Why defeating Taliban is vital

PAKISTAN : STABILITY

It will surely mitigate the age-old predicament of separatism


There is lot said about India’s closest but deadly neighbour Pakistan. Apart from its internal conflicts, economic doldrums and social unrest, growing separatist movements in several provinces are also a reason for instability. Movement for separate states has its roots since 1950s. Separation of East Pakistan (currently Bangladesh) in 1971 is the first outcome of it. The last decade has been at its peak with innumerable severe demonstrations witnessed in several provinces. There was agitation seen in Sindh over Government’s discriminatory policy of resource allocation. Pakistan saw marches, protests and demonstrations in Balochistan. Emergence of Ataullah Mengal, an exiled Balochi who popularised the concept of separate Balochistan as recently as 2004 proved the relevance of urgency. There were debates on whether Punjab should also be given status of an independent state. Tough there were internal discriminations which were responsible for separatism, there were external interventions too. Pakistan's Senate Committee on Defence blamed British Intelligence for illogical interference, support and aid to Balochi separatists. The US military lieutenant colonel Ralph Peters reiterated on several occasions that North Western Frontier Province (NWFP) should be separated from Pakistan and included with Afghanistan. CIA and Mossad are also allegedly said to have links with Balochi separatists.There is also a strange co-relation between separatism and military regime. Military has ruled Pakistan for over half of its six decades of democratic history and every time, it had to pay a huge price. Pakistan lost Bangladesh during General Yahya’s regime, Siachen during Zia-ul-haq’s regime and lost faith of Afghanistan during Musharraf’s presidency. But, there now seems to be some hope. Though separatism is not a history but as democracy is gradually installing after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and central political parties are overshadowing popularity of regional parties along with their weak separatist agendas; it can see some light of unity. The more it closes towards victory against Taliban in the Swat Valley and across the NWFP; more people are joining for the cause of Pakistan than the cause of their provinces. And as the country is in the final stage to launch a full-fledge military operation against the main Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud, it seems to mitigate Pakistan’s age-old severe predicament of separatism, both psychologically and physically. Breaking the necks of Talibans will indirectly also destroy the confidence of others with similar intentions. History also testifies the fact that foreign economic and military aid can only provide temporary relief to its woes unless there is strong intention to eliminate Talibans, install democracy and impose centralised, indiscriminatory policies. Perhaps, for the first time in history, Pakistan seems to be on the right track but, can it finally make it?