Dr. M. S. HaqSenior anchorperson Kamran Khan of GEO TV has recently shared with the viewers – in
an articulative (as usual) and intelligent manner – grim realities of terrorism in Pakistan
and the ramification therein via one of the segments of his program Aaz Kamran Khan
Ke Saath. Incidents of terrorism have reportedly increased in recent times, following
assumption of the office of Prime Minister by Nawaz Sharif – as a result of 2013 elections
in the country. An initial and brief analysis of present day terrorism in Pakistan – up to
09 August 2013 – would reveal several things. A few of them, as of that date, have been
presented here – not in the order of priority and importance but they are relative to time,
space and other variables.01. The present day motive-s of terrorism and anti-terrorism in Pakistan are not very clear
in varying degrees and in terms of theories, as well as practices to people of Pakistan
and others concerned. For example – who is fighting for what and for whom at whose
costs as well as benefits (?) all, against the backdrop of developments such as continually
divided Pak societies in terms of race, region and other things. An apparent insufficiency
associated with efforts towards establishment of real and full motives of terrorism
and anti-terrorism in Pakistan has been instrumental in making war on terror therein:
confusing; counterproductive; a less than the required outcome bearing; deficient in
meaningful collective purposes, directions and efforts; and costly in terms of say life and
property – to mention a few and as appropriate.
In short, harnessing of Pak potentials for, and Pak efforts towards, present day war on
terror – in support of a quick and successful win at the war – are apparently suffering from
say direction related insufficiencies emanating from inter alia and as appropriate failures
on the part of all concerned to initiate and implement much needed restructuring, restrategizing and repositioning of above war on stronger footings (than that at present) of
established motives in pertinent areas especially, in the context of for instance upcoming
2014 USA ‘exit’ from Afghanistan, and emerging China-Russia ‘synergies’ that could
affect in a variety of ways countries such as India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh through the
foreseeable future.
02. It is apparent terrorists and others concerned do not have at present the same or
similar or otherwise as applicable sets of motives for terrorism or similar things in
Pakistan. It is also apparent Pak people active in anti-terrorism (used in a wider sense
including government servants concerned) do not have at present the same or similar or
otherwise as applicable sets of motives for elimination of terrorism or similar things from
the country’s soil in an accelerated and sustainable fashion. In other words, a wide variety
of goals and objectives against the backdrop of existential, evolving and other challenges,
as well as opportunities within and outside Pakistan are apparently responsible for
shaping and sustaining motives of all concerned in areas say terrorism and anti-terrorism
in the country – and vice versa.
Motives of terrorism or similar things (or both) and those of anti-terrorism in Pakistan
could, as proper, find their roots in a variety of goals and objectives – in the midst
of uncertainties, un-predictabilities, free riding opportunities, accountability related
weaknesses and other things within say the country and its fringe areas. A few of above
goals and objectives could be: a further disintegration of Pakistan; maintenance of
continually destabilized Pakistan through for example anti-people politics, harmful
religious commercialism, mafia or other types of harmful activities; up-keeping of tensed
territorial borders, whether deliberate or not, in the presence of poor neighbor relations;
using of ex-country interferences as packing for protection of contemporary global power
matrices by all concerned – somewhat similar to the role of surrounding layer of adipose
tissue (fat cells) in protecting our kidneys from say hard blows or jolts; depriving the
country of its nuke assets; and materialization of possible 21
well as programs.
It is good to know Sharif administration is going to convene an APC (all party
conference) in the near future with a view to inter alia: discussing and debating matters
pertaining to containment of terrorism in a sustainable manner and at the soonest in the
country; and building national consensus in pertinent areas. In that respect, a few of the
suggestions have been presented here – not in the order of priority and importance but
they are relative to time space and other variables.
A. The APC should be broad based. It should include participation of representatives
from inter alia and as appropriate: all political parties of Pakistan; Pak government
machineries including defense and intelligence; friends of Pakistan including China,
USA, the UK, Saudi Arabia and Turkey; Pak neighbors including Afghanistan and India;
Pak civil society including think tanks, as well as human rights groups, and media (print,
electronic, others); and organizations including the UN, NATO, SAARC, CIA, and
INTERPOL.
B. The organization of APC should be both segmental and consolidated based on
relevance, sensitivity and others things pertaining to, connected with, and ancillary to,
matters of terrorism in Pakistan and containment of terrorism therein. Conferences could
be held in groups like conferences with friends of Pakistan group and conferences with
Pak neighbors. A consolidated conference with Pak political parties, decision makers and
experts could be held based on inter alia outcomes of group conferences.
C. The motives of terrorism, as well as terrorists and similar things to be identified and
established by Pakistan – using, as appropriate, experiences in pertinent areas, outcomes
of conferences, outcomes of media interventions including those of social media in
relevant areas, R&D outcomes, outcomes from people to people contact, and outcomes
from other means – should lead to strengthening or development of or otherwise as
applicable structures, strategies, delineation of responsibility, as well as accountability,
controls and coordination in pursuits of accelerated and sustainable containment of
terrorism of different types in the country via appropriate treatment methods, as well as
antidotes.
In short, not a one type of treatment or antidote or both would be sufficient for
containment of all types of terrorism in Pakistan. It calls for inter alia drastic changes
for better in anti-terror policies, programs, implementation and collaborations, as well
as cooperation – besides, a holistic approach by ‘cleaner’ and more productive (than that
those at present) Pak institutions.
D. Issuance of national ID to all citizens of all of Pakistan and ID to Afghan and other
refugees in the country should be completed in a faster and effective manner.
E. Weapons control laws should be promulgated and implemented in an effective and
efficient manner. In an event, such laws exist – measures and their implementation should
be stepped up and sustained, as required.
F. Satellite and other space technologies should be used in support of efforts towards
establishment and advancement of Pak government’s writ in relevant areas of the
country. Strengthen border control management. Enhance security protection for people
of judiciary especially those of the lower judiciary – affording them opportunities
to deliver the right and affordable justice to all at all time. Eliminate corruption and
unnecessary wastage. Promote leadership by example for others to follow that.
G. Raise, if feasible, a separate anti-terror battalion – initially on the basis of for example
pulling and sharing of resources – for ensuring speedier and sustainable containment of
terrorism in the country.
The last word: war on terror is a global, as well as local war. Outcomes of constructive
pluralism – like those of amber alert culture in the US – could enhance people-state
synergies in the fight against terror in Pakistan. God bless. (The author is inter alia
Proponent of Gene mechanics)
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