I feel pity for President Asif Ali Zardari, a last minute invitee to the Chicago NATO meeting on Afghanistan’s future. He is going to face a tough audience who are not in a mood to just sit and listen to the promises.

They need to know what actions are being taken by Pakistan to crack down on the militants who are the de facto rulers of its tribal areas.

Pakistan may defend its position as a number of its own soldiers and civilians have lost their lives during the ongoing war on terror.

But as the end result (militants continue to cross the rugged mountainous borders and stage attacks on NATO and Afghan forces) does not justify Pakistan’s stand that it is fighting the militants beyond its capabilities, then what is the solution?

Unless Pakistan realizes what it faces at the hands of these religious fanatics, no solution can be worked out.

These militants are not freedom fighters but are bound by a deviant ideology which not only sanctions but also glorifies the attacks on anyone who either does not subscribe to their views or dares to challenge the same.

Justifying their attacks as a reaction to drone strikes or the presence of foreign forces in Afghanistan may be good enough for Pakistan’s religio-political nexus but does not go quite far enough with the outside world. Pakistan may demand an apology for the Salala check post attack, press for the stopping of drone strikes, propose a fee on NATO containers crossing its territory, but what has it got in return to give back to the world?

If tribal areas continue to be ruled by religious militants, if its religio-political nexus continues to provide them with moral and material support, then it does not matter whether it is 2012 or 2022.

Pakistan and NATO countries should respond to the wakeup call, otherwise, this militancy menace will not hesitate to strike its opponents.
  
Masood Khan, Jubail