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The role of Dialogue to combat terrorism

Introduction: The role of Dialogue

The role of dialogue can never be underestimated in the resolution of inter-state rifts, ethnic and racial strife, territorial or boundary disputes, and elimination of terrorism. Ever since the dawn of human civilizations it remained a vital tool to avoid deadly wars and bloody violence. Whenever the leaders sat on table, they took one step back from the battleground. In fact, no human is born evil; there is always a possibility of reformation and transformation. Peaceful elements can resort to violence and the violent elements can be even brought to peace. This is the way how you deal with the situation- whether you believe in coercion and oppression, or peace and comfort.

What is dialogue?

Whatever comes within the definition of violence and confrontation is not dialogue. Dialogue may be defined as a collaboration where the both sides win and seek the grasp of complex situations without confrontation. It is something done in a peaceful way to bring the two sides closer to each other and on board. The participants are brought on the table to discuss the mutual issues. Sometimes arbitrators or mediators of good repute and neutral stading are invited to facilitate the process and give guarantees in case of non-conformity by the any side. Confidence building measures are also taken to diffuse the trust deficit and ensure the positive attitude of participant. However, in the pursuit of dialogue all such actions or measures are avoided that promote confrontation and violence. Even the both sides try to convince the other one that they have no violent or mischievous intentions.

Why dialogue?

Dialogue should be used to combat terrorism because of one important fact that all other means except dialogue have catastrophic implications. The brutal use of power against terrorist fuels further terrorism and anti-peace sentiments. Heavy weapons never regard the innocent people. The use of heavy air to surface missiles and surface to surface missiles by the American forces killed a large number of civilian populations. Similarly the indiscriminate use of predators in the tribal belt of Pakistan has provoked strong anti-American feeling inside Pakistan that has led the family members of killed one to take weapons. It is repeatedly said that bomb doesn’t have eyes. Therefore, dialogue is better way to cope with terrorism and mitigate the feelings of revenge. A scholar remarks, “ September 11 has spurred a renewed urgency to dialogue between great faiths”.

The Place of Dialogue in wake of rising terrorism in the world
The incumbent millennium has witnessed a high growth of terrorism making the world leaders more concerned and anxious than ever. NATO has spent huge funds to finance anti-terrorism military campaigns. In the course of counter-terrorism war, Pakistan has lost the lives of 35,000 people and wasted more S50 b making its economic situation vulnerable and increasingly fragile. Yet, the world is unable to cope with this bigger issue despite its greater and coherent efforts, why? In fact, the international community has disregarded the effectiveness of dialogue. In wake of September 11 attacks, there was a great space for dialogue to with Taliban. The Arab world and Pakistan could have been good means to initiate the process of dialogue with Taliban. There was a possibility to convince Taliban leadership to expel Al Qaeda from their territories. Henceforth, the use power spurred more terrorism, and terrorists got opportunity to exploit innocent people against the states. Now things have gone beyond the control making South Asia breeding ground for terrorism.

What is Ultimate objective: peace or violence

The world as a whole has to decide whether it wants peace or violence. One must clearly know what his ultimate objective is. If one wants tyranny and oppression prevail in society and manifestation of old notion “might is right”, then dialogue is no option. Those who feel pleasure in getting influence, wealth and power would never opt for dialogue. Even they would stick in the way of peace-loving elements who want peaceful solutions and reformations in the society. However, the society has to get rid of such elements or tackle their influence and resort to dialogue, if it really loves peace and harmony. The Secretary General of United Nations rightly pointed out that there is an unacceptable gap between conflict prevention rhetoric and reality. So the peaceful elements in the world have yet to struggle to make dialogue a reality and compel the leadership to bring compatibility between words and actions.

Determining the responsibility: who initiate the dialogue

International Community and World Leading Organizations

Dialogue can be initiated by the world powers, international organizations, regional organizations and states. At the grass-root levels, NGOs and social welfare organization can play a pivotal role in supporting, initiating and calling for dialogue. The first and foremost responsibility falls on the international community that includes the world powers and vibrant international organizations. In the present state of rising terrorism, extremism and fundamentalism in the world, the role of international community has become more demanding than ever. With the increasing talibanization in Central, Middle and South Asia, and growing inter-state disputes (as a result of which states encourage cross-border terrorism), the world has come under the shadow of greater threat and danger. In the era, when coercive measures are being undertaken by irresponsible states to suppress terrorists, and self-ridden interests have led dialogue to be avoided, the world community needs to underpin dialogue and peaceful solution of issues. Innocent people of Kashmir and Palestine, who have become a great victim of state-terrorism, are apathetically looking out for arbitrators and mediators for resolution of their age-old issue. At such an instance, the international community needs to display activism and prudence.

