REGARDING the editorial, ‘Series of attacks’ (Feb 16), I have some suggestions.

First, military courts should be revived and militants, sympathisers and facilitators be hanged as decided by military courts. Much as I agree with Dawn’s editorials regarding the death penalty, this dire situation demands dire action.

Second, we must hit the enemy’s supply of weapons and money — even if it means going after them in Afghanistan. Third, the border with Afghanistan must be fenced and mined – even if it means annoying Afghanistan and the US. If the militants use tunnels, they can easily be located. It must be understood that we do not have a free hand in Afghanistan — India, America and Afghanistan have a stake in the region.

With regard to the US, we must understand that we are on a weak wicket. It’s because of our duplicitous tactics that the US is now playing a game of tit-for-tat. Pakistan must accept that the concept of ‘good Taliban/ bad Taliban’ has been the bane of all our troubles. We are fooling no one, nor has this tactic ever paid — now is the time to be straight with and cooperate with the US.

With regard to Afghanistan, winning their trust back is the first step. We need their help to track militants crossing our border. Kabul must be made to understand that they cannot shelter our enemies. Where needed, the Durand Line can be renegotiated for minor adjustments — but asking for shifting the line to Jhelum is like asking for the moon. We must negotiate with Afghanistan keeping both countries’ interests in mind, not just to score points.

Wg Cdr (r) Sardar Ahmed Shah Jan

Peshawar

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AN extremist mindset is the cancer that is slowly killing our nation. The cure for this disease doesn’t lie in the hands of the doctors (read establishment) but in the hands of the clergy though some of them have indeed condemned suicide bombing.

The military and our security agencies can kill terrorists but they cannot change the mindset of the people. Every now and then there are blasts and we count the dead. In this gloom some of our clergy maintain a meaningful silence which encourages terrorists.

Our men of the cloth need to see the danger. All religious scholars must come forth and do their bit to stop this madness. They have to speak up as only they have the power to strike a chord among the common people. The time has come to stop our generation from falling into a pit of darkness.

Zeeshan Ali Brohi

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2017