The toll of war
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Editorial, The News International, Pakistan
Saturday, May 23, 2009
We are now hearing of plans to rapidly extend the current military operation into Waziristan, and possibly the areas around it. Tensions are mounting in the region in anticipation of hostilities and tribes seem already to be deciding what side to take. Fierce fighting meanwhile continues in Swat while the militants have agreed to move out of Lower Dir. This time round, the operation has consistently seemed decisive and well planned.
However in all this we still do not know what the civilian toll is. Both local and international human rights groups have warned the conflict has inflicted immense suffering on non-combatants. The fact that the Taliban continue in some places to use them as human shields adds to the risks they face. There has also been a widespread destruction of homes and crops. IDPs remain concerned over the impact this will have on their lives and their livelihoods in the future. At present there is no neutral account of how many residents of Swat and other places have been killed. The time has come for this bleak figure to be put on record. Perhaps a parliamentary commission needs to be established to look into the issue. What is also required is an all-out effort on the part of the military to minimize civilian casualties. The ISPR has assured us this is being attempted, but we do not know how successful such efforts are. Perhaps more now needs to be done to examine this issue and address it at the highest levels. The fact is that it will have an impact too in determining how people look at the conflict which for the moment continues to rage and what legacy it will leave behind once the bombardment and its aftermath is finally over.
Source
Saturday, May 23, 2009
We are now hearing of plans to rapidly extend the current military operation into Waziristan, and possibly the areas around it. Tensions are mounting in the region in anticipation of hostilities and tribes seem already to be deciding what side to take. Fierce fighting meanwhile continues in Swat while the militants have agreed to move out of Lower Dir. This time round, the operation has consistently seemed decisive and well planned.
However in all this we still do not know what the civilian toll is. Both local and international human rights groups have warned the conflict has inflicted immense suffering on non-combatants. The fact that the Taliban continue in some places to use them as human shields adds to the risks they face. There has also been a widespread destruction of homes and crops. IDPs remain concerned over the impact this will have on their lives and their livelihoods in the future. At present there is no neutral account of how many residents of Swat and other places have been killed. The time has come for this bleak figure to be put on record. Perhaps a parliamentary commission needs to be established to look into the issue. What is also required is an all-out effort on the part of the military to minimize civilian casualties. The ISPR has assured us this is being attempted, but we do not know how successful such efforts are. Perhaps more now needs to be done to examine this issue and address it at the highest levels. The fact is that it will have an impact too in determining how people look at the conflict which for the moment continues to rage and what legacy it will leave behind once the bombardment and its aftermath is finally over.
Source
Labels: Swat Operation, Taliban, Terrorism, Waziristan
posted @ 9:54 AM,
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