A FAMILIAR setting with a familiar message: the high-level security meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, a first since the military announced Operation Raddul Fasaad, has produced a joint statement of resolve by the military and civilian leaderships to eradicate all forms of militancy from the country. Specifically, the statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office claimed that the state will continue with “full might” the “offensive against terrorism and extremism in all its forms and manifestations”. At least two points need to be reiterated. First, “full might”, while necessary and important, must also be applied in a lawful, harmonious manner. The aggressive and expansive counterterrorism measures envisaged under Raddul Fasaad will take the military and civilian security apparatus deep into communities across this country’s cities and towns. Already, there has been an outcry over alleged ethnic profiling in Punjab by the security apparatus. In fighting terrorism and militancy, the state must employ legitimate and lawful strategies. There is no question that the long war against militancy must be fought vigorously. But it must be fought in a manner that will leave state and society in a more lawful, democratic place. In defeating terrorism and militancy, the values and principles that the state is built on and the rights of law-abiding and peaceful citizens will have to be protected.

Second, where is the counter-extremism component of the plan? From the creation of Nacta to the drawing up of the National Action Plan to the language in which Operation Raddul Fasaad is being rolled out, the need to fight extremism has been recognised but virtually nothing has been done. Indeed, there appears to be little understanding of how extremism is injected into society. The official plans to combat extremism that do exist are often backward-looking and focused on madressah reforms and old modes of disseminating hate speech. But in the age of the militant Islamic State group and increasingly technologically savvy Taliban networks, the fight against extremism will have to be fought both online and in the physical world. A genuine, believable counter message will have to be crafted too. Militant propaganda is relatively clear; much less so is the message of inclusivity, tolerance and regional peace that must be spread in Pakistani communities. An unequivocal rejection of armed ‘jihad’ and the need for a Pakistan at peace with itself and its neighbours is the message that must be embraced by the state and spread in society.

The civilian and military leaderships are doing the right thing in attempting to show a unified front. But true civil-military cooperation will only manifest itself when the priorities and policy choices of both sides are included in the decisions taken. The civilian legislative apparatus has been pushed into overdrive to once again grant the military extraordinarily judicial powers. Is the military willing to listen to policy inputs on Afghanistan and India?

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2017