Click: To the Point

[Nazi Orakzai]

Remedial Measures of Terrorism:

(1) Clearly Drawing Lines. We must draw lines as to what extent our and American interest coincide together, going beyond those identified parameters should not be our policy options. Blindly following the American dictates would result in chaos and instability which at the moment is prevailing in our society. Cost benefit ratio of any military option should be precisely calculated and it must be viewed with other options of dialogue and political initiative etc.


(2) Use of Force. Force should be used as a last resort rather than a matter of policy. We should be cognizant that armed forces have an effect of deterrence and once the force is used the effect of deterrence is lost. Use of air in counter insurgency result in collateral damage which has other implications like hostility in the general public, therefore, use of air in low intensity conflict should also be bare minimum.


(3) Introducing Main Stream Politics. Government should introduce the main stream politics by motivating the political parties to establish their party offices/infrastructure in the tribal areas besides building the social infrastructure like school, collages, hospitals, road and rail networks etc.

(4) Use of Media to Publicize Facts. The media should be effectively used to unearth the activities of the elements which are behind the acts of terrorism and also those who are sponsoring these terrorists. The role of foreign intelligence agencies should also be exposed besides taking up the issue with the concerned countries besides taking appropriate measures. Exposing the real perpetrators will not only create dissensions amongst the terrorists who have been thoroughly penetrated by the foreign agents but also diminish the support of general masses for these elements. For most of us the contemporary situation is too complex and intricate to clearly make out who is fighting for whom, as on one side we are helped by the Americans and the west, while on the other militants are also indirectly receiving funds from the foreign agencies.


(5) Reforming Society. Pakistan being known by its Islamic tinge is amongst the most un-Islamic societies in the world as it lacks ‘Equality’ and ‘Justice’ the two most cardinal pillars of Islam. An Islamic society is neither dogmatic nor ritualistic centric, rather it gives the concept of a welfare state within divine parameters, bearing a peculiar Islamic identity. That kind of society can be achieved by promoting a message which is conceptual in nature besides focusing on the obligations of the individuals. This massage needs to be conveyed not only to the general masses but also to the secular elite and the terrorists as well through media and scholars. Effective, speedy and fair judicial system beside the efforts to gradually eliminate the growing socio–economic disparity from the society would do a great deal in eradicating terrorism from the society.

(6) Media Control. It is not possible to bring any improvement in the situation till the time this impression is not dispelled that we are fighting this war for sake of the Americans, only then the fresh supply of recruits to the insurgents would be tapped. Moreover, a code of conduct should be devised for the media which is polarizing the society by forcing people to take sides through broadcasting extreme views of religious and secular personalities. Furthermore, programmes which are inimical to our religious and cultural values should not be permitted to be broadcast. This definitely would increase the public tolerance threshold towards opposing views as a programmed media debate obdurate the fixable minds. Things turned worst because government tried to promote a concept of enlightened moderation which was devised to serve the purpose of west and had a little domestic acceptance / relevance. The media should be effectively controlled and used to counter the terrorist ideology rather to provide fuel for their militant sentiments.

(7) Reforming Education. In the decades of 80’s our education system was Islamized and on the contrary presently it is being secularized through foreign funded foundations. Furthermore, Religious schools and English medium schools syllabi are diametrically opposed to each other and this contrast procedure a polarized society with deep divisions amongst subsequent generations. Our education system should be revised according to our own requirements with an unbiased mindset, keeping scientific advancement as our hallmark rather to appease the foreign powers or accomplish the western agenda.

(8) Building State Institutions. Regardless of the political or ethnic affiliations government should build state institutions specially revenue collection departments, parliament, judiciary, police, intelligence agencies and accountability bureau.

(9) Building Consensus and Conviction. The government should endeavour to build national consensus or broad based conviction as to how the war on terror should be fought. At the moment there are even deep divisions amongst the government institutions as how we should proceed ahead in dealing with the challenges with regard to terrorism.

(10) Senior Commanders – Religious Scholars Interaction. Senior Army Commanders should meet with influential and renowned religious scholars to share ideas, exchange views and to build consensus on field of mutual interest. Over a period of time these common ideas would start following downwards to the grass root level, thereby reducing the hostile attitude of religious elements towards the armed forces and creating a level of understanding where both start respecting each other by accepting even the difference of opinions. The early we tranquil this hostile attitude the swiftly we would be bringing stability in the society, because presently both the pillars of nation’s “Centre of Gravity” i.e. the armed forces and religious ideology, are pitched against each other.


CONCLUSION
The phenomenon of terrorism has haunted the mankind for ages now. Despite the best possible efforts to curb it, virtually by all the nations of the world, including the United States, the menace has continued to grow in size and strength. Pakistan today is amongst one of the nations most affected by the terrorism. There is no denying the fact that we had the terrorist attacks more than any other nation of the world including Iraq and Afghanistan therefore we can not afford to take this threat indifferently. This menace needs to be fought with all the available means and resources including psychological, ideological, preventive and physical because force alone is insufficient to win over this menace which has now transformed into an ideology. We not only need to adopt appropriate measures at our level but also need to recommend also at appropriate authorities.