States and The Regional Organizations:

Apart from the international community, the role of regional organizations and states should not be overlooked. All regional organizations can play pivotal role in bringing the states closer and enhancing their coordination in the course of eliminating terrorism. SAARC a regional organization of South Asia is crucial to peace and stability in this region. It provides a platform for collaborated and coherent efforts in curbing the monstrous growth of terrorism. Similarly, Arab league is an effective organization that can insulate the Palestine from the state terrorism stoked by Israel. Furthermore, it can expedite its struggle in breeding tolerance and patience in the Arab society. Similar, roles can be played by African League and other regional organizations in the course of combating terrorism.

NGO’s and Local Community

Several NGOs and local welfare communities have a wide outreach in the world societies. They are involved in welfare works, and they are yet very effective in the humanitarian services. Such organizations that use their leverage to ask the governments stop the use of violent and aggressive measure against the terrorists. They can convince the leaders how such measures aggravate and fuel terrorism. For instance, continued drone strikes by the Nato forces on the people living in bordering regions of Pakistan have ignited anti-American semitism within Pakistan, fuelling a sense of revenge in the people. At such instance, worldwide NGOs can bother the world leaders to initiate dialogue at least with the soft and dissident elements within the terrorist circles. Initiation of such peace process can break down the strength of terrorist organizations which are regularly fed with innocent people.

The Case of Talibanization

The most challenging issue to present world is the Talibanization that is rapidly spreading in South Asia, Central Asia and Arab countries. The issue of Talibanization has threatened the very existence of states, whereas, Pakistan is frontline state against terrorism. Here, we need to thoroughly look into the application of dialogue and its significance. Also, we need to point out what the basic mistake the international community has done in combating the terrorism.

It is rightly said that even bigger problem can be eliminated if dealt with at its initial stage. In 90s when Talibanization was emerging in Afghanistan the world community must have searched for adequate, peaceful ways to arrest such a rapidly growing issue. Of course, dialogue was the best way. By the use of Preventive diplomacy, Confidence building measures, fact finding and arbitration or a blend this techniques the international community could have played a decisive role to curb terrorism that was taking its roots in Afghanistan. There was a good possibility of convincing Taliban that they expel Al-Qaeda leadership from their territory and stop their friendly to it. There was not any hurdle in compelling taliban leadership that they end the use of radical means for establishing power in Afghanistan. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan could have played crucial role in reforming Taliban through dialogue and peaceful process. Indeed, their leverage in Afghanistan was the best available to tool.

Again it was too late on the eve of twin tower attacks. The world leaders must have constituted a fact finding commission to investigate the perpetrators of attacks and simultaneously start a dialogue with Afghan government to hand over the Terrorists and change their violent line of action. Did United Nations groped for any dialogue with Taliban leadership. Many world scholars and leader contend that by the course of dialogue such a bigger issue might have been dealt even without a single stain of blood.
Yet, the time is not gone. Even the US has realized the importance of dialogue with “good talibans” because without their support peace is a mere dream in Afghanistan. It is looking for the assistance of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in initiating the dialogue process. NATO forces have lost a good number of their soldiers, yet they are unable to establish order in Afghanistan. The World leaders have thrown huge money to wage this war, but it couldn’t get even a single benefit. It proves that such an aggressive way-out, that is still being used, was wrong and dialogue was the only possibility.

On the side of Pakistan, there is deep realization that peace process should be initiated with the Taliban. The problem of terrorism, that impaired the political, economic and social process in Pakistan, cannot be dealt with the use of extreme and suppressive ways. The use of Military power has brought the nation virtually on the brink of disaster. So, all such situation highlights the role of dialogue that has been neglected all the way.

Mechanism of Dialogue:

Now, the most important question arises that what should be the mechanism of dialogue. How should it be conducted? Would it be enough merely announcing the dialogue process. No, dialogue has to be conducted in a systematic way. If the war can be fought in a coherent, disciplined and systematic way, why not dialogue. In fact, intelligently initiated dialogue can bring results.

