Daily Times

One has no reason to complain against life, which is a tale of reality one confronts every day-a replay of numerous colours and shades, pointing to events, happenings, beginnings and the ends, a ‘Complex whole’ of thought processes, folkways, mores, values and attitudes, norms, institutions, societies and cultures with their diversity but cooperation in understanding the ups and downs of life and respect for difference of opinions. This is what is often implied by the right path for a way forward.

In its folds, life holds dreams, love, respect and happiness to be shared. For stability, life expects cooperation, positive values and tasteful behaviours.

Violation of human rights anywhere is not acceptable. Justice demands that state terrorism must be condemned. It is incumbent upon the international community as a collective force to condemn the brutalities that have reached an unprecedented level.

Killing fields and global dominance go together. Kashmir accounts for over 240,000 killed since 1946. The western controlled media remains unconcerned about massacre and loss of human lives. The war boils down to constant Indian violence from Afghanistan and ruthless use of force against Kashmiris. All such elements and factors aim at putting Pakistan under pressure and in a state of tension. And think of millions killed in the name of western values? Europe and the USA shut their doors to those seeking refuge. The analysts are thus to conclude that the epicentre of terrorism is neither the Pak-Afghan Border nor the Middle East. It is deeply embedded in the United States’ quest for global dominance. The fact, however, is that without solving the issue of Kashmir the UN’s de-colonisation agenda remains incomplete, which is based on security council resolutions that pledge the right of self-determination to the Kashmiri people.

Those who wish to see Pakistan as a ‘failed state’ will never succeed in their nefarious designs. As long we are strong in our resolve to correct wrongs, no one can dare harm our national and international interests

Pakistan and Afghanistan both seem to have recently realised that the war need not be won; rather it can only be ended. And if that is the course of action both countries choose to adopt then negotiating with the Taliban is a must. To get the Taliban real interest in a dialogue is however not that easy. Bombing them was rather a strange approach to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table. Afghanistan has recently witnessed its own version of the Army Public School (APS) attack. Appropriate Strategy would be needed to bring the Taliban to the negotiation forum with sincere desire to get positive results in the right direction without any problems in the implementation of policies which have been thought of well in advance. Both countries need to be ready to deal with all possible challenges to build new relationship of trust and commitment to peace.

On the home front, Pakistan needs courage and initiative. Pakistan will have to deal with individuals and group that are actively inciting violence and physically challenging the writ of the state. Those leading a defiant protest and churning out hate speeches/material must not be treated leniently anymore. The law must be applied evenly and applied to the greatest most offenders first.

Country’s general elections are just around the corner. Responsibility of the interim government will be to establish an environment and system to allow free and fair elections. The caretaker set up has to be unbiased and tasked only with conducting the election in a timely manner and ensuring that the day-to-day functions of the government continue during the transition. The caretaker set up is not to be allowed to affect any change into the government setup since that is not its task / job. To see that interim set up is non-political and neutral in its role, all government institutions should stay away and make sure that no effort is made to influence the working of the interim set up. The Pakistan nation needs to get out of internal and external factors leading to crises and chaos. It is time to demonstrate that all our institutions are on one page, the same page. Unity is strength. National interests are above personal interests.

As a student of management and public policy, I firmly believe in strengthening public institutions to enhance their ability and capacity to effectively address public causes and contribute to achieving national objectives. In this context we need to provide full support to those fully determined to provide leadership to clean up the mess and appreciate those who offer sacrifices, wherever and whenever needed, to ensure that our ideological and geographical frontiers remained secure. No internal and external conspiracies can succeed as long we have a collective resolve to stay confident in our abilities to meet all emerging challenges confronting us as a nation. We have the capacity to convert challenges into opportunities and convert weaknesses into strengths. No moves to isolate Pakistan have worked, nor will the enemy efforts in this context ever succeed.

We are a nuclear power with status and stature in the comity of nations. Those who wish to see Pakistan as a ‘failed state’ will never succeed in their nefarious designs. As long we are strong in our resolve to correct wrongs, no one can dare to harm our national and international interests. Pakistan has support of countries who are working for peace and development and connectivity and ultimate good of the region and the world at large. Friends of Pakistan cooperate in efforts to fortifying for a better future in an environment free of tensions.

Diversity and unity go together. Understanding diversity means working together for a collective objective, making use of people with varied background, skills and upbringing in cultural context. It requires harnessing human resources through best of coordinating and organisational skills. Complex national and international organisations are working successfully to achieve common interests. It is a fine approach to peace and harmony as well as productivity and achievement. We can use the value of diversity to resolve many of our local and regional issues. It is a tool that I think can also help sort out issues of extremism and overcoming hate and prejudices.

If we rethink there are avenues open to guide us to solve problems. Pakistan is not an exception. We can do things but by learning from our mistakes and the will to go for achievement orientation. Pakistan is rich in human resources as well as natural resources. All that we need is to excel and make best use of resources.

The write is former Director National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA), Government of Pakistan, a political analyst, a public policy expert and an author. His book post 9/11 Pakistan was published in the United States

Published in Daily Times, April 16^th 2018.