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Sunday, October 25, 2009
The top-level review of the security situation at a meeting chaired by the prime minister and attended by the COAS along with other civil and military decision-makers was badly needed. For the moment people remain shaken by the onslaught from militants seen over the past two weeks, with suicide bombings and other acts of terrorism ripping through cities. They need reassurance that everything possible is being done to stop it. The resolve by the leadership, which included provincial chief ministers, to battle terrorism on all fronts is welcome. So too is the pledge that the operation in South Waziristan will continue till its 'logical' conclusion. The intelligence agencies have too been asked to step up their efforts and the attacks in the federal capital have been assessed. But the fact is that these statements are little more than rhetoric. There must be some doubt as to whether the state apparatus has the capacity to do very much to stop the suicide bombers who have created so much havoc across the country. It is true there are spheres that need improvement. One example is the degree of coordination and cooperation between different departments and agencies. We must also consider why what seems to have been spot-on intelligence in some cases at least has not been enough to prevent attacks. Plugging these loopholes could improve the situation. It is unlikely that such measures will be enough to stop the violence.
So, what is to be done? We cannot obviously sit back and let our country be destroyed. Far more radical and more far-reaching steps are needed if the problem is to be overcome. The public needs to be involved to a larger extent in the effort against terrorism. This after all is a battle that has an impact on the life of every citizen – man, woman or child. The suicide bombers who strike so frequently have parents, siblings and other relatives somewhere. These people must play a part in stopping them. So too must their neighbours and others aware of the places where they are being trained and prepared for their missions. Citizens may also be able, if offered the right pointers, be able to help identify suspicious people or suspicious vehicles. Still more important is the need to take the full picture into account. When we tackle only those carrying out the attacks, we are addressing the last link in a chain that reaches back into a legacy of poverty, joblessness, frustration, illiteracy and desperation. These realities need to be addressed too. The aid promised to us offers an opportunity to put in places policies that can do so and help raise an army of people ready to take on the militias unleashed by the militants.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
