PRESS RELEASE

Date: September 30, 211

The post All Parties Conference (APC) scenario is characterized by convergent and divergent approximations. Surprisingly, the right-wing ideological and political position which has been contributing so far to the so-called national integration is tending to divert the attention from national integration within the country and civilizational integration with the rest of the world. More surprising are the proponents of sanity who had remained centrifugal and who now exhibits the vision of sustainable peace amid the media led hysteria of warmongering.
Much depends on the people of Pakistan who either have to listen to the voices of sanity, peace and co- existence or to immerse themselves in the hullabaloo of isolationism leading to collective suicide. There is not a path in between.
Aryana Institute for Regional Research and Advocacy (AIRRA) hails the political leadership for exhibiting sanity by sitting together collectively. But without doubting the goodwill of the political leadership the Augean Stable of 64 years of hate and warmongering could not be cleansed in one day. The joint resolution passed must be debated time and again through such other forums and within the parliament. All ambiguities must be cleared such as “Give Peace a Chance, “dialogue with a view to negotiate peace” and the “national interest” etc.

If Pakistan wants to “give peace a chance” it must ensure that Pakistani territory is not used against any sovereign country. The message should be louder and clearer to all such foreign elements who are using Pakistani soil for terrorism and sabotage in Pakistan as well as other countries. All such elements must be given a clear signal to leave Pakistani terretories so that the writ of the state is established.

The other point to “initiate dialogue with a view to negotiate peace” is equally ambiguous. Dialogue cannot be initiated with the non-state armed militants. The prerequisite for such dialogue is surrendering the weapons before the authorities and accepting the writ of the state.

Thirdly and most importantly, the national interest should be redefined. There must be a visible policy shift from territorial security to human security. It is in Pakistan’s interest to save the people as well as the rest of the world from the menace of terrorism. The national interest must be in consonance with the zeitgeist which is characterized by free market, knowledge-based economy, democratic dispensation and a culture of dialogue with the rest of the world. Any aberration from the zeitgeist would be tantamount to collective suicide.