Recent attacks carried out by Taliban in wake of upcoming presidential elections again started a series of discussions about Taliban, their supporters and different solutions to tackle this perilous menace. Thanks to the consequences of 9-11, Taliban and other militant organizations have emerged as one of the most complicated and suspicious elements of the history. In media and in public gatherings, different ideas have been presented and thoroughly discussed but still there is not present any person who should claim to have completely understood the problem. It is also a fact that certain realities point to some powerful nations and spy agencies of the world and the region and no one dares to talk about them as one may end up in an eternal disappearance. Who are Taliban? What are their demands? From where they came and how are they getting the support? Why all the military powers and spy agencies cannot control them and so forth?
Last few attacks in Kabul and other parts of country resulted in a great panic. Where would all the people go if the militants came to the city and started destroying each and everything? I have seen some people experiencing the worst of the feelings of insecurity and uncertainty after these attacks. Why not our government and other international powers bring an end to this problem once and forever? Questions still remain and keep circling in the air.
Our NDS, the CIA, ISI of Pakistan and so many other top-ranking spy agencies are working in the region but they have not achieved any remarkable success in bringing an end to this problem. Taliban are thriving, growing in number and expanding in their influence. It was the outcry of our President to sit with them on the table of negotiations. When you sit on the table and talk, you simply admit their existence as a power strong enough to challenge a country, its government, its security forces and millions of its population. Pakistani government is going through the process of talks and Taliban have ordered their appetizer in form of release of their friends. The main course is yet to follow.
Till here, it is quite understandable; there is a force strong enough to challenge the government and force it for talks. It is not something strange; many governments in the world settled the disputes with the militants or the outlaws on the negotiations table. But people get really confused by some of the political experts who talk on television and radio, write in newspapers and share on social websites who claim that Taliban are not a problem at all and they are just the part of a greater game. When they make such a bombastic claim, they also present a number of proofs in this regard. It is for sure that they cannot survive on tens and twenties donated by religious-minded philanthropists or the money collected in a remote village from the villagers as a road tax. There is definitely present a very strong and healthy line of financial assistance for them; God knows from where it is operated and who the sponsors are.
The government and especially the role of security forces was criticized after Taliban were able to target a tightly-guarded Election Commission’s Office twice in two days. In Kabul, where large numbers of security checkpoints are functional, how could these militants escape them and reach to the heart of city with all their guns and ammunitions? Some people even say that these terrorists are transported in black-windowed vehicles and our police have no authority to check them. In the same way, some ministers have also been blamed for supporting these militants and providing them with access to different sensitive points in the city in their protocol vehicles. These allegations are no more a secret now. These words are spreading very briskly in the country and from a small shopkeeper to an educated member of the society, people share the same ideas. In such circumstances, the silence from government and our security agencies is also suspicious. If a common person has developed this feeling, then why they don’t have any sense to feel so and carry out investigations in this regard.
Anyhow, this is a very sensitive issue and lot many people fear of the dangerous consequences if they opened their mouth or jotted it down on the paper.
In past, the conflicts and militancy used to be very simple. There were clear-cut operators, the financers and supporters and it was absolutely clear as what might be the solution of the problem but this Taliban and terrorism issue can be called the most complicated in the recent past. Nobody knows who are they, from where they are supported and who are the allies and foes. In such a bizarre situation, it is also unclear as what might be the strategy to tackle them. The role of governments (both in Afghanistan and Pakistan), spy agencies, our political leaders and international powers involved in the issue are all suspicious and God knows what might be the scene behind the curtain.
There is a generally accepted theory that militancy or public anger resulting in military uprising may be due to social injustice, economic discrimination and the best way to conduct counter-insurgency is to bring these factors into order. But to our bad luck, this old formula doesn't seem to be working either. Some say that the religious inclination of people of the area is the basis of this religious-based military movement but ground realities also negate this idea.
No doubt, the majority of people in the region are sentimental about religion but they were never in position to assemble in form of an organized army and carry out all its operations. An average person can tell that these complicated tasks are far above the resources and potential of the people of the area.
Let’s admit that we are facing a group of ideologically indoctrinated militias that were raised and trained by the powers of the world playing their dirty game on our soil. In most cases, as is the case with TTP (The Pakistan version of Taliban), they have gone out of the control of their benefactors and patrons.
The social and economic problems of our society didn’t give birth to this monster. Rather, this militancy barred the smooth economic expansion and social maturity which is being faced by the countries of the region. No amount of social and economic reform will cause this monster of terrorism to lay down arms, and economic growth is unlikely to deplete it of recruits as it needs some other essential factors more than the large scale of recruits.
Talking of the economy is also like diverting our attention from the problem. The only solution to this problem lies when the governments, spy agencies, security forces, eminent political and social figures and leaders would stop all their links with them. When they will not get any kind of feeding, they will die a natural death and dry up in the air. Until then, we will have to deceive ourselves and keep ourselves happy with all the stupid discussions and speculations.