Militants feel the heat and surrender

IN the wake of successful operations Rah-e-Nijat and Rah-e-Raast, the menace of terrorism, which was assuming dangerous proportions, is now under effective check and the situation in the affected area is fast returning to normalcy.

The entire world community is now appreciative of the comprehensive and decisive operations launched by Pakistan Army to eliminate the threat, as is evident from the latest statement of General David Petraeus, who has acknowledged progress made against Al-Qaeda in FATA.

Though there are still instances of terrorism and militants continue to strike targets in various parts of the country, their frequency has dropped and it seems that their strength is dying down. The success was achieved because of the united stand of the nation to ward off the danger at all costs and this resolve could not be shaken despite the fact that people of Pakistan have offered unparalleled sacrifices. Top leadership of the militants is constantly under pressure and loss of successive leaders have demoralized them and there are reports that their leaders are on the run for safety. Many of them have reportedly fled to Afghanistan while others are hiding. The surrender of a key militant commander along with twenty of his associates in Mamoond tehsil of Bajaur Agency is reflective of the fact that militants are finding it difficult to find any refuge. This is because local population has turned against them and raised Lashkars to fight them out. Arrest of several important Taliban figures also bears testimony to the fact that the law enforcing agencies were tightening the noose around their neck. A few days back Mullah Baradar was arrested from Karachi while there are also reports of the nabbing of one of the ten most wanted Taliban commanders Maulvi Kabir. We hope that with effective coordination and continued pressure, the law enforcing agencies would soon be able to restore normalcy in all the troubled areas.