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PINA calls for limiting fight in S Waziristan

LAHORE: There was a need to limit fighting in South Waziristan and implement a post-operation strategy to isolate militants in FATA, speakers at a Pakistan Institute of National Affairs (PINA) roundtable said on Tuesday.

Addressing the roundtable, Maj Gen (r) Khawaja Rahat Latif slammed the US, Israel and India for harbouring evil designs against Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal. He said the US had succeeded in engaging a portion of the Pakistan Army in FATA as General Musharraf was forced to believe that the two attacks on his life were planned in Waziristan.

Analyst Sajjad Mir said appalling social and economic disparities and widespread illiteracy and poverty were the real causes of social insurgency.

Brig (r) Farooq Hameed Khan urged the national government to tackle the highly complicated situation while Prof Syed Razaul Haq was of the opinion that negotiations were the best course for a peaceful settlement of the conflict.

Brig (r) Yasoob Ali Dogar was of the view that things would improve by bringing FATA into the mainstream politics.

Altaf Hasan Qureshee stressed that the nation should adhere to democratic principles and cultivate a culture of consensus and accommodation. Former federal minister Ejazul Haq, in his presidential address, emphasised for social and economic development of FATA and confidence-building talks with the tribal elders. Defence journalist Eraj Zikriya and political scientist Prof Tauqeer Sheikh also addressed the roundtable. pr

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