Beyond military operations

KARACHI: This is with reference to Asad Munir’s article of June 7 titled ‘Pakistan – already playing its role in war on terror’.

The writer makes many pertinent points. Pakistan has suffered colossal losses in the war against terror. However, there have been successes as well, though they have been occurring gradually as militant strongholds are dismantled. However we need to look beyond the body bags and military operations because, as the writer rightly points out, the missing link is development and socio-economic reform and these have to take place if the peace in areas such as Swat is to be permanent.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2010.