A story headlined, ‘Act against militants or face international isolation, civilians tell military’ which was published in ‘The Dawn’ in Pakistan has created waves. The journalist who penned the story, Cyril Almeida, has been banned from leaving the country by the Nawaz Sharif government. The establishment tried to run down the story as a figment of the writer’s imagination, but the newspaper in a scathing editorial defended it saying the story was published after it was duly verified. Apart from putting the spotlight on Almeida, the story and the subsequent fallout clearly demonstrates the effect of India’s surgical strikes across the Line of Control. The story has implications for the elected government which is feeling the heat of world isolation but does not want to be seen as being harsh with the army. In Pakistan, the army is respected as a stablising force, but questions are now being asked about its policy of using militants as an arm of foreign policy. Almeida’s story exposes the rift between the civilian government and the army generated by India’s multi-pronged response to the Uri attack. His expose is literally an act of bravery, especially in a nation like Pakistan which is swash with terrorist groups supported and armed by the army.
