Abdullah Mustafvi
Despite frequent claims about restoration of peace in former FATA and an obvious reduction in frequency of terrorist activities , the decision makers in Islamabad can not really relax about the war ridden tribal belt. Merger of FATA with KP province , being a well intended good step in right direction, has not yet been able to fetch the desired results because the decades old feeler of deprivation among the masses can only be heeled by well thought out efficient governance by the political authority and civil bureaucracy .
Recently , another good step was taken by the parliament by increasing the parliament seats for newly merged areas. Obviously, good intent behind these steps can never be denied, however , no quick fix should be expected under given conditions. Fact of the day is that historic war against foreign sponsored terrorists has not yet finished. Terrorists stationed in Afghanistan , while taking advantage of mountainous terrain, keep intruding inside Pakistan to launch terrorist attacks. These terrorists were found involved in attacking on civil and military targets all across the Pakistan. Eventually, Pakistan took a tough decision of fencing the border along Afghanistan to effectively guard against the threat of terrorist intrusion.
This decision of fencing caused a serious blow to those quarters of RAW, NDS and CIA who are deeply involved in sponsoring the terrorist activities in Pakistan. Since the fencing as well as anti terrorist operations in tribal belt are being conducted under Pak armed forces therefore all affected quarters have joined hands to defame the only national institution which persistently contributes towards national security under highly challenging environment.
Defamation campaign against Pak armed forces is multi dimensional and involvement of foreign powers is beyond any doubt . In political arena, old weapon of linguistic and territorial hatred is being extensively used to ignite the public sentiments against the state and armed forces.
Alarming episode of Khar Kamar check post is enough an evidence to understand the intent and modus operandi of foreign sponsored elements.
Anti army propagandists are desperately on a hunt for such exploitable events which can help in igniting the public sentiments against the state institutions .Initially , the murder of Naqeeb Mehsud was hijacked for launching a propaganda campaign against state by charming the Pushtoon community with sentimental hate provoking slogans.
Gradually, the protest over extra judicial murder of Mehsud youth transformed into an anti army propaganda campaign which brought out vague demands without any consideration for security compulsions being faced by the state institutions while fighting the intruders and foreign sponsored terrorists.
A similar effort was made to exploit the inhuman rape and murder of a girl named Farishta in Islamabad . Social media platforms were extensively utilized to spread venomous propaganda against army at a critical time once the terrorist attacks suddenly increased in tribal belt which took the precious lives of uniformed personnel. It is not difficult to understand that enemy has put in all efforts to pitch the masses and army against each other to perpetuate unmanageable unrest in tribal belt . Similar efforts are being made in Balochistan and GB as well.
Bangladesh 1971 model is being reapplied to disintegrate the Pakistan again. While having clear indications about the ill intentions of enemy , decision makers in Islamabad should not waste time in cosmetic measures and formal but useless verbosity. We met a defeat in Bangladesh due to unfavorable geographical conditions and persistent non flexible approach of political opponents.
Political leadership has to shoulder a very heavy responsibility of fighting out the foreign sponsored anti state elements.
Unfortunately, recent disappointing responses and policy stances from political parties, both ruling and opposition benches, have exposed the dark side of our politics . This dark side carries along multiple hazards which have now started affecting the country at the most sensitive hours of need. Why political vacuum still exists in ex FATA and Balochistan?
Why the civil bureaucracy and state offices are unable to deliver the poor masses in war ridden areas? Why the army is being pushed to shoulder the weight of civilian inefficiency in Balochistan and tribal belts? State should seriously think upon the rapidly rising issues in Balochistan and ex FATA. Floor of parliament should be seriously utilized for introspection and policy formulation to strengthen the national security.
Polls are due in recently merged FATA areas next month and ECP has tasked army to take on the responsibility of security. For how long state will function without eradicating the weaknesses of civil institutes? Why KP police can not meet the security requirements during upcoming polls?
A strong defamation campaign is still in progress at social media platforms to malign army in political and administrative problems of tribal area. Have the state not yet unfolded the strategy of PTM like foreign puppet groups? It is obvious that foreign sponsored puppets will go all out to raise controversies against army to fuel the public sentiments against the state.
Tasking army by ECP to take on the responsibilities for upcoming elections may provide easy exploitable opportunities to hostile elements. State and political parties should give this matter a serious thought , as without eradicating the deep rooted weaknesses of civil institutions no formidable development can be achieved in recently merged areas.
