It seems that president Zardari’s trip to Washington has been a success, even though, before he arrived there, there were rumors of tension between Washington and Islamabad. Well, there is some truth to the rumors of serious differences between Pakistan and the U.S., so eloquently described by Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister (no relation) as ‘trust deficit’, it is still hard to believe that the countries can just cut off relationship just like that.
Now, Zardari has been assured generous aid and help, and in return, he has assured, once again, that Pakistan is doing everything it can to defeat the Taliban. Actually, he was telling the truth, Pakistan has ordered to the army to kick the hell out Taliban in Swat and other districts, once and for all. As late as yesterday, people in N.W.F.P saw the largest mobilization of the army for this particular offensive and the Taliban are on track to losing this battle, or this particular round with Pakistan army.
Americans have been pressuring Islamabad to act decisively about the Taliban, but what Americans are unable to comprehend is the ground reality. Taliban do have support in the country not because they are doing anything right or good, but because anti American sentiment is at all time high. As strange as it sound, most of the people believe that victory for Taliban means defeat for Washington and because of this misguided notion, people were not fully behind government’s initiative to defeat the Taliban. But, it seems that the Taliban had gone too far with their brutality and now, they are in a fight that they can’t possibly win.
Keeping up with Zardari’s message to the American, Pakistan’s Prime Minister addressed the nation Thursday night in which he explained that the government did everything to restore peace in Swat, including signing a peace deal with Sufi Mohammad, the leader of the Taliban in Swat angering every peace loving citizen through the world. But as it happens, capitulation did not work and the Taliban started declaring everyone and everything in Pakistan un-Islamic. To add fuel to the fire, the Taliban instead of dropping their weapons as agreed in the peace deal that the Taliban signed with the government, they started branching out and started taking over government installations, building and other building etc in Buner district. As good as this news of this decisive war the Taliban seems, one must not assume that just because the military has launched an effort, it automatically means that the problem is over. As we have seen in Afghanistan that when the Taliban come under attack, they retreat temporarily, but come back even deadlier then before with more strength, additional and advance weapons and a unending supply of recruits who are willing to fight till death. Therefore, the country must have a long term strategy, based on facts and wishful thinking to deal with the nihilists, commonly knows as the Taliban. Now that the government has launched the military operation, albeit late and reluctantly, Zardari and Gillani must get credit for this courageous stand. After all, one should not forget the silent support for the Taliban and the ever growing opposition for the Americans.
Bilal Qureshi
