This is in response to Bruce Riedel’s opinion article ‘Is Al Qaeda on the ropes?’ (KT/Sept 21). What Mr. Riedel has addressed are the achievements attained in the US—led war on terror.
A weakened Al Qaeda setup can never be completely written off. The battle of arms has gotten too far along and could produce no better results than what has been achieved. Extending its use or even intensifying it will only fuel the resurgence process.
It is now time to evaluate the root-cause of the entire mayhem and address it diligently. The network has expanded itself and strengthened to work as independent chapters elsewhere within and outside the region. The western occupying forces in Afghanistan should demobilise as a result and leave the indigenous problems of the Taleban to the current Afghan government to tackle. Secondly, and most importantly, a review of the US foreign policy, especially in the case of the Middle East has to be carried out and readdressed.
It is the result of all such policies and actions that has led the entire world into a state of chaos and turmoil. These policies need to be dedicated to confidence building and gaining trust among those factions that are viewing the US and its allies as a cause of their grievances and miseries. Additionally, they should be directed towards enabling a change in the mindset and ideology.
Also, Pakistan should be acknowledged for its due share in terms of losses and achievements in the war-on-terror. Being forcefully dragged into a state of perpetual war in its backyard and parsimoniously aiding in a threatening fashion to recompense for its participation as a ‘key ally’ is not rewarding enough.
Moreover, the entire country has plunged into a socio-economic disaster primarily because of being sucked into the war. Words like ‘incompetent’ and ‘reliable’ just fade away the efforts of hundreds that have been put in to achieve what is there today.
A weakened Al Qaeda setup can never be completely written off. The battle of arms has gotten too far along and could produce no better results than what has been achieved. Extending its use or even intensifying it will only fuel the resurgence process.
It is now time to evaluate the root-cause of the entire mayhem and address it diligently. The network has expanded itself and strengthened to work as independent chapters elsewhere within and outside the region. The western occupying forces in Afghanistan should demobilise as a result and leave the indigenous problems of the Taleban to the current Afghan government to tackle. Secondly, and most importantly, a review of the US foreign policy, especially in the case of the Middle East has to be carried out and readdressed.
It is the result of all such policies and actions that has led the entire world into a state of chaos and turmoil. These policies need to be dedicated to confidence building and gaining trust among those factions that are viewing the US and its allies as a cause of their grievances and miseries. Additionally, they should be directed towards enabling a change in the mindset and ideology.
Also, Pakistan should be acknowledged for its due share in terms of losses and achievements in the war-on-terror. Being forcefully dragged into a state of perpetual war in its backyard and parsimoniously aiding in a threatening fashion to recompense for its participation as a ‘key ally’ is not rewarding enough.
Moreover, the entire country has plunged into a socio-economic disaster primarily because of being sucked into the war. Words like ‘incompetent’ and ‘reliable’ just fade away the efforts of hundreds that have been put in to achieve what is there today.
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This blog featured in KT letters to the editors, 23rd Sept, 2011
