It is awful to hear that some political parties, especially those who don’t have any representation in the parliament have come out, once again, in opposition to the plan to wipe out terrorists, otherwise known as the Taliban in Swat and other areas of Pakistan. These parties who are now convening press conferences to voice opposition to militarily defeating the thugs, but they did not say a word when they were sitting with the Prime Minister and other leaders of all political parties in Islamabad, but now, when the time is gone, they are trying to create confusion about the need or the effectiveness of the military strategy to clear out areas taken over by the Taliban.
No need to repeat the fact that everything is on the line in Pakistan and the country can only be saved if everyone comes together to help the armed forces liberate certain parties of the country previously taken over by armed gangs. There is no question that these armed gangs framed their offensive as an effort to make Sharia the supreme law of these territories. Obviously, these Taliban were not serious in anything, but total control of everything. They declared everything in the country un-Islamic and everyone else non-Muslim, and only should have been enough to launch the offensive. These Taliban terrorized and brutalized the population in Swat, and after trying everything possible to solve the crisis peacefully, the government had no option, but to accept the challenge to fight back. And now, because the government is fighting back, certain elements in the society are just doing a tremendous disservice to the country and the nation by not strengthening the government and the armed forced by supporting them.
Even though the opposition to the offensive won’t make too much of a differences as the public opinion is solidly against in favor of the government. Nonetheless, the government should make sure that every Pakistani is fully aware of the role of these opponents of the offensive. These people who are against the operation have nothing, but one line to offer – America is trying to create confusion in Pakistan and this statement is outrageous and preposterous by every standard.
It is not necessary for anyone to support American efforts in the region. But, people should use common sense because if anti American feelings are allowed to color the reality on the ground, and if American efforts to defeat nihilists fail in the region, then everyone loses everything, and this is something the country must not allow to happen.
