IDPs - The Real Heroes of Pakistan

Waqar Ahmed

History of warfare is replete with examples that populations of the war-zones had to be moved to some other area for their safety and protection as displacement of people is unavoidable in any operation of war.

During World War 1 and World War 11, millions of nationals of the warring countries had to quit the conflict-zones. During Cold War, the “proxy wars”, fought by the former Russia and the United States resulted in massive exodus of the innocent people. Similarly, during Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971, many people had to leave the border areas and adjoining regions of the Line of Control with a view to safeguarding their lives. A number of people moved from the Pak-Afghan border in wake of the first Afghan war when the former Soviet Union occupied Afghanistan in 1979. In fact, internal displacement of the innocent people during conflict becomes a necessity as these are unarmed civilians, and cannot face the shock and awe of any battle. The ongoing military operations in Pakistan’s affected areas such as Buner, Dir, Swat and South Waziristan have resulted in the plight of more than 4 million people, called the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The Swat peace accord was signed between the Pakistan Government and the militants led by Sufi Muhammad on February 15 this year but setting aside the enforcement of Nizam-e-Adl, the Taliban insurgents continued their advancement beyond Swat alongwith their previous criminal activities such as destroying public property, hostage-taking and slaughtering the innocent local people through brutal methods. Even teenage children were not spared. Besides transgressions of the peace agreement, it was due to atrocities of the Taliban militants that the general masses of the affected areas wanted that armed forces must eliminate Talibanization totally. Just like the IDPs, the civil government had to choose between Talibanization of Pakistan and the military action. In simple words, it was a case of choosing between the lesser evil or the greater evil as there was no third option left for the government. In the beginning, the IDPs had to pass through a number of problems like shortage of food and medicines, causing serious threats of disease owing to contaminated water and poor sanitation, but the same have been controlled with internal and external efforts. Pakistan government has launched special financial packages for the IDPs, earmarking Rs 50 billion for their rehabilitation.

Pak Army is flushing out Taliban from remaining pockets of resistance and has left no stone unturned in helping these displaced persons. The Army has sent more than 30 trucks of rations and bedding to the IDPs. Besides deploying its medical resources in all the camps, the armed forces have donated a part of their daily ration to these suffering people. During the peak of military operations, Pak Army had also urgently arranged the evacuation of civilians from the war-zones, using all possible efforts and resources. Special Support Group with more than 100 buses and 200 trucks has facilitated move out of the IDPs who had been trapped in the operation areas. For this purpose, helicopters had also been used to lift the civilians.

It is a good sign that the US, UK, some western and Islamic countries have not only been appreciating Pakistan Armed Forces, but also donating million of dollars for the IDPs. World’s donor agencies have also intensified their relief efforts ensuring long-term help for the IDPs. Especially United Nations High Commission for Refugees and World Food Programme has been playing a major role in supporting these homeless people.

There is no doubt that IDPs are courageous and valiant people who have faced the multiple difficulties of displacement boldly. They have offered sacrifices of their families, children, property and belongings forgetting their personal comfort and convenience. But it is regrettable that some hostile political and religious elements have not only opposed the military operations under the pretext of collateral damage but have also been criticizing the relief efforts. In this context, on May 25, NWFP Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain has asked the religious and political parties to stop acting on their “dual policies” about operation against militants and settlement of IDPs as the time was not ripe for gaining political mileage but to cleanse the country of insurgency.
This is the right hour that all political, religious and civil segments of society of the country must unite in helping the IDPs. Otherwise, while feeling isolation and a sense of apathy, these aggrieved people will be highly vulnerable to extremists’ indoctrination. The crisis, however, also presents an opportunity to win hearts and minds of millions of Pakistanis in the NWFP, and particularly in Malakand Division where these people have already suffered at the hands of the Taliban. The psychological trauma under which the IDPs are passing is quite obvious. So, the whole nation should join them in sharing their distress and grief. Our media must also encourage the general masses for selfless unity so as to give solace to the IDPs who are the real men of courage. They will always be remembered as the real heroes because they boldly faced miseries, adding the new chapter in the history of Pakistan.