The Pakistani Spectator

Army Chief General Kayani has rightly suggested to the government that it’s not the time to even contemplate the forces pullout from the tribal and Swat region. The recent strategy and the calculated manouvers by the new army chief shows his professionalism and the aptness of his role. It is fully hoped that he will now bring the consummate skill and experience he has developed over a lifetime in uniform to the significant task of guarding our national security interest in a challenging and vital region.

During his meetings with the Americans and the NATO chiefs, it is felt by their leaders that COAS of Pakistan is the right man. He is enormously qualified and will do a superb job in his new role. Not only he knows about the ground realities, he is very much passionate and obsessive about the security and safety of Pakistan first, and he has got the vision and capacity to think into the long run.

Many quarters are suggesting to the government to pull out from FATA gradually. One to appease the hard liners and secondly to pressurize the NATO and US. That is exactly what US wants. US wants a pause from Pakistani forces in operation, so that they could move-in in the name of securing their interests and to curb the militants. They have already started building drone-pads near the FATA border. That will allow them more far and sustained flights for the drones.

In this situation it would be suicidal to stop the operation against the militants.