A consensus has been made of purging South Punjab of increasing militancy. After the meetings between civilian and military leadership, it was decided to eliminate increasing extremism and safe heavens of terrorists in the region.
There were reports about the existence of a deadlock between the civil and military leadership over the launch of operation in Punjab. Reportedly, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led government was not ready to accept the fact that banned outfits were operating in Punjab, and moreover, government was reluctant to endow the Rangers with policing powers. There are a large number of militant groups that are operating from south Punjab for a long time under the nose of law enforcement agencies.
There were reports that after operation Zarb-e-Azb terrorists were finding other safe areas to reunite. It was being reported that extremists were reuniting themselves in the Southern Punjab. Reportedly, over 60 banned groups are active in Punjab, but the provincial government has failed miserably to check the spread of such outfits.
By allowing operation in Punjab it seems that government has realised the dangers associated with providing a living and operating space to those persons who are involved in terrorism. It was a long-overdue crackdown that should have been initiated much earlier. The army operation in Punjab is a long-awaited decision and must be appreciated. Military action to curb terrorism must continue relentlessly with full force until the elimination of all terrorists from our country. As fighting against terrorism is shared responsibility, it is time for all of us to stand united in our resolve to defeat terrorism once and for all.
It is time to defeat terrorism from country once and for all.
