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PrintTHE death of a man who waged war against the Pakistani state and was responsible for the slaughtering of thousands of innocent men, women and children should have come as a great relief to this strife-torn nation.
Instead, our political leaders are mourning the death of Hakeemullah Mehsud in a US drone strike describing the incident as an “attack on peace”.
From being public enemy No.1, the chief of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has virtually been turned into a hero after his inglorious death. A mass murderer who ordered the beheading of our soldiers and claimed responsibility for killing a Pakistani general just a few months ago, is now being elevated to the status of a martyr.
Instead of seizing this moment of opportunity to dismantle a fragmented terrorist network, a frightened political leadership has shamelessly prostrated itself before the militants. As a result, the extremists and their allies are now dominating the public narrative despite their crimes against the people of Pakistan. It is an extremely dangerous situation for a country facing the existential threat of spiralling violent extremism. A narrow self-serving leadership is taking the entire country towards a suicidal path.
With few exceptions, all political parties have joined the chorus that the fatal drone strike on Hakeemullah was a conspiracy to scuttle an illusory peace process. While the interior minister has called for reviewing relations with the US, an agitated Imran Khan has threatened to block the Nato supply line in protest. The bravado may just be public posturing, but the irresponsible rhetoric could lead to some unintentional consequences, plunging the country into more dire straits.
It is a pity that even the killing of young women and children in a suicide bombing in a crowded Peshawar bazaar or the massacre of Christian worshippers in the church bombing has not shaken the great Khan as much as the death of the leader of the militant outfit that perpetrated those heinous attacks. He even refuses to accept that the Taliban were behind those bombings despite their endorsement of the attack.
Seemingly, all the tumult is about the timing of the US action and the violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty once again. According to the interior minister, the attack was carried out hours before a three-member delegation was to meet the TTP leadership and extend to them a formal invitation from the government for talks.
Notwithstanding the questionable legality of America’s drone strikes on Pakistani soil, it is hard to believe that the targeting of the TTP chief was part of a plan to sabotage the talks as alleged by our political leaders.
One should not forget that the TTP leader was on the US’s most wanted list with a bounty of up to $5m on his head. He came on the US radar after a video showed him talking to Hummam Khalil Abu-Mulal al Balawi, a Jordanian doctor with Al Qaeda connections who blew himself up inside a CIA operating base in Afghanistan’s Khost province, killing seven intelligence operatives in 2009. The incident also confirmed his close ties with Al Qaeda.
Soon after, Hakeemullah claimed to have trained Faisal Shehzad, an American of Pakistani origin who was involved in a failed attempt to detonate a car bomb in New York’s Times Square.
Hakeemullah had narrowly escaped several drone strikes in the past three years. He was also reportedly injured in one of them that kept him out of action for several months. Significantly, the fatal attack on Friday came a couple of weeks after the US forces had snatched from the Afghan intelligence agencies Latif Mehsud, a close confidant of the TTP leader.
It is quite plausible that the information gleaned from Latif might have led the CIA to Hakeemullah’s hideout. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has confirmed that American officials had informed him that the TTP leader would not be spared if tracked down.
For sure, the drone campaign has remained a major irritant in the troubled relations between Islamabad and Washington. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also raised the issue during his meeting with President Barack Obama in Washington last month. Indeed, Pakistan’s objection to the violation of the country’s sovereignty is fully justified on legal and ethical grounds. There are no two views about the negative political impact of the collateral damage caused by the drone attacks.
But it is also a fact, that the drones have eliminated many high-value Pakistani militants running their terrorist operations from North Waziristan. Prominent among those killed in the last two years are Waliur Rehman, who was deputy chief of the TTP, Ilyas Kashmiri, Qari Hussain, Qari Zafar and Badar Mansoor. They were all masterminds of attacks on Pakistani security installations.
Pakistan has also decided to contact the five permanent members of the UN Security Council on the killing of Hakeemullah in the latest drone strike. The move will certainly make Pakistan a laughing stock and only weaken the country’s case on the drone issue.
Leave aside other countries, Islamabad cannot even convince its closest ally China on the matter. The militant sanctuaries in North Waziristan are a cause for concern to the entire international community. It is certain that the way Pakistan is dealing with the issue of terrorism will find no takers.
It was questionable from the outset whether the government’s peace efforts could succeed given the uncompromising attitude of the TTP. In his last interview to the BBC, Hakeemullah had rejected any dialogue under the Pakistani Constitution, saying that it envisioned a secular democratic system.
