admitting their folly of not being able to stop them from crossing over or eliminating them within Afghanistan they asked us to do that job on our side which we gladly accepted and now are paying the price for.
Then followed drone attacks. These came after we were accused of not killing but abetting militants. The attacks were justified on the plea that the militants were capable of harming US interests inside Afghanistan and elsewhere. By what justification does any state have the right to go for extrajudicial killings and that too in a third country thereby violating its international border via the newly developed technology of drones? Was that not meant to entangle Pakistan in a war that was not possible to win only through military might?
After trying desperately for thirteen long years to win the war the US realised its inability to do so and started to leave Afghanistan. By the end of this year it will have withdrawn all its troops from there except a residuary force of around 12,000 soldiers who will ensure that the system installed by it does not collapse immediately.
If the twelve-year long war that we fought in Fata could not eliminate the menace of militancy how much longer are we going to fight this faceless enemy? Is there any probability that we will win if we continue fighting like this for a few more years? Should we not learn from the American experience and realise that victory cannot be achieved through military means alone?
The time has come for Pakistan to reconsider its options in Fata particularly in view of the fact that most of the ‘foreign elements’ causing trouble have left the area. If the US can leave Afghanistan and hand over responsibility for security of that country to the Afghans what prevents us from doing the same in our tribal areas? Why can’t we hand over responsibility for security of the area to the people who live there – as it was in the past?
Similarly, if Dr Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and Dr Abdullah Abdullah, arch rivals, can mend fences for the sake of their country why can't we sit together with our own people and look for a durable and permanent solution to the problem that we have been facing for so long.
The devastation that has been caused to Fata is colossal. The process of rehabilitation will take years and consume resources far beyond our expectations. Along with that, rehabilitation of the IDPs (read: intentionally destroyed people) in areas already cleared by the forces is an urgent requirement and must be done without further delay. Winning the hearts and minds of these people, who have suffered immeasurably, is not an easy task. It is much more difficult than launching an operation in that area.
To find a satisfactory end to the war we have to chalk out a well-thought-out plan to ensure that the problem of militancy does not resurface. The best way for that is to engage with the people for resolving their problems, to repose confidence in them and to empower them so that they are able to take timely decisions for nipping the evil of militancy in the bud. In South Waziristan a somewhat similar exercise is underway through the elders of the Mehsud tribe with all elements of the TTP belonging to that tribe. This is the best way for a peaceful solution to the problem.
The government seems to have realised, though rather late in the day, the right course of action. The people of those areas had continued to plead for this all along but the government would not listen. It is encouraging to see that the right course of action is now being followed for resolving the problem. One can only hope that a similar course of action will be taken in other tribal agencies as well with full sincerity and willingness to stand solidly behind the tribes; otherwise it will be as futile an exercise as the formation of tribal lashkars in various parts of Fata in the past.
The writer is a former ambassador.
Email: wazirukhotmail.com