Engaging militants

DAYS before the US visit of Prime Minister Gilani, the leadership of the ruling coalition met to take a joint stand on the issue of militancy. Mian Nawaz Sharif, who could not attend the session, was represented by PML(N) President Shahbaz Sharif. That the leaders decided to meet to seriously take up at least one of the most pressing issues faced by the country is, indeed, welcome. In a seven-hour meeting, they agreed that while growing militancy constituted a serious threat to national security, it had to be tackled through dialogue rather than by use of force. The meeting was given a detailed