I WONDER how long the government will push under the carpet an issue that is existential to Pakistan.

The infiltration of TTP sympathisers in the government is undesirable, but Al Qaeda’s insidious penetration into the armed forces is highly dangerous.

They are well-trained, qualified and informed individuals who know the working of the system and when the time comes to switch sides and become a part of the enemy, destroying equipment worth millions of dollars and killing key individuals who are an asset to the organisation.

I am referring to your editorial, ‘A perilous path,’ (Sept 13, 2014) and the letter ‘Navy attack’ (Sept 15).

As an urgent measure, I suggest intelligence agents be inducted into the academy and recruitment training centres and in all the services.

Service personnel must be warned at every stage of their career that they are being closely watched and if found associating with the TTP or Al Qaeda or any militant organisation they will be harshly dealt with.

The law giving them a right to appeal to a civilian court must be withdrawn. This amendment to the army/navy/air force act must be approved by both houses of parliament, because in this lies Pakistan’s survival.

Wg.Cdr (r) Ahmed Shah Jan
Peshawar

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2014