This is apropos of your editorial “De-radicalisation centres” (23 January). It is quite encouraging that two de-radicalisation centres are being set up in Bajaur Agency and Tank, which will be jointly run by Pakistan Army and the Frontier Corps. Efforts will be made to de-radicalise detainees arrested in conflict zones through interventions such as psychological counselling, vocational training and skills’ development.
The ground work has yet to start but we have started receiving a number of objections, like these centres are being set up in adjacent areas where there is growing militancy, there is a suspicion that such centres will become informal detention centres, forces should only remain involved in aggressive action and there should be a clear distinction between the responsibilities of the civilian and military arms and to achieve organisational efficiency and transparency, it should be only civilian arm of government at the forefront of all such initiatives.
It has been rightly pointed out that the state cannot rely solely on military strategy to turn the tide. But why we should have only aggressive picture of our army, paramilitary forces and agencies. We must work together and make these centres a success story. It is high time that we trust our own people and instead of handing over these centres to some foreign NGO or put it on sale to private parties, we should work in harmony.
AFSHAIN AFZAL
Karachi