Arab News,
Editorial: Priorities
12 March 2008
Just a few days ago, it seemed that Pakistan was on course for political stability. With former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari, co-chairman of the Pakistan People's Party, signing a formal agreement to join in a coalition, the prospect of a workable government took a major step forward. Within hours, however, hopes of an end to instability were dashed in some of the worst terror attacks that the country has seen in years.
The two, obviously coordinated, but devastating suicide attacks in Lahore serve to underline the enormity of the task facing the new government. Up until now, the political mantra in Pakistan has been that the rise of militancy and the suicide attacks that have killed 500 people so far this year are a backlash to the army's iron-fisted campaign against tribal insurgencies and support for the Taleban in fiercely defiant Swat and Waziristan. That has led some pundits to claim that the situation would calm once President Musharraf and the army were removed from power, democracy restored and a new government entered into collaborative dialogue with tribal leaders in such regions.
The Lahore bombings make it clear that the situation is going to be anything but that simple.
Despite a massive public rejection of Islamist parties in last month's elections, the militants' ability to kill and maim is as strong as ever. Moreover, they are clearly unmoved as to whether it is the army or elected civilians in power in Islamabad. As far as they are concerned, both are illegitimate. Only they, the self-appointed guardians of morality and law, have the right to rule.
That is the scale of the challenge facing the new government. It has to rise straightaway to that challenge — and just as quickly to the no less devastating scourge of inflation.
The danger is that instead of tacking terrorism and prices, the new government will spend far too much time and effort trying to remove President Musharraf from office and work out a new constitution. Musharraf is the one issue on which the PPP, the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and the majority of Pakistanis are united. But important though the issue is, removing him is not going to stop the bombers or end inflation, let alone end corruption or attract investment. These are the prime issues on which the people of Pakistan will ultimately judge the new government.
The only way of stopping the militants is by draining their support base. That means working with the tribal leaders. It is not going to be easy and will require massive investments of time and money. The new government has, however, a towering advantage in Waziristan and Swat. It is not the Musharraf government. The new coalition must not squander that advantage. A new and lasting Waziristan Accord has to be (and can be) forged — as soon as possible. Equally, the removal of Musharraf must not be used to paper over the cracks that divide the coalition. That would simply strengthen the terrorists' position and, even more dangerously, fuel resentment against the entire democratic process.
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7&section=0&article=107760&d=12&m=3&y=2008
Editorial: Priorities
12 March 2008
Just a few days ago, it seemed that Pakistan was on course for political stability. With former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari, co-chairman of the Pakistan People's Party, signing a formal agreement to join in a coalition, the prospect of a workable government took a major step forward. Within hours, however, hopes of an end to instability were dashed in some of the worst terror attacks that the country has seen in years.
The two, obviously coordinated, but devastating suicide attacks in Lahore serve to underline the enormity of the task facing the new government. Up until now, the political mantra in Pakistan has been that the rise of militancy and the suicide attacks that have killed 500 people so far this year are a backlash to the army's iron-fisted campaign against tribal insurgencies and support for the Taleban in fiercely defiant Swat and Waziristan. That has led some pundits to claim that the situation would calm once President Musharraf and the army were removed from power, democracy restored and a new government entered into collaborative dialogue with tribal leaders in such regions.
The Lahore bombings make it clear that the situation is going to be anything but that simple.
Despite a massive public rejection of Islamist parties in last month's elections, the militants' ability to kill and maim is as strong as ever. Moreover, they are clearly unmoved as to whether it is the army or elected civilians in power in Islamabad. As far as they are concerned, both are illegitimate. Only they, the self-appointed guardians of morality and law, have the right to rule.
That is the scale of the challenge facing the new government. It has to rise straightaway to that challenge — and just as quickly to the no less devastating scourge of inflation.
The danger is that instead of tacking terrorism and prices, the new government will spend far too much time and effort trying to remove President Musharraf from office and work out a new constitution. Musharraf is the one issue on which the PPP, the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and the majority of Pakistanis are united. But important though the issue is, removing him is not going to stop the bombers or end inflation, let alone end corruption or attract investment. These are the prime issues on which the people of Pakistan will ultimately judge the new government.
The only way of stopping the militants is by draining their support base. That means working with the tribal leaders. It is not going to be easy and will require massive investments of time and money. The new government has, however, a towering advantage in Waziristan and Swat. It is not the Musharraf government. The new coalition must not squander that advantage. A new and lasting Waziristan Accord has to be (and can be) forged — as soon as possible. Equally, the removal of Musharraf must not be used to paper over the cracks that divide the coalition. That would simply strengthen the terrorists' position and, even more dangerously, fuel resentment against the entire democratic process.
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7&section=0&article=107760&d=12&m=3&y=2008
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