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‘De-radicalisation’ seminar: Counting Swat’s successes, hoping for peace in Kashmir
Army chief admits there is no military solution to terrorism.
Army chief admits there is no military solution to terrorism. PHOTO: APP/FILE
MINGORA/SWAT:
Pakistan hopes India will play a more positive role and “respond to its legitimate security concerns” being the most important neighbour, said Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Wednesday.
“We sincerely hope that the ongoing process of comprehensive engagement will be fruitful for dialogue with India which will not find Pakistan lacking will to write a new chapter in our bilateral relations,” said Premier Gilani, while concluding a three-day national seminar on ‘De-radicalisation’ organised by the Pakistan Army at Wadudia Hall of Swat University. Pakistan would like to resolve all outstanding issues with India peacefully, including that of Kashmir, he said.
“Elimination of extremism in Swat is a significant success,” said Gilani and added “the return and rehabilitation of 2.4 million displaced people within three months is an example of it.”
“Our intelligence agencies have led to apprehensions of hundreds of al Qaeda operatives and targeted their top leadership, said Gilani. The process of de-radicalisation of reconcilable detainees alone cannot pay dividends unless the hardcore category of apprehended terrorists is awarded exemplary punishment through an appropriate judicial mechanism,” he added.
Anti-terrorism act
Premier Gilani also stressed that ‘Anti-Terrorism Laws’ should be amended. “The Anti-Terrorism Act promulgated to tackle the law and order situation has no answer for the extraordinary situation Pakistan faces today,” he said. Ministries of Law and Justice and Interior, and the government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have prepared a legal framework order to cope with militancy in the state, especially in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and the Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (Pata).
Bridging the gap
Premier Gilani said Pakistan’s efforts to combat terrorism need international recognition. A paradigm shift is needed to bridge the trust deficit between military and civilian institutions…without international pressure, he added.
Drone attacks
Premier Gilani said drone attacks by the United States inside the country’s borders are in conflict with ground realities and have a negative impact on efforts to control radicalism.
Civilian support
Earlier, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani reiterated that “There is no military solution to terrorism”.
The menace has to be tackled in the domain of national security which warrants a comprehensive response entailing synergy by all elements of national power, he added.
The army derives its strength from the people as it considers their support vital for its operations against terrorists, he said.
“Pakistan’s commitment to the war against al Qaeda and its affiliates is total and unwavering,” the army chief said.
“Images of armed militants moving freely has raised concerns regarding the army’s capabilities and resolve to fight militants,” Kayani conceded. However, he added that the Army has launched the largest insurgency operation against the militants to re-establish the writ of the state.
Various speakers expressed their views in the three-day seminar including Dr Maria Sultan, Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Amir Muqam, and Major-General Javaid Iqbal.
Hussain said the national leadership has been in denial and is taking the convenient route of blaming problems on “international conspiracies”
The announcement of half-hearted policies such as police reforms or madrassas reforms have never been implemented, he said.
Giving a six-point agenda, Hussain added: “Intelligence Bureau should be dedicated to counter terrorism, and coordinating with the special branch in the provinces whose mission statement needs to be redefined to focus fully on this challenge.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 7th, 2011.
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Reader Comments (25)
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So why is Pakistan now so worried about it’s “legitimate security concerns”? Was sending armed militants across to Indian Kashmir for the last 30 years in accordance with India’s “legitimate security concerns??Recommend
Pakistan army should be secularized. The three principles of Quaid which have been replaced in the army by dictator Zia should be brought back to Unity, discipline and faith in this order. It is simple and without much expense. The army officers and soldiers be reminded of their oath of allegiance to the constitution and not to individuals, even if they are their superiors or family member. Nothing should be more important for the army than the protecting the constitution and obeying the elected civilian govt. In short they are not the colonial masters, or thinkers, only the public servants.
Talk is cheap and Pakistan army officials have to show that they are really willing to accept India as their important neighbor and both should live in peace. People of both countries know that Pakistani politicians are not trigger happy, but they are powerless in front of army, hence the announcements from army are more meaningful. Both these poor countries have to wage a war together against fanaticism, hunger, poverty, disease, and open up trade and commerce.
