Pak Security Concern & In - Camera Joint Session
By Zaheerul Hassan
October 8, 2008 will be remember as another mile stone in the history when democratic government of Pakistan has tried to take all public representatives into confidence and arranged the in-camera joint session of both the Houses of parliament. The members of both the houses were briefed in detailed on security situation of the country, particularly the situation in the tribal areas and Swat by Lt General Ahmed Shuja Pasha present ISI Chief and former Director Genera Military Operation. The session was presided over by Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza under strict security. The agenda of the special session was to thrash out the current security situation and formulate a comprehensive strategy to counter terrorism and extremism.
The session was attended by almost all the MNAs, senators, the governors of Punjab, Balochistan, NWFP and the chief ministers of the four provinces. PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif, PML-Q President Ch Shujaat Hussain and chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani present on special invitation of the speaker National Assembly. Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan, Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmed, APDM convener Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Anas Noorani of the JUP had excused attending the special session of parliament when invited.
More over Muslim League (N) declined to participate in question – answers session and some of its parliamentarian declared the briefing an eye wash. The league stance seems to be baseless since military authority has given very comprehensive briefing over the delicate security issue to the political leadership. The Muslim League (N) would have risen as many as quires for the clarification of their doubts but probably involved in point scoring game and is giving priority to their party interest over the national interest. Similar point of view as of League has also been adopted by Jamaat –e- Islami on the under discussion concern. As a matter of fact such type of stances are damaging the peace restoration efforts of security forces and concurrently encouraging the militants and external forces to continue with terrorist activities in the country.
The efforts of security forces in relation to elimination of terrorism from the affected areas are very much known to the nation. According to sources, newly appointed Chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence in his briefing informed the parliamentarians that so far 1,368 security personnel had been martyred and 3,348 injured in the fight against terrorism. He also expressed that policies were revised in the wake of 9/11 keeping in view the defence of the country and sovereignty have always remained the foremost priority.
It’s quite heartening that in FATA and Bajure the locals are forming Lashkars and stood up with security forces in elimination of militancy from affected areas. In a recent suicidal blast in Aurakzai agency over 100 people killed and thousand wounded attending a tribal council in Pakistan's Orakzai region in the northwest on October 10, 2008. The Jerga (tribal council) was busy in raising a lashkar (a tribal militia) to evict Taliban from the region when this attack took place. Though suicidal bomber able to hit the loyal tribal but his launchers must know that innocent people of the tribal have stood up against the terrorism wave. Responsible officials of government and security sources are genuinely claiming that so far operation is going well. They are determined to remove the terrorism from the country and take the on going Swat operation in its logical conclusion. However, there are concerns that rising numbers of civilian casualties in a lengthening conflict may cause public and political backlash, and undermine the desirable national support for the success in Bajaur. The Jamaat-e-Islami, Muslim League (N) and other religious groups should show responsible behavior instead going for train, or long marches. These parties must know that such type of stances will only indirectly favouring the foreign hands.
On October 12, 2008, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Jamaat – e – Islami head while addressing a press conference at Peshawar, stated that government has never tried to take into confidence their party on Bajuare Issue, contrary to it government has provided them forum of parliament to discuss the matter but Jamaat went for Train March instead participating in this important security concern of the country. Jamaat would not have waited for invitation, if they are sincere in restoring peace in the area. They should pressurize the locals Taliban and asked them to stop preaching Un - Islamic values and anti Islamic acts like beheadings of people , destruction of girls schools, kidnapping people, helping foreigners and challenging of writ of government. Qazi sahib is also right to an extent that American in collaboration with India, Israel and Afghanistan are involved in pushing the Afghan war into our territory with a view to target our nuclear assets and hit Pakistan. But, Jamaat must openly condemn all illegal actions of militants seriously if she is interested in resolving the issue and restoring the peace in the area. No doubt Qazi Hussain Ahmed and its party if serious can tone down the situation in Bajuare so they must play their role in resolving the problem instead blaming the forces and government and party leader should take part in the debate in parliament too.
India, Israel and Afghanistan are supporting anti Pakistan elements while providing the money and resources. Top military commander Admiral Mullen while giving an interview to an American TV Channel once again claimed that PaK – Afghan Border is a safe heaven for insurgents. He emphasized that India to be part of US Afghan Strategy. The statement of US military leader once again confirming the Washington’s desire of placing India as her watchman in the region that is the reason US never noticed the brutality of Indian forces in Kashmir. The desire of deployment of Indian forces and shifting of American troops from Iraq to Afghanistan is unleashing the future US – Indian Plan. Pakistan political and military leaders are well aware of the current regional political development and double standers of US. They know that America along with her allies are active in damaging Pakistan Political Process, Pakistan Armed forces, Supreme intelligence Agency (ISI) and its great Nuclear Programme, on the other hand Washington has made civil nuclear dear New Delhi. On October 11, 2008 under the chairmanship of General Tariq Majid a meeting of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC) was held at the Joint Staff Headquarters .The dynamic Armed Forces leadership took a serious note of insinuations that concerned the country's strategic programme and its elite intelligence outfit, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and expressed their satisfaction on the safety, security and command structure. They strongly condemned the efforts of foreign countries of tarnishing the image of ISI and launching propaganda adventure against Pakistan Peaceful Nuclear Programme.
