Taliban have lost moral ground
Eschmall Sardar
The nation this time is in one voice against extremism, militancy and
terrorism. People across the country have welcomed the Prime Minister’s
decision to call out the army for a decisive action against the
militants in Swat and adjoining areas. They have offered their fullest
support to the government as well as the security forces to eliminate
the elements of hate and complete the operation to the end. This unity
and unanimity amongst the nation has been seen after a long time. Until
recently the general public was divided over the issue of Taliban, but
the blatant violations of the Swat agreement and subsequently the
Nizam-e-Adl Regulation 2009 exposed the real face of the Taliban, which
annoyed not only the people of Swat and Buner, but also the general
public. Swatis and Buneris for the first time demanded action against
the Taliban.
As in one of my articles I have mentioned that the Taliban movement has
nothing to do with Islam or ideology. They are illiterate and jobless
people. Not a single Taliban belongs to a well-off family. In Swat three
types of people reside i.e. (1) kissan (peasants or working class, which
are Gujjars and Kohistanis), (2) Kashran (nominated people by jirgas who
help implement orders), and (3) Mashran (advisors, lumberdars or
deputies of the Maliks). Above them are Maliks who rule. The Taliban
leadership forcibly employing the jobless youth and paying them monthly
salary from Rs. 3,000 to 8,000 along with arms and weapons. For money
they do everything which they are ordered to do as the saying goes you
can win “the Pakhtoon by bribe and Baloch by tap”. From where this money
is coming, from where these weapons are pouring in – this is not a
million dollar question, which has no answer. Obviously there is foreign
backing and support of all kinds.
These Taliban have not only defaced Islam or Shariah but they have also
destroyed the Pakhtoon culture. Pakhtoons are traditionally hospitable
and respectful. But the Taliban have demolished this concept. They
deceive, cheat and betray – contrary to the Islamic code of ethics. They
in the name of talks hold hostage government officials, police or FC men
and demand ransom like thugs and kidnappers. They raid mazars of pirs,
have desecrated Rehman Baba and Khush-hal Khan Khattaks tombs and kill
the spiritual leaders – basically for the sake of looting money from
their abodes. They have threatened the promoters of art, culture,
language, poetry, etc. Above all the women, girls, female workers have
been barred from playing their due role either within the four walls or
under the circumstances working for the cause of humanity. If male
doctors are not allowed to treat female patients, from where would the
female doctors or nurses come to save their lives? The Taliban have
established “Shoba Aroosa” (Wedlock Department), particularly in
Charbagh, which conducts forced marriages of girls with the Taliban. The
head of Shoba Aroosa gives three days notice to parents of the girl and
threaten of consequences if not turn up with their daughter. Any Taliban
– either already having one, two or three wives, or unmarried – is
wedded without the consent of the girl and the parents comply with
perforce. Only a Taliban commander or leader, if killed in the fight
against security forces, is offered janaza – all other common dead
fighters are buried without janaza or other Islamic rituals. Many ask
why the Taliban fighters wear masks and hide their faces, while Islam
prohibits such a practice, kindly refer to Surah al-Baqara’s Ayaat
number 11 and 12. If it is because they do not want to have photographed
as it is forbidden in Islam, then why Muslim Khan and others hold press
talks in front of TV cameras. Many of them must have got their NADRA
cards and passports with their photographs. The only reason seems to be
that the Taliban have a number of foreigners in their ranks and files
who want to hide themselves from public.
This fact has not yet been reported as yet that not a single Taliban
family has offered their sons for suicide bombing. All the children or
boys used for suicide blasts were either picked and isolated from
relative families, or kidnapped from other parts of the provinces and
Afghanistan. They are either forced, allured or injected with ‘suicide
injections’ or used in remote-controlled suicide vests. The Prime
Minister, in his nationwide television speech, has rightly pointed out
that the militants not only violated the accord, attacked security
forces and targeted government buildings but also started taking hostile
action against the people, the civil society, women, children, schools,
colleges, hospitals, public places, businesses and other outlets. They
exposed themselves against Pakistan, its existence, its constitution,
its judiciary and courts. Under such circumstances how far should have
the government and the military showed restrained. Chairing the Corps
Commanders conference on May 7, the Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq
Parvez Kayani, vowed that the army would employ all resources to ensure
a decisive ascendancy over militants. The operation has been launched
and the President has pledged the armed forces would be called back only
after they flushed terrorists out of Swat. The operation may not be easy
and it may take time but the time has come when the nation should show
patience and complete resolve against the elements which want to take
Pakistan hostage at gunpoint and put the country’s future at stake.
The Taliban are in panic, they received the first blow as they have lost
the moral ground. The locals have refused to become their human shield;
they are migrating in thousands to safer places because of the barbarism
perpetrated by the Taliban. They are fully cooperating with the security
forces and want the militants flushed out of their area. On national
level all the political parties are condemning the Taliban with a loud
voice. The people from across the country are ready to help settle the
internally displaced people and join hands with the security forces to
fight against the terrorists. Political observers have termed it the
first defeat of militants. And one is sure, with such a great national
unity, the final defeat of the elements of hate is not too far. God
bless Pakistan. |
