Nothing to Worry About!

It wasn't too late for us to see the upsurge of PTM in the aftermath of failing US efforts in Afghanistan especially, while it was a very good job done by our security forces to have recently embroiled the terrorist networks in the most daunting operations Zarb.e.Azb and Radd.ul.Fasad. Indeed the political leadership has to be hailed for taking a U turn on their usually dastard attitude. Last but not the least, resilient men and women of the nation deserve a candid round of applause for their commitment and faith in the law enforcement agencies (LEAs).

The rise of PTM is not bevildering. As there is always a niche, people like Manzoor Pashteen and Ali Wazir love to exploit for their own gains, so this time also we should not be worried about the causes of recent upheaval of PTM. Everything has a reason and unfortunately for a weak society, like ours is, situation is generally quite ripe for exploitation by radical mindset.
People might be skeptic of the huge attention this faction is getting from media across the world, but it is just one phase out of many which cannot be attributed to their acceptance by masses. After all, people ain't that imbecile as the others might think.

When the gentleman named Manzoor Pashteen came to limelight, he tried his level best to denigrate the purposeful victories of the armed forces in stalling the tumultuous and grisly waves of terrorism. His allegations were as baseless as were his linguistic shenanigans. Still he is able to muster some support from the locals but with each day passing, he will have his due and he might be dispensed from the job of making hem and haw over coming to the negotiating table.

Analysing the current situation brings out following:-
A. PTM and it's stalwarts are being projected out of proportion by media from abroad especially US and India, with the presupposition to increase pressure on the already hard pressed political and military leadership.
B. The slogans of virile nature are orchestrated to draw more and more support for the hawkish misadventures in probable future. Innocent minded but affected people are the easiest quarry to the illegitimate but appealing farrago.

C. LEAs, especially Army is the target of rebuke since the faction knows that Army is the linchpin in keeping the nation together against all odds.

Probable Responses may be viewed as under:-

A.  A swift but carefully engineered print-cum-social media campaign may be designed to counter the possibility of masses being affected. In no way should the campaign be so devised to smack military orientation; rather diamond must cut diamond, per se.
B. LEAs should redouble the efforts in winning hearts and minds of the general population and should handover some of the normalised areas to the civilian administration. Undue haste, however must be curbed in the desire to make speedy transfer of power. Counter narrative must build with immediate effect, keeping the responses down to the level of a layman.
C. The nation stands by the Army; its a fact well known. Where it is a much appreciated reality, it is also a matter of concern. Army should make all out efforts to reach out to people in the far flung areas of KP and Balochistan and make endeavours for show of power in support of the loyalists while the tone must be assertive enough to mire all efforts against the country and the Army.

With the changing situations, it is to be seen which way the wind blows. However, given the trust the nations reposes in the Army and the sacrifices all LEAs have given, it is quite evident that any misadventure would prove stirring up the hornet's nest and everyone, whether civilian or military personnel, will fight alike against the perpetrators.

Pakistan Zindabad