THE killing of nine soldiers in an ambush in North Waziristan Agency on Sunday and the beheading of another two who were captured in a follow-up raid on a militants’ sanctuary underlines the need for strong action. The military has chosen not to confront the North Waziristan-based militants, citing the ‘tacit understanding’ reached with a number of commanders. There was also a belief, though not publicly expressed, that left to their own devices these militants would not attack Pakistan/Pakistani forces and focus their energies on Afghanistan. But, as an agreement concluded with Baitullah Mehsud by the Musharraf-led military on Sept 5, 2005, in South Waziristan demonstrated, militants have used such ceasefires only as an opportunity to regroup, rearm and renew their fighting capacity.

Last month’s Bannu jailbreak was a reminder of the scant respect these marauding hordes have for the state and the law of the land. The jailbreak and the latest murders must also serve as a wake-up call to naïve, even if well-meaning, politicians who have been linking Taliban attacks here to Nato supplies passing through Pakistan en route to Afghanistan. If that were true, what would explain Sunday’s attacks when Nato supplies have now remained suspended since November’s US forces attack on the Salala check-post which left over two dozen Pakistani soldiers dead?

These militants seek to establish an Islamic emirate in Afghanistan, the tribal areas and wherever else they can through force of arms. Nobody wishes a bloodbath in North Waziristan. The terrain is hostile and the enemy battle-hardened and savage. But a half-a-million strong army ought to be able to create and hold space to facilitate a dialogue. Negotiation must undoubtedly be the ultimate aim but can yield results only from a position of strength. It is often argued that North Waziristan is now home to armed zealots of many origins: Uzbeks, Chechens, Arabs and of course Afghans, many of whom have been here for over 20 years and even have families. They must be disarmed and agree to obey the law of the land. If they have no place to go, their case for a legalised status can also be considered. But first the Pakistan Army must establish its writ in lawless North Waziristan. If the army feels it’s stretched too thin now to open a new front, as it sees it, it must come clean. Perhaps then Pakistanis will better understand why US drone attacks happen and under what circumstances these might stop. Sovereignty, not slogans, is its own best guardian.