Daily Times Editorial June 1, 2013

Drone attack fallout The fallout of the drone attack that killed the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP’s) second-in-command Waliur Rehman has followed the expected trajectory. There are condemnations, some adventurism, much shuffling of feet, prevarication, even silence. While the TTP has confirmed the death of Waliur Rehman and appointed his successor, Khan Saeed, alias Sajna, they have vowed revenge for the death of the ‘martyr’. The TTP holds the Pakistan government (and military establishment) responsible for the death of Waliur Rehman. Therefore we can expect intensified attacks on the security forces, citizens, and anyone else within range of the TTP’s indiscriminate terrorism. Khan Saeed, or Sajna, is a redoubtable replacement, allegedly the mastermind behind the Mehran base attack and the jailbreak in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that freed 400 prisoners in a daring raid. While Waliur Rehman’s death is being widely considered a heavy blow to the TTP, it will definitely complicate further the already dubious chances of a peaceful solution so dear to the incoming PML-N and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) leaderships. There is an ingenious ‘campaign' in the press to paint Waliur Rehman as a 'moderate' who may have been central to the peace talks effort, but ‘moderate’ hardly fits a man wedded to the violent overthrow of the Pakistani state in favour of a medieval regime such as the Afghan Taliban imposed in their country for five long years. US President Barack Obama’s speech the other day can now be reinterpreted to mean that although ‘signature’ strikes that led to civilian casualties were being abandoned, concrete intelligence that led to dangerous commanders such as Waliur Rehman are very much on the cards. However, concerns are being voiced that this policy shift may be exploited by the terrorists through the increased use of ‘human shields’ to avoid drone strikes. While the so-called ‘mediator’ for talks with the TTP, Maulana Samiul Haq and the Jamaat-i-Islami have as expected condemned the drone strike and the former has made the case that the peace effort of which he was to be a central part has been sabotaged by the drone strike at the behest of the US, Imran Khan has taken the cake. During the election campaign, one could be forgiven for thinking that Imran Khan’s rhetoric about shooting down drones was campaigning hype. But now reports say he called incoming prime minister Nawaz Sharif to demand that either the new government stop drone strikes through talks with Washington or shoot down the drones. Imran Khan time and again shows his immaturity where statecraft and national interest are concerned. He makes these hyperbolic statements without a thought for the consequences. Does he know the result of any attempt to shoot down, let alone succeed in shooting down, a US drone? Is Pakistan in a position, if it ever was, to take on the US? While recovering from his injuries in that unfortunate fall during the election campaign, Imran Khan is advised to think before he speaks. Pakistan can only negotiate with the US on drones, not carry out any adventurous actions such as suggested by the PTI chief without incurring severe retaliation. In addition, he is quoted by a PTI spokesman as saying “innocent people” were killed in the drone strike! This is one instance where no innocent life appears to have been lost as collateral damage. Therefore this can only mean Imran Khan regards Waliur Rehman and the other commanders of TTP killed in the strike “innocent”! Either this is sheer ignorance or blind adherence to pre-conceived notions of what the TTP and its ilk are all about. A refresher course for Imran Khan on the genealogy and character of the TTP may be in order. Nawaz Sharif hopefully has matured sufficiently to ignore such puerile emotionalism and engage with the US once installed in office to review the drones tactic. But adventurism is hardly a viable option.