Michael Kugelman - Journalist, Associate Fellow at Wilson Centre

If we define success as dealing a devastating blow to militancy in Pakistan, then the answer is a resounding “no.”

Even if the operation manages to eliminate dozens or hundreds of militants, then this won’t solve the broader problem. Militancy is no longer restricted to North Waziristan or even to the tribal belt—it has become a nationwide affliction that has spread to Pakistan’s cities.

In my view, though, the operation won’t actually eliminate scores of militants. Since this operation has been hinted at for so many months, there’s a very good chance that many of North Waziristan’s top commanders and their fighters left the area long before the troops arrived. All this said, if we define the operation’s success as stopping all the terrorist attacks in the country, then there is cause for hope.

There have been very few terror strikes in Pakistan since the operation began. What I fear, though, is that this is merely the calm before the storm. The operation has scattered militants into other tribal areas or into Afghanistan. Once they regain their bearings, they will likely relaunch their attacks with a vengeance.

Opinion

Editorial

Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.
Concerning measures
Updated 03 Nov, 2024

Concerning measures

The govt must seek political input and consensus on the changes it is seeking to make and be open about its intentions.
Short-lived relief?
03 Nov, 2024

Short-lived relief?

POLICYMAKERS must be jumping with joy. At the close of the first quarter of FY25, the budget posted a consolidated...
Brisk spread
03 Nov, 2024

Brisk spread

THE surge in polio cases has reached distressing levels with a tally of 45 last reported, after two cases emerged in...