Pakistan

Making sense of suo motu (II)

An ideology can only be defeated by one that is superior.

Letter June 15, 2011

ISLAMABAD: We reject talks with the Taliban on the premise that we tried this in Malakand and it failed. However, for the past 10 years we have tried military operations and they have not delivered any good result. Doesn’t this tell us that we need to revisit our war on terror policies?

I think a national dialogue on this should be our foremost national priority. If the Americans can have a dialogue with the Taliban, and if our government can have a dialogue with India, why should we reject a dialogue with the Taliban? If we do, our enemies will continue to manipulate certain groups among militants for their own purposes and Pakistan will continue to suffer. We have to understand that the roots of militancy are ideological, and ideologies are not fought with bombs and cannons. An ideology can only be defeated by one that is superior.

For that we need a peaceful environment in order to be able to reach out to the hearts and minds of the misguided militant youth. I think Imran Khan, Jamaat-e-Islami and Hamid Gul could have a role in this.

Asif Lucman Qazi

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16th, 2011.

COMMENTS (8)

Arif | 13 years ago | Reply Wise suggestion! The enabling environment in a volatile region sounds bit farther from reality. Though, the suggested movement requires close mass contact to achieve such environment internally... I would suggest setting aside poll agenda for a while making it a REAL second priority by JI, PTI etc. and create awareness in different nations living in Pakistan about their cultural and political identities... Not to push for their regional agendas till a suitable time and to unite against disintegration spree floating over acts of terrorism. The BIG question mark will remain open - hassling between MLs and PPPs - who holds high nose in front of Penta? Who has guts to involve India, China and Iran? Again to face Penta? This red-nose has plans... :0

the Truth | 13 years ago | Reply In a civilized state, national dialogue and referendums are possible. However Pakistan is not a civilized state. Before all of you get fired up and your nationalism of convenience comes to a boiling point, take a moment to review the facts. What is Pakistan's over all literacy rate? Somewhere around 50% I believe. Our national leaders are irresponsible, they stoke the public sentiment into a frenzy, they put poor people on the streets to protest on their behalf. They incite riots to make the other party look bad. Not a single political party in Pakistan has attempted to differentiate it self from the others based on a solid plan for how they will change Pakistan. In the end its all about vote for me because I am not THAT guy. Which is why we see multiple incarnations of the same party, PML-Q, PML-N, PML-J, PPP-SB etc. If these leaders are truly different from each other than present a proper economic and social plan for exactly what you will change, and how you will do so. They fact of the matter is that even they know that the populace lacks the attention span or the intelligence to grasp the nuances of such a plan. So on the one hand you treat the masses as if they are stupid, while constantly telling them that they are smart. Until Pakistan's people start taking individual responsibility for their actions there remains little hope of real progress. Pakistan has potential, but also sits on the precipice of being a failed state.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Np | 13 years ago | Reply @Saad: Really, we should sever all ties to the country that is the biggest importer of our products and the largest foreign investor in Pakistan. Wow. Brilliant.

Kh. Tariq Askari | 13 years ago | Reply National dialogue on this should be our foremost national priority. with national Security No doubt.

salahuddin | 13 years ago | Reply Aa sensible suggestion, but which Taliban?

salahuddin | 13 years ago | Reply Very sensible suggestion. But which Taliban?

Saad | 13 years ago | Reply One thing I will like to add in your suggestion that we should sever all type of relationships with the US whether diplomatic or military. And this will actually gain the support of the people. And only this can ensure peace in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Because talking with the Taliban and at the other hand giving supply line to NATO in Afghanistan are two self contradicting policies.... We should set our goals and direction according to Islam which will solve the problems of this region.

Hasan Naqvi | 13 years ago | Reply Couldn't agree more..!!!

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