Now with his death that may lead to further fragmentation of the TTP, the possibility of any purposeful negotiations has become even more remote. But the danger is that the current state of policy disarray may provide a conducive environment in which the militants can revitalise their activities. It is perhaps, the most critical point in the country’s struggle against the rising militant threat.
The writer is an author and journalist.
zhussain100@yahoo.com
Twitter: @hidhussain
Comments (53) Closed
Very true analysis, but I am afraid it will fall on the deaf ears and blind eyes of desperate negotiation seekers.
In hype of confused and deceptive narratives in media, political arena and government, a thought provoking analysis; based on reasoning and rationality which have been so scarce lately.
I regularly read the Pakistani papers . I am reasonably aware and hopefully have a little intellect . I had great respect for Imran Khan . As an intelligent , self made successful man I had expected greater rationality and sense of what is good for Pakistan from Imran Khan . His mindless defence of the Taliban and blind opposition of everything American is strange and difficult to understand . He is a populist rabble rouser and definitely not a person who can lead .
Not sure when will the country learn from its mistake. As a human being we should learn from 3 different ways, 1. learn from others mistake, 2nd by correcting from our own mistake and lastly stop making mistakes from learning of knowledgeable people. Unfortunately, all 3 ways are being discarded and hence the state of affair.
Writer seem a member of sectarian group that are against TTP on sectarian basis. Hakeemullah Mehsud and TTP are Pakistanis, their differences with state should be solved through discussions.
US proved a rogue state having double standards, encouraged Israel for aggression and subjugation of Palaestinians that continued till yet even overlooked Security Council resolutions to vacate occupied land and free to people of Palestinians.
If TTP have differences with Pakistan government on its foreign policy it should be seen in the light of Sectarian group Dharna in Karachi, burning buses, and forced shut down of shops, arson, firing and killing of innocent people. Who killed 12000 innocent citizens in Karachi during last five years tenure?
Totally agree with that, I don't see how otherwise balanced people are having unclear thoughts on this matter. It would have been ideal if he was eliminated by Pak army, i'd love hear their half hearted excuses then.
Yet another example of why democracy should not be encouraged in third world nations. the leadership that the democratic process throws up in undeveloped nations is patently neech - vile, base, inferior, lacking character and duplicitous. Instead of being grateful to the Americans for killing the mass murderer, the political parties are lamenting this very auspicious outcome. May this be the fate of all who kill innocent civilians to further their ungodly purposes.
Why Pakistanis are so ignorant and equally in competent in dealing with terrorist. At least the last interior minister was bold e ough to admit Pakistani apparatus in eliminating the rogue militant . The present minister is putting up a horrible show of his job. Pml a d Pti have no direction and I will not be surprised that this govt may be removed the way they are acting is compounding the problems of this unfortunate nation.
Thank you for the putting it starkly. He was a villain to the core and soul. Good riddance. Shame on leaders who call him shaheed or praise him with total disrespect to thousand of shaheed Pakistanis whose lives ended by violence unleashed by this murderer.
It is the very nature of Pakistan's leadership to have transactional relationship with one and all. No leader is really bothered about who dies in Drone attack as long as they themselves are not attacked. They are keeping Drone issue live and increasing rhetoric only to raise stakes sothat they can bargain harder with USA to get more money for themselves. If you doubt this argument then please refer Raymond Davis case.
Excellent analysis, as usual. Zahid Hussain is one of Pakistan's most rational observers of the rise of jihadi groups.
Villain - is the right reference to this man. Though, some would like to project him as a great Pakistani leader. Believe it or not we do live in leadership vacuum in Pakistan.
And the JI is calling him a "martyr"...
@mazharuddin: Saying hakemullah was Pakistan matter is a lie. US didn't attack him as he caused deaths and destruction to pakistanis but because he was a international criminal and unlike Pakistan who ignores death of Pakistan to protect such parasite, US goes any where in the world to get justice for the death of Americans and their interest
Your biggest enemy is your own political class. They are determined to destroy your country otherwise, how can such an absurd conversation take place in the public sphere.
Author id absolutely correct in saying, take the opportunity to dismantle the terrorists.
@mazharuddin: Have you seen any sheep with its throat in a wolf's jaws, successfully escape from it by initiating dialogue and negotiating terms? Better not flatter yourself by posing an anti-american nationalist.
