Re: Terrorists storm Peshawar school, Scores of students killed
No we could not have done that ages ago. These animals were being protected by tribal leaders. Taking action against these animals back then would’ve meant that killing scores of innocent people who were ordered and brainwashed to act as their human shields. Pakistan army in last few years had spent considerable time and energies, and had shown great patience and diplomacy to woo the tribal leaders and winning their undivided support. It has helped them to not just separate This is one the main reasons they are still standing with Pakistan army despite the operation entering its seven month.
Coming back to your second point, I’m afraid there is very little truth in you presumption. It seems you are trying to over simplify a very complicated course of warfare that’s being fought in NWA just to place an unreasonable sense of responsibility on Pakistan armed forces, for the loss of civilian lives on both side of the conflict. The criticism is unfair and unfounded. I’d like to the think that nation is over falling for this sense of guilt and emotional blackmailing – these arguments may have made some sense at one point in time, sometimes enough is enough.
But just to briefly counter your presumption, there are indeed troops on the ground in NWA conducting door to door raids and offensive. Army carries out surgical to cause maximum damage to the target, clear the area for the troops to take their positions. An entirely normal and effective military practice, and such practices are often accompanied by proper intelligence findings. So it is not the case carrying out mindless hit and run aerial strikes for past six months, if that’s the agenda, Pakistani army is beyond capable of flattening the entire FATA region in matter of few hours.
I’m sorry neither myself nor many Pakistanis agree with this cold hearted notion that if ‘scores of Pak soldiers die - so be it’. No. Why should they needlessly die when their lives can be saved? This is incredibly simplified view of warfare which has little to no relation with practicality. In real world and in real wars, military casualties matter! They can change the course of war. They can demoralise your force and put you on the defensive front. No army likes to lose its troops, and Pakistan army is no different. As far as NWA is concerned, all women and children and civilians have evacuated the area, whoever is left behind and still fighting is a terrorist.