The commander of the American coalition forces in Afghanistan David Barno has sent messages of felicitation to the authorities in Pakistan after the killing of Nek Mohammad who had emerged as the supreme leader of tribal militants. Even during the previous military operations, top American officials had appreciated the efforts of the government of Pakistan for cooperating in fighting the forces of terrorism in its border area. There is however, a lot of skepticism in local quarters about the role of Pakistani state authorities who are blamed for fighting the war of the Americans on Pakistani soil while ignoring its own people who have diametrically opposite views on terrorists and terrorism. Such feelings of alienation are of potentially fatal consequence for a country like Pakistan that needs more cohesion and harmony among its people with regard to issues of national importance.

It is however, also crucial that Pakistan is a partner in the coalition against terror so that it can track down on terrorist elements – whether local or foreign, operating from its territory – failing which it would exacerbate international concerns about the will of its government to eradicate radical elements. So the government has very small room to maneuver between the alienation of the local people and the satisfying of the international community.  So far the government has hardly satisfied the demands of the international world but earned the displeasure of its own people. The authorities have lost the trust of the tribals and the outside world is equally dissatisfied unless all the militants are eliminated which seems unlikely in the short term.

Terrorism is an international phenomenon and its complete eradication through coercive measures is next to impossible. Its ultimate settlement is possible through more and more political and developmental processes/measures that will transform radicalism and rigidity into sophistication and moderation. Of course, this will take time and also demand employment of sustainable resources to change primitive behavior into a moderate and civilized one.

Given internal and external realities, the outcome of fighting the forces of terror in South Waziristan highlights two sides of the same issue.  The state authorities are apparently in full control of the situation in the turbulent agency of South Waziristan – the local and foreign militants are dispersed, open hostilities were ended by 14 June, and Nek Mohammad, the key leader, has been eliminated. However, the killing of the top leader has not diminished the resolve of the renegade leaders. The initial pacific tone of Haji Mohammad Umer when he said, ”we don’t want to fight the army. We want peace with our soldiers. Even if we fight, eventually we have to come around to the negotiating table to resolve our disputes peacefully“, has been denounced by his supporters as cowardice. That is also a clear message for the new leader that softening the tone will cost him the confidence of his supporters and that they feel strongly about vengeance against the authorities. Will the authorities handle this issue more intelligently and adopt measures to placate the tribals so as convert them once again into loyal subjects of the state? The answer is uncertain and lies in the future.  For the present, terrorist acts continue in different parts in the country especially in Karachi where six terrorist acts took place in the past one and half months with links traced to the Wana operation. So its high time to put external and internal imperatives in the right perspective. National interest should be given at least the same credence as the international community’s opinion. This should lead to more balance and a result-oriented policy in South Waziristan.

Coercive measures are not the viable solution of tackling terrorism on a country’s own soil against its own people having wider chances of collateral damage. With coercive measure opponents can be killed but very hard to transform their way of life. To change their way of life more and more sincere employment of local remedies to handle the problem would render tangible results for both the government and also the international community. A very powerful source to completely settle down, as I recommended earlier, the menace of   terrorism or extremism on the tribal and urban front is initiation of developmental works in the tribal area. People need water, power, communication, schools, hospitals and all other basic amenities of life on sustainable basis which will make them oblige to the writ of the state and will say no to their old ways that will ensure the end of terrorism and the likes of elements and behaviors.