Some reservations about Swat operation

For quite some time the ANP-led government in NWFP was a silent spectator of the army operation in Swat and had apparently acquiesced in its unacceptably large collateral damage - but not any more. On Saturday, possibly driven by the threat of 'enemy at the doorstep' the provincial cabinet decided to take stock of the overall security situation in the province - that is deteriorating by the day, but two of its aspects are more disturbing.
One, over the last week or so the militants set on fire some three hundred trailers and trucks contracted to ferry supplies to Nato forces in Afghanistan. Argument that the security of the terminals located in close proximity of Peshawar is the contractors' responsibility is not entirely plausible because the local administration cannot be absolved of its duty to help ensure that such acts of arson do not take place in its jurisdiction. Two, the year-long security offensive fully supported by air action in Swat Valley and adjoining areas has failed to bring militancy under any semblance of control.
In fact, it has become more strident, the ANP leadership in the area being its prime target. So, shedding the usual nonchalance the NWFP government has have exhibited so far some spine was shown by openly arguing against the efficacy of the army action. At a media briefing after the cabinet meeting, Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain held out that the army operation has failed, stressing the need of an "effective action" against the militants.
Apparently piqued at the loss of party's public face in view of "growing public perception" that innocent people are being killed in the army operation he wanted the anti-militancy action to be carried out in a manner as to restore confidence of the local people. The provincial government is in fact pitching for more than merely commenting on the merits and demerits of army operation in Swat. The ANP leadership seems to have realised that the provincial government is becoming increasingly irrelevant to security situation in the NWFP.
Not that some of the areas like Swat that come under its jurisdiction are literally run by the militants even the province's main cities like Peshawar, Mardan and Kohat are also in the line of militants' fire. Not that militants rocket-fire the settled areas on daily basis the criminal gangs are also operating there with impunity. Most popular crime is kidnapping for ransom.
To quote Mian Iftikhar Hussain, "militants and influential persons having hideouts in the settled areas are involved in the activity". That has forced the government to worry about its dwindling writ in the province. The cabinet, therefore, gave vast powers to police to curb kidnappings, quite a few of which are done for 'fund-raising'.
Separately, the provincial government will raise an elite police force for which the cabinet immediately released Rs 70 million. Military victory in Swat is not in sight, mainly because it has not been sought in the real sense. Swat has a history of periodically throwing up uprisings against the governments of the day.
In 90s Maulana Sufi Mohammad raised the banner of Sharia rule. Earlier, during the British rule there were uprisings in 1863 and then in 1897 when Mulla Mastan (Mad Mulla) fought the foreign presence in the valley. Way back, in 1829, the followers of Saiyid Ahmad Shah of Barelliey, dubbed by the British as Hindustani fanatics, were thrown out by the erstwhile hosts in a pitched conflict.
If bloody resistance against the security forces and target killing of ANP leadership were not enough reasons for the turmoil in Swat to prevail of late a lethal murderous conflict has erupted between the followers of Mualana Samiullah and the extremists of the opposite sectarian brand.
There is hardly an easy way out of the Swat imbroglio. It was perhaps available late last year when instead of accepting the militants offer of talks the forces were sent in. With the restoration of democracy the newly sworn-in ANP-led government was able to defuse the tensions by clinching the 15-point peace deal with militants but that did not last long enough.
But, in August, apparently to convince Washington - where Prime Minister Gilani was to be on a visit - of Pakistan's "unflinching" fight against militants and extremists the peace accord was disregarded.
Since then fierce fighting has been going on, causing huge casualties of combatants on both sides but more disturbing are the losses suffered by the non-combatant local population. With the provincial government wanting to play its role the prospects of a negotiated settlement have suddenly brightened. This indeed is the need of the hour and must be encouraged.