Pakistan Determined Not to Use Force Against Terrorists

The Pakistani government will ignore the pleas of help from NATO and Afghanistan to do something about the terrorists in talistan. Instead of fighting the terrorists the Pakistani government is intent on signing peace deals. These peace deals strengthen the terrorists and weakens Pakistan's hold on the area. Ever since Pakistan has signed these peace deals, there has been a significant increase in cross border attacks from Pakistan to Afghanistan. Dawn

PESHAWAR, July 21: NWFP Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said on Monday that despite various challenges, the government would not follow the dictates of anybody and continue its efforts for peace in the province.

Briefing the media after a meeting of the provincial cabinet, he said the cabinet had discussed the worsening law and order situation and endorsed the peace initiative in Swat.

He said it was difficult to restore peace in violence-hit areas in a short time, but the government was using all available options to achieve the bjective.

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He said the first option was to solve the problem through negotiations and jirgas, a historical mechanism used by the Pakhtuns to settle their disputes.

The other option, he said, was to launch a massive development programme in the affected areas and get the people involved in the process and

in the event of failure, to use force as the last resort to protect the life and property of the people.He said the government would use force only under compulsions.

“We are opposed to the use of force. We believe in peaceful methods to resolve issues. But if someone challenges the authority of the government force will have to be used to establish the government’s writ.”