The Air Force did well to fight the militants and stop them from causing any major damage to the air base.

The fact that the militants could not penetrate the defence and were defeated sends a good message to the planners and executers of these attacks on our armed forces: the message is simple: ‘We are prepared no matter when and with what force you come’.

Can we now as a nation decide who our real enemy is? Is it not time that we decided that this is our war and not a war thrust on us by the Americans?

Unfortunately, the military strategy adopted by our armed forces has been too open-ended. For the last 10 years the army has set no realistic goals and elaborate time limits for meeting the targets which could translate into comprehensive victory or defeat.

If we have to succeed in the war against terror the army has to review its military strategy to fight against the Taliban. It must include in its mission statement the appropriate and correct effect that is: ‘dismantle and destroy Taliban as a force’. The army cannot afford to allow the war on terror to amble along aimlessly and without clear-cut purpose because the militants will not stop targeting its interests and with every attack and even partial success fingers will be raised on its professional abilities and incompetence. This the army cannot afford.

Destroying the safe heavens in Fata is central if the army is to make any headway in WOT. The Swat operation cost Pakistan army $2.5 billion.

The army has spent years diagnosing the correct way of fighting this war. Politicians have been confused and divided whether to call or not to call this their own.

The attacks like the one on Karma are only a reminder to the armed forces, the public and their elected representatives that this war is very much our own and we will not win it as long as we do not fight it.

M. ALI EHSAN                  Karachi