Our nation has suffered US$ 35 billion in losses and more than five thousand people are dead since the war against terrorism started. Time demands for more actions such as the current strategic dialogue between the United Kingdom and Pakistan. Surely with this we move a step closer to victory over our enemy.
The dialogue has given the relation between the two countries a new bearing. Some important subjects were given a fair hearing by United Kingdom such as the energy crisis and military progress. Most of the military hardware used in the war by the Pakistan army is from the US, China and France. It is imperative for us to improve relations with these countries as well.
The oil prices in Pakistan have set a record of being the highest, not just in the region but also in the world. Oil prices are sustaining inflation which is giving rise to poverty. More than 30 percent of the population is already living on or below the poverty line in Pakistan. Such price hikes shall tilt a major portion of this 30 percent towards more abject poverty.
Abject poverty will open doors for the terrorist organisations to recruit youth who are in search of basic necessities of life. To curb the menace of terrorism, it is imperative to address the root cause that is the religious extremism and abject poverty.
More importantly the ending of the first dialogue is the beginning of a day-to-day relation rather than a strategic one with the UK and we should make maximum out of this in defeating the Taliban.
ERAJ DANISH
Islamabad
