Dawn.com invites its readers to debate current affairs in this forum.
On Tuesday, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Baitullah Mehsud claimed responsibility for the attack on the Manawan police academy and threatened more such assaults in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the US. He stated that President Asif Zardari was ‘following US policies and allowing drone attacks’ and vowed that the Taliban would continue to commits act of terror until missile attacks are halted. He also claimed that the Taliban have the ability to attack Washington and threatened to target the White House. Attacks against NATO forces in Afghanistan were also on Mehsud’s list.
A few days before the Manawan attack, on March 25, the US State Department put Baitullah Mehsud on its most wanted list and announced a $5 million bounty for capturing him or providing information that could help convict him.
Do you think the US State Department’s announcement of a bounty for Mehsud provoke the Manawan attack? If the drone attacks were to seize, would Mehsud call off future terrorist attacks? Is Mehsud’s real target the US and its affiliate NATO forces? What exactly provokes Baitullah Mehsud?
Govt. should eliminate the root causes which provoke younger generation to join such extremists.
Find the intruders whom equip them with weapon. Without foreign support (wealth and weapons) it is impossible to carry out terrorist strikes.
This is addressing the comments on this blog.
1. Has Pakistan declared BM as a wanted criminal for his admitted terrorist actions and put up any bounty, printed his picture in the news, etc? (like USA has announced 5 mil U$D)
2. As noticed by everyone, when he can hold press conferences, why cant the army/police find him….what a joke, of course they can if they want..true?
3. Will Pakistan recieve 7.5 billion U$D in aid or the 3 billion for the armed forces training and weaponization…if Baitullah, Laden, Mullah Omar etc, are all caught….A BIG NO.
4. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the powers that ‘be’ are playing a nasty destructive game at the expense of the naive public, one which has to be played by whoever is elected…etc, to make money, power, strength in weapons, dependency of the USA and the world in general,as they have nothing else to offer, export, etc,
Pakistan has become the battlefield of the earth now, as did Panipat etc, of the bygone. Many nations/civilization are playing behind the scenes covertly, the battle of the civilizations is unfolding right before your eyes…watch!!
It is astonishing to see people like Imran Khan advocating for B Mahsud and his likes by declaring the acts of terrorism as a reaction of drone attacks. Heaven knows what he wants to achieve by justifying this barbarism? The entire Pakistani nation is behind their security forces and they have shown their disapproval of the brand of Islamabad B Mahsud and Taliban wants to enforce in this country. The only thing that needs to be done to rout out this curse from our society is condemning the acts of terrorism without justifying it one way or the other.
It is POWER that the evil men are after. Name of the Almighty is merely an excuse used to motivate unwitting youngsters (to commit suicide). What our lovely Pakistan needs is a “Cultural Revolution” similar to that which took place in China. B Mehsud and his intelligence cronies should be sent to one of those re-education camps.
The Quaid did not create a country for Islam. He created a country where Muslims could protect their culture and religion without hinderance from the majority. He had clearly elaborated his vision for Pakistan after independence. He wanted Pakistan to be a secular, progressive welfare state. The mullahs who had called him a kafir, now claim ownership of his creation. Have you noticed the all pervasive expressions of Islam in Pakistan without the slightest effect on people’s morals. Jinnah was a century ahead of the so called leaders who followed him. Give Zia all the credit for the bloodshed going on now.
There are too many people who think America is using these terrorists to invade Pakistan. Use logic. Why do we want to spend money in the wasteland of Afghanistan/Pakistan when we are in a economic crisis ourselves. Our military is exhausted and want to come home. It is being attacked in Afghanistan by taliban who are based in Pakistan. We use the drones because we cant spare the manpower. At least the drones are targeted. If you want to know who is misleading the American drones to kill innocents, look to your own agencies. They have their own agenda and couldn’t care less about lambs like you.
If Pakistan wants the drones to stop, it is simple. Police your borders so that the Taliban and the al Qaida terrorists dont attack American and Afghan forces from your country. Good luck getting rid of them.
I believe all the recent events are suggestive of the beginning of the end as people of pakistan have showed their solidarity with security forces and brave jawaan who sacrificing their lives for our freedom. People like B Masud dont know much about islam and they should not be given a chance to explain there point of view as there is no justification of these cowardly acts …… there are a lot of media sympathisers of B Masud and Co who will try to explain and justify all of his actions and will provide excuses which even he cant think …..the way forward is to glorify our security forces and their sacrifices and start the media trial of Taliban and show the innocent people that these are not servants of islam but a bunch of power thirsty folk who are after only material gains only….
I don’t know why some people still think that we can talk to Batullah Mehsud. He is criminal who has killed many people he should be brought to justice. I don’t agree with american drone attacks but I think that Pakistani intelligence is involved in all this mess otherwise how can he organise such press conferences, i mean if journalists can get hold of him why not pakistani military. We have talked to taliban in swat and as a result he got everything and we got nothing, they didnt even surrender their weapons, in fact they are much stronger than before.
