Pakistan Counters Radical Elements: A Decisive Shift?

A decisive shift in Pakistan’s policy has been witnessed in the last few months. The change in policy has come as a result of growing presence of the Taliban and terrorist groups in Pakistan’s mainland. The Taliban and terrorist groups pose a serious internal security threat to Pakistan. Both civilian and military leaders are convinced that the Taliban and terrorist  groups are responsible for the deteriorating law and order situation in the country, particularly in Sindh and South Punjab.

There are several factors responsible that led to a  shift in Pakistan’s policy: brutalities of the Taliban and their attempts to expand their domain of authority, Taliban’s growing presence in Sindh and South Punjab, their targeting of security forces and state institutions, the Swat development, the Mumbai terrorist attack in November 2008, several terrorist attacks in Lahore especially the attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team, Chinese complaints of the presence of Uighur Muslim dissidents in Pakistan tribal areas, and US-Britain pressures. The change in the view of the civilian government and senior military officers came through their own review of the growing threat of militancy in the first quarter of 2009. The consensus: militant groups should not be allowed to threaten Pakistani society and state.

President Asif Ali Zardari’s comment on 24 June 2009 that terrorism, not India, is the greatest "threat" to Pakistan, seems a significant shift in Islamabad's view of its neighbour. During a meeting with EU officials in Brussels on 24 June 2009 Zardari said, "I do not consider India a military threat, India is a reality, Pakistan is a reality, but Taliban are a threat…I am focused on the Taliban." Reportedly, Zardari’s comment represents a victory for American and British diplomats, who have been trying to persuade Zardari and his Army Chief to concentrate their efforts in tackling the Taliban rather than India. Diplomatic efforts intensified after the Mumbai terror attack that heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. Chief of Army Staff, General Pervez Ashraf Kayani had expressed similar views on 3 July 2009 that terrorism poses threat to Pakistan’s security and stability.

The Taliban has taken up arms against the people, society and state of Pakistan. Their views are quite contrary to the ethical, philosophical and cultural content of Islam. They do not have any respect for religious pluralism within the broader understanding of Islam, as it is understood and interpreted by classical or modern day Muslim scholars and jurists. The ideological and political roots of the Pakistani Taliban lie in the Taliban movement of Afghanistan.

The Taliban mindset flourished during the Musharraf regime. Indeed, during the tenure of General Pervez Musharraf the Pakistani Taliban in Swat, Malakand and FATA became organised and started taking control of territory through the use of violence. The continued Taliban violence resulted in shrinking support within Pakistan’s society. Thus the Pakistani government has national support against the Taliban. The Taliban and their supporters have suffered a big blow and may not be able to recover politically and socially.

The Army-Air Force operation in the Swat valley is over. Now, the focus of the Pakistan Army is South Waziristan where the Tahreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is fully entrenched. The Army’s Waziristan strategy is different from the Swat valley. The Army is fully aware of the situation. The visit of the Army Chief, General Pervez Kayani to the troops in South Waziristan on 25 June 2009 reaffirms the Army’s commitment to eliminate terrorist groups that challenge the writ of the Pakistani state.

Pakistan’s civilian government is also equally committed to eliminate the terrorist groups. President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani have repeatedly talked of eliminating the groups and organisations engaged in terrorism in the tribal areas and other parts of Pakistan. The governments of Punjab and Sindh have arrested a large number of militants linked particularly with the TTP as well as local militants and sectarian groups, including from the Lashkar-e Taiyaba and Jamat-ud Dawa. It is a decisive shift in orientation of the civil and military leaders from the Musharraf times. In the past, the civilian government and senior military officers had ambiguous views towards the Taliban and other terrorist groups. The Army moved into the tribal areas for operation in the summer 2003 but operation did not continue for long time. On and off strategy provided space to the militants to survive. Militant groups also avoided a head on collision with the government and security forces.

However, the Musharraf regime took action against the Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) in July 2007. The Lal Masjid operation was a real break between the Musharraf government and militants. The Musharraf regime’s action against the Lal Masjid inmates can be seen in the light of the Chinese national hostage crisis in Pakistan. Militants took chinese nationals hostage in Pakistan that resented Musharraf. The Taliban thought that if the government was allowed to get away with the suppression of the Lal Masjid militants it would target other militants elsewhere. Consequently, the Taliban and mainland militant groups increased their cooperation to hit back at the government. Bombings and suicide attacks have increased since then.

Pakistan’s action against the Taliban and terrorist groups will have large implications for itself and the region as a whole. Internal security and stability in Pakistan will leave the government with more time and money in hand to address domestic economic issues which plague every South Asian nation. Elimination of terrorist groups in Pakistan will provide security and stability in the region, and could actually ease tensions between Pakistan and India. Pakistan will stand taller in the international arena.
 

(Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the views either of the Editorial Committee or the Centre for Land Warfare Studies).