The policy on drone attacks and rules of engagement with Pakistan should be reassessed to ensure that the country is internally secure, a report by a US-based forum pointed out.
An ‘Asia Society’ report titled ‘Pakistan 2020: A Vision for Building a Better Future’ by Hassan Abbas, launched on Wednesday, said internal security can be achieved if the international community directly targets its assistance toward helping Pakistan in this area.
Half of the US funding allocated for counterterrorism and counterinsurgency support in Pakistan can be directed toward the scientific investigations and enhancement of forensic sciences as well as other measures that can improve security in the country, the report of Asia Society, formerly chaired by late Richard Holbrook, says.
It suggests that a strategy for internal security in Pakistan will require revising the curriculum in public schools and madrassah networks, in ways that encourage pluralism and deter any dissemination of intolerance. It also suggested a de-radicalisation programme to reduce militancy.
Rigid and impartial enforcement of the law will help ameliorate ethnic strife and sectarian killings in cities like Karachi, the report says. It also sheds light on problem in Balochistan and suggests steps for improvement by revamping intelligence.
It extends discussion to the issues in Pak-US and Pak-India relations and gives conclusion for going ahead. The report elaborats in detail the challenges that Pakistan is facing in energy sector, rule of law, civil-military relations, economy, education, health and others.
Asia Society incumbent President Vishakha N Desai said in the foreword that the report is not meant to represent a consensus among all the members of the Pakistan 2020 Study Group.
The president said, “This report was published as the news of Osama Bin Laden’s death surfaced.
As US and Pakistan face an extremely difficult moment in their bilateral relationship, our hope is that the recommendations provided here will help policy makers in both countries and in the broader international community to formulate the best and most effective decisions to set Pakistan on a progressive path by 2020.”