I hope I am wrong, but this sudden talk of peace may be to help release the money that America is not releasing. However, the US is not going to go on mere words they are looking for concrete actions. Let us see what comes out of this soft talk?Recommend
“There is no military solution to terrorism”
Wrong!! Just stop supporting your strategic assets.Recommend
Assalam-o-Allaikum Warahmatullah.Much the best and the most authentic statement given by COAS but the question rises that why FC’s,Security Forces’ and Army’s operations are being conducted on large scale in tribal areas on the name of fake terrorism to kill the innocent muslims only on the commandments of your worldly master USA?Whereas Allah’s Last Prophet Muhammad (APBUH) said in his an authentic Hadees that if there are two swords in two muslims’ hands and they kill each other then both shall be entered the hell.But here killing philosophy has been changed and one killer group is martyr and second killer group is killed.What the awesome,shameful and shameless time been come on the muslims because they confess that military operation is not the solution of terrorism and on the other hand military operations are being conducted to kill the mostly innocent muslims on the name of fake terrorism.What the hypocritical standards we have adopted in regard of terrorism’s eradication.Recommend
Some kind of attack on Indian interests is planned or under away. If not Gilani will not speak this way. Chiddu uncle you better buck up our defenses, or you might loose your job.Recommend
Military drwas power from constitution. People give power to their representatives who make and amend constitution. Military is subordinate of public representatives and not public representative itself.Recommend
@Ahmer Ali
Soldiers represent the state, while militants are non-state actors. The state has monopoly over use of force. Muslims are bound to abide by the law of the land. Islam has allowed the government to use force against people who create disorder. Quran has clearly prescribed death punishment for those creating “fasad”.
These militants have completely ruined the image of Islam that will take decades to heal. Of course innocents must not die, but these militants should either lay down their arms or face consequences. The army has every right to use force against militants who are responsible for thousands of innocent deaths.Recommend
sanjithmenon, keep your conspiracy theories to yourself. what pakistan and india need is that its people stand up for bilateral peace and the masses of both countries should push for it with all their might. instead you choose to pass such comments without any basis whatsoever and add to the differences that are already presentRecommend
MIRZA@ Why India does not sign a NO WAR PACT. Why they do not sign the NPT?Recommend
@Bilafond:
I am all for a signed pledge not to be the first to use WMD against the other. Of course this is the ideal solution. I am the most peace loving person and hate wars. In fact that is what Pakistanis demand from India during the negotiations.
Thanks and regards,
MirzaRecommend
@Bilafond:
@Mirza:
NPT or NO NPT India has pledged NO first use of WMD. Hence, Rest assured from India’s side, there will not be any nuclear attack as long as pak army maintains it’s mental balance.
Regarding NO WAR Pact : Read history or believe your own independent historian like Air Marshal Asghar Khan, all the war( Kashmir 47 to Kargil -99) between India and Pakistan was thurst upon by Pakistan and NOT India. Hence, why you need a no war pact, just stop picking fight with india, stop exporting terrorism to India, which may snowball into a fullfledge war. Stoping war or proxy war with india is in the hands of Pakistan.Recommend
@Bilafond:
You talk of a no-war policy…India has declared a no-first use policy on nuclear weapons – why has Pak declined to follow suit? First Pak should respond to the Indian gesture and then further measures can be looked at. As for NPT, you are quite a hypocrite mate – why hasnt Pak signed the NPT? While we are at it please tell me why Pak is not implementing the UN resolutions of 1948 on Kashmir – these resolutions say that Pakistan must withdraw its armed forces from the land it has illegally occupied so that a plebiscite can be conducted. I suggest Pak should implement the UN resolution in letter and spirit.Recommend
@Manoj:
I knew about the first use issue. Just wanted to tell in a nice way based upon principles and peace. I am well aware of the history, when India used to offer NPT and Pakistan used to reject that. Thanks and regards,
MirzaRecommend
@faraz:
Thanks for your relying comments but you must have to know who is creating terrorists?The terrorist attacks are as a consequence of innocent killings.When you will kill mostly innocent muslims on the name of fake terrorism by all possible and accessible resources on the commandments of your worldly masters frequently then the terrorists’ attacks shall be in routine.Recommend
At last, the people of Pakistan are hearing some encouraging statements from the COAS and other important political figures. But it is also true that these statements should not end up like other half-hearted statements given earlier. The law and order situation can’t get worse than this, and if the decision makers of this country are not serious even in these circumstances then no one can save this country from becoming a banana republic.Recommend
Mirza
India has proposed ‘no first use’ to Pakistan.Zardari agreed but then was forced to retract after opposition from the army.The army thinks ,it makes no sense as the nuclear bomb is used as a deterrent.Conventionaly Pakistan is weaker than India.The nuclear bomb restores parity between India and Pakistan.It also suits their purpose of sending terrorists into India while stating that nuclear strikes will happen if India responds militarilyRecommend
@Arindom:
sighhhh pak trained millitants in kashmir???? ok your army has to be really oober incompetent if they cant put an end to what u claim are pak trained millitants entering into indian occupied kashmir.. and especially if they cant catch the so called pak millitants who caused the mumbai attackes crossing border… wow… if i were u if i truely believed in all this rather than posting comments against paks security issues id be focusing on my own countries security lapses…
iv been to india for several business trips and i have to saay i was stunned at the lack of proper security and scrutiny of luggage at the airport… so yes pls worry and focus on ur own issues and wel focus on our… perhaps if your government were more proactive rather than reactive the mumbai bombers could ahve been caught.. or perhaps ul come to realize they werent ever pak militants and that the entire thing was staged… the entire thing seems fishy.. and if somethign feels wrong it probably is…
now getting onto the kashmir issue.. hate to break it to you but given the civilian casualties and manslughter of minorites by the indian army indian occupied kashmir is officially the new palestine with india mimicing israel creating a humanitarian crisis and blaming it on ghost millitants.. and before you even begin to start off with you empty threaths of how indian occupied kashmir is indias.. make no mistake WE ARNT ASKING NOR ARE WE ASKING FOR CONFIRMATION … we will fight till the very end (your end) for kashmir.. we will not stand by and let such a humanitarian crisis be masterminded and then denied by India!