Coming back to the topic, our local Taliban’s leaders must know that fighting Afghan war in our tribal area or across the border is providing the chances to American and its allies to carry out strikes in FATA Area. So, we should not provide the probability to foreigners whether they are American, Afghans, Al - Qaeda or other Jahadee Organizations to use our territory for fighting Afghan war. Jamaat, other religious leaders and local Taliban should know that conversion of peaceful FATA area into battle ground was neither earlier and nor now is in the interest of Pakistan. It is suggested that Tribal elders must carry out dialogue at local levels and convince Taliban to adhere the country’s rules , stop beheading, don’t interfering in Afghan War from own territory, drop the weapons, stop destroying girls schools & public buildings and must strive for their mother land i.e. Pakistan. If Taliban go for unconditional cease fire then government must go away with immediate rehabilitation of tribal areas construction of roads, welfare projects, improving of quality of life, providing them employments and running of schools. At the same time our tribal people and their leaderships must also know that armed forces may not be concluding the operation in winter too if absolute ceased fires is not being conceded. The dialogue process is the right answer to settle the issue but the agreement should not be concluded on the terms and conditions of Taliban or militants, if government needs to establish her writ of government.
The government has taken a positive step to arrange the in camera briefing of parliamentarians on current security environment. Now it’s the time that opposition and government should carry out in house discussions for wrapping up of the briefing in a way which should provide the policy guide lines to the foreign office department to bring glaring changes in Foreign Policy. The concluding remarks on termination of final sessions should give some indicators to America and its allies reflecting shifts in the policy on war on terror. Because it’s the basic need of the time since US and its allies are not likely to change their aggressive mood against Pakistan and will never stop violations of our territorial boundaries. President Zardarii is proceeding to china on his first official visit which will defiantly create a good impact in relation to the current regional security environment.
By Zaheerul Hassan
October 8, 2008 will be remember as another mile stone in the history when democratic government of Pakistan has tried to take all public representatives into confidence and arranged the in-camera joint session of both the Houses of parliament. The members of both the houses were briefed in detailed on security situation of the country, particularly the situation in the tribal areas and Swat by Lt General Ahmed Shuja Pasha present ISI Chief and former Director Genera Military Operation. The session was presided over by Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza under strict security. The agenda of the special session was to thrash out the current security situation and formulate a comprehensive strategy to counter terrorism and extremism.
The session was attended by almost all the MNAs, senators, the governors of Punjab, Balochistan, NWFP and the chief ministers of the four provinces. PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif, PML-Q President Ch Shujaat Hussain and chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani present on special invitation of the speaker National Assembly. Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan, Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmed, APDM convener Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Anas Noorani of the JUP had excused attending the special session of parliament when invited.
More over Muslim League (N) declined to participate in question – answers session and some of its parliamentarian declared the briefing an eye wash. The league stance seems to be baseless since military authority has given very comprehensive briefing over the delicate security issue to the political leadership. The Muslim League (N) would have risen as many as quires for the clarification of their doubts but probably involved in point scoring game and is giving priority to their party interest over the national interest. Similar point of view as of League has also been adopted by Jamaat –e- Islami on the under discussion concern. As a matter of fact such type of stances are damaging the peace restoration efforts of security forces and concurrently encouraging the militants and external forces to continue with terrorist activities in the country.
The efforts of security forces in relation to elimination of terrorism from the affected areas are very much known to the nation. According to sources, newly appointed Chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence in his briefing informed the parliamentarians that so far 1,368 security personnel had been martyred and 3,348 injured in the fight against terrorism. He also expressed that policies were revised in the wake of 9/11 keeping in view the defence of the country and sovereignty have always remained the foremost priority.
