While the protectors of the English language at Oxford debate about the need for keeping the apostrophe ‘s’ within the precincts of their language, down South East we are involved in deliberations between the Taliban and the Government deciding the fate of us Pakistanis. It would be delusional to think that these considerations would end up with the Taliban putting down their weapons, stop carrying out deadly blasts and leave behind their extremist religious ways. Instead as predicted they demanded release of their militant prisoners and withdrawal of troops. Even while the so-called “peace talks” were underway, the Taliban were still sporting lethal blasts across the country just to add a p.s statement to the unilateral nature of the forthcoming talks. Maulana Samiul Haq quite rightly pointed that the government is devoid of authority.
There is scepticism about the accomplishment of these talks because terrorists ideally should not be negotiated with if they are as deadly as the Taliban. But since they clearly have an upper hand, it is still imperative that both sides clearly state their terms if at all any resolution is to be achieved.
MOBEEN IMRAN SHAH,
United Kingdom, February 5.