WAR ON TERROR AND IMPACTS ON PAKISTAN


1) Introduction
2) Political impact
3) Sovereignty impact
4) Economic impact
5) Religious impact
6) Image impact
7) Social impact
8) Psychological impact
9) Solutions for lessening the impacts
10) Conclusion

The inhabitants of the contemporary world hoped and needed to have the 21st century begun with war-free phase. But the tragic incident of 9/11 dashed their hoped down all due to the ill multifaceted impacts that terrorism has brought for the current world. Considering the gravity posed by terror the American-led world announced the war on terror launched it in Afghanistan with which Pakistan shares a long porous border called Durand Line. Pakistan being the victim of terrorism rendered support to the US and its allies in its national interest. However, So far Pakistan has suffered the most amongst the nations on many fronts.

On the political front Pakistan is badly impacted in fighting the war against terrorism. While it has taken many valuable steps to defeat terror like the deployment of more than 90,000 troops along the afghan border, capturing of high rank terrorists, search operations, military operations and official condemnation of all forms and manifestations of terrorism, it has caused bad blood between the rulers and ruled to an extent as well as caused a kind of rift between Pakistan and the Western world. In spite of all the sacrifices the country is making it is branded to be a country insincere or half-hearted in fighting the menace. Every time the country is told to “do more”. It is further alleged for infiltration of the militants inside US-NATO dominated Afghanistan. The failure of the Western troops in the neighborhood is blamed on Pakistan. This situation has eroded the trust between the governments and caused international image problem for the country.

Moreover, when recent incident of Bombay carnage and terror act in Iran occurred fingers were pointed at Pakistan. Though political impact of the latter case was defused due the effective diplomacy between Iran and Pakistan the terrorism act in India stopped the Composite Dialogue between Pakistan and India.

The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan is at stake since Pakistan is fighting the war against terrorism. During the previous some years drone attacks have been made which have killed some top militant leaders like Baitulallah Mesud but killed hundreds of innocent tribal people in the co-lateral damage. Similarly, foreign planes were reported to have intruded into Pakistani air that caused hue and cry in different segments of society. Moreover ground operation was committed by the US-led forces inside Pakistan. Pakistan has many times protested officially to the US over the non-stop pilot less planes territorial attacks but they are not stopped so far. All these dangerous trends severely impact Pakistan as a state in terms of sovereignty and territorial integrity.


In addition to political and territorial impacts, the economy of the county has also been negatively affected. According to the recent official figures Pakistan has expended 35 billion US dollars since taking on this scourge of terrorism. In the same way, investment opportunities have been reduced due to the volatile law and order situation. To opine that in Pakistan almost all the provinces are not immune from the heinous actions of terrorism, extremism and suicidal bombings would not be wrong. The terrorists and suicidal events that have taken place in Peshawar, Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi etc. support the opinion. xIn Punjab several attacks on the police parade have carried out. In Peshawar the Soikarno Chawk and Session Courts Gate terrorist’s events that left many innocent people dead were recently resorted to. These incidents have brought ill consequences over the face of law and order situation which is discouraging the foreign investment opportunities in the country for the last several years.

The religion is also impacted by the war against terrorism. The religion of Islam is perceived to be the one tolerating extremism and terrorism abroad. In the western world people equate violence, abuse against women and minority rights, and several acts of terrorism like suicidal bombing and coercion with Islam and Muslims. Whenever any such inhuman act takes place they tie it with Islam and its followers. When in the UK terror acts were committed the authority blamed it on Pakistani citizens for instance. And why these days Pakistanis are discriminately interrogated and have to be screened before they inter the US is due to the fact that they are Pakistanis and Muslims.

As in Pakistan acts of terrorism are rife, it has created the image problem for us. Pakistan is considered to be a country not doing enough to eradicate the menace though it has been taking all the possible steps to eradicate it. The country is taken with dubious eye.

Similarly the terror has brought in its wake psychological problems. Fear in the hearts of the people is created. Trauma, depressions and confusion have been increased. The people feel insecure and unsafe whenever in their daily life activities, as time and again they watch the terror events taking place in different cities. Those have especially been suffered who have closely witnessed the suicidal bombings.

Social impacts have also been caused by this war. In a society where terror exists can not be healthy. Social disorganization has occurred due to terrorism. Social relations, economic transactions, free moments, getting education, offering prayers etc have suffered.

After discussing all these multifaceted impacts the terrorism has brought upon Pakistan it is greatly necessary to devise ways and means for putting an end to terrorism. The force being applied by the governments for defeating Taliban and terrorist has not desirably worked. Rather the terrorist activities have been increased manifold since the military operations in Waziristan Agency to date. In the process of military operations thousands of civilians have been killed. To politically engage the miscreants is necessary as table talk and not destruction would be fruitful given the experience of the past. The First World War and the Second World War were brought to an end through political negotiations. Pakistani establishment resorted to force several times but when the operation gets ended the spate of militancy and terrorism acts increase. Similarly, when the operations are launched they find hiding places else where. Similarly, IDPs dilemma has been created by these operations that are also not desirable. So in view of these results of forcefully undoing terrorism it is necessary to find out a way to end terrorism through effective political dialogue and meaningful negotiations.

