Pakistan's 9/11

We are at war with the Taliban, whose agenda is to destabilize Pakistan and create its own state that eschews international rules of logic and humanity. This school massacre is our Sept. 11. This time, Pakistanis have come out galvanized to say we will “never forget.” Force has to be used and the government has now accelerated its attacks on militants.

Certainly, the executions will come with their own backlash. In 2013, the Taliban said it would consider government executions of its men on death row an act of war. There are fears that the Taliban could stage prison breaks and other attacks in retribution. But the government has taken steps to upgrade jail security substantially. Calling off announced executions now would send the wrong message about Pakistan’s strength and resolve against its enemy. The government also must heed concerns that Pakistan’s flawed legal system will lead to the execution of innocents. Capital punishment should not be used indiscriminately, but rather only in cases against known terrorists.

For the first time, Taliban apologists have been marginalized. Opposition groups previously viewed as a softer arm of the Taliban have now united with the government, supporting the use full force against these most brutal militants. Pakistan is making no distinction between the good and bad Taliban. Hundreds of civilians have protested outside the Red Mosque in Islamabad, where the chief cleric, Abdul Aziz, has refused to condemn the massacre.