[TalibanSwatter]

Daily Times
Second Editorial: NWFP police

General Ashfaq Kayani has taken a welcome initiative. The army chief said that he would give a blank cheque to NWFP’s IG police for equipment, weapons and ammunition required for policing the province. This is not only a good move but also shows the army’s commitment to fight militancy. Unlike his predecessors, General Kayani has changed the military’s previous policy vis-à-vis the militants. In the past, General (retd) Musharraf has been guilty of pursuing a dual policy. He adopted the policy of running with the hare and hunting with the hounds. On the one hand he assured the world of his cooperation in the war on terror but on the other hand he turned a blind eye to the activities of various jihadi organisations. As a result of his policies, the extremist forces in the country grew stronger and now pose the most dangerous threat to Pakistan’s security and stability.
Thanks to Mr Musharraf’s flawed approach to security matters, the police in NWFP had been marginalised. It has been reported in various quarters that conscientious police officers who were doing their job in countering militancy in the province were often stopped by some higher authority. This smacked of complicity with the militants. It is a matter for satisfaction therefore to see that a completely different policy has now been adopted and it can be hoped that the police will receive every encouragement to carry out their duties without fear or favour.
The NWFP police has been playing a commendable role in countering terrorism. Many police officials have laid down their lives in the process. The decision to give the police proper training and state-of-the-art weaponry is a timely move. It will not only serve to strengthen the force but also provide incentives for the demoralised policemen. The military has realised that after the military operation ends, it cannot stay in those areas forever and has to withdraw at some point of time. As a follow-up of the military operations, the civil administration and the police have the responsibility to ensure that the militants do not make a comeback. By giving the police the morale as well as financial boost that it needed, General Kayani has demonstrated that this time around the civilian democratic government and the military are on the same page when it comes to eliminating terrorism. *