Re: FATA
A quick question all you armchair generals sitting in a nice recliner in the US, how many of you have actual military experience or any background knowledge of the FATA region? I ask this because you seem very willing, eager actually to have people die in both the Pakistan army and the Pakistani people in FATA for an agenda which has never been a problem for the past 60 odd years.
On to the main issues killing our own people. Now we look at the other regions of the world where this has happened, Northern Ireland, Basque, Kurds in Iran and peace worked all these cases. Appeasement only is an issue when the other party is unwilling to talk. The previous examples listed took the moral high road of not killing human beings and brought peace as a viable solution.
The people in FATA are willing to talk, after all you have all said that peace talks did not work? Additionally there are people who are pro-government. We need to stop thinking of these people as our enemies. I believe that is the first step in achieving peace. Not my idea, it what Nelson Mandela said.
Now first the people of FATA have given a lot for the country. They were the front line for 20 years in Afghanistan and they have fought in our previous wars to defend the country. That is enough in my opinion to butcher them for the paranoia some are feeling.
One should note since the current government came to power there have been no bomb blasts which were occurring with deadly regularity. So peace in my opinion is a viable option because they have welcomed the desire to enter into negotiations. That of course does not mean we roll over and play dead. After all FDR said "Speak softly but carry a big stick".
In my opinion the strategy of the current negotiations should be as follows:
- Emphasize a modern education for both boys and girls. Seperate schools like we have no in every part of Pakistan. No co-ed education.
- Emphasize the desire by the government to build the following in the region: Roads, school, hospitals and that is all. No military bases, no commercial set ups no aspect that would prove foriegn.
- Local employment in all these ventures. The local populace would be used to build the constructs, they would be trained to work there. The Pakistanis already there like doctors will be allowed to use the local hospitals/clinics as their own to aid the people.
These 3 points are to be used to create good will, which has been severely lacking in the past 2 years Musharraf's dictatorial rule. Now on to the political front.
These three points will be the basis for any political dialogue. In the political negotiations the aim will be to give the people in the region some autonomy in their affairs, but also get two very vital commitments from them. They will honor their loyalty to the country and their people by not attacking anybody within the Pakistan armed forces and the Pakistani people.
The second they will deal with people who threaten the stability of the country with extreme prejudice. Whatever they feel is necessary to safe guard the nation.
Lastly we deal with their views and concerns. I sad to say but no media outlets has yet to state what the FATA people want or what their main concerns are?