Daily Times

In the light of international precedents and pacts the global community is moving away from conflict and towards the management, rehabilitation and mainstreaming of individuals living in war torn areas. Conflict retards development of any country mired in deprivation and poverty. Individuals cannot exploit their potential in an authoritarian environment and thus we have the exodus towards the West. Pakistan has suffered from conflicts since its inception. There is an urgency to develop a narrative through the political process to contain the lure of militant beliefs, which can focus on and exploit youth. Reintegration activities focusing on rehabilitation and counseling will prevent targeting of juveniles by extremist groups. There is an overt and also covert lucrative dimension to conflict whether it be the armament industries of the West or those associated with the security paradigm. Conflict has a price tag attached and doubtful benefits for the citizen. In order to embark upon sustainable development, a peaceful environment is imperative. Implications on research are obvious in the backdrop of the security quagmire. The media may artificially exacerbate conflict and whip up a frenzy to increase ratings.

The modern world in recent decades has oriented towards peaceful settlement of disputes as the realization has sunk in that internecine warfare benefits no country as warring factions call for a truce or face destruction of the ideas and beliefs they represent.

Sri Lanka endured a 26 year long civil war ending in 2009 between the Sri Lankan security forces and Tamil separatists which was a conflict between the majority Sinhalese and minority Tamils, the prolonged nature of which severely damaged the social fabric, in addition to killing and injuring countless people. The United Nations played a positive role through UN Secretary-General’s Peace building Fund (PBF) this being the UN’s vehicle of first resort to sustain peace in countries or situations at risk. In the period 2006-2016, PBF has distributed USD 652 million amongst 35 conflict ridden countries.

The PBF addressed key issues in the areas of reconciliation, resettlement of internally displaced persons, facilitating ethnic reconciliation, empowering of women in development and reconciliation processes, especially those from tribal areas with a focus on participation through dialogue only.

Another instance of conflict resolution is that of the Mindanao Muslims of the Philippines. In 2014 the Philippines government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front agreed to end clashes that had started in 1969, causing more than 120,000 deaths and displacing hundreds of thousands of people. The Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro is the leading peace pact since the agreement that ended the armed conflict in Nepal in 2006.  The Muslim population of Mindanao experienced discrimination and was subjected to a policy of land dispossession since it was a Spanish colony. In the last 3 decades 44 out of 59 conflicts were brought to an end by peace treaties. The Mindanao peace process benefited from past conflict resolutions in South Sudan, Aceh and Northern Ireland. In 2009 the Mindanao Muslims and the Philippines government consented for establishment of an International Contact Group (ICG) to function with an observer status at the negotiations. The ICG is constituted by four countries namely Britain, Japan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia jointly with four international organizations.

The modern world in recent decades has oriented towards peaceful settlement of disputes as the realization has sunk in that internecine warfare benefits no country as warring factions call for a truce or face destruction of the ideas and beliefs they represent

Pakistan has been confronted with the problem of terrorism including suicide attacks by indoctrinated adolescents, internal displacement of its citizens, while purveyors of extremist ideologies exist freely with in us. Worldwide the number of refugees and internally displaced persons on account of conflict has multiplied manifold. Any conflict in the neighborhood of Pakistan will exacerbate the sense of crisis through giving rise to a sense of deprivation, especially in the tribal areas and may become a breeding ground for nurturing terrorism.

Instead of losing members of our population to terrorism, the productive capacity of these people should be developed to launch Pakistan as a major force in the region and globally, rather than being isolated. We must introspect and develop a narrative through the political process to contain the popular appeal of extremist ideologies and groups. Conflict resolution with its accompanying processes and initiatives of resettlement and rehabilitation of the displaced persons is an alternative theory that can be developed and implemented to eradicate the scourge of extremism. Successful rehabilitation entails restoring the quality of life of individuals affected by terrorism, including but not limited to support through counseling, rehabilitative therapeutic management strategies for anticipated trauma, infusing a sense of social responsibility, and for people to take ownership of this process. Pakistan is beset by severe economic disparity and such reintegration activities focusing on therapeutic rehabilitation in the tribal areas will deter targeting of adolescents by radical groups. In order to embark upon sustainable development a transparent environment is imperative as what may appear peaceful at the top may have latent violent forces. Excluding the option of political participation is a cause of conflict whereas an independent and pluralistic media enables debate and liberated thinking, which minimizes a sense of isolation. There is a dearth of research on the subject of conflict resolution in Pakistan, attributable perhaps to an underlying sense of insecurity and being victimized by a particular school of thought.

The author  has a PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences, and a Fellowship in Clinical & Research NeuroRehabilitation, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine from Seoul National University Hospital, South Korea with published work in academic journals

Published in Daily Times, January 15^th 2019.