Afghan President Hamid Karzai's recent letter to political and religious parties in the aftermath of attack on the school girl Malala got a lukewarm response as majority of the parties asked Afghanistan to move beyond words to counter militancy.
They said that President Hamid Karzai should take practical steps to root out the menace of terrorism in the region instead of paying 'lip service'. "Karzai's letter is nothing but part of diplomacy...the time for diplomacy is over [and] this is the time for action against militants," said a senior politician on condition of anonymity.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has written letters to top political and religious leaders in Pakistan, denouncing the Taliban attack on a 14-year old education activist Malala, asking them to help battle extremism in both countries. Karzai had written that the attack on Malala indicated that both Afghanistan and Pakistan need to take co-ordinated and serious steps to fight terrorism and extremism. The letters were sent to more than a dozen political and religious leaders, including Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf; Nawaz Sharif, Qazi Hussain Ahmed of Jamaat-e-Islami; Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, who heads the Pakistan Muslim League-Q; and Imran Khan of Tehreek-e-Insaf.
PML-N spokesman Senator Mushahidullah Khan called upon Afghanistan president to 'move beyond letter' and take concrete steps to curb militants which, he said, were a threat to both countries. He said that militants intrude into Pakistan from Afghan side. "We had been trying for several years to build trust but I think we have failed to see results on the ground", he added.
However, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) central information secretary Shafqat Mehmood termed the letter as a good gesture, saying co-ordinated efforts from both the countries will help in eradicating the militancy. "Since Afghanistan is a neighbour we should appreciate its concern regarding terrorism...we'll certainly reply to [Karzai] letter once Imran is back from his Turkey visit", he added.
When asked whether the party would point out infiltration of Afghan based militants into Pakistan, he said that it is job of the government to take up such issues. "We'll discuss how to eradicate this menace as it is an enemy of Pakistan and Afghanistan", he added. JUI-F leader Haji Ghulam Ali said that Afghanistan should have condemned killing of other children who were killed in US drone attacks in Pakistan, the way it condemned assassination attempt on Malala. He said that it is a joint war, for which both Pakistan and Afghanistan should sit together.
"The external elements are hell-bent to prolong this so-called war for their own vested interest but we [Pakistan, Afghanistan] should realise that they have to work on a one-point agenda or it will be too late...[and] then it would be of no use crying over spilt milk", he added.
"Many children are wondering why everybody is silent over hundreds of innocent Malalas and women, who have been killed by drone attacks but we don't even find their names...we should also fight for them", he added. A spokesman of JI also had similar views. He said that the leaders of all Islamic countries should show unity to steer the country out of the so-called war on terrorism. We appreciate Karzai's letter but this is need of the hour that the Muslim world should wake up from the deep slumber, he added.