Is Pakistan Serious About Tackling Militants?
The Inquiry
BBC
4.6 • 1.7K Ratings
🗓️ 20 January 2015
⏱️ 24 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The murder of more than 130 students at an Army school in Pakistan last month shocked the world. In the following days, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif promised a comprehensive campaign to defeat the Taliban. More than 50,000 Pakistanis have died in militant attacks since 9/11. Pakistani presidents and prime ministers have previously vowed to crack down on militants. But the United States and others have said Pakistan has long harboured "snakes in the back yard" – militants who sometimes benefit the state's interests. Prime Minister Sharif says no longer will there be a distinction between "good" and "bad" Taliban. "We have resolved to continue the war against terrorism till the last terrorist is eliminated," he said. Is he right? Will this time be different? As we'll hear, the stakes extend beyond Pakistan's borders. Experts include a man who has negotiated with the Taliban, a historian on the rise of militancy and a retired Pakistani Army brigadier general.
(Image: Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Credit: Reuters)
Transcript
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| 0:49.0 | BBC World Service, this is Helena Merriman with the inquiry. |
| 0:58.0 | This week is Pakistan serious about tackling militants. On Tuesday the 16th of December, nine gunman entered the army-run school in Pashawa and headed straight for the auditorium. |
| 1:15.0 | Over the next few hours, they killed more than 130 children. |
| 1:21.5 | There was no doubt over who carried out the attack. |
| 1:24.0 | In an email, the Pakistan Taliban, the TTP, said they did it |
| 1:29.0 | to avenge the deaths of children allegedly killed by soldiers in tribal areas. The next day the Prime Minister, |
| 1:36.0 | Nowaz Sharif, made an announcement. |
| 1:38.2 | Aj Hawaii kami k y'allatnay. |
| 1:41.2 | As an or is the Dalai Lama, you see a headcoat. We have resolved to continue the war against terrorism till the last terrorist is eliminated, he said. |
| 1:50.0 | But there had been similar pledges said. |
| 1:55.0 | But there had been similar pledges before. So in this week's inquiry, we want to know, |
... |
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