At the breakfast table, I was not thinking of my French toast and coffee. Instead, I was thinking of all that was happening around us. Confronted with multiple challenges, Pakistan cannot afford further crises leading to more instability. In the absence of Pakistan’s meaningful and comprehensive North Waziristan policy, the military cannot stay motivated. Unfortunately, Nawaz Sharif’s current approach of dialogue appears to be dysfunctional. Soldiers killed in Miranshah recently reminded the government of the need to act more firmly before it is too late. As it is, security personnel deployed in FATA and elsewhere continue to be targeted by terrorists. It looks like we are a primitive society with armed oppression, with hardly any chances of enlightenment unless we make a deliberate effort to change attitudes and behaviours. Be aware of the internal and external forces providing support to terrorists and others who are out to push Pakistan to crises and destabilization.
In context of the meetings of US Chief of Naval Operations, Jonathan Greenert with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and top military officials in Islamabad and Karachi, the US side emphasised the need for Pakistan’s determined effort to root out terrorism and militancy in its own territory and for creating a stable environment to promote economic growth and prosperity. A four-member bipartisan delegation of the US House of Representatives also visited Pakistan and met with Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed. The US visiting team acknowledge the importance of the Pak-US relationship. They appreciated Pakistan’s efforts for countering terrorism and its role in promoting regional peace and prosperity, especially in the backdrop of the US forces drawdown from Afghanistan. Terrorism is no longer a local, national or regional issue. It is a monster that is affecting people around the globe, thus raising the need for international, regional, national and local cooperation.
The alienated could be brought back to the mainstream of societal life through a socio-psychological approach and incentives for improving their level of living and a shift in values to enable them to adjust to our cultural norms and folkways.
Madness had already prevailed. People were being killed in suicide bombings, targeted attacks and organized attacks on the total infrastructure of the state. Even schools and hospitals were not spared. Some of the warlords were even educated in the West, in so many prestigious institutions. Because of their feudal attitudes they never cared for the uplift of the people in whose name they started anti-state and anti-government movements. Money and facilities from the government never trickled down to the people. Sardars, who take the people as slaves, themselves enjoyed the good life for they have been getting money in grants from the federal government and illegal gratification, and money from illegal trade. And none of this is new. These deals are as old as the years of our independence since August 1947.
Sometimes the situation looks like an existential threat to the state from terrorists. At times it appears as if a family member is angry and something needs to be done about it. I have attempted to pen down the spirit of these scenarios into poetry, an excerpt of which, called “Labyrinth,” I present here.

Folk tales of love
Indicate ‘love labour lost’
A course
Of course different
Could be designed
Preventing tragedies
and tremendous cost

Be not scared
Of circumstances
That make us host
Our love is
Not like a labyrinth
You know
And I know

I doubt not
Your patriotism
Simply need your response
When the going gets rough
I might be a labyrinth
But it is your love
Please understand
That I care

At no cost shall I default
Defending freedom,
Sovereignty and common cause.

The writ of the state must be firmly established. Rule of law must be strictly enforced. A state within a state is not acceptable. Justice should not only be done, it should also appear to have been done. Every one should be equal in the eyes of the law. Discrimination of any kind cannot be tolerated. How we deal with anti-state elements will depend on ground realities. As we observed, Pakistanis’ North Waziristan policy had to be based on the use of force against the enemy. Negotiations were not workable as the situation so demands. Ultimately, policy is determined by the “rule of the situation” not by personal considerations.
In spite of the brutalities inflicted by militants on ordinary Pakistanis, and in spite of their sources of support and power, the army and the people of Pakistan stand united and fully determined to root out terrorism. If we put our own house in order there will be no space for messy domestic politics. Once this happens, no external elements will dare to interfere in our internal affairs. the situation demands a vision where we see the future of Pakistan lying inside a strong federation, provincial autonomy, accountability and transparency. These are the key ingredients for lasting peace, prosperity and justice. What Pakistan needs is international support to crush terrorism and for achieving this objective, a strategy has to be developed to isolate militants who have the backing of anti-Pakistan elements. Our rulers should wake up and realise that we cannot afford to suffer and lose any more. Love labour lost, cannot be an option.

The writer is a former director NIPA, a political analyst, a public policy expert and an author.

Email:iftahmad786@hotmail.com