Pakistan fighting the Militancy

The Bajour Agency operation was a major offensive undertaken by Pakistan Army and its Frontier Corps troops in the troubled north of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan. Al Jazeera International broadcasting channel made a comprehensive tour of the area and interviewed the Inspector General of the Frontier Corps Pakistan Army Major General Tariq Khan, later lieutenant general. 

The report and interview has been compiled by Rageh Omaar, which covers the army operation in September 2009. I would not add anything from my end - just watch the video how the operation was launched and its dynamics. This is part one of the four series coverage of the operation.

Watch the video below:

The views and interviews conducted by the Al Jazeera International are exclusive to the channel and this writer does not take any responsibility of its substance in any manner. 

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To the fallen, and to those still fighting, Thank You

Pakistan Army has been fighting the militants and mercenaries for almost a decade now to save the people of Pakistan from their nefarious designs. Funded largely by countries not sincere to Pakistan, these militants have killed thousands of innocent civilians, mainly targeting places of worship, where Muslims get together in mass to offer their prayers.

To the fallen and those still fighting, Thank You

But thanks to the valiant men of the Pakistan army, whose countless sons have laid down their lives fighting these militants so that ordinary people could live in peace. The fight is not yet over and it continues in the most inhospitable and rugged mountains of Waziristan and adjoining areas.

Each day we hear the news of martyrdom of young men, soldiers and officers, and SMSs buzz on the cell phones breaking the news of their martyrdom and burial ceremonies. I have attended almost half a dozens funerals of these valiant sons of the soil, who had fallen in the line of their duty. We also hear of soldiers fighting these militants and sending back cards and letter, telling their mothers not to worry - rather they ask their mothers to pray for their martyrdom. 

How dutiful and patriot these soldiers are, who want the rest of the people of the country to live in peace while they fight and fall.

I do not know when this war on terror would and how many more sons will fall.

But can only say to the fallen, and to those still fighting, Thank You

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Let us not dig their graves - let our children go to school

We are passing through a very critical time of our history these days. The War on Terror, which had nothing to do with us, has dragged us into it and there seems no plausible way out of it, at least as of now.

Through the Blog Action Day, being observed all over the world by the bloggers with the theme 'Power of We', I am writing the following post to covey to the world the resolve and  united voice of the entire bloggers and the people of Pakistan to express our concern about the killing and shooting of children whether by NATO drones or by militants and voice our concern to shake the conscious of the world to bring an end to this brutality so that our children could go to schools, and not to graves or hospitals.

The events that 'were set into motion' on 9/11' have finally led the NATO and its Allies into Afghanistan fighting a lost war and are not finding a way out too. But its fallout is being faced in Pakistan and we seemed to be dragged deeper and deeper into it as days go by.

The recent shooting incident involving the 14 years old girl activist Malala Yousufzai is the latest blow to the future of education, specially of girls, in the terror struck areas of Pakistan. The militants, whose identity is yet to be known, have hit at a small girl who had nothing to do with the war on terror - she only wanted to educate herself and be something to help others and the community.

However, one thing that emerges out of this sad incident is that there seem to be a uniting of the voices of the masses to condemn the militants and the war of t(error). There seems to be a voice united among the entire society and the nation which is being converged into the Power of We - a platform is being readied to voice people's concern about the futility of the war which is taking a heavy toll of peace and stability of our country.

Today we need to stand up against the brutality being unleashed by the militants.

Today we need to know who these militants are and why their agenda is Pakistan specific.

Today we need to know why people of same religion are pitched against each other.

Today we need to exert our collective power to beat back the menace of militancy by supporting our army and all institutions involved in ridding us the menace of militancy.

Today, we need to voice out concern over the world's Dr Jackal and Mr Hyde like strategy towards Pakistan, which on one hands kills civilians and children while targeting militants and keep quiet, and on the other make hue and cry when children like Malala are hit.

Today we need to tell the world that all children who fall prey to this war are alike and ours, and we love them dearly and lament equally when they succumb to the war of terror.

