Asia-Pacific
Pakistan sees civilians key to stability
By Ai Yang and Zhang Haizhou (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-02-22 07:16
 |
Large Medium Small |
Amid the recently launched Operation Moshtarak in Afghanistan, Islamabad said the civilian engagement should not be neglected.
Other than military operations, Pakistani Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the international anti-terror forces in the region should adopt a "comprehensive strategy" in which dialog with some terrorists and winning people's support are the objective.
On the battlefield, Pakistan has seen "a number of successes" in the fight against terrorism and extremism, Qureshi, 53, said. Both Baitullah Mehsud and Hakimullah Mehsud - former Pakistani Taliban leaders - have been killed in the last six months since the government started major offences against the Taliban in Pakistan's border regions with Afghanistan. And just a few days ago, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar was arrested in Karachi.
Calling the capture of Baradar "a big catch", Qureshi said "Pakistan has done more than any other country in the world to capture high value targets over the past years."
|
 Pakistani Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi |
Beyond military effort
But the killing or arresting of chief insurgents by themselves will not eliminate terrorism, he said, as terrorism is a product of poverty, deprivation, low literacy, and lack of opportunities.
"The first and foremost success will be getting the support of the people," said Qureshi. "We need to get the people with us. We have to win the hearts and minds of the people."
Islamabad's ultimate goal is to restore confidence in the government, Qureshi said, to bring stability and peace to the area. This means providing people in the border regions with jobs and providing investment for agriculture, so the people can lead a normal and peaceful life.
To meet this goal, he said Islamabad is now adopting a "force-plus" strategy, in which dialogue with insurgents and development are just as important as the use of force.
"We are building a political consensus so that once the terrorists are defeated, we can provide good governance and maintain social economic peace," Qureshi said.
(China Daily 02/22/2010 page7)
