Source: ET
However, it is not the job of the military to make these calculations. It is the job of the civilian leadership in a democracy to take ownership and frame a holistic policy within which the military plans and operates military strategy and tactics. Unfortunately for Pakistan, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has failed to provide resolute leadership to the military operation.
Earlier, the same leadership had failed to provide determined leadership to the dialogue, despite a mandate from the entire spectrum of Pakistan’s political leadership through an APC. Since the APC, the government dithered and fumbled on commencing the dialogue while the prime minister traipsed around the globe — to what intent, one is still not clear. Despite a reluctant and belated start to the dialogue, progress was made. The TTP were fractured, as the PTI chairman had been predicting repeatedly when recommending peace through dialogue. The Mehsud tribe separated from the Fazlullah group, seeking dialogue. The TTP were rent with fissures but the government failed to exploit this advantage. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), which was bearing the brunt of TTP terror, saw suicide attacks fall drastically. Again, the government failed to move further in the dialogue process with those who now actively sought talks. It was as if there was a shadowy puppet master tightening the government’s strings every time some sign of progress in the dialogue became apparent.
Categories: Asia
However, it is not the job of the military to make these calculations. Well I strongly object to this evaluation. Signals that ex COAS did not undertake the operation in 2011 was also based on human crisis grounds. Army does not operate in the air. If they could force start of operation also could have forced civil government to properly arrange for resulted crisis. Even Pakistan Army itself if competent enough to manage it provided financial support is placed at its disposal. To me both stake holders are at fault. Still there is time to realise it and rectify the mistake failing which might result in catastrophic consequences.