Saturday, July 26, 2008 Rahimullah Yusufzai Pakistan is on course to finally have a proper policy to resolve the conflict in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and NWFP. The PPP-led federal coalition government in a summit meeting of the leadership of the four allied political parties resolved to use dialogue as the preferred option to tackle the problem. The armed forces were also on board and it appears that both the civilian and military leaders have decided to take joint ownership of the new policy based on a multi-pronged approach aimed at bringing peace and stability to the tribal areas through political engagement of the tribespeople and enhanced investment in education, employment, development and infrastructure. The use of force hasn’t been discounted but it will take place as a last resort. Selective use...
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