EDITORIAL: Since its breakup in 1971 Pakistan was never beset with challenges so grimly threatening its viability as an independent nation as of now. But if the latest moves by the civil-military combine to stand up to them is any indication one is confident that the threats of terrorism, economic slide and food security that loom large on national horizon would be overwhelmed and defeated.

Of course it will take time, and it begs nation’s consensual response, with political opposition too being co-partner in the fight against these demons. As how to go about it the military leadership met first at the Corps Commanders’ level and then there was a two-day meeting of the National Security Committee, attended by military and civilian leaderships alike.

The item on the top of the agenda was terrorism, which of late has surged with more activity by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), indicatively encouraged by Taliban rulers in Kabul, and the foreign-funded Baloch Liberation Army. When warned against their deceptive stand on the provision of safe haven to TTP terrorists the Kabul’s response smacked of rejection of Pakistan’s claim, coupled with threat of proving Afghanistan to be the “graveyard of empires”.

More disparaging was the comment by a Doha-based Taliban official, who warned “never think of a military attack on us, or else you may end up with the embarrassing repeat of the agreement with India”. That being the backdrop the Pakistan leadership warned that “No country [read Afghanistan] will be allowed to provide sanctuaries and facilitation to terrorists and Pakistan reserves all rights to safeguard her people”.

Summing up the deliberations conducted at the Corps Commanders’ forum and the National Security Committee, determination was expressed “to take on any and all entities that resort to violence. This will be dealt with full force of the state”.

At the same time the NSC also decided to restore the provincial apex committees and to improve the fighting capacity of provincial law enforcement agencies – a decision prompted by the lack of capacity of the KP police to subdue the incarcerated TTP terrorists at the CTD centre in Bannu. There can be no room for complacency on terrorism; it’s as simple as that.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023