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Flawed US policy towards militancy -letter

I would like to point out a basic flaw in the US policy being followed to check militancy in our region. First of all, we well know that the seeds of militancy were sown by the US itself in this region when they fought their proxy war against the USSR from our soil. Now that the genie refuses to get back into the bottle, the Americans are baffled and doing all the wrong things in the name of controlling militancy.

Trying to fight suicide bombers with bombs is like attempting to put out fire with more fire. If a person has already tied a bomb to himself how can he be scared away with another bomb or a gun?  Even a child would consider this strategy naive and devoid of intellect.

Militants ready to sacrifice their lives for a cause have done so because they have their hearts won over by those professing such cause.

The sensible way of countering militancy, is investing in ways of changing their heart. For this, first the US Govt should give up it's 'bully' image. It should show humbleness and respect for all schools of thought. It should stop scoffing now at everything they cherished yesterday from long beards to big turbans to the word 'Mujahideen' etc. Thereafter, it should spend big money in hiring religious scholars who aggressively and vociferously preach against suicide attacks and other forms of militancy. The idea should be to fight the war with ideological onslaught, not with drones and hell fires.

The cost of one drone or one helicopter invested honestly in the people, specially the religious scholars can turn the tables on destruction mongers. If  some are fuelling militancy, the US should ensure it acquires the services of preachers with double the money, who should not be scared to propagate the true Islamic message of peace and tolerance. (At present such preachers are indifferent because they have no  incentives against the risk involved).

It has been observed that the US does not mind extremist preachers cultivating the hearts and minds of young people with their ideas, but only after the damage has been done, it challenges the affected, with military arsenal,  branding them as obscurantists, militants, barbarians etc. alienating them further and deepening the imbroglio. -what a ruffle.. what a pity!

Farid Ul Haq,

Chitral.

22 march 09.

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