Terror attacks pose serious threats to peace and stability in Pakistan.

The growing terror attacks across the country especially in Lahore and some cities in the NWFP have created a strange critical situation in Pakistan. Most of the people are of the opinion that the suicide attacks and the other terrorists activities in Pakistan are a direct reaction of the military operations against Taliban in Swat and the tribal areas. Now South Waziristan Agency has also come under aerial strikes of the jet fighters, which is called a first phase of the military offensive against the Mehsud tribe.

Some people also predict that the notorious private security agency of the US government known as “Black Water” now called as “Xe” has a hidden hand behind all these traumatic terrorists activities, but this is not yet clear from government side. Apparently Taliban in Punjab having affiliations with banned Tehreek Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have reportedly claimed responsibilities for the terror activities in Lahore and the GHQ.

The terrorists apprehended or those killed in the attacks on GHQ and Lahore made it crystal clear that they were Punjabi Taliban. Taliban in Punjab or in the tribal areas have posed the same threat to the country and there is no difference between them. They are feathers of the same bird and have the same mentality.

Government high officials like Rehman MalikRehman Malik, interior minister, after terrorists foiled attack on GHQ said that the attackers had a direct affiliation and links with TTP in South Waziristan Agency, adding that military offensive was inevitable there to flush them out from the soil of Pakistan. I think his comments were premature. That is why the NWFP provincial government’s spokesman Mian Iftikhar Hussain Shah had demanded that Swat like military action should be taken in Punjab to crush the heads of the emerging Taliban there.

The government has now acceded the fact that some splinter groups of Taliban were also active in Punjab and they had their bases in Rajan Poor etc. if Taliban in South Waziristan or in any other parts of FATA are a threat to the government similar is the case with Taliban in Punjab. They are not less dangerous.

The government should not adopt a double standard even with regard to Taliban and other militants if the ruling coalition wishes to maintain unity among the nation. Strategy can be different to deal with them one by one sternly, but it would never be in the national interests to raze the whole of FATA for a few Taliban and let loose those who are active in Punjab. This could also give an impetus and incentive to the feelings and emotions of nationalists if the army or the coalition regime led by PPP adopted a dual policy with regard to militancy.

Why are Taliban bent upon the killings of the innocent citizens of Pakistan, target the army and other government officials? Are they not Pakistanis or then why have they resorted to terrorism in Pakistan? Is Pakistan not an Islamic country of the Muslims? Until and unless we as being Muslims and Pakistanis don’t try to find answers to these queries, the basic problem could not be solved.

Iam personally of the view that US forces occupation of Afghanistan has led Pakistan to this situation. It is without any doubt that former army general Pervez MusharrafPervez Musharraf pushed the country to the brink of destruction after he surrendered to the US with one phone call from Washington. If supposed Pervez Musharraf had not aligned Pakistan with US in the alliance against Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, Pakistan would not see or face this bigger annihilation.

Pakistan joined an alien war against the Muslims in Afghanistan. Pervez Musharraf supported the US forces in Afghanistan to topple Taliban led regime. The same Afghan Taliban and Hizbe Islami of Hekmatyar are now busy in fighting against the US led NATO forces. Taliban and Hizbe Islami have reportedly pushed the US and NATO army soldiers to the mouth of death. And this is clear from the statements of the US and NATO Generals that they are fighting a lost war in Afghanistan.

On the basis of the aforementioned arguments it is still a ripe time for the government in Pakistan to part ways from the so-called war on terror because we have paid a high and irreparable price for this alien war, which is not our own. By parting ways with the US in the war against terror in Afghanistan, Pakistan could protect its borders, sovereignty and citizens from further bloodshed.

The US government is not a sincere friend of Pakistan. The Pakistan army, the nuclear program and the Islamic identity of Pakistan are three thorns in the eyes of the US establishment. It will be our simplicity to further trust the US government that by Kerry Lugar bill the US wants to eliminate poverty, illiteracy and joblessness from Pakistan. Kerry Lugar Bill is in fact a noose, which would suffocate our throats to stop our oxygen. Why not our rulers are able to take bold steps to legislate in the best national interests of Pakistan to prove that we are a sovereign nuclear nation.