Peace deals so far have been nothing but examples of the state’s utter failure to translate words into on the ground active peace. For one, all the previous peace deals have been entered into from a position of weakness that has buttressed the militant’s strength and provided them with ample reason to defy the points of agreement between the two parties. Secondly, no active implementation and monitoring apparatus had been provided by the authorities to measure the extent to which the deal was being adhered to. Thus the deals have been doomed to failure even before they began.
These gaps and inefficiencies further provide reason to the militants to act on their own while operating in the region. Socio-economic factors have been studied as the most potent around which the entire militancy framework is woven upon. From all those who join the militant factions, the majority is driven primarily by economic needs and almost lastly on religious grounds. Religious underpinning only legitimises their sinful crimes and makes it much easier for them to justify themselves as true harbingers of faith. Before the state decides what it wants to achieve, it must develop an exact understanding of the roots of violence and the precise characteristics of the perpetrators along with the exposition of the factors that favour acts of violence. For this Pakistan needs to execute a programme of reforms aimed, not only to bring the militants on the negotiating table, but also must begin removing the root causes of violence in society, by initiating developmental programmes, employment opportunities, education and awareness programs along with enhancing law and order, security and justice.
LUBNA HAMEED
Rawalpindi