It’s quite heartening that in FATA and Bajure the locals are forming Lashkars and stood up with security forces in elimination of militancy from affected areas. In a recent suicidal blast in Aurakzai agency over 100 people killed and thousand wounded attending a tribal council in Pakistan's Orakzai region in the northwest on October 10, 2008. The Jerga (tribal council) was busy in raising a lashkar (a tribal militia) to evict Taliban from the region when this attack took place. Though suicidal bomber able to hit the loyal tribal but his launchers must know that innocent people of the tribal have stood up against the terrorism wave. Responsible officials of government and security sources are genuinely claiming that so far operation is going well. They are determined to remove the terrorism from the country and take the on going Swat operation in its logical conclusion. However, there are concerns that rising numbers of civilian casualties in a lengthening conflict may cause public and political backlash, and undermine the desirable national support for the success in Bajaur. The Jamaat-e-Islami, Muslim League (N) and other religious groups should show responsible behavior instead going for train, or long marches. These parties must know that such type of stances will only indirectly favouring the foreign hands.
On October 12, 2008, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Jamaat – e – Islami head while addressing a press conference at Peshawar, stated that government has never tried to take into confidence their party on Bajuare Issue, contrary to it government has provided them forum of parliament to discuss the matter but Jamaat went for Train March instead participating in this important security concern of the country. Jamaat would not have waited for invitation, if they are sincere in restoring peace in the area. They should pressurize the locals Taliban and asked them to stop preaching Un - Islamic values and anti Islamic acts like beheadings of people , destruction of girls schools, kidnapping people, helping foreigners and challenging of writ of government. Qazi sahib is also right to an extent that American in collaboration with India, Israel and Afghanistan are involved in pushing the Afghan war into our territory with a view to target our nuclear assets and hit Pakistan. But, Jamaat must openly condemn all illegal actions of militants seriously if she is interested in resolving the issue and restoring the peace in the area. No doubt Qazi Hussain Ahmed and its party if serious can tone down the situation in Bajuare so they must play their role in resolving the problem instead blaming the forces and government and party leader should take part in the debate in parliament too.
India, Israel and Afghanistan are supporting anti Pakistan elements while providing the money and resources. Top military commander Admiral Mullen while giving an interview to an American TV Channel once again claimed that PaK – Afghan Border is a safe heaven for insurgents. He emphasized that India to be part of US Afghan Strategy. The statement of US military leader once again confirming the Washington’s desire of placing India as her watchman in the region that is the reason US never noticed the brutality of Indian forces in Kashmir. The desire of deployment of Indian forces and shifting of American troops from Iraq to Afghanistan is unleashing the future US – Indian Plan. Pakistan political and military leaders are well aware of the current regional political development and double standers of US. They know that America along with her allies are active in damaging Pakistan Political Process, Pakistan Armed forces, Supreme intelligence Agency (ISI) and its great Nuclear Programme, on the other hand Washington has made civil nuclear dear New Delhi. On October 11, 2008 under the chairmanship of General Tariq Majid a meeting of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC) was held at the Joint Staff Headquarters .The dynamic Armed Forces leadership took a serious note of insinuations that concerned the country's strategic programme and its elite intelligence outfit, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and expressed their satisfaction on the safety, security and command structure. They strongly condemned the efforts of foreign countries of tarnishing the image of ISI and launching propaganda adventure against Pakistan Peaceful Nuclear Programme.
Coming back to the topic, our local Taliban’s leaders must know that fighting Afghan war in our tribal area or across the border is providing the chances to American and its allies to carry out strikes in FATA Area. So, we should not provide the probability to foreigners whether they are American, Afghans, Al - Qaeda or other Jahadee Organizations to use our territory for fighting Afghan war. Jamaat, other religious leaders and local Taliban should know that conversion of peaceful FATA area into battle ground was neither earlier and nor now is in the interest of Pakistan. It is suggested that Tribal elders must carry out dialogue at local levels and convince Taliban to adhere the country’s rules , stop beheading, don’t interfering in Afghan War from own territory, drop the weapons, stop destroying girls schools & public buildings and must strive for their mother land i.e. Pakistan. If Taliban go for unconditional cease fire then government must go away with immediate rehabilitation of tribal areas construction of roads, welfare projects, improving of quality of life, providing them employments and running of schools. At the same time our tribal people and their leaderships must also know that armed forces may not be concluding the operation in winter too if absolute ceased fires is not being conceded. The dialogue process is the right answer to settle the issue but the agreement should not be concluded on the terms and conditions of Taliban or militants, if government needs to establish her writ of government.
The government has taken a positive step to arrange the in camera briefing of parliamentarians on current security environment. Now it’s the time that opposition and government should carry out in house discussions for wrapping up of the briefing in a way which should provide the policy guide lines to the foreign office department to bring glaring changes in Foreign Policy. The concluding remarks on termination of final sessions should give some indicators to America and its allies reflecting shifts in the policy on war on terror. Because it’s the basic need of the time since US and its allies are not likely to change their aggressive mood against Pakistan and will never stop violations of our territorial boundaries. President Zardarii is proceeding to china on his first official visit which will defiantly create a good impact in relation to the current regional security environment.
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