The Nation, Pakistan

After Mehsud's Death: Educate the Young

 

"Unless the environment that provides the nourishment for militancy is addressed, the death of Mehsud will be no more than a temporary setback to those challenging the writ of the state."

 

EDITORIAL

 

August 7, 2009

 

Pakistan - The Nation - Original Article (English)

Baitullah Mehsud: The leader of the Taliban in Pakistan, he's thought to have been killed in a CIA drone attack in Pakistan's South Waziristan on Wednesday. But now that he's thought dead, will anything change?   BBC NEWS VIDEO: There are indications that Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud, is dead, Aug. 7, 00:02:08

WHILE the reported death of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan [TTP] Chief Baitullah Mehsud can rightly be claimed a great victory in the fight against the local Taliban, it would be dangerous to conclude that it in any way signals the end of militant extremism in the country. Mehsud was highly dreaded and accused of orchestrating the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, although he denied the accusation. The TTP had, however, claimed responsibility for a number of deadly terrorist attacks inside Pakistan that caused devastation and killed scores of innocent people, including attacks on the Police Training Center at Manawan and Inter-Services Intelligence office in Lahore. He was accused of having established training centers for suicide bombers and recruiting hundreds of young people for the purpose.

 

That there was a dramatic decline in these types of incidents after the army blockaded South Waziristan justifies the accusation. Baitullah Mehsud was the TTP's organizational brain. In December 2007 he rallied a number of disparate militant groups to form the TTP, while in February this year he succeeded in forging an alliance with Mullah Nazir and Hafiz Gul Bahadur, thus forming the Shura Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen [Council of United Mujahedeen] to secure his position before a military operation he feared was imminent. As a thoroughly ruthless man, he frequently resorted to assassination to remove anyone who had the potential to challenge his authority, his latest victim being Qari Zainuddin. His death would be a major setback for militants across the country.   

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

The earlier departure from the scene of Nek Mohammad Wazir and Abdullah Mehsud failed to put an end to militancy. Baituallah Mehsud leaves behind an experienced second and third tier of leaders, thousands of fighters and an apparatus for inflicting terror. The top leadership of the TTP in Swat isn't only alive but has succeeded in saving the great portion of its fighters. Military operations in Swat have succeeded in dislodging the Taliban from major towns, but have failed to eliminate them, with the result that they've dispersed to other areas. There's a possibility of retaliatory attacks to avenge the death of Baitullah Mehsud in the days to come. Therefore, the government cannot afford to relax its vigilance.

 

Militancy has deep roots in our society. Unless the environment that provides it nourishment is addressed, the death of Mehsud will be no more than a temporary setback to those challenging the writ of the state. The government must adequately address the issue of poverty in general and the lack of land in rural areas in particular. It must provide an education that enables young people to undertake meaningful economic activity. An unemployed and disoriented youth is liable to fall victim to extremism and militancy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US August 7, 8:49pm]