NOVANEWS
By Sajjad Shaukat
In the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy in the US homeland, American government,
opposition, media and public had become one by showing collective wisdom, because the
country was at war against the non-sovereign entities, popularly called terrorists.
When the Pakistan Government decided to launch the ongoing military operation “Zarb-e-Azb”
against the militants in North Waziristan Agency (NWA), Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took
the nation into confidence through parliament and senate, asserting that Pakistan would not be
allowed to become safe havens of terrorists. He further stated that military operation would
continue till achievement of ultimate objectives. Earlier, DG, ISPR Directorate, Major-Gen.
Asim Saleem Bajwa stated, “On the directions of the Government, Armed forces of Pakistan
have launched the operation against foreign and local terrorists…who had been waging a war
against the state of Pakistan by disrupting our national life in all its dimensions, stunting our
economic growth and causing enormous loss of life and property…with the support of the entire
nation, these enemies will be denied space across the country.” On June 16, 2014, Chief of Army
Staff, General Raheel Sharif also pointed out, “Operation Zarb-e-Azb has been launched with
the objectives of rooting out terrorists, eliminate their sanctuaries in NWA and rid the country of
Since June 15 when the military operation started, the jets of Pakistan Air Force have bombed
militants’ hideouts in North Waziristan, and killed more than 300 insurgents including foreign
militants, while Pak Army has also started ground offensive which has successfully been
achieving its goals. Recently, several militants of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have
been killed and more than 20 surrendered before the Army.
Although Pakistan’s media, politicians, leaders of religious parties and general masses are
showing solidarity with the armed forces, which could be judged from the countrywide protests
and rallies in support of the North Waziristan operation, and assistance to the Internally
Displaced Persons (IDPs), yet incorrect impression is being created by some propagandists like
political parties—JI and JUI (F) that the government and the Army were not on the same page
regarding militancy, counter-terrorism and the military action in NWA. They are spreading
rumours that the present operation was started on the US pressure.
Meanwhile, some elements are also manipulating the statement of the former DG ISPR, Maj-
Gen. Athar Abbas who said on July 1, this year that the decision to launch a full scale operation
against terrorists in North Waziristan had been taken by the military leadership in 2010, but
it could not be initiated due to the indecision of the former Army Chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez
It is notable that during the Chicago Summit, and when DG of Inter-Services Intelligence
agency, Lt. Gen. Zaheerul Islam met with CIA Director David Petraeus in 2012, some internal
and external entities, especially the US media were spreading disinformation that the two spy
chiefs agreed on joint operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and had named the planned
offensive in North Waziristan as operation, “Tight Screw.”
It was owing to the rumours spread by external media, and also unfortunately by our internal
political parties and media that reports of military operation in North Waziristan caused a lot of
panic among the majority of locals who had begun fleeing the area.
Taking cognizance of the baseless media reports, on August 17, 2012, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez
Kayani categorically dispelled the speculative reporting in foreign media regarding joint
operation in North Waziristan. He reiterated, “We might, if necessary, undertake operation in
NWA, in the timeframe of our choosing and requirements” as “determined only by our political
and military requirements. It will never be a result of any outside pressure.”
Earlier, while stressing upon national unity, Gen. Kayani especially stated on June 9, 2011,
“Any effort to create division among important institutions of the country is not in national
interest…the people of Pakistan whose support the army has always considered vital for its
operations against terrorists.”
While dispelling the misperception about the military operation in North Waziristan, DG, ISPR
Major-Gen. Asim clarified on June 27, this year, “It is solely a Pakistan Army operation and not
a joint Pak-US military offensive”, adding that “Pakistani security forces are capable of doing
However, it is our misfortune that certain political parties and religious groups in pursuance
of their political interests appear to have lost sight of collective wisdom which is essential for
obtaining national goals by fighting and eliminating the scourge of terrorism.
Now, a broad-based operation has been launched to smash terrorists’ hideouts in North
Waziristan areas and flush out all militants from Pakistani soil. This envisages provision
of consummating public support, backing by political parties, media and civil society. The
government has to maintain its resolve to eliminate terrorism, using assorted counter-terrorism
strategy, whereas politicians must maintain order by postponing rallies, train marches, relegating
politics of protest and deferring party programmes to hold political meetings.
In this respect, violent brawls between Punjab Police and members of Pakistan Awami Tehreek
(PAT) in Lahore, on June 17, which led to live firing and killing of innocent people including
women is absolutely deplorable and inappropriate. But, in wake of the present operation against
the militants, there is a need to remain peaceful, and render all available assistance to the
government so as to thwart all game plan of terrorists rather than opening new conflicting façade
Nevertheless, collective wisdom requires that the nation must remain united as the military
operation continues against terrorists in North Waziristan Agency. For this purpose, local dissent
and protests must be postponed to show solidarity with the rulers as well as the armed forces.
No doubt, media, political parties, religious scholars and civil society deserve appreciation for
showing cohesive harmony during testing times of the military operation. In this context, the
concerned authorities must prepare comprehensive plan to engage with media for its further
favourable support to the operation. Initial success of unity among different segments of society
must be capitalized by offering detailed briefings to media about progress of the operation and
Particularly, IDPs which are already being helped by the federal and provincial governments
including political and religious parties, and other renowned persons like Malik Riaz of Bahria
Town must further be accommodated—and those trapped in war zone be rescued by bringing
them to safe areas. Government must reach out to public of North Waziristan areas with a sense
of deep compassion and sympathy.
At this critical juncture, political parties and religious leaders must postpone their schedules of
train marches, protest rallies, political meetings, and show-off congregations till the objectives of
military operation are achieved. In this regard, postponement of train march by Sheikh Rasheed
Besides, violent police action against members of PAT, which resulted into killing of innocent
people including women, must be thoroughly investigated, and responsibility must be fixed
against all tiers of command and levels of the administration.
As the TTP-led terrorists had accelerated their anti-social, undemocratic and un-Islamic
practices, therefore, people from all segments of life wanted that a handful of terrorist elements
must not be allowed to dictate their agenda and to impose their self-perceived ideology on the
majority of Pakistanis. So, the right hour has come that Pakistan’s media, politicians and leaders
of religious parties must show solidarity with the armed forces by also rejecting the propaganda
of these zealots against the security forces in relation to the ongoing military operation in North
Nonetheless, nation must be united in the face of threat posed by terrorism. The success of
the military operation and defeat of the terrorists will become assured, if the ruling and the
opposition parties including all the segments of society display practical unity not only with one
another, but also with the armed forces, which is also necessary to maintain order at this sensitive
Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants,
Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations
