Whither Libya’s unity
Libya now supposedly has two governing umbrellas. One is that of embattled leader Muammar Gaddafi, which is writ-less and unsubstantiated, whereas on the other hand are the reigning rebels who have struck a chord with the European powers for legitimacy.
British Prime Minister David Cameron’s gesture to the rebels to open up a transitional government office in London is not only unprecedented but devoid of legitimacy from the canons of international law. So is the largesse of many of the European and regional states’ who rather than finding a durable solution to the conflict in Libya, have endowed the opposition’s Interim National Transitional Council diplomatic recognition, and are willing to pump in millions of dollars and pounds sterling. That will resultantly be adjudicated with flow of weapons and equipment, thus furthering the fire of hatred and warfare in northern Africa.
Is this the solution for which Britain and France plunged themselves into the crisis? If so then the mandate bestowed upon them by the United Nations Security Council to ensure safety and security of the civilians in Libya stands tarnished. The European powers and the NATO literally overstepped the mandate, and have pushed the war-weary country on the brink of disaster.
So what we see now in Libya is a mess of the highest order. Pro-Gaddafi forces and the rebels are busy playing cat and mouse for encroaching upon territories, mindlessly stampeding over hundreds and thousands of dispossessed people.
It paints a horrible picture of bloodshed, one with a personalised flair, further weakening the edifice of the state. This is why it is becoming increasingly difficult to assess the true situation in the country, especially in the backdrop of Gaddafi resurfacing after a break of three weeks. The dictator’s video clip that shows him iron-faced and firm in utterance is a moment of deep introspection for London, Paris and the NATO forces.
What was the rationale in carrying out 6,000 sorties over Libya since March? Libya’s infrastructure and armed forces are in the doldrums, and the country has literally no governance. If Cameron’s obsession goes ahead then Libya stands truncated and torn into parts. This is no service done to the oil-rich North African country in the name of consensual diplomacy. It’s neo-imperialism at its worst.
Suffering the backlash
The reprisals have started. The first major attack directed at the Frontier Constabulary (FC) outside the paramilitary force headquarters in Shabqadar resulted in the massacre of at least 80, the majority being FC personnel.
The Tehrik-e-Taleban Pakistan (TTP) has already taken responsibility for the attack that occurred in the Charsadda district in Pakistan’s northwestern province of Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa. Having successfully carried out the first revenge attack for what they call the ‘martyrdom’ of Osama bin Laden, the TTP has vowed further reprisals — in fact bigger attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Though attacks of this kind were expected considering the reverence Bin Laden commanded among extremist groups globally, this does place Pakistan in an even tighter spot. It is currently facing a backlash domestically and internationally as questions concerning its complicity and/or incompetence are furiously being hurled at the government and the security establishment. The attack on the FC cadets is likely to start another gruesome chapter in the country that had barely come to grips on security after quelling terror attacks from indigenous Taleban and other Al Qaeda affiliated groups.
Despite the Pakistan government and the United States denying Islamabad’s role or any involvement in the Bin Laden operation, a heavy price will have to be paid. The TTP’s promise to deliver this should not be dismissed. Neither is it the only party that is likely to seek revenge, the parent Al Qaeda itself retains operational capability to carry out such reprisals.
Strangely though security levels must have been put on high alert in Pakistan following the operation, those measures failed to prevent the Charsadda suicide attack. And considering the magnitude and the success of netting the large number of targets, the attack can be termed highly successful. Preventing suicide attacks is understandably difficult despite security measures having been taken. However, it does raise alarm over the limitations to protect and safeguard targets in the security establishment. More alarming for the state would be a return of attacks targeting civilians on the lines of a few years back when Pakistan was subjected to countless such attacks countrywide.
The spread of fear and terror among the population and a demoralising of the security forces contribute to the success of such attacks. This is the time that Pakistan must bolster its counterterrorism means and assure its people that such elements that aim to destabilise the country will be crushed.
Moreover, it should speed up the investigation that has already been launched concerning the Bin Laden operation and remove any apprehensions pertaining its involvement. This is not the time to keep silent.
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