A matter of mere perception

Unless the perception of Pakistanis is harnessed in favor of the fight against terrorists and miscreants, no matter how many ‘high value targets’ are killed, the entire exercise to bring law and order will go in vain. Recall how radically the national opinion in Swat changed after Sufi Muhammad rejected the Pakistan Constitution followed by the video of the flogging. The Swat operation was given a chance of success once the it became an issue of Pakistan’s laws vs. a lunatics. Similarly, unless this war is completely perceived to be Pakistan’s – ie between Pakistanis who want the supremacy of the Constitution and those who want their want to prop up a pre-tribal society, no matter how convincing an argument presented against terrorism, it will fail. Like it has miserably failed the past ten years. Rather than seek more of the same, in greater magnitude, a radical break from all previous alliances is necessary to bring about the all important perception that no one can carry a weapon much less use it outside the security forces.

Win the hearts and minds by ridding ourselves of the perception that this war is being fought at behest of someone. We will always be in a better position to tackle terrorism even if turns into a mini-civil war. But what exists now is a war of attrition where the foreign powers have the option to wipe their hands clean without any obligation or much fear of consequences. We have no such option and will always live with the consequences. Better those consequences are determined by our own unilateral action.

A clean break in policy

Mere tweaking of policies in the hope of altering the downward spiral of the nation's trajectory are an exercise in vain. Only a clean break from the past 30 years of policies can offer a way forward.

Pakistan's civilian leadership remains happily passive to a swirl of events.  Perhaps they are waiting for the military to buckle under pressure and willingly agree to become subservient to the civilian leadership.  Or, perhaps the civilian leadership is hoping they will never have to tackle the terrorist onslaught and the military's monster is best left for the military to destroy.

Regardless, a dire situation with no upturn in sight. 

PTI's Dharna against Drone Attacks

PTI has successfully latched onto an issue that it can own with the holding of the second dharna against drone strikes in Karachi. 

The basic premise is sound:  The policy of entangling oneself with the US in Afghanistan will continue to have an escalating blow back for Pakistan.  35,000 Pakistanis have been murdered since 9/11 and terrorism rises every day.  The policy has failed.  Repeating the same will only exacerbate the situation. 


So a need to come up with alternatives.  Going against drone attacks is a no-brainer as almost everyone agrees that they not only enraging more people as a vast majority of those killed have nothing to do with the perpetrators of terrorist attacks.  Even more importantly, no country should be allowed to attack national territory.  So it's very easy to sway public opinion on side against drone attacks. 


Normally, whenever Chairman Khan took a stance on an issue, other parties jumped in and spoke louder than him for the same stance hijacking the issue.  This time, 'Dharna against Drone Attacks' is all Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.  It's a stance with only upsides to it. 

More than likely, the drone attacks will cause more harm than good, and PTI will be there to reap the political rewards having lead for a change in policy on this issue.  A compromised political leadership, a military leadership financially entangled with foreign aid all function to isolate the establishment players.  PTI can only gain from this.