‘Zarb-e-Azb is operation that we can both laugh and cry about’
‘I don't think the military has abandoned the good versus bad Taliban paradigm. It is too major a policy shift for military to afford. A change in military's policy has a necessary corollary that it has to improve relations with India,’ says Ayesha Siddiqua.
In an interview with Viewpoint, author of ‘Military Inc’ and noted analyst Ayesha Siddiqua discusses the ongoing military operation in Waziristan. Read on:
What is your personal viewpoint on Zarb-e-Azb? Do you think it should be supported, opposed or ignored?
I'd you allow me to add a third category then. This is an operation that we can both laugh and cry about. Laugh because it is not even worth calling an operation. It is a repeat of Swat or Bajur operations. We are told stories of number of people killed during the operation but none is verifiable. Also doesn't look like the army is doing a BIG operation as is being claimed.
Is it the case that military is serious this time and a new doctrine is taking roots at the GHQ whereby the distinction between the ‘Good’ and ‘Bad’ Taliban will not be maintained anymore?
Why does the question sound like a joke? I don't think the military has abandoned the good versus bad Taliban paradigm. It is too major a policy shift for military to afford. A change in military's policy has a necessary corollary that it has to improve relations with India. Think about it. Why were we historically bothered about Afghanistan? It was because of India or fear of Indian intervention. Has that changed? If yes then who will safeguard Pakistan's interests in Afghanistan? The Afghans dislike Pakistan and so the military opted for Taliban. What has fundamentally changed in the region for Pakistan army to alter its policy? If the fear of India and it's intervention in Baluchistan persists then don't think the military will or has changed its options.
Pakistan used to deny the existence of Safe Havens for global jihadis/Taliban. Do you think that the recent official statements regarding the presence of ‘foreign terrorists’ in fact constitute a confession that yes Pakistan had tolerated, if not offered, Safe Havens to global jihadis?
It's not a confession because the generals say that the proxies are out of control and they live where they don't have the ability to stop. The Uzbek presence is a reminder of keeping the proxies policies gone wrong. When you admit there is also a slight possibility that you will not repeat the mistake but our security establishment continues to do so. We still have Uzbeks hidden in both Punjab and Sindh. I wonder what confession are we talking about.
Media have gone almost silent on Zarb-e-Azb except when it comes to amplifying military propaganda. Even Imran Khan is not talking about drones anymore. Likewise, the HRCP and some noted women rights NGOs have lent support to the ongoing military operation in Waziristan. What has generated this broad consensus? Also, how long will it hold? Moreover, what about the notion, although marginalized, that the operation is counter-productive as it would not address the taproot of the problem [which lies in Punjab/GHQ]?
I don't see a consensus on the operation. In fact, there is no consensus even amongst the liberal left. Some would love to see the military operation and others object. The problem with some amongst the liberal is half of them don't know what they want. Some don't want operation because they see Taliban as the only bulwark against imperialist US. Then there are those that oppose the operation because it is fashionable. However, there are some who understand the fact that there is a basic structural flaw with the operation that the military, which created and keeps militants, is not yet ready to fight terrorism. The state still uses proxies as is obvious from the fact that Jamat ud Dawa (JuD), Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) and Jamaat-e-Islami are in the forefront in providing relief at the camps set up in Bannu for the IDPs arriving from Waziristan. Some camps are even recruiting people for Syria.
Do you think the military can’t see the nexus between the so-called ‘Good’ and ‘Bad’ Taliban or if there are other reasons to ignore the link? How long can it go on?
As long it has its ambitions persist and military feels insecure via-a-vis India, it will continue to keep proxies.