Moreover, a result-bound mechanism needs to be there to check the foreign anti-Pakistan hands fostering terrorism in the country. Several anti-country secret agencies are uncovered which are active in Baluchistan and the tribal belt destabilizing Pakistan. Arms, ammunitions and trainings have been given to the terrorists here. So, steps ought to be taken to check these forces and foil their designs of making our society a hub of terrorist activities.

Besides, a strategy of socio-economic development should be launched in the conflict affected zones like FATA and NWFP. Because poverty, disparity, hopelessness and unemployment have paved the way for terrorism. If they are mainstreamed, the prospects of terrorism would decrease.

Similarly, the US, NATO governments and Pakistan should set together and seek a way out. They should exchange views, expertise and technologies to defeat terrorism in their respective regions. No blame-game should be allowed to shadow the efforts for its eradication. Pakistan has suffered the most in this war in men and material and its role should be appreciated with open heart. Further, state-of-the-art technologies ought to be given to Pakistan military support monetary help given.

Civil society should be proactive against terrorism. Initially, the militants gained ground when they got the support of local people i.e. in Swat. And when they broke away with them they were weakened. So, civil society should keep a vigilant eye on their activities and raise awareness against militancy and terrorism. For example, in NWFP when the people of Upper Dir said no to the acts of terrorism they district remained safe from the kind of terror trends that affected the people of Lower Dir.

Similarly, media should also play its due role. It should run awareness program and debate the negative consequences of terrorism. Those messages should be delivered that discourage the menace.

Judiciary should also fulfill its responsibility to discourage terrorism. Anti-terrorism Courts should dispose of the cases in time.

In fact, terrorism has severely impacted Pakistan in several ways. The state and people have suffered badly. Socio-economically, politically, religiously, psychologically and internationally it has been affected. The country deserves to be a hub of peace and development. Law and order situation should improve. We need to draw effective measures for defeating the forces of terrorism by bringing to the fore its causes. On economic, political, diplomatic, social and strategic fronts all out endeavors should be made to put a halt to terrorism.

salaams and adaab..

Dear, its a very good attempt. nonethiless i hope you would add my suggestions and comments to yr knowledge which i want to share with u. my opinion is very personal and i'm sure i might be wrong with the suggestions that i give to u. but as a matter of fact i'd love to receive the feedback of my worthy members of the forum to correct me if im wrong...

To begin with, i wanna say that your outline is not as beautiful as one can make it.. it runs as:


1) Introduction
2) Political impact
3) Sovereignty impact
4) Economic impact
5) Religious impact
6) Image impact
7) Social impact
8) Psychological impact
9) Solutions for lessening the impacts
10) Conclusion

i suggest tht u make it somewhat descriptive. from this i mean to say that u can increase the number of words for each point u r giving. lets say,


1) Introduction---------as defined by critics and various dictionaries(though such a typical introduction is not desirable) u can start by directly jumping into the middle of the affair as some writers of essay suggest..

2) Why is pakistan associated with the term terrorism-----what is pakistan's position in the comity of nations----What is the world's perception of us?

3) How is pakistan affected by terrorism-----impacts on various level.

A)Political impact
B) Sovereignty impact
C) Economic impact

4)
Religious impact
Image impact
Social impact
Psychological impact

5) Solutions for lessening the impacts
6) Conclusion

u can divide the levels in three or may be 4paras.. give one para to suggestins and 1short para to conclusion..


As for yr sentences, i suggest to u that try to keep yor sentences shorter than longer. from shorter i dont mean "Ali is a good boy. he goes to school daily' etc. i mean the lenght of yr sentence should be as much as it could be comprehdible for the reader to get the idea in one reading rather than coming to the sentence over and over...

Hope to share more with u on the subject for shortage of time wont allow me at the moment..

Hope my post is of help to u. if yes, plz pray for me. if no, plz correct me wherever i'v gone wrong with my words or ideas..


Regards,
cosmic libertine

__________________
I possess what even God would never possess despite all His Might and Creativity; a heart full of pain, love, sympathy and sins...

I am very thankful to you as regards your prompt and prudent comment on my attempt. Your suggestions are well taken. Since I have gone through your suggestions of outlines yours are very important. Like you I request all and sun dry particularly, the seniors to comment and criticise me after studying it considerably. Thaks once again brother

Dear Ashfaq,

I can say without slightest of hesitation that you have produced an excellent piece of work. Your work is in conformity with the rules of grammar and appropriate expression.

After careful analysis of your work, I have concluded that you have employed narrative and descriptive form of writing, your style is more than sufficient in clearing the essay paper but you must also make use of expository arguments in your essay in order to achieve marks in the higher bracket(over 70%).

In order to simplify, let me explain through examples;

Narrative: The paragraph explaining the 9/11 incident and its impact will suffice as narrative argument.

Descriptive: The impact of terrorism on Pakistan and around the world are descriptive arguments.

In order to include expository arguments, you must mention the causes of terrorism, you can mention poverty, lack of education, you can even mention conspiracy theories, whatever you feel is suitable.

Now coming to the conclusion of the essay, I would say please expand on the points, say how the menace of terrorism can be defeated in little more detail, at the moment, your conclusion is almost in a bullet point form, more detail will be beneficial.

Disclaimer: I am merely expressing my own opinion within the limits of constructive criticism and in good faith.