LAHORE: This is with reference to Asad Munir’s article “This is our war” (August 16).
I beg to differ with the writer’s contention that the war we are fighting in the tribal belt is our war. Being a student of political science, I have an understanding that war must always be the last option when dealing with an issue of this nature.
As the writer mentioned himself, the US itself is open to the idea of engaging in dialogue with the Taliban. This is what Imran Khan has been promoting all along. He is of the view that the Pakistan government should tackle the problem we face through dialogue, not through military force.
If America can engage in dialogue with the Taliban in Afghanistan, then why can we not use this tool to settle the same issue in Pakistan?
Pardon me, readers, but I would like to remind everyone that our military has been in Balochistan for years now and the problems of the province have not been resolved. The same is the case with the situation we face in Fata.
As it is quite clear, the military solution has not worked for the past 10 years, so why the continued insistence on using this method, especially when its result is there for all to see?
Political theory says that dialogue, economic development, ensuring the right to political participation, etc. are the preferred solutions to the problems of militancy and insurgency. Did we ever try using these methods before engaging in war? No.
The method that should have been used as a last resort was used as the first means to tackle the militancy problem and that is why we find ourselves in this predicament today.
We must act responsibly now and try to resolve this crisis through dialogue.
Imran Saifi
Published in The Express Tribune, August 20th, 2012.
