Operation Raddul Fasaad

After the recent wave of terrorist attacks, a new operation has been launched by the Pakistan Army with the approval of the relevant quarters. Surprisingly this operation is also being criticised by different sides, giving it different names and discussing its pros and cons. If anything is easy in this world to do, it is to criticise anything without knowing facts. Our government has shown maximum restraint so far and had tried to find any possible solution to the problem but its sincere efforts have been taken as its weakness to act.

The new operation was the need of the hour. The critics of this operation must understand that desperate times require desperate measures. They should understand the prevailing situation instead of being critical. All of us should lend a helping hand to the operational forces at this highly charged situation

Ghazanfar Ali Chaudhary

Bhimber, Azad Kashmir

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The Apex Committee in Punjab was told Sunday (Feb 26) that in a single day 100 terrorists had been rounded up and clues found as to the whereabouts of others. Prior to this, in a few days time, 600 terrorists have been reportedly been arrested in Punjab and four of them killed, presumably in encounters with police. One question that arises is why these persons were not pursued previously. If the top security agencies were able to detect them so quickly after orders were given, they should surely have been attempting to arrest them a long time ago. The same question applies across the country. When warnings are issued saying terrorists are present in a city, surely it should be possible to establish from where they came or to which group they belong. The groups that operate in Punjab have been in existence for at least two decades, perhaps longer. By now, our intelligence operatives should have been able to penetrate them and be at a point where they are able to capture those who head and direct operations. The constant reminders on social media that the key figures who direct terrorism or spread extremist ideas remain free is an important one.

With the operation now in full swing, and likely to continue for an indefinite period, much of the success depends on how far we are able to close the loopholes that have shown glaringly up in the past. Are we willing to go after all terrorists? Is this to include the top leadership that has so often appeared to enjoy a kind of impunity? Or are we merely making a cosmetic demonstration to appease the public and swing opinion the way of the authorities. The actions over the days ahead will determine this. Certainly, if the operation is to succeed, all the various agencies which play a role in it, including the Rangers who have been deployed at points now along the motorway and other areas, the CTD and other units must work closely together. They must also work under a common director with the motive absolutely clear. We need to overcome terrorism and to do so, we can succeed only if each and every terrorist force, all extremist elements, and all militants are gone after with the same degree of might and without any exceptions. If we attempt to put on only another show meant for public consumption, we will fail and leave ourselves open to further terrorist attacks in the future. We hope the Punjab Chief Minister understands this clearly.

Marium Hayat

Lahore