The problem with what he is saying is that there is no region in Punjab where the militants have taken over areas which they have done in NWFP and FATA. You cannot have an army operation when the militants have not even openly declared themselves.
IF there is this large compound in Bahawalpur then of course there needs to be some military action against this. If there are weapons being transferred from Punjab to NWFP then it should be the border police who are making sure they are not smuggled.
It will be impossible to stop people being converted into terrorists but then not at all impossible to deal with their networks.
As for the provincialist element to the thread its not fair to blame NWFP alone but then again our American masters see this as the main threat.
But one can only blame the person whose views were eing expressed in the article for aking it into a provincalist war. He does come from a political party which "provincialises" and "ethnicises" issues.
There is this strong vocal element of this "Punjabi Taliban" thing constantly going through the media. I do get the feeling people want to pass the blame and score political, provincial points but these so-called Punjabi groups have done to challenge law and order where they have operated or allegedly had camps - ie Southern Punjab, Kashmir, Hazara. NO villages have been taken over, no women wipped publicly. It does not mea that there are none but the media should nt try sensationalising stories.
I remember reading a article in a newspaper in Pakistan 3 months ago which stated that the whole Punjab Taliban issue started to blow the Seraiki province debate out. It reminds me of the whole taliban in Karachi issue - up until now nothing has really come about.
For those who thought the end of the Taliban occured after Swat, you were optimistic. This will take longer. Suicide blasts will occur for years to come. The Taliban got a good drubbing in Swat, lets hope they get some more, wherever they are based.