Hakeemullah Mehsud was a mass murderer and had targeted innocents in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Americans are not like Pakistani leadership who are apologists for bloody terrorists. If anybody kills Americans, they will go after him no matter what the cost and how long it takes and will gladly bear the consequences. Imran Khan's empty bravado is laughable. If the Americans cut off aid and influence the IMF not to fund the deficits, the country's economy will collapse. Five years have gone by and the murderers of 26/11 in Mumbai are roaming free in Pakistan. Wish we, in India, had the capability to take out the villains responsible for that mass murder.
Instead of being relieved of the onerous responsibility of ridding the country of a scourge, various political parties are falling over each other hailing the dead man "a martyr". What is the message they are trying to convey? That it is all right that he has been responsible for the death of hundreds of innocent people and a few soldiers? That those killed (since HM is a "martyr") were all Pakistan's enemies and traitors? The fact is that all the parties are indulging in escapism and shroud their sheer cowardice in mere inanities. It is nonsense to say that HM's death has scuttled "peace talks", which all have only been talking about and has never been on the point of ever taking off.
What you and other 'critics' fail to clarify is what now? US killed hakeemullah, we thank him, endorse the killing, then what? Baitullah was killed, did peace come? hakeemullah took his place. hakeemullah killed, will peace come, 'sajna' to take his place. and so on. In the process, many more are radicalized and join their swelling ranks, many disgruntled innocent civilians i.e. youth as well. Fighting has failed, even the mighty US has failed despite its huge army, superior technoloy and drones. How can we hope to win this fight? For long term interest, we will have to compromise, give in a bit, at leats try to talk. Cntinuing down the path of waging a war is just going to cost us men, money and innocent lives.
@Hemant: your respect for Imran is misplaced!
When all the Political parties are reading from the same page, there is no need to guess who is the Pied Piper playing the tune. Does love for Islam make people blind or unable to distinguish between a gruesome murderer and a martyr ? The Bus is heading for a terrible crash, unless the driver is changed immediately.
A nation deserves the leaders it elects. I am dismayed but not surprised.
Good riddance to a criminal and terrorist. Pakistan is better off without the likes of Mehsud. Instead of whining, the government should focus on taking out the rest of these criminals and demonstrate some credibility to the world.
The killing of a mass murderer is a cause of celeberation. I, like other Pakistanis, hate the US govt for its double standards. But I am all in favour of drone attacks which are targetting and killing like flies these scums of the earth. It is a great pity that innocents are getting killed too; but that does not bother the US. Now HM has gone straight to hell, where he belongs. Shame on JI to call this scum a Shaheed - this is what you expect from JI whose members are half-educated, stupid, and cruel people who only have their own agenda of power and the benefits that accrue from it. Imran Khan is hardly much better and is also shows his incapacity of being a leader when he is prepared to have talks with a group who do not believe in the Pakistan constitution and the Pakistan State and the right of people to choose their own leaders through democracy. I really am extremely disappointed with PTI.
Can you translate this piece into Urdu and print it? Most of our people cannot read English and the right wing propaganda is the only thing they have access to. The need is for them to hear an alternate narrative. Hakeemullah Mehsud was a fitna monger and an enemy of Pakistan. His death, as per Sharia would have been a beheading. Too bad that he is being cast as a hero by our right wing media and Urdu publications.
It's a shame how this terrorist is being glorified. Who needs external intervention,when we ourselves are the biggest enemies of our country. We don't recognise our heroes and our villains and that is the problem. I am glad that this terrorist is dead.
@mazharuddin: As long as you are convinced that Hakimullahs of the World (Pakistan) are reasonable people and are capable of having a reasonable and a rational dialouge, Pakistan will keep having people on the streets killed and maimed without any reason. No outsider including the West or the East need to plan or actually harm Pakistan. They can always wait for Pakistan to Self Destruct. I am certain you call your self a True Pakistani Patriot, and you are not the only one, there are Imrans and Maulvis to give you company. I am sorry to state that future does not look hopeful and I pray to almighty lord to show light to all so that Pakistan may escape the inevitable fate.
He should have been sent to the gallows long ago. Since, we were unable or unwilling to do that, lets thank that invisible pilot who helped us in achieving that result. We have been beggars for far too long now. This is the result. On a side note, we should be thankful that the armed drone technology is only with the US. If this becomes common, we would have several nations sending out drones to our airspace to get the guys they want..
This column is a grim reminder of the horrible undertones of our societal narrative, i beg to fall on the wayside here as the truth remains unspoken even when so much has been deliberated towards making things go right ,the wrongs we do somehow fail to justify our rights. Pakistan is in utter negation to what it was formed on. My country is in need of desperate help from such frivolous ,anti-human , Islam hating war mongers.
