Decisive move commended

ISLAMABAD- All important segments of society, including defence analysts and political forces have by and large supported the governments Thursday decision to launch decisive military offensive against the militants and terrorists in Swat and Malakand region.
ANP welcomes the government move that will be fully supported by the peace loving people of the NWFP, partys Senior Vice President Senator Haji Adeel Ahmed said.
He also commended Prime Minister Gilani for releasing Rs1 billion aid to the NWFP government in its endeavours to help the IDPs.
PML-N spokesman Siddiqul Farooque said that his party was not taken on board about the decision despite the fact that the PML-N Quaid Muhammad Nawaz Sharif through his last months letter to the Prime Minister had demanded convening of a national conference to take stock of the worsening situation in FATA, Malakand and Balochistan.
London-based MQM Quaid Altaf Hussain however eulogized the Prime Minister Gilani and the federal government for the move and assured that all the MQM workers were prepared to sacrifice their lives for elimination of terrorists and extremists in the country.
Veteran defence analyst Lt Gen (R) Talat Masood also commended the government move saying it would greatly help in restoration of Pakistans international image that had been adversely damaged because of the militant activities of Taliban in the country.
He was of the view that the military offensive that might take some time to quell the insurgency and cause bloodshed would eventually help restore peace and stability in the country.
The move would greatly help the government to track down the foreign elements involved in efforts to destabilize Pakistan, another defence experts said while speaking on condition of anonymity.
According to him governments move would also help in plugging the sources through which the militants were getting sophisticated weapons.
Monitoring Desk adds: PML-N leder Kh Asif said that he said no one can oppose the views expressed by the Prime Minister in his speech.
Talking to a private TV channel, he said this operation is for the stability and survival of Pakistan. "The whole nation should unite on it," he added.