Daily Times

Sir: We are shaken to the core. We are furious. We are crying. The most horrendous terrorist attack to hit our soil has united us Pakistanis, as adversaries of one shade or the other often seem to do, and we are grieving collectively through prayers, vigils and protests.

Now, as the official mourning draws to a close, let us resolve and commit to do some introspection by asking the hard and oft ignored questions regarding the nature of the twin menace of terrorism and intolerance plaguing the length and breadth of our country, and by openly stating facts without sugarcoating them, one of them being this: the Taliban are an enemy that need to be taken down, a realisation which is setting in belatedly, but also that the enemy is a Frankenstein which we ourselves created in the first place.

As the monster began to turn on the creator, there was no option left but to launch Operation Zarb-i-Azb: a step in the right direction and a battle which should be fought till the military objectives are met. This battle against extremism is not only a military battle but it is also one that needs to be fought in our homes, classrooms and madrassas.

There is a real and urgent need to inculcate tolerance, pluralism and a celebration of diversity in all its forms in our society. Concerted efforts need to be made to tackle the root causes of extremist thought and ideology, for until that is done, Pakistanis will continue to pay the ultimate price for wrong decisions and misplaced priorities of our civil and military rulers.

I beseech the counterterrorism committee to adopt a multi-pronged approach to fight terrorism as it prepares the report to be tabled in a few days. And as we begin to go about our regular lives now, let us ensure that our children do not witness a repeat of 16/12.

Usman Mujtaba

Karachi