Thanking the Taliban

With the sort of turmoil in Pakistan and the grave security risks, it was a relief to the entire country when Youm-e-Ashura passed without any major incident of terrorism. However, this led to our often comical interior minister passing yet another statement which made people wonder if Rehman Malik is fit enough for the job of or not. Speaking to reporters, Malik, aside from appreciating law enforcement and intelligence agencies, extended a note of thanks to the Taliban "for their co-operation in ensuring peaceful Ashura processions" throughout the country. It is common knowledge that security agencies maintain a communication channel with the militants using their internal co-ordination mediums and human intelligence. Even if there was a tacit pact with the militants in which they had agreed to let Youm-e-Ashura pass in peace, this should have been confidential information, not meant for the public. At a time when Pakistan's credibility is at an all-time low and we are already running out of our supporters, such irresponsible statements that too from a top-most government official, are quite irresponsible. Perhaps an urgent counselling session or a crash course in the art of public speaking is desirable. This was not the first time Malik made such a blooper while talking to reporters. He has previously been guilty of mentioning Star War references in the PNS Mehran incident, followed by blaming Google Earth for helping terrorists plotting attacks. Contrarily, Malik also spoke about utilising the same software to nab militants. Perhaps his most famous misstatement was when he put the blame of a majority of the targeted killings in Karachi on embittered wives and girlfriends. With such a flawed record of public statements, he must re-evaluate his public utterances because his is the official word. But this statement, legitimising the extent of power militants hold to undermine any security plans officials may have made, undercuts the good work being done by our security and intelligence apparatus. His gratitude to the Taliban sends an extremely negative signal, which could demoralise the security personnel who put their lives on the line in the face of onslaught by these perpetrators of violence. By sharing the success of securing Ashura processions with the militants, Malik has devalued the sacrifices of all those policemen and soldiers who gave their lives for our security. The day Malik made the statement, neighbouring Afghanistan suffered a deadly sectarian attack which killed 59 people. With allegations of the Kabul bombing blamed on Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a spokesman of which has claimed responsibility for the attack, it is inevitable that more questions will be asked in light of the statement given by Malik. Rumours have already floated around alleging institutional support for the LeJ and possible state collusion. But above all, it is very important that government officials are instructed about the nature of statements they give out in public interest. It is not possible to police everything that is being said, but it would not go amiss that senior officials, such as Malik, make such insensitive and ill-advised errors which raise fingers at their credibility. Taking account of the situation while considering the stakeholders - in this case the public and the security forces - it is important to keep their morale high, instead of thanking the monsters which have kept the Pakistani society under a blanket of fear. Copyright Business Recorder, 2011