The Pakistani Spectator

Change is manifesting across the nation. Change of minds. Maybe even change of hearts.

All parties conference came out with a unanimous statement supporting government action in Swat. This is a welcome move. The implications are obvious. The government can focus on the task at hand. And since every political leader has signed up to it, there will be no more manuvering to gain advantage from set backs or blow back from the operation. The ulema also joined in and gave the most resounding rejection to date to the politics of suicide bombing, murder, lawlessness and fear. That this is not Sharia is obvious as day. That the scholars were not forcefully speaking out against it was puzzling and somewhat demoralizing. That complaint is no more. Hopefully there will be no about turns and all parties will stay committed to their word.

The Taliban for what they are has been there to see for all for sometime. It was about time that the nation united against condemnation of this madness. Now it has done so symbolically. Symbolism is important. The government has sent a message to its citizens and the world at large and it has been well received.

There are sceptics. Their argument has weight. Security threats bring money to the government coffers. Army is one of the major beneficiaries. However, the power brokers may have realized that the house needs to remain standing. Better sense may yet prevail here. Those in positions of knowledge need to keep a sharp eye. The responsibility to keep the government honest is with the media and they are getting better at it.

In the neighbourhood, a decades long civil war has ended in a final violent showdown. The victor, Sri Lankan military. A Nation torn by strife finally rejoices briefly before picking up the pieces from the devastation. Sri Lankan army is tiny compared to the Pakistan army.

The Tamils vision was more coherent and their demands more precise. Yet for 26 years there was no resolution. There were peace accords and agreements that granted greater autonomy to the Tamils but they all fell apart on one pretext or another renewing hostilities. It would be instructive for the Pakistan Army to study and learn from the Sri Lankan experience. However, it would be even more instructive for the Taliban. And yet more instructive for the citizens of Pakistan. First to learn the futility of negotiating with such outfits, next that such efforts are doomed from the beginning, yet cause untold mayhem before breathing their last and that a population has to resist them ideologically, militarily and vigorously to succeed.

Tamil Tigers are listed as the deadliest terrorist organisation in the world by the FBI. They pioneered modern day suicide bombing and carried out more suicide bombings than any other group in the rest of the world. They may very well have been the role model for the Taliban in Pakistan, as they were fighting for a state within a state. Their demise should decisively lay those hopes to rest.
It is fortuitous that news of Tamil defeat came exactly at the same time that the operation is swat is at full swing. There could not have been a bigger psychological blow to one party and huge boost to the other one. One of the longest running campaign of terror by the deadliest terrorist organization in the world by FBI account comes to end at the hands of an army one quarter the size of the Pakistan army.

It is of little relevance that Hillary Clinton, David Milliband and Carl Bildt called for a cease fire at a time when Sri Lanka Army had victory in their sight. Of greater relevance is the fact this call was ignored and Bildt was officially snubbed by the Sri Lankan government.

It is fortunate that even though by the sceptic’s account a statement of unity has come in word only. The fact that it has come is momentous. That the momentum of the public opinion against the Taliban now includes their apologists and supporters is a development whose importance is not lost on anyone.

Next comes follow through. We will be watching with bated breath what comes next.