By Mushtaq Yousafzai
The confusion surrounding Operation ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’ arose after it was mentioned during an Apex Committee meeting chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif.
Opposition to the operation grew due to fear and uncertainty among the people, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), about details such as when it would start and in which areas it would be conducted.
Political parties like JUI and PTI exacerbated these concerns despite lacking detailed information. Ironically, these same parties had previously supported military operations, such as the 2007 Swat operation under the JUI government.
However, Operation ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’ differs significantly from past operations. Senior military and government officials have confirmed, that it will not be a military action, and the general public will not be affected, nor will there be any displacements.
Yet, parties like PTI, JUI, and Awami National Party, known for rifts with the establishment, politicised the operation’s announcement. They propagated negative narratives to advance their political agendas. These political parties protested that they were not taken into confidence regarding the operation, even though they were also not consulted about previous operations.
The issue lies in the failure of political leaders, journalists, and media to investigate and report accurately. Despite clarifications from the Information and Interior Ministries, misinformation spread, falsely portraying the operation as a military initiative, which ideally should not be the case. Social media spreads misinformation, causing people to believe unverified news.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the situation worsens due to limited resources for law enforcement. Securing the Afghanistan border is important, but blaming Afghanistan alone for terrorism isn’t fair.
Combating terrorism is a shared responsibility of the state, government, and civilians. If military operations alone were the solution, terrorism would have ended long ago, necessitating a different strategy.
Moreover, amidst inflation and other pressing issues, renewed terrorism would further strain resources. Politicians must set aside differences and collaborate effectively to eradicate terrorism.
