Reconciliation saves coalition

The Wednesday meeting unanimously agreed that the immediate threat to the state was that of growing militancy, extremism and terrorism, whereas the other issues, though having their own importance and priority have to be looked into, in due course of time.

The decisions arrived at the summit, therefore, paved the way for a long-term “indigenous policy which should be evolved with joint consultation to tackle not only the situation in the tribal areas but also all the other challenges facing the nation at home as and internationally.

The follow up of the important short-term and long-term decisions of strategic nature are visible during various developments during the past few days since the Islamabad coalition summit meeting. While uncertainty and rumour mongering about the break-up of the coalition has finally come to an end and thank God for that. The news from the foreign office Islamabad as well as the meetings of our FM Shah Mehmood Qureshi in Washington, New York and London brings good news of better understanding of Pakistan’s position in the West. Prime Minister Gilani’s visit to the US and his meeting with President Bush will hopefully prove fruitful in tiding over Pakistan’s basic crisis on the economic front. Let us hope that Mian Nawaz Sharif will soon return to Pakistan and the coalition parties will wholeheartedly join hands in managing the affairs of the state to dispel the perception of their internal dissension’s which can only damage Pakistan and bring joy to our enemies.

The writer is a president of the Pakistan National Forum

E-mail: ikramullah@nation.com.pk