PAKISTAN NEEDS BOOKS NOT GUNS
Terror
attacks continue in Pakistan despite a dialogue process that started last month
ago between PM Pakistani’s government and Taliban. While the Taliban is the
largest militant outfit, there are at least 50 other groups suspected of carrying
out terrorist operations in Pakistan. Should talks with the Taliban break down,
leaders will likely be left with no choice other than launching a significant military
operation in the insurgency hit tribal areas many of these factions call home. The
negotiation process was severely damaged earlier week after a Pakistan Taliban
faction admitted that on Sunday it had executed 23 soldiers who had been held
in the tribal regions since 2010.
Pm
of Pakistan strongly condemned the killings and warned that such incidents were
having a negative impact on peace talks. According the announcement of PM of Pakistan
these talks were a last chance, and the Pakistan army is indeed poised to
launch a full scale operation against militant sanctuaries in North Waziristan
if given a green signal by the government of Pakistan. While a military
operation against extremists could form part of a counterterrorism strategy, it
will not counter the rise of extremism. To do this the government of Pakistan needs
a new strategy that emphasizes education and development in the tribal areas.
Sympathy for the extremists is
permeating mainstream society. Mehsud, who was responsible for slaughtering
thousands of Pakistani citizens, has been hailed as a hero and a martyr by some
leading Islamist political parties. It seems all that the drone strikes that
killed him achieved was a further radicalization of the religious groups and
rightist parties in Pakistan. Drone hit tribal areas that were once merely a sanctuary
for the militants have become rich recruiting groups.
The
extremists sees glory in suicide bombings and attacks on girls schools and
polio vaccination workers. This mindset has been nurtured rather than damaged
by the campaign of US drone strikes. This mindset guarantees a heavenly reward
for killing innocent people.
The
best way to combat extremism is to educate people in the least-developed areas.
Enlightened religious scholars should come forward to show people Islam’s true
face as a religion of peace and
tolerance. The government of Pakistan could invest in tribal areas to improve
socio-economic conditions there and create job opportunities. The region needs
a Marshall plan from international donors that emphasizes fast track
development of the region not drones that spread violence and hatred.
