The US was right with its ‘do more’ mantra but we were also right with our hesitation to do more. Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf threw his lot with the US. His U-turn and precipitous offensive in Waziristan infuriated the Taliban. Some, not all, turned against Pakistan. Gen Aurakzai as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor saw dialogue as the only answer to the problem of terrorism. He felt confident that he would be able to convert Americans and Afghans to his point of view. In the meantime the army stayed in Waziristan and Swat, sustaining casualties in the absence of firm orders and rules of engagement. Musharraf’s lassitude and Gen (r) Parvez Kayani’s ambivalence impacted army’s morale.
Then came Gen Raheel Sharif. He took over the army command with a clear mind. His sincerity and forthrightness impressed everyone who seems to have put all their money on him. The domestic and regional landscapes hold promise of a healthy change. The narrative of military antagonists now sounds shallow and toothless.
Maj-Gen (r) Askari Raza Malik
Rawalpindi
