Unless we give up our existing attitudes of resorting to aggression as revenge, a positive change is unlikely.
ISLAMABAD: This is in response to Ali Ashraf Khan’s article “The PTI should be lauded, not condemned, for blocking NATO supply lines” published on November 28. One wonders if blocking the Nato supply route as a gesture of resistance against US drone strikes would actually help reduce extremism in the region? Also, will it provide a guarantee that these strikes would be stopped permanently.
Besides taking concrete measures to control the sweeping wave of extremism across the country, this nation needs long-term planning to deal with the problem too, as well as a realisation that this is indeed a serious problem we face. Therefore, there is a need to educate people so that attitudes are reformed. There is no doubt that extremism and related ills take root from a culture of violence — when people think violence is the most effective way to vent out anger or spread hatred.
Unless we give up our existing attitudes of resorting to aggression as revenge, a positive change is unlikely.
Moreover, peace among different religious and ethnic groups carries the utmost significance in the given state of affairs. This would eventually lead to a culture of peace and respect for others. Most importantly, it would give rise to an environment lacking fertile seeding ground for violence.
Raweeha Ali
Published in The Express Tribune, November 29th, 2013.
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