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WEEKLY
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| Operation Rah-e-Nijat |
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Saturday, November 21, 2009
This is with reference to Umar Khalil's letter titled "Operation Rah-e-Nijat" (November 19) that said we should not have high expectations as for the military operation going on in South Waziristan. I think this statement is tantamount to underestimating the capabilities of our armed forces. It is premature to pass any judgment when the operation is still going on, that too in a most satisfactorily manner. Our army is fighting guerrillas and the enemy has the advantage to appear, attack and disappear from anywhere, unlike conventional warfare where the whereabouts of the enemy are known. The army has broken the back of the TTP while successfully conducting the Swat operation. The mere fact that the TTP is targeting the innocent and unarmed civilian population makes it clear that it is frustrated and its complete destruction is not far away.
The foreign fighters are there for many years and are married and have fully amalgamated with the locals. Therefore, it will take time to push them out of the border. Pakistan has been a victim of terrorism since 2001 and the TTP is its main source in FATA and NWFP. Terrorists are trying to achieve their anti-state objectives with the connivance of hostile foreign agencies with the only aim of destabilising Pakistan by creating fear and uncertainty among the general public. They are the enemies of Pakistan and, therefore, must be dealt with severely.
Will the country be safe in the presence of these terrorists? Once the operation is over and calm prevails it should be followed by a political dialogue and the locals be provided with employment and health and education facilities. The Pakistan army had two options: either surrender to them or stand up against them. It chose the right course of action. The nation is not scared of terrorists and society as a whole has demonstrated the will to fight back and eliminate these terrorists once and for all from our soil. We are proud of our valiant armed forces and appreciate their resolve to nip this evil in the bud. Foreign policies are not changed overnight. Our survival depends on how well and how quickly we defeat the terrorists.
Lt-Col (r) Mukhtar Ahmed Butt
Karachi
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ISSN 1563-9479 