First, to initiate a dialogue the role of electronic and print media should be recognized and utilized. Media can change the mindset of people and even the leadership. It can build a suitable environment prior to the initiation of dialogue. People must be communicated about the role of dialogue, its importance, important actors and tools of dialogue. The public must be aware of the hindrances being encountered in the pursuit of dialogue. All those anti-peace elements and their intentions must be exposed who are sticking in the way of dialogue process. For instance, in the case of Talibanization there are many notorious elements who don’t want the use of peaceful way-out to sort out the monstrous problem terrorism. They want to establish their hegemony and leverage, and have some obscured objectives. Such elements are present in the international as well as local communities.

Second, committees which are formed to conduct dialogue process must have requisite authority and people of high stature who are known for their neutral role and veracity. There must be positive intentions behind the process and the dialogue process must not be conducted to fulfill merely the formality. Committees must also be formed to dug out all relevant facts. For instance, to find out the nature of problem, psychology and mindset of terrorists, evidence of crime, elements supporting terrorists undercover and presence of rational elements within terrorists. Fact-finding is very critical to the dialogue because it lays down the foundation of future course of dialogue. In the case of Talibanization, the world community needs to form a joint committee for fact-finding and carrying out the dialogue.

Third, in the process of dialogue importance of Confidence Building Measures must not be neglected. The US can give a very good impression by reducing the number of troops and retreating them in order to build trust of Taliban. Similar can be done by Pakistan. Additionally, aggressive reforms can be announced in the crisis-ridden areas that ensure the positive intent of the governments. Similarly, Taliban should be given a due share in the government to promote their sense of involvement so their confidence can be improved. The states should be ready for give and take to solicit the reciprocal response of Taliban leadership. In doing so, Taliban must be brought on table repeatedly so that gradually things move towards some logical ends.

Conclusion

After all, the ultimate goal of the world is peace and prosperity rather than war and conflict. In the way of peace conflict resolution by dint of dialogue is the best suitable way because it has no gloomy implications. War and aggression have too many bleaker sides, most importantly the socio-economic losses. In the way of dialogue, there is no loss of life and property, and even one of the most notorious and rascal elements can be reformed by dialogue. Its blessings are much greater than its bleaker sides.

However, dialogue doesn’t mean that the states become too much passive. Passiveness can embolden the rascal elements and it can encourage the terrorism. In some cases, coercive diplomacy is also employed to suppress the terrorists for shorter run. Precise military strikes and limited army operations can be helpful to at-least break the strength of terrorists, so they cannot pursue their evil-goals. But, in the meanwhile the options of dialogue must be evaluated and it can be targeted to relatively peaceful elements within the terrorists who prefer peace to war. Dialogue is also too much useful to discourage the recruitment and continuous feeding of innocent people in the army of terrorists. Usually, terrorists try to win the support of dissident elements within the states who are unhappy with their govts for any reasons. By the eve of dialogue, one can clamp down upon such notorious ambitions of the terrorists.

We all must be concerned with prospective future of world. There is old adage,” as you sow, so shall you reap”. What we do today will decide our tomorrow. If we will pursue peaceful means we will get peaceful results and vice versa. USSR had faced the wrath of its own violent ambitions. British Colonialism has witnessed its logical end. The catastrophic world wars gave rational minds the lesson that nothing lies in violence, and dialogue is a pathway that leads to peace.

very nice effort bro. your delivery of thoughts fascinates me. But where in your essay the topic is proved or justified. that dialogue have a role in combating terrorism. Dunt go about the bush, hit the topic straight. come to the point. Give mecanisms,partners,organizations, NGOs,who should initiate etc only one para. just focus on the role? your essay is more like on the mechanism of dialogues. i left this topic in 2010 exam as I couldn't prove it. anyways good piece of writting

My friend you have really give me a good suggestion. BUt plz elaborate your point so i can make the exact corrections as i am not getting to the point that how i reorganize my essay

I mean role of dialogue is ur key area. so do ur brainstorming frst,even in paper. ask urself what is role role role of dialogues in combating or erradicating terror. whatever roles come in ur mind write it down. then see if these points are enough to prove that dialogues have a role in combating terror. then start the story. mechanisms, suggestion you can write afterwards or whateva.i gave about 15 minutes to this topic in paper, made my outlines in ruff page, but at the end my mind was empty, I couldn't prove it so i skipped.