Mr Dar, please don’t let this spirit dampen

Enemies and ill wishers of Pakistan, steer clear of this impregnable land, thus spake none other than the (civilian) supremo of Nawaz Sharif government, the one and only Ishaq Dar who, apart from being the Finance Minister capable of earning unattainable global funding and guarantees, is also head of more than a score fate-making (or fate-changing) committees. 

For me, it was really quite encouraging. It instilled a new life in the depressed Pakistanis, including me obviously, who had started fearing more onslaughts from terrorists hiding inside Afghanistan (and other areas) and enjoying the patronage of some external agencies and elements. Dar’s tone was quite firm which conveyed the message loud and clear to our adversaries that ‘enough is enough’. ‘Either mend your ways yourself or we will undertake this task’ was the gist of that loud and clear message given from a position of strength which simply meant that the collective wisdom and energy of Pakistani institutions and public have finally chosen not to surrender to the ruthless suicide bombings, blasts and acts of terrorism unleashed by certain elements either under the spell of their own misled ideologies or at the behest of some ‘foreign masters’ who protect, train, finance and promote those terrorist outfits whose target has throughout been peace-loving Pakistani citizens and forces.

The mass credibility that Ishaq Dar enjoys in most parts of the contemporary world (as also gathered during my talk with numerous groups of opinion-makers in United States a few days back) further reinforces our belief in the state’s seriousness of purpose in eradicating the menace of terrorism in all its forms and in all its hideouts and sanctuaries, even if they are operating and flourishing in the so-called inaccessible areas.

Already, the nation’s morale stands at a high ebb with the well-expressed resolve of COAS General Qamar Bajwa who, along with his commanders and field officials, vowed in all earnest to leave no stone unturned to annihilate the terrorists, their facilitators and overt and  covert supporters (including their hate ideologies and anti-human thinking/radicalization).

Dar’s statement was, however, long due since it was supposed to remove all the doubts created by design by some ‘psy war’ experts within the ranks of enemies and conspiracy theorists that the armed forces of Pakistan and the civilian top guys/government of Nawaz Sharif were not on the same page. The way Dar has clarified, it removes all the doubts. The coming of such a statement from such a senior and highly trusted functionary of the sitting government, has put it firmly in the minds and hearts of the public that there is no disharmony at all among the decision-makers, the operational forces and the mainstream political spectrum.

And now the statement has also come from the Prime Minister, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, that the decision to launch ‘Operation Raddul Fasaad’ was taken at Prime Minister Office before the PM’s departure for Turkey. Well done Mr PM, Mr Dar and Mr COAS! Please keep it up and please never let these spirits dampen.

….mianrehman1@gmail.com