@ET there is nothing offensive about my comment, iv seen plenty racist comments approved by you its only fair you let the neutral ones be posted as well!!!!!!!Recommend
Peace through dialogue not with GunsRecommend
@sam:
“we will fight till the very end (your end) for kashmir..”
Dear Sam, with your attitude, I can foresee, your (Pakistan) end is not far off. Be prepared for it. already map of disintegrated Pakistan is in circulation in many capitals.
Kashmir is more dangerous for you then the Indian atom bomb. Obsession with Kashmir has brought you to the status of failed state and going ahead in next ten years time it will ensure that Pakistan is erased from the world map, and for that to happen India will not be required to fire a single bullet towards pakistan.
God Bless you.Recommend
Deradicalisation will leave pakistan with no identity of its own… which it was trying to find for so long … which Pakistan was almost on the verge of getting one .. 3 yrs from now .. everybody will know what Pakistan WAS…
All these pakistani think tanks had gone bonkers ?? who all persuaded the policy on Kashmir / Afghanistan… I think just to be in synk … they can actually name the strategy as Kash-Afg policy … what say ??
Deradicalisation of anyone, Army or the people of pakistan, is just a rougue propoganda perporated by RAW / CIA and MOSSAD..and yess…. the invisible hand is at work tooooRecommend
“If Pakistan is not lacking the will to write new chapter” in its relationship with India, then let’s start with handover of those wanted by India on charges of acts of terrorism commited on Indian Soveriegnty and its domains !!!
Than perhaps have jolly good get togethers, state dinners, photo ops etc ……..
It would be start of new Dawn in the relationship !!
The million dollar question is, Can Pakistan Deliever????
Or is this case, that all this drama is another show for the US’s approval to get some CSF released ASAP !!!
We all know as to how desperate this situation is becoming with delays on Bond placing and no LOC from IMF so far!! So only other source of funds likely in immediate future is release of these CSF, which are overdue and being held back by Washington to express their displeasure with Islamabad / Rawalpindi.
In meantime the Indians are likely to remain observers of everything coming out of Islamabad, for time being.Recommend
“…India should mind Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns.”
Mr. Gilani should be more specific. What exactly is/are Pakistan’s security concern/s?
Is it from US, from Afganistan, from India?
India can only speak for itself.
And that’s “Pakistan need not worry about India. India has far better things to do than waging an war against Pakistan. In 64 years it was allways Pakistan who was the aggressor.Recommend
Boy, from the photograph above Kayani sure seems to be an aspiring model!Recommend
@Mirza:
India has already unilaterally agreed to a policy of ‘No first use’ of nuclear arms. However it is Pakistan who refuses to do so. All wars between India and Pakistan have also been started by Pakistan. So this is not something that anyone needs to negotiate with India.
the barrier to peace is the Pak army whose generals dervie the right to drive around in Series 7 BMWs by creating a monster out of India and constantly creating the mindset of ‘Islam khatre mein hai’.Recommend
@Manoj:
hate to break it to you but that came into circulation decades ago..with regards to your empty threat.. well like they say barking dogs seldom bite.. and india barks ALOT :)……so pls amuse me with some more.. like i said wer not even interested in engaging u in a discussion over this……. wer not asking :)
Recommend