The battle of hearts and minds against terrorists is more of a relay
race between the teams in which single players can contribute but
cannot bring victory for the team. The end game revolves around
shaping the environment and society favorable to the teams. The team
of terrorists uses coercive cards to shape their game. They terrorize
the society to control economy and make generations’ hostage to their
ideology. The second team of government uses Law Enforcing Agency
(LEA) for establishing the writ of the state and provide the space to
society, where they can exercise their will and independence to earn
their livelihood. The government provides opportunities and political
will for a comfortable environment and makes efforts for a sustainable
economy for future generations.
Unlike many insurgencies Pakistan has been lucky to have a
player which has covered the most difficult part in a very short time
to support government’s strategy of dialogue, development and
deterrence. The success of LEA in general and Pak Army in particular
under farsighted leadership of General Kayani has delivered in shape
of Swat/ Malakand success stories. The success of Swat operation and
settlement of displaced people of Swat became role model for the
society and the environment was shaped in favour of government and the
army. The military pressure dislodged the (terror) groups from some of
their training areas and kept them on the run. The violence fell by 60
per cent in the second half of 2009, compared with the first half. At
the same time, the neutralization of suicide bombing ability of the
militants gave the security forces an added edge to wipe out the
remaining Taliban. Some police officials claim that change in the kind
of crimes shows that the situation is moving back to normal.
Kidnappings top the crime chart in 2010 with 547 cases, including 133
of kidnapping for ransom, as compared to 530 in 2009, including 158
for ransom. But the major achievement is that a threat of the Taliban
marching on to Peshawar has been neutralized. Swat and Buner to the
north of Peshawar had been overrun by Taliban who had also made gains
in the Upper and Lower Dir and Shangla districts have been reversed.
The militants, after losing ground, have also changed tactics and are
now relying more on roadside bombings, rocket and mortar attacks,
ambushes and kidnappings for ransom. The number of militant attacks on
police stations, intelligence agency and security forces has also
dropped. The change in suicide techniques and use of woman suicide
bomber in tribal culture speaks of pressure on militants. A security
report from the Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) said the number
of violent incidents and terror attacks in Pakistan fell by 11 per
cent during 2010, compared to 2009. The number of suicide attacks fell
by 22 per cent to 68 in 2010, compared with 87 last year. The senior
commanders of TTP who started the war of terror in Pakistan have been
eliminated and mid level inspire little confidence in the ranks. Field
commanders seem to be on their own, each pursuing his own agenda
resulting in a breakdown of authority on the ground. Mid and
lower-level commanders are being captured or are laying arms, many of
their replacements seem incapable of keeping their fighters in line.
The Kidnappings, indiscriminate IED and suicide-bomb attacks, abuses
of power, blowing up of schools and bridges having direct implications
for local populace are alienating formerly sympathetic villagers.
.Such success is force multipliers in insurgency as it is not only
that you reduce fighting capability of terrorists but this also
provides a propaganda victory. The deserter from terrorists under
unfavorable environment created by LEA becomes a source of vital
information on terrorist techniques, move and intensions to work out
future strategy.
However the relay race now enters the delicate portion of the strategy
and the baton has been passed to the next player. Army can only
support the government which is already fragile and under political
and economic pressures. The government must act as a prime mover to
set pace for the society and provide the environment of economic
opportunities and social justice. Within Pakistan's, there is a
persistent folklore of Taliban justice: They claim that the Islamists
reduced crime and brought a pristine sense of order to the frontier. A
bold, clear and upfront leadership to re-enforce confidence in society
is the need of time. The confident society will restore their own
economy, they will realize the need for a broader education system.
The religious institutions in their current form cannot produce
professionals needed for a functioning contemporary society. Above
all, the leadership has to convince and take the nation including
political stakeholders on board for the existing and oncoming
challenges on national as well as global issues to consolidate gains
and leap for opportunities...
race between the teams in which single players can contribute but
cannot bring victory for the team. The end game revolves around
shaping the environment and society favorable to the teams. The team
of terrorists uses coercive cards to shape their game. They terrorize
the society to control economy and make generations’ hostage to their
ideology. The second team of government uses Law Enforcing Agency
(LEA) for establishing the writ of the state and provide the space to
society, where they can exercise their will and independence to earn
their livelihood. The government provides opportunities and political
will for a comfortable environment and makes efforts for a sustainable
economy for future generations.
Unlike many insurgencies Pakistan has been lucky to have a
player which has covered the most difficult part in a very short time
to support government’s strategy of dialogue, development and
deterrence. The success of LEA in general and Pak Army in particular
under farsighted leadership of General Kayani has delivered in shape
of Swat/ Malakand success stories. The success of Swat operation and
settlement of displaced people of Swat became role model for the
society and the environment was shaped in favour of government and the
army. The military pressure dislodged the (terror) groups from some of
their training areas and kept them on the run. The violence fell by 60
per cent in the second half of 2009, compared with the first half. At
the same time, the neutralization of suicide bombing ability of the
militants gave the security forces an added edge to wipe out the
remaining Taliban. Some police officials claim that change in the kind
of crimes shows that the situation is moving back to normal.
Kidnappings top the crime chart in 2010 with 547 cases, including 133
of kidnapping for ransom, as compared to 530 in 2009, including 158
for ransom. But the major achievement is that a threat of the Taliban
marching on to Peshawar has been neutralized. Swat and Buner to the
north of Peshawar had been overrun by Taliban who had also made gains
in the Upper and Lower Dir and Shangla districts have been reversed.
The militants, after losing ground, have also changed tactics and are
now relying more on roadside bombings, rocket and mortar attacks,
ambushes and kidnappings for ransom. The number of militant attacks on
police stations, intelligence agency and security forces has also
dropped. The change in suicide techniques and use of woman suicide
bomber in tribal culture speaks of pressure on militants. A security
report from the Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) said the number
of violent incidents and terror attacks in Pakistan fell by 11 per
cent during 2010, compared to 2009. The number of suicide attacks fell
by 22 per cent to 68 in 2010, compared with 87 last year. The senior
commanders of TTP who started the war of terror in Pakistan have been
eliminated and mid level inspire little confidence in the ranks. Field
commanders seem to be on their own, each pursuing his own agenda
resulting in a breakdown of authority on the ground. Mid and
lower-level commanders are being captured or are laying arms, many of
their replacements seem incapable of keeping their fighters in line.
The Kidnappings, indiscriminate IED and suicide-bomb attacks, abuses
of power, blowing up of schools and bridges having direct implications
for local populace are alienating formerly sympathetic villagers.
.Such success is force multipliers in insurgency as it is not only
that you reduce fighting capability of terrorists but this also
provides a propaganda victory. The deserter from terrorists under
unfavorable environment created by LEA becomes a source of vital
information on terrorist techniques, move and intensions to work out
future strategy.
However the relay race now enters the delicate portion of the strategy
and the baton has been passed to the next player. Army can only
support the government which is already fragile and under political
and economic pressures. The government must act as a prime mover to
set pace for the society and provide the environment of economic
opportunities and social justice. Within Pakistan's, there is a
persistent folklore of Taliban justice: They claim that the Islamists
reduced crime and brought a pristine sense of order to the frontier. A
bold, clear and upfront leadership to re-enforce confidence in society
is the need of time. The confident society will restore their own
economy, they will realize the need for a broader education system.
The religious institutions in their current form cannot produce
professionals needed for a functioning contemporary society. Above
all, the leadership has to convince and take the nation including
political stakeholders on board for the existing and oncoming
challenges on national as well as global issues to consolidate gains
and leap for opportunities...
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