Sir: One constantly hears from the government and opposition (barring some exceptions) that negotiations are necessary to solve the problem with the Taliban. Here is the problem with that argument: they have something we want, i.e. peace. Do we have something they want? They do not want schools or ski resorts or democratic constitutions. The only thing they want from us is for us to either die or to accept the Taliban version of Islam. Now, without something to offer to the Taliban, how are we going to negotiate? What are we doing to negotiate with? The only thing we can negotiate with is the same thing they are negotiating with — violence. And that leads us right back to where we began.
DR TAIMUR RAHMAN
Lahore