'The enemy has left us no choice'

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Monday took both the two houses of Parliament into confidence on military operation 'Zarb-e-Azb' launched against militants in North Waziristan, saying "the crackdown will continue till the realisation of objectives." Reading out his policy statement in National Assembly and Senate separately, the prime minister said a decisive operation has been launched after mutual consultations to eliminate terrorists and it would culminate with the achievement of ultimate goals.
He expressed his government's determination not to allow Pakistan to become a safe haven for terrorists at any cost. He expressed the confidence that the operation to eliminate terrorism would prove to be a harbinger of peace and security.
The prime minister stated that there could have been two opinions on operation and the dialogue process, adding: "but now this chapter is closed and the entire nation including media, political parties, religious leaders and tribal people should extend a helping hand to make the operation a success".
He said the government sincerely gave peace a chance for four and a half month but its sincerity was not reciprocated and the government had to take the decision to launch an operation as a last resort. He said the government made every effort to make the dialogue process a result-oriented exercise, but terrorists persisted with bloodshed and violence.
"We gave peace a chance despite the sacrifice of thousands of lives rendered by the army and the people of the country," he recalled, adding that "at the same we also made it clear that talks and terrorism cannot go side by side."
However, he regretted that the bloodbath of Pakistani women and children continued and the "game of fire and death was being played from the Islamabad Kutchery to the Karachi Airport." He said that even our worship places, educational institutions, army installations, airports, bazaars, public places and residences became unsafe. He remarked: "The enemy has left us no choice".
He also stated that the dialogue process was pursued with full consultation between the government and the military leadership and now decision to launch a decisive action has also been taken through consultations and unanimity. The Prime Minister said Pakistan has paid a heavy price in terms of men and material during war on terror imposed by militants, adding that so far the country has suffered US $103 billion losses due to terrorism.
He also called upon Ulema to play their role in promoting the true Islamic values of peace, brotherhood and tolerance. About internally displaced persons (IDPs), the Prime Minister said that special centers have been set up for those affected by the operation.
He said that minister for states and frontier regions General Abdul Qadir Baloch (Retd) would oversee the process and co-ordinate efforts of the federal and the provincial government for looking after the IDPs. The Prime Minister hoped that the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government would extend the necessary co-operation in this regard, adding that instructions have also been issued to Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan Abbasi to ensure every possible arrangement to facilitate the IDPs.
He also appealed to the patriotic tribal people to play their role in making the operation a success, adding that "prays of every mother, daughter and youth of Pakistan are with our armed forces for success in this operation. The entire nation and political parties stand behind the armed forces," he said.
He also urged Pakistan-loving tribesmen to also play their due role in the operation, adding that the people of tribal areas have paid a heavy price due to terrorism and it is time to eliminate the menace so that they could lead a normal life. Welcoming the decision, leader of the opposition in Senate Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan said that the entire opposition parties are endorsing the decision of launching the military operation against militants. "We are not only supporting our armed forces but we are also standing behind the civilian government," he said.
He, however, urged the Prime Minister to extend all possible facilities to the IDPs so that they could face minimum sufferings. Senators representing various parties including Raza Rabbani and Taaj Haider of PPP, Afrasiab Khattak, Haji Adeel and Zahid Khan of ANP, Hasil Bizenjo of National Party, Mushahid Hussain Syed of PML-Q and others also supported the government decision of launching an anti-militancy operation.
They, however, urged the government that the operation should not only be limited to North Waziristan and it should also be conducted in Southern Punjab and Karachi where terrorists and the banned sectarian outfits have established their sanctuaries.
AFP adds: The military encountered relatively little resistance Monday, feeding observers' doubts about the effectiveness of the operation after many local and foreign fighters slipped across the border to Afghanistan ahead of the long-expected offensive.
"On the one hand we were talking to them in a peaceful manner and on the other side they were spreading fire and blood from courtrooms in Islamabad to Karachi airport," Sharif said. "We have decided to make Pakistan as a land of peace. I believe that this operation would be the beginning of an era of peace and tranquillity," he added. "We will no longer allow Pakistan to be a sanctuary for terrorism at any cost."