Islamabad – In a wide-ranging press conference on Friday, the ISPR Director General spoke on various topics, including the reasons behind the surge in terrorism, the army’s issues with the PTI and the critical situation in the tribal areas of Gurram.
He also pointed out that it was not a good idea for the then PTI government to initiate dialogue with the banned TTP in 2021.
While politicians are guilty of many sins, other institutions are not without responsibility, as they do not do enough to stop illegal behavior and in some cases even support unconstitutional actions. So just mocking politicians – as the establishment has been doing since Ayub's time – is unfair.
In terms of factors fueling militancy, the general is not wrong when he says that as long as there is “justice…education, health” and good governance, terrorism will stop. In fact, integration has been slow and lacks good governance in areas of the former federal territory that have become hotbeds of militancy. Thus, while the security forces succeeded in the “clearance” and “control” aspects, the civil administration failed in the “construction” phase. If less developed areas in Khyber and Balochistan do not have access to the same facilities as settled areas or Pakistani cities, militants will continue to exploit this inequality. Regarding the peace talks between the PTI government and the TTP, it is difficult to imagine that the establishment was not involved in these negotiations from the very beginning. In fact, this process continued for some time even after Imran Khan left the Prime Minister's Office. So again, civilian leadership is not to blame for bad policies.
As for the general's statement that Kulam is a “tribal land dispute”, that may be true, but other factors such as sectarianism and militancy cannot be ignored. Furthermore, the blockade of Kulam and the brutal killings of innocent travelers on the roads reveal a far more sinister and complex issue than tribal real estate claims.
It is welcome that those in power are willing to investigate the factors that fuel terrorism. However, this reflection must be comprehensive. Mistakes made by all state institutions need to be acknowledged and a way forward found. All institutions must unite to oppose illegal activities in the country.
Furthermore, the political leadership and military brass, along with other stakeholders, need to discuss short- and long-term strategies to eliminate terrorism instead of indulging in finger-pointing. These include proactive action and sincere efforts to establish good governance and health and education facilities in areas where militants are looking for “talent”.
The article “Taking Stock: Dawn” first appeared on Asia News Network.
