Pakistan faces a bigger battle

It is not a question of ‘if' but precisely ‘when' Pakistan's military and security forces will finally declare a successful end to the ongoing campaign against Taliban militants in the country's troubled South Waziristan region.

But once this campaign has ended with military units seizing control of the area, the next major task will be consolidating a hard-earned victory.

Spreading the benefits of this victory to other parts of Pakistan will be the long-term challenge. In many ways, the job which follows the military victory may be far more demanding.

The political and economic development of South Waziristan and surrounding areas, which have long been safe havens for Taliban militants, will be central to permanently forcing the militants into retreat.

The way the government tackles other areas across Pakistan that are infested with Taliban-like militants will also be telling. Parts of Pakistan's populous Punjab province have been mentioned repeatedly in recent months as fertile ground for militant activists, and the most obvious example of the emerging threat.

Military force

In the short term, there is no alternative for the Pakistan government but to use all means at its disposal, including military force. But once there is an established track record of fighting off the militant threat, it will obviously become necessary to introduce the next set of vital measures.

Laying the foundations for a new future requires building a strong national political consensus — something that is far easier said than done. In keeping with Pakistan's Islamic character, some of its political parties are equally committed to religion and policies — this is central to their appeal.

It is important to engage with such political parties, which lead the ranks of sceptics on matters related to the campaign against Islamic groups dedicated to militancy. In engaging with such sceptics, it is vital to emphasise that Pakistan is not afraid to confront Islamic militants. The state must confront groups that challenge its writ across Pakistan.

This matter must be intensely debated in Pakistan's federal and forthcoming five provincial legislatures, including that in the newly created province of Gilgit-Baltistan. At the same time, the Pakistani government needs to engage much more aggressively than it has done so far with Islamic clerics of all shades.

While a number of clerics already oppose the use of such harsh tactics as suicide attacks, others continue to be ambivalent on this issue. It is vital to publicly draw out those who are favourably inclined to oppose the strongest of the methods used by the militants, while seeking to lobby those caught in ambivalence. Ultimately, an enlargement of the group of clerics opposed to militancy will well serve Pakistan's interests as the government seeks to influence public opinion.

Economic reform

Last but not least is the matter of overhauling economic policies to deal with social gaps across Pakistan. For too long, one government after another has paid lip service to the pressing need for reforms to benefit the poorest of the poor across Pakistan.

In a country with a population of 180 million, one-third of which lives below the poverty line, a potentially explosive situation is brewing. The long-term neglect of the widening gap between the rich and the poor has essentially increased the numbers of those who are willing and able to join radical causes.

Other disconcerting factors include low rates of literacy and the fact that the state of Pakistan has shown too much leniency to those who challenge its authority.

The Pakistani military's decision to finally begin hunting down the Taliban and other militants represents a promising start. But the military push must be backed by a series of reforms. Failing this, Pakistan's internal security will remain compromised, increasing the likelihood of continued challenges to its existence.

Farhan Bokhari is a Pakistan-based commentator who writes on political and economic matters.