Re: Notes from Mohmand
Exactly. Army alone can not solve this problem. Army along with determined civilian government is needed. Army should not get out for 10-15 years. It does not mean battle deployed Army, an occupational force, actively involved in law and order. Sure, uncle Sam will be willing to fund such an effort, if only Pakistan can prove it. Sure make peace with India and you can redeploy your resources.
While Army is helping to maintain order, government should show the people how rest of the world is living, show them they are bigger than the tribe they belong to. Educate them, run schools with moderate curriculam (more moderate than what is taught in rest of Pakistan, which according to some agencies teaches intolerance). No apologetic half effort will work here. In fact, if situations is little stable, I am sure lot of NGOs will come forward to help. The key is no half hearted effort, no need to water down the effort by brining religion into it as they already have plenty of it.
Empower womern. I have an interesting theory, if you encourage women to get involved in decision making in their homes (at least), things will improve - not necessarily taking decision for the household; just nagging would do. Men will be less of Men (exactly that’s what is needed in some of these places); would think twice before walking off with the gun or asking his daughter to go to school, if he has a partner who understands that she can contribute and speaks her mind; would try to stop marriage of 16 year old to 40 year old as third wife.