Ceasefire in Swat

Islam,Terrorism and Jihad

07 Jun 2008, NewAgeIslam.Com

Ceasefire in Swat

Hewad, Peshawar   AFTER several months of operations and crossfire, a ceasefire was announced in the Swat valley after successful talks between the Awami National Party's provincial leadership and the local Taliban. Unfortunately, right after the ceasefire was announced, an incident of suicide bombing on a police station in Mingora was reported. The Taliban in Swat refused to take responsibility but the question that arises in the minds of the people is: who carried out this act of sabotage? Whenever such an incident occurs, the Taliban refuse to take responsibility…. The people would like to know about the perpetrators of such gory incidents. It is of immense importance that the government is able to identify the culprits. The common people become sceptical when all parties concerned show their incapacity to point out the perpetrators.   The ceasefire announcement should be taken as a good omen. It is always desirable to resolve all issues related to conflicts through the process of dialogue. The efforts of the Awami National Party in this regard are commendable but the dialogue should not take place based on conditions the fulfilment of which may become a difficult task in the future. The government should be careful to see to it that the armed militants do not capture space that is not their right. The government by no means has to acquiesce to their undue demands.   There is also possibility of these talks being sabotaged. If this happens, the region may land into even more severe trouble than the present predicament. It is important in this regard that the exhibition of weapons in public is not allowed. Nobody has the right to establish a parallel state and push through changes in the system through force against the will of the majority of people. Nobody should be allowed to force their ideology on the people. This would go against the intent of the dialogue. The point should be driven home to the Taliban that they can contribute to peace and prosperity in the region only if they try to live with other viewpoints.   Dialogue should be conducted to bring peace to the Pakhtun region and to save neighbouring countries from the fire of militancy and extremism. It should be ensured that the fate of the Pakhtuns is not at stake in the global geo-strategic drama. The Taliban, who consider themselves to be sons of the soil, should benefit from the offer of talks by the government and work for the peace and prosperity of the region. External forces that put unnecessary conditions to block the way of dialogue should be stopped from such acts of sabotage. There is every chance that these forces put such conditions for talks which will easily detract from the process of dialogue and peace in the region. Both parties have to be extra cautious in this regard. — (May 11)   — Selected and translated by Khadim Hussain