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Military Operation
The inevitable has struck and the Muzakraats which were doomed to meet the
fate they have met have come to a halt and the govt. has ordered to launch the
Military operation in the NWA. The Interior Minister in his press conference
gave elaborate details of the govt.’s intentions to resolve the matter through
negotiations but the terrorists seem to have asked for it due to the
continuation of their extreme acts of violence and totally unacceptable demands
and preconditions for the ‘cease fire’.
Now, what is strange is that, though the decision to launch the military
operations could purely be that of the elected govt. alone yet, the Minister
looked evasive and apologetic when he said, “Pakistan security forces are
undertaking strike in FATA in ‘self defence’, which is a right the govt. cannot
take way from the armed forces”. Hold on, Sir, what is this ‘self defence
right’ of the armed forces that the govt. cannot take way? Are the
armed forces undertaking the operation on their own for some vendetta of
their own ?! Or, are they doing so for the sake of the country and
the nation that they are sworn to defend?! Why is the minister being
apologetic to the Talibaans? Is he trying to convey to the terrorists
that though the govt. doesn’t want the operation yet it cannot stop the armed
forces from undertaking it on their own? Strange indeed very strange!!
The govt. must act boldly! and say unambiguously that IT HAS ORDERED its armed
forces to take the military action and restore peace in the area. Another
thing, now that the operation has started the civil authorities would be well
advised to refrain from interfering in it or telling the armed forces as to
what to do and how to do. Where to strike and where not to strike, etc.
They should just allocate the task and order the forces to accomplish
it in the shortest possible time and with the minimum possible collateral
damage. And the armed forces should – as we call it in the services –
bloody well do it.
Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)
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