Who Is Really Insulting Pakistan Armed Forces? CNN…or…

During an interview with CNN, DG ISPR was asked whether Pakistan military was capable of going after every terrorist in Pakistan. The Army spokesman responded in force: “I would say this is an insult to the Pakistani people and Pakistani forces if you ask this kind of question. When I say we’re very clear and we are capable of dealing with them.” Let us take the Major General Asim Bajwa at his word. Who are we to doubt Army’s insincerity? But let us ask the question whether the insult was coming from CNN or from somewhere else

Gen Bajwa obviously considered the question whether Pakistan was capable of going after every terrorist to be meant as an insult to Pakistan’s armed forces which have sacrificed most in the entire world in the war against terrorism. However, while the question was delivered by the CNN reporter, was it really her who was insulting Pakistan’s armed forces?

In the short time following the devastating attack against APS Peshawar, Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq gave a speech saying that Pakistan was run by “US slaves” and that “JI wanted to enforce the just system of Caliphate and Shariah“. This was only one day after he was given VIP treatment by Army itself.

Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Aziz infamously refused to condemn the 16th December attack and non-bailable arrest warrant was issued. However, the extremist cleric remains free and despite all evidence that an armed wing of TTP is being operated from Lal Masjid, no one is taking any action against the culprits.

Maulana Pir Mohammad Chishti led a demonstration supporting terrorist attacks in France.

Strong statements have been given about “zero tolerance” policy against any and all militant groups, but Jamaat-ud-Dawa has been found holding Jumma prayers led by global terrorists and even after reports that Hafiz Saeed’s jihadi group was going to be banned (again), they are organizing massive rallies in the urban areas.

And the list goes on and on and on.

CNN’s reporter might have asked the question, but the question was raised by the defiant actions of the religious extremists and jihadi groups who continue to publicly thumb their nose at the military without fear of reprisal. As long as these extremist groups are openly spreading their message of violence and hate, they are telling the rest of the world that they do not believe our armed forces are capable of rooting out terrorism. That is the real insult.