ISLAMABAD: Experts here on Tuesday warned of resurgence of the Taliban in case security forces failed to eliminate their top leadership and root out the causes of the genesis under a well-coordinated strategy.
Speakers at a conference, 'Countering Talibanisation; The Way Forward', blamed the establishment and the military, which they alleged, nurtured the Taliban, who were sponsored by the West to crush communism and safeguard their interests in the region.
Amid chants of shame, shame, some speakers insisted what they called the ongoing drama in Malakand Division and elsewhere should be the last and decisive, as Pakistan could not afford such 'exercises' anymore.
Some of them were of the view that if the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) would be ignored and their rehabilitation would not be carried out properly, many of them could fall into the trap of militants.
Chairman of the Parliament's Committee on National Security Senator Mian Raza Rabbani noted there was a social, political and moral breakdown of the society, which must be rectified in a sustained manner.
He advocated a 'Pakistani solution' to the spectre of militancy, insisting foreign powers had their role in the regional developments, as they eyed the rich natural resources, including the energy resources.
"The problem of militancy is not so simple. It is multi-dimensional. The world powers know it well from where it has been funded and nurtured. There is a need to stop the outside funding," he said. The non-implementation of the agreement by the militants after Nizam-e-Adl Regulation was launched, Senator Rabbani noted, dramatically changed the people's mind and this led to a consensus on the use of force, which would be followed by a political process in the Malakand Division.
He also made it clear that the issue of militancy was not the issue of Pakhtoonkhwa, it was the issue of the Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan, having a trickle down effect. Senator Rabbani called for economic, political and democratic reforms and expressed concern over what he believed recent ploy to trigger sectarian strife in Pakistan..
Referring to the committee's recommendations, he said that IDP issue must be taken care of properly and their rehabilitation be done by providing them a neat civilian infrastructure and proper security cover. Awami National Party NWFP President Senator Afrasiab Khattak threw light on the provincial government's efforts for the rehabilitation of the IDPs.
He called for merger of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and Provincially-Administered Tribal Areas (Pata) and learning to live with Iran, China, Afghanistan and India peacefully, saying, "there is no smoke without fire". He asked for stop angering neighbours. The senator from Peshawar blamed several generals of the past for the creation of Taliban in order to create strategic depth, in case of a war with India. He pointed out thousands of seminaries were set up to produce Taliban, who were described as Mujahideen lovingly by the West. He said the West funded the Taliban to defeat communism and this derailed Pakistan.
Senator Khattak was of the opinion that during the 62 years of the existence of Pakistan, militarisation of the society and the state was done in a systematic manner and added the Partition was also made with the same purpose.
"Taliban are the other side of this phenomenon in a society, where 1,200-1,300 military men worked in civilian departments," he alleged. Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy was of the view that no strategy to counter Talibanisation would succeed without taking into account the real causes of it. "If a bullet comes from the north, you will have to fire back in the same direction or you will be doomed," he warned.
He called the struggle against militancy, a war of ideology, and said that Dr Sarfraz Naeemi also became a victim of it, wondering that how proudly Taliban cut heads and other limbs of Muslims in Parachinar, Hangu and other areas and then put the horrifying scenes on websites. On the other hand, Jaziya (tax) was being demanded from Christians, Sikhs and other communities, he said. "If someone calls Taliban agents of the US, I will not accept it. They are a local product," he maintained.
He conceded that there was a need to open schools and provide health cover to the people besides providing them cheap justice. There was also a need to thrash out a plan to counter Talibanisation, he added. He noted Taliban were neither the product of US nor Israel or India. They were produced at the local seminaries, he maintained. Others who spoke included Anisa Haroon of the National Commission on the Status of Women, PML-Q legislator Amir Muqam and others |
PARA CHINAR: The death toll of tribal clashes continued in Kurram Agency since ten days has been reached to 52 after killing of four more persons.
KURRAM AGENCY: More three people were killed and five other injured in clashes in Kurram Agency. Also, the tribal leaders and ulema resolved to side with the government in war against the terrorists.
