Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures, no doubt about that. But nevertheless we need to exercise restraint--if a dog bites you, you do not bite it back the same way because that will remove the difference between you and the dog. People are calling for a general countrywide ban on Madressahs, hanging of everyone detained on terror charges (without distinguishing b/w allegation and conviction), and some are even showing their approval for Drone Attacks as well. Some people (mostly the desi liberal variety) even look happy because they think they have been proved right and they say, Now you know why Musharraf attacked Lal Masjid, now you know why we advocate for military operations and drone strikes. These people are just creating further polarization. They are not giving solutions, they are just perpetuating the problem. This narrative feeds the war hysteria (especially now when the masses are angry), and the war hysteria feeds the ideological narratives of the extremists and gives them new recruits. We need to see things straight: taking of an innocent life is wrong regardless of it being in the name of religion, politics, collateral damage or any other fancy term. Even the children of terrorists are as innocent as our own children--they are just in the wrong place at the wrong time, thats their only mistake. That doesnt give anyone an excuse to kill them. Israeli army kills Palestinian children because they think they will grow up to become terrorists, terrorizing Israeli citizens--do you want to share their ideology? War hysteria that is being preached now is going to further strengthen the ideological narrative of the terrorists. See, they want to kill you all, this is what they tell the common people to find safe havens and new recruits. To win this war, we need to defeat them at this ideological front. Withdraw from under their feet the support of common people (who are compelled to support militants because of genuine grievances like poverty, insecurity and indiscriminate state violence against general people). First step is to openly recognize the sanctity of innocent human life. Second step is to stop every operation that threatens the innocent human life (in the name of collateral damage etc). Third step is to bring representative ulema from all schools of thought under one roof and ask them to denounce taking of innocent life in the name of Islam. Entreat them to reach a consensus on Takfir issue and with their combined action, delegitimize the Takfiri terror outfits that are selling death in the name of religion. Reclaim your religion from these barbarians and give it back in the hands in which it belongs--that is, the learned, representative Ulema of every school. Fourth step is to mobilize all state resources to address the grievances that are legitimizing and breeding excuses for terror: solve disappeared/missing persons cases in Balochistan and all over Pakistan, give people of all provinces their due share, demand a complete stoppage of drone attacks on tribal areas. Use state machinery to create an effective counter-propaganda machine to fight pro-terrorism propaganda and bring quality education to impoverished and underdeveloped areas of Pakistan. Fifth and last step is to destroy every individual who is engaged in an armed struggle against the people of this country and use all intelligence and military resources for that purpose. If you successfully apply first four steps, the militants will not get any safe havens among general population and their supply of recruits and funds will be ceased. This is how you win the war on every front. This is the only way to uproot terrorism once and for all.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 11:15:53 +0000
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