What provokes Baitullah and likes is the ambivilance and indecisiveness of the people of Pakistan about their own identity and what do they want for their future!!
Also not being able to introspect and look at what we, first of all individually and collectively stand for(i.e., our Identity).
We are a divided nation and have liking to, not take responsibility for anything at all. If the streets are dirty, then that is somebody else’s responsibility (army, bureaucracy, WASA, or your own neighbor, or your child) Our basic fabric of society has become rotten, and we are just surviving day to day.
We do not have long time left before we won’t be in position to make any choices.
If you go back to the speaches made by Nawaz Shareef after the first attempt on Benazir’s life, he was very clear. “I have no threat from Taliban and like”. Did anyone care to ask why? I think it is because he and Imran Khan are working with the fanatics. What they don’t know is that when these fanatics take over, they take over every thing, including keeping your women “uneducated, barefoot and pregnant”. The lawyers who brought Musharraf down will have no job as they have nothing to do in Swat. Local mullah will be the judge and every thing. Wake up lawyers, why are you not protesting that Pakistan’s constitution is no more valid in Swat? And as to PPP, you will also have a fall if you don’t stop corruption. For God’s sake, for your own sake, think about the bigger picture.
Masud want to impose a particular ideology in Pakistan so he shall not halt his attacks, whatsoever concession should be given to him and his companions, including ceasing of drone attacks. Are they peaceful citizen before launching of so-called drone attacks? if not so then it may be a lame excuse to which every conscious person understand well. As a matter of facts, certain international players are playing a nefarious game against Pakistan due to its being a nuclear state. they want to get Pakistan declared a failed state so that they can strengthen their case to make demand for voluntarily defusing off the said nuclear arsenals which we have built after great sacrifices. Therefore, these terrorists to be met with iron hands and they do not deserve any concession if any concession should be given to them they will get a time to strengthen their powers to damage more and more to the country and through their terror they would be succeed to demoralize the nation. If our our nation becomes demoralized then it would be easy for them to impose their fanatic ideology in the country. So back up our forces who fought boldly against the terrorists at Manawan training centre and else where to finish them and to finish their wrong ideology.
One simple question from all of you.
How many of you in Pakistan had ever heard the name Waziristan before the military intervention there??
if you know the answer than you solve half of the puzzle.
that area is one of the most deprived region not only in Pakistan but in the whole world.
the people of that area are very poor but they are extremely patriotic and proud Pakistanis.
how did our successive governments repay them for their unconditional and innocent love for this great country? They repayed them by turning this place into an eternal junkyard.they brought manpower from around the world to further somebody else interest during 80s in this region.the people of this region were suffering then and they are suffering now. nothing has changed for them.
so in such environment its not surprising at all to see the emergence of characters like Mehsud.
If we all know that he is a monster incarnation but I am utterly surprised why do we refrain from saying this in public? If Pakistani authorities can not bring this monster to justice why do not the allow the US authorities to bring this monster to his rightful end. After all we did ask UN to investigate BB’s death, did not we?
Mehsud is just another fraction of the so called extremist network. Why has their work been so successful in recruiting and instilling fear in people of Pakistan? The fact that they are able to get safe haven in this country is shameful. Who is to blame. Its a little unfair to place all the blame on the government (not that they haven’t had a major role in this) but it is our weakness and our lack of understanding of our own religion which has allowed mehsud and others like him to conquer minds. I sometimes wonder if people like Mehsud actually believe in what they preach, would he ever strap on a vest and blow himself up? would he stand before his people and receive 40 lashes or have himself beheaded if he was to every err in his ways? I sincerely doubt it.
This is the result of the social divide that plagues this country. If Pakistan was truly a unified country extremist ideology and foreign militants would never have been able to set foot in this land. God knows if the people of Pakistan will ever come together and say enough is enough we want our lives, our security and our country back or will it continue like this till we break up into little bits.
Mehsud is such a daredevil — is it because he has the backing of military higher ups? Why are all these monsters giving statements,press conferences etc. It must be because they have the blessings of official agents .Otherwise why does Pakistani govt. have problem with letting the U.S weed out these monsters and instead only lets drones kill innocent people and not these leaders.
It is very unfortunate that we Pakistani people are destroying our country ourselves at the behest of enemies of Pakistan and Islam. It is very naive to be surprised about what B Mehsud is doing (killing innocent people) and vying for power. Well this is the order of the day in Pakistan for last 60 years as who ever had a gun or power, killed others , plundered and looted this nation. Killing innocent people is Terrorism , no matter who does it , where it is done whether in FATA , Islamabad or Karachi and no matter whether it is done by state or non state actors.
