Conclusions by default

It is surprising that some sections of the media have made the entire endeavour appear weak, fragile, if not doubtful.

As is usual with our media and some other opinion-making circles, they are most often bent upon prejudging the situations with a tilt towards negative, sweeping statements. Take the latest peace initiative undertaken by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in all earnest, whose sole objective is to bring about stability and transform Pakistan into a land of enduring peace.

Although there are as many suggestions for achieving this target with many people proposing a full-fledged military operation –– oblivious to the consequences –– the prime minister has adopted the best option, the best path whose importance just can’t be denied. And that option can be likened to a situation somewhat like this: ‘think before you leap’.

It is not understandable why this wise and pragmatic step is being criticised by some people whose number, however, is not that large. One also wonders as to why the media has opted to find fault with this endeavour or with some aspects of it. It appears as if a lot of ‘painstaking efforts’ are being made to create doubts about this peace initiative. Those outside the media circles are criticising it for the sake of criticism. Example: a politician from the opposition camp resorted to strange rhetoric and came up with quite an odd analysis as he said, “it is just like Taliban talking with Taliban”.

It is also surprising that some sections of the media have made the entire endeavour appear weak and fragile, if not doubtful. In fact, it is not. The fact is that the four-member committee has already done a lot of spadework and is moving rapidly and confidently on the track of reconciliatory talks. According to reports, it has even been able to find some mutually acceptable intermediaries, who can facilitate talks with the prominent groups of militants, with the TTP in the lead, in a comfortable, peaceful and honourable way.

If we keep these moves in view, then there is no reason to doubt the agenda for the talks. The first and foremost agenda is appeasement, reconciliation and dialogue, whether through intermediaries or directly. This conveys the message of seriousness towards attaining the goal of peace. The government and its team of intermediaries are aware of their responsibilities as much as they are aware of the enormity of the task. They are determined to take things to a logical conclusion.

Another editorial has taken an even harsher stance and described this latest move for peace as an excuse for criminal inaction. The very act of setting up the committee, however, is the first practical step of what the editorial wants, i.e., action. The committee has not been formed to linger on the issue. Let there be no misunderstanding about the government’s and the armed forces’ resolve to wipe out this menace, once for all. And there is nothing more efficacious an effort than starting from a dialogue through wisely picked intermediaries

If viewed objectively, the four-member committee’s forward movement that has resulted in a matching (peaceful) response from the TTP can’t be declared akin to maintaining the status quo. It is rather for the first time that such a response has come from the militants’ side with chances of meaningful negotiations taking place. As regards the committee’s mandate and the parameters thereof, it assumes secondary position in comparison with the spirit and pace of the committee’s work and in light of the prime minister’s serious commitment to resolve this issue.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th,  2014.

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