@Shridhar Subrahmanyam: "Wish we, in India, had the capability to take out the villains responsible for that mass murder" - or the necessary support needed to "take out the villains", from Pakistani journalists, the Pakistani Government and the Pakistani people in public forums such as this Dawn comment board.
Roger
Bravo! We need more journalist like you.
@mazharuddin: So you are Jammati
Seems to me that in order to offset the government's ridiculous stance with regard to terrorists, perhaps thousands of Pakistanis who are smarter need to take to the streets in peaceful protest and get a lot of media coverage for it. Perhaps that can then reach others who are uneducated or too strongly swayed only by what they hear from the government and others who do not condemn the terrorists.
If allowed the religious parties ( and PTI ) would honor Hakimullah Mehsud with Nishan - e- Haider.
This analysis indicates there is a wide-spread sympathy for terrorism. Politicians change their allegiances where ever the public sentiment seems to be. That is why, Mehsud who claimed to have killed many soldiers and generals as well as civilians is elevated to a martyr. The Americans were temporarily kicked out over Salala incident in which 24 Pakistani soldiers were accidentally killed.
@mazharuddin: Sadly this website is bombarded by indian trolls, Pakistanis seem to be abandaoning it.
You are right, do we need to come on streets to let our voice heard by monkeys sitting in the parliament?
I agree with the article, this man was evil and the nation should not make a hero out of him!
Finally someone says what I've been thinking ever since I heard Ch. Nisar mourn Hakimullah's death. Thank you author.
Hakeem Ullah Mehsud
Well said.
Pakistan should deal with internal conflicts itself come what may. America's drone attacks cannot be justified in any way. It does involve killing of innocent people in large numbers. If Pakistani government was willing to negotiate, it was a positive move for our nation's stability. Both parties might have agreed upon terms and conditions that could've been no drone anymore. I see most of people talking in favour of US invasion in Pakistan. Does it really make any sense to your intellect? Do you see it happening anywhere else in the world? Afghans shagged their pride and now they are finding a way to somehow stay in south east Asia.
A well deserved death. The Pakistani Armed Forces, the political leadership and the public at large should be grateful to the United States for doing what our armed forces and the intelligence could not do in all these years. He died a death he rightly deserved. He is no way a "martyr." Thank you US for getting rid of this menace!
Very rightly described, I hope our politicans have the time to go through this well analysed article.
"Instead of seizing this moment of opportunity to dismantle a fragmented terrorist network, a frightened political leadership has shamelessly prostrated itself before the militants"
Politicians feel the sentiments of the people and act accordingly to have their support (votes). This means / indicates the Taliban / TTP has many many & many sympathizers . For them Islam / sharia is more important than Pakistan. This situation frightens.
Imran Khan, please return to cricket and help coach Pakistani team which needs you badly at this time. Your political skill has done no wonders and you are a total disappointment to youth and others after you have sided with Mehsud and declared some childish actions. Please grow up, the world is not a cricket field.
Its very important for a nation to understand who is their enemy,Hakimulla was a person who was actually more than a enemy, but it is shameful for us that he was killed by others.Actually he was killed in response of peshawar killings if the sons of Chaudhry Nisar and Imran Khan was killed by talibans in Peshawar blasts then their opinion will be different. We are facing shortage of leaders or people who can understand normal things around us. If we can start talks with taliban there will be no result at all it is the thinking of those who wanted to waste the time and more deaths of muslims.
Freightened shameless political leadership is right description.
@Tahira: Agreed, I hope the Great Khan gets the time to read this well analysed article.
@sabeeh omer: Dear if you're thanking others for it then be ready for them to intervene in matters even further.
The writer completely ignores a point that clapping is done by 2 hands. Just like innocents being killed by taliban, drone strikes and army operations have killed scores of innocents in the tribal areas too, and guess what, the PAKISTANI state is responsible for both of them. Simply ignoring the facts and portraying oneself as innocent will not take us anywhere. I completely agree with Imran Khan that we NEED dialogue with these people. Thats the only way to end this blood shed. We need NOT compare how many civilians have been killed, because each side has blood on their hands.
History tells us that humans start a war, they bomb each other, kill each other, at the end there is a talk in a room and that ends the war. This war hasnt been ours. had we not allied with the jews and USA, the taliban would not have anything against us. All Pakistanis want is to get out of this war, we dont want to favour the taliban, and we dont want to favor the US. This will bring peace in paksitan, So i think it s great that they are holding talks with the taliban and they should not back off from the peace talks.
I would endorse Bilawal Bhutto's statement about JI and say a loud Ameen.