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Time for hard decisions

As the September 20 bomb attack in Islamabad made evident with horrifying effect, Pakistan has to take a hard look at its approach to terrorism. There can be little doubt that the perpetrators of the attack in which at least 40 people were killed and scores injured belonged to one of the myriad extremist groups active in the country. It could have been instigated by the Tehrik-e-Taliban that has imposed its writ on large swathes of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas or by groups based in what are usually referred to as the “settled parts” of Pakistan. Such distinctions may not be very relevant since there are institutional and operational linkages between the various outfits espousing a common religion-based world view. By far the most important question is whether the different branches of government will offer a unified approach to this latest challenge. Not much comfort can be drawn from the record so far since the extremist groups have for long been sponsored by government agencies that continued to play a double game even after Islamabad supposedly signed up for the campaign against terrorism. The difference this time round, of course, is that the civilians who control the presidency and the federal cabinet do have a real stake in defeating terrorism. However, they can do little if the military that has at best been ambivalent on the issue does not make a decisive break with the past.

The question is whether the Pakistan military, especially Inter Services Intelligence, will change its spots. The men in khakhi are under enormous pressure from the United States to act effectively against the militants in the FATA who carry out attacks in Afghanistan. There are conflicting reports about the Pakistan army’s response. Official Press releases claim that the government troops are fighting hard and gaining ground in the Bajaur and other agencies. However, independent voices in the local media suggest that the central government has little presence in the tribal areas. This is a serious lacuna since the notoriously free-spirited people of the FATA need socio-economic development plans as well to be carried out in conjunction with military operations. Establishing peace and order in the FATA is only one part of the problem. The elimination of the madrassa-based groups in Punjab and elsewhere could prove the harder part. For a start, all branches of the Pakistan government would have to demonstrate seriousness of purpose. Islamabad needs to abandon the pernicious policy of allowing these outfits to regroup under new names, recruit cadre or raise funds with impunity, and continue their vicious campaign.

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