THIS is apropos of your editorial ‘Wrong diagnosis’ (June 4). While referring to the statement by the Inspector-General of Frontier Corps, you have rightly pointed out the wrong diagnosis by the said officer.

There is no denying the fact that foreign secret agencies are using the Balochistan issue to further the policies and interests of their respective countries. But who provides them the manpower to execute their plans?

If the state power will not ensure justice to its citizens and will fail to safeguard their honour, the people getting frustrated and alienated is a natural consequence.

In the book Lion of Mysore (translated from Persian), it is mentioned that Tipu Sultan once at his open darbar got annoyed with his deputy Mir Sadiq and humiliated him publicly.

The deputy kept quiet but when he settled the scores, the course of history was changed.

I recently read an appeal addressed to the Chief Justice and the army chief with their photographs on top corners. The gentlemen had moaned that the plots purchased by them 18 years ago were under occupation of the army which is not following the orders of the court under the excuse of security. This is unfortunate.

The tragedy of history is that nobody learns from it. The army higher-ups need to rationalise the role of this powerful institution while dealing with countrymen at any level.

They should go for difficult option of magnanimity over easy option of arrogance. The cutting edge of an axe cannot cut without a mass of metal behind it.

It is easier to make enemies than making friends. If a frustrated person joins the enemy ranks, it is because of the human instinct of self-preservation and it is the state apparatus to blame.

LT-COL (Rtd) KHALID MAHMOOD Abbottabad