Good governance and peaceful transfer of power are the two necessary ingredients of a good antiterror strategy.
ISLAMABAD: Terrorists have stepped up their ruthless attacks on the writ of the state, culminating in massive bloodshed and destruction of public and private property. The response of the state to wanton acts of terrorism has been spineless and unequal to the damage being caused by bomb blasts. If terrorists are killing and maiming scores of innocent people daily in order to take over the state, a matching response is the need of the moment.
Good governance and peaceful transfer of power are the two indispensable ingredients of a good antiterror strategy. Both the components are conspicuously missing from the antiterror menu of the state. The present anti-terror policy of the state is confined to condemnation of deadly bomb blasts without factoring in the above-mentioned avenues into policy. The current policy is tantamount to appeasement of extremism which breeds even more terrorism. The official antiterror institution of the state, called Nacta, remains in a state of limbo.
Only a national welfare state is the correct answer to the cancer of terrorism. All other options lead to victory of flag-bearers of bigotry.
BA Malik
Published in The Express Tribune, May 1st, 2013.