People will remember Musharraf now!! he was saying very clearly that the biggest threat is terrorism, which is proved now! Even now the so called popular leadership asked people of pakistan to unite against this threat then we will be able to fight otherwise people like Nawaz Sharif, Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Imran Khan and Fazalur Rehman will keep on confusing people on this issue!! For God sake wake up, this fire has reached your houses now. Please stop listening to these ignorant leaders!
i wish president of this Islamic republic will care to read these eye opening comments! or the other leader who can lead long march for judiciary will look into this grave danger to Pakistan. why all their efforts are centered towards their own selfish goals?
How naive to think that just writing on blogs would resolve the problem of Mehsud and his group – or should I say groups.
Pakistan is a country born out of the struggle to keep the faith of the followers of Islam and should allow muslims to be able to freely practice their deen – not just in their personal life – but in community and in the larger society.
Of course – Islam does not mean blowing up innocent people, or disrespecting non-muslims, or women, or our neighbors. However – there is *something* that is causing some people to go to the extreme of fighting their own muslim brothers and sisters. So lets see these people in the proper light – no matter what attire they have on, or the looks they may have.
For me it is plain to see that there people are fighting against a “perception” of injustice. Injustice for not able to safely practice their religion. Injustice for not able to go and help their fellow muslim brothers who are under occupation and oppression in the neighboring Afghanistan. Injustice for not being allowed to help their brothers who are trying to stop the Indian aggression and occupation in Kashmir. and the list goes on and on.
I am sure there are many whose daily life and livelihood depends on supporting leaders such as Mehsud. For those – economic incentives, jobs, better living conditions, schools for their children, health facilities for their families – would move them away.
Justice is at the heart of this issue. Without justice – there can and will not be – any peace!
Abdul Ghaffar
The time has come to unite the whole nation. Our lovely Pakistan is a Gift from Allah & was become independant on sacred month of Ramzan. Until we do not implement a true Islam in our country, we will face this music continuously.
The “Do more” and drone attack and converting it “to our war” policy shall not only bring destruction to Pakistan but the entire world. It shall create more extremists and reactionaries among Pakistani and Muslim youth as well as the tribal area. The best solution is domestic one. We should not care about what others say but should do care about what the people of Pakistan wish? And that is a peaceful and developing Pakistan within Islamic framework and Muslim values. We can bring the entire population under this agenda to establish a very progressive Pakistan without interference from west. There is no doubt that without a free Afghanistan there cannot be a peaceful Pakistan. Therefore Pakistan must stand up against occupied forces and make the world believe for Islamic democratic Afghanistan and make efforts with World community to bring all parties on negotiation table and also strive for occupied forces to leave Afghanistan. Afghanistan should not be left in chaos and for that peace keeping force should be placed from neutral and peace loving countries until a settlement has reached.
It is unbelievable that Baitullah Mehsud and Maulana Fazlulah (Swat) can hold conferences and invite journalist and local people, yet the Pakistan Army and Intelligence fail to know their whereabouts.
I think it the time to say “enough is enough” to the elements like B Mehsud. We as a nation have to get rid of this cancer, although it is already late but still the cure is more likely. We must start supporting our law enforcement agencies and especially our army, our army needs our support and we need their support than ever before. In addition to this we as a nation need to take some bold steps, also need to stop any USA attacks, all operation must be carried out by our own forces. Also we need to close the border with Afghan and ensure no illegal crossing from both sides. God bless Pakistan.
i dont know what type islam this mehsud is promoting. if he thinks that he is avenging drone attacks and american policies by blowing up mosques and attacking on police training centres and all then he should have his head checked or maybe eliminated as he is not at all promoting the cause of islam or pakistan. he is making excuse for outsiders to come and fix the problem which we could not fix it in a log time. he is himself a threat to our national security and we should not bow down to what he wants. the government is not capable enough to fix this problem due to there inefficiency and there internal problems and political point scoring. lets all of us think about this seriously and like a true patriot pakistanis. wake up you all.
All the leaders who say we should talk to the likes of B. Mehsud, what is stopping them from doing this?At is just a game for them as they take or have no responsibilty. Mehsud’s home area is not known for its great wealth so who finances him will all the goodies he has. An average person has a tough time paying his telephone bill but these guys are operating satellite fone!! Who pays the bills?
I think it is fair to say that all the criminal elements have also now joined them. Does Imran Khan not know that 80% of crime like carjackings, kidnappings, extortions etc are carried by masterminds based in the tribal areas? This was even before the Afghanistan’s invasion by the soviets. Masochistically flogging ourselves and not seeing the problem for what it is is not going to let it go away.
It was the taleban who were responsible for the US invasion of Afghanistan by not giving up OBL when he should have been tried for his crimes against humanity. But no, we turned him into a hero without looking at his ideology. So we now reap what we sowed. He and his supporters now want to slaughter innocents in Punjab. Wake up and face the truth.