Today we need to stand up and raise our voice against the drone attacks that kill innocent people, men, women and children, as a collateral damage to kill some low profile militants. 

Today we need to express our power into our resolve to rid out country of the militancy and provide schools and books to our children - and not dig graves for them when they fall prey to the drone attacks and the militancy.

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6 September - the Defence Day of Pakistan

It was almost about five decades ago that sons of the soil stood guard to defend the frontiers of the country and saved the motherland from being occupied by forces that always considered creation of Pakistan a mistake and wanted to undo the partition process. But the people of Pakistan joined hands with the gallant armed forces of the country to stand like a iron wall to defeat the enemy much larger in size and equipment.

Above are some of the heroes that have laid their lives with extreme valour and dedication since Pakistan was created and were awarded the highest gallantry award of Nishan-e-Haider.

But today, we have another war to beat back. While all previous wars were conventional and against a known enemy, the war being fought by the armed forces of the country is different in may ways. It is a war by undefined enemy, with the the same religion  and same attire - an enemy difficult to recognize until it strikes. 

Some of the over 3,000 soldiers who laid down their lives to rid the country of militancy and the militants

More than the men who laid down their lives in the conventional wars, have been martyred by the enemy that considers everyone but them as infidels and kills Muslims in mosques and roads. This enemy destroys schools and hampers polio vaccination, which is adding the polio related patients in the country. For them a crippled son or daughter is better off for life than being administered with polio vaccine.

A large number of beautiful young men have laid down their lives to rid the country of this treacherous enemy, who to offers prayers, but calls everyone other then their own flock infidels. But everyone of us knows who is infidel and who is otherwise. The enemy has no laws as it beheads captured soldiers - something not even done by the Holy Prophet, who always advised treating of captives with leniency - but this enemy with axes in his hands spare no one who is captured.

The blood of all the martyrs of the armed forces of the country and those countless civilians who have died in this battle for survival of Pakistan will never go waste, God willing, and one day we shall have peace as we had before and take this country forward - not backward. A country where the girls will their schools rebuilt, which were blown by these militants and there will be no polio hit children. That day is not far, I swear.

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Biased Policy Paradigm

Pakistan is fighting a war of terror or I may say war of error at the behest of the USA since the shady 9/11 event. And in doing so, many fine officers and men of Pakistan Army and countless innocent and humble civilians have succumbed to this erroneous war for the sake of someone else. The USA in return has pumped in billions of dollar to boost the military muscle of the Pakistan army that is required for the success of the war and easing pressure on the ISAF, and more so the US troops in Afghanistan.

The USA despite many claims and promises has yet to draw a road map to industries the troubled northern areas where militancy germinates because of poverty and lack of job opportunities. The unemployed youth are thus recruited by the militant organizations and made to die in suicide attacks and fight their own brethren.

But when the US president visits India, it announces deals worth $10 billion to India which will provide jobs to some 50,000 Indian workers. I don’t envy that since the USA has long lasting friendly relations with India, being the biggest democracy in the world and an old pal. My only disappointment is that had similar, even smaller gestures, made for Pakistan, specially in the recruitment areas of the militants over the past ten years, the situation would have been far different and better today.

The battle of winning the hearts and minds of the people through economic reforms is much easier to win rather than firing missiles and making people more hostile and angry, rather than being made friendly. Perhaps the USA wants to keep Pakistan embroiled in this war for its own long term goals in the area. That is why instead of making friends, it is making more enemies here. Our policy makers and those sitting in the comfortable air-conditioned offices in Islamabad, who get to visit USA very often on official visits, fail to raise their voice to fight the menace with a different strategy rather than that of dumping explosives on the “suspected targets.”

We have already run short of time to review our policy paradigm and to insist on USA to change it for better rather than for worse. Let us not have different and biased policies for an old bigger friend and a fragile small “friend” being used in own interests only. If we continue to sit idle and keep getting aid that has its indirect use for the US, there would be no let up in incidents like suicide bombings and drone attacks inside Pakistan.

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