WITH the passage of time the process for restoration of peace in Afghanistan has been expedited by the government and the Grand Shura (peace committee) because the people have suffered heavily due to lawlessness. Leaders of the Shura have rightly pointed out that the youth should be involved in the process as they have to manage affairs in the future and they must play a role in this regard. The worst affected in the war … is the new generation because they have not been able to get a proper education or training to become successful. Terrorism has forced the people to shift to safer places and thus the new generation has not been given a chance to get a proper education. There is still time. Even now people in Afghanistan can bring about a change by making a collective effort towards the restoration of peace and a bright future for the new generation.

…In Pakistan, too, the war has badly affected the people, mainly students. Hundreds of educational institutions have been blown up and students have been terrorised into saying goodbye to their studies in parts of the country. Terrorists have intensified their activities in Pakistan and Afghanistan but our country seems to be the worst affected where blown-up schools have yet to be reconstructed. The sense of insecurity among the students is fast growing and the government has to take drastic steps to … protect the people. Our government should also … create new employment and reasonable opportunities for the youth to involve them in positive activities so that they can earn a respectable livelihood and help needy people…. The government should devise a comprehensive plan for giving … training to the youth and also create awareness among them about terrorism so that the new generation does not play into the hands of anti-state elements for the sake of monetary benefits. …[B]oth states should extend a hand of cooperation to each other to overcome terrorism. …— (Jan 24)

Selected and translated by Ali Hazrat Bacha.