LONDON - The recent audacious attack on one of the most heavily fortified military compounds in the world sent out a clear message of intent from the TTP. Conscious that their massive defeat in Malakand was just a prelude to their forthcoming extermination in Waziristan, their final gambit was to launch a suicidal bid to embarrass the Army on its own domain.
The participants in the raid knew full well that they would not survive the engagement - a clear indication that the only battleground the TTP believe they can still compete on is the psychological one.
After the Army’s remarkable success in Malakand, the morale of the troops has been sky high. For the first time in years a sense of quiet confidence has been gathering in the nation’s consciousness. Aware that the tide of terrorism has finally turned, the nation has been expectant as thousands of troops circle Waziristan, poised to smoke out and eliminate the foreign backed rebels once and for all.
With polls showing that the Pakistani nation is overwhelmingly supportive of the Army’s campaign, the TTP know that the game is up. Hence the escalation in suicide bombings. The GHQ raid was the crescendo in a series of terrorist outrages targeting innocent civilians this past week. One can almost smell their desperation.
This most recent attack was specifically a last ditch effort to achieve two objectives. The first was to demoralise the Army by striking at the heart of the Army establishment on the eve of the Waziristan campaign. The fact that the attack would never succeed and that only the perimeter defences of the GHQ could be breached means less than the sheer audacity of the strike itself.
Second, it was an attempt to strengthen the resolve of TTP cadres in Waziristan by demonstrating that the Pakistani Army is not invincible – that the success in Malakand will not necessarily be repeated. This will prove to be wishful thinking.
The terrorists and their foreign pay-masters will find that their pathetic attempts to break the fighting spirit of the Pakistani nation and her Army are doomed to spectacular failure. The scenes of death and destruction have only further strengthened the peoples resolve.
All the TTP have succeeded in doing is to ensure that in the decisive battle in the rugged hills of Waziristan, it will not just be the brave officers and infantrymen of the Pakistani Army striving for victory – but 175 million souls too. The TTP are not long for this world.
Pakistan Zindabad.
Atif F Qureshi PKKH Editorial Team and www.PakDestiny.net
Posted on
Sunday, October 11, 2009
by Atif F Qureshi