the country could be best served if the ruling PPP were to show a large heart and accept the PML(N) rule in the Punjab, where it has obtained the people's mandate. Now the PML(N) is not insisting on the exit of the PPP ministers from the Cabinet and has given repeated commitments not to unnecessarily put a spoke in its wheel at the Centre. The PML(N)'s stand about the restoration of deposed judiciary and repeal of Article 58(2b) and the 17th Amendment fall in line with the declared objectives of the PPP as well, and should not cause any worry in its circles. The sooner the PPP implements its promises in this regard, the quicker will the friction between the two end. PML(N) leader Chaudhry Nisar's statement that his party would not extend unconditional support to the central government is nothing unusual, coming from an opposition leader.
The daunting multi-pronged challenges the country faces both in the local and foreign domains also strongly argue in favour of the smooth sailing of the relaunched political ship. The fallout of our association in the War On Terror and the economic squeeze of the current inflationary spiral have created an unprecedented crisis in the country. Besides, various political parties had vowed not to revert to an attitude of confrontation and to devote their full energies towards establishing democratic traditions in the country in a manner that would exclude the possibility of another military ruler stepping in. The need of the hour is for the major political parties to develop a consensus on the main issues confronting the country and work in unison to get over them.


Our western border region is facing two evils at the moments: American adventurism, coming out in missile strikes and raids, and the homegrown sectarian bloodletting. Though both have exacted a heavy toll on the local population, it is a pity that the local sects, notably Sunni and Shia, continue spilling blood. Consider the latest attack. At least 25 people were killed and many more injured in a grenade attack followed by indiscriminate firing by unknown assassins in a mosque located in the Maskanai area of Lower Dir on Wednesday. What pinches the most is the fact that the attackers cared little for the children who were inside the mosque. Though authorities are not sure who exactly was behind the attack, the possibility of warring tribes creating mischief cannot be ruled out.
Considering the complexity of the situation, one cannot help but think it was a free-for-all with the miscreants taking advantage of the situation made worse by the War on Terror. On the other hand, the government's lacklustre approach in rooting out this menace has proved to be another stumbling block. Of late, the rival sects, including members of the Tori and Bangash tribes in Kurram Agency, turned the area into a virtual battlefield, thinking they had the impunity to do so. Despite the assurance by Advisor to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik earlier of a crackdown on these troublemakers, the scourge is very much alive.
Meanwhile, little is being done for the local population as they continue moving back and forth in the area to avert violence. The humanitarian crisis should be dealt with efficiently. There are about 250,000 internally displaced persons, many of them seeking refuge in poorly managed camps. The 45-day ceasefire that was announced at the start of Ramadan led many people to venture back to their homes, only to find that the area had sunk deeper into violence. Apart from reining in the warring sects, the government must come up with a more holistic approach in dealing with the plight of the refugees.

source : http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-ne...-deadly-attack

__________________
You are an eagle, flight is your vocation:
You have other skies stretching out before you.