Moment of truth
FOR once, and at long last, Pakistanis appear to have woken up to the consequences of the extremism that has been allowed to take root in our country. The reaction to the attack on Malala Yousufzai is significant not just because of its scale and outrage, but because it is marked by something that is depressingly rare — across-the-board condemnation of the Taliban. A handful of voices, even in parliament, have tried to link the incident to America’s role in Pakistan or implied that it was Malala’s own fault. Refreshingly, though, these have been drowned out by an outpouring of anger reflected in the strongly worded condemnation of the attackers in the National Assembly and Senate, the army chief’s resolve against the “twisted ideology” of the perpetrators, extensive media coverage, and civil society efforts from protest rallies to prayers for Malala in schools. For once, the focus is on the threat to Pakistan from the intolerance in its own society, not on devising conspiracy theories, blaming foreign powers or coming up with justifications for terrorist acts.
But where is this near-universal outcry when Shias are killed in Quetta or Gilgit, when mentally challenged or juvenile targets of blasphemy accusations are burned alive or imprisoned, and passers-by die in attacks against security installations? The victims of those acts may not necessarily be children or rights activists, but they are every bit as innocent as Malala. And yet it took the particularly jarring targeting of a particularly brave child to jolt Pakistanis and their leaders out of their doubts about, and desensitisation to, the threat that violent extremism poses to our security and way of life.
Which makes it all the more important to make the most of this moment of national consensus. Parliament has demanded accountability and the army has said it will “fight, regardless of the cost”. But what actions will these words lead to? When anger erupted in 2009 over the video of a girl being flogged in Swat, the next step was clear: a defined set of people had set up a state within a state in a specific area, and it had to be dismantled. This time the next steps are less clear-cut and the enemy harder to pin down, but that shouldn’t become a reason not to take action. The military needs to analyse why its efforts against the Taliban have failed and what is needed next in terms of military action, and where. Politicians and civil society need to prop up the current national consensus against extremism so that it doesn’t die down. This is not a moment Pakistan can afford to waste.
Make the army to defend its boarders, instead of giving up everything for dollars. I don’t know If they are capable of shooting down the drone. And if they are still in Swat, then how come these incidents are happening on a daily basis ? Also, in other parts of the country. I guess they are still practcing their broken english speaking.
We shall wait to see what Pakistan actually does. A lot of words have been expended, some of them very noble indeed. Man is tested when it comes to action. Let’s see.
Public outcry is great but will there be any real action? Are inept and coward Pakistani politicians and a timid corrupt army capable of doing any thing of worth noting? Anything but complete annhilation of Talibans is not an option..
Now the lesson for the whole world is the question, who is a bigger challenge for Pakistan, FATA or India?
The nation is galvanized and asking for revenge. Lock up the apologists and don’t let this window of opportunity go to waste. Taliban know what they have done and the guilt inside them has probably made them week disunited.
Drastic steps are needed to be taken to curb religious hysteria. Foreign hands might be involved to destabilize Pakistan. Our military and intelligence agencies should be instrumental to know where actually the shoe pinches. V as a nation cannot afford such incidents.
One cannot be clearer than the analysis of the Eitorial: this murderous and dark extremism whatever its reason and origin, has to be fully confronted and neutralised NOW without any ambiguity as the first and foremost national interest.
I agree
The brutality of the attack on a young teen aged girl should no doubt be an eye opener to the citizens of Pakistan where regimes after regimes either facilitated or tolerated extremism in the name of Islam. No matter how you look at it, Pakistan is at the receiving end of every fallout of all the terror and the condemnation that extremism generates in its wake. If you want your religion to be respected in this era, it is not terror but tolerance and goodwill that will take you there. The tragedy is that many people who have great respect for Islam as a religion have come around to the firm belief that the loving face of Islam has been hijacked by a terrorist face because extremists have made it clear that they speak in the name of Islam while the silent majority remains clueless as to how to confront such religious hatred.
Too little too late.
I agree. When the girls’ schools were being blown up the mullas did not issue a fatwea against it, nor were there demonstrations against it. Now there are condemnation of the attack against a young girl. No use. The turth is this: Majority of Muslims are cowards, will only protest against the amorphous West because it is safe to do so. Majority of Muslims dare not oppose the Islamists. A minority of Muslims are quite violent (=extremists) and can kill with impunity, like a mafia. I believe that Pakistan should adopt Sharia, expel all minorities and progressive people, and be ruled by a religious mafia. That will end this horror show.
Better to be late than never.
still it is too little too late. Hope my pakistani friends understands.let’s together condemn Drone attacks, Leave this little cute child to recover.
Its never too late. Where there is a will there is a way. The first thing we Pakistanis need to stop doing is being Cynical.
http://www.facebook.com/JusticeForMalalaYousafzaiuk
Please join my page to support the cause. Please remember this is a page where we are working on to setup a peaceful procession in the UK, not only for Malala and her efforts, but to all the innocent Musilms killed everyday. However it is an ode to Malala and her efforts.
This is great! Pakistanis are on path of undoing their past. Need of the hour is a concerted and persistent effort to root out this menace. good luck!
I am glad Pakistan is acting as one force to condemn this attack. Hope this starts a new era in Pakistan against religious extremism.
This is extra ordinary situation. It is war within the country. There is need of extra ordinary judicial system to provide justice without fear on speedy basis. Otherwise, things will likely persists.
It is only for a few days. People will soon forget what happened and Talibaan will continue to terrorize people from all walks of life. They are a violent political organisation and use the name of Islam only for fooling common man.
What we are witnessing today is General Zia ul Haq’s legacy and the legacy of all those who supported him and took part in his rule…Each one of them alive today must be punished severely…and those who are dead must be condemned in strongest possible terms.
I fully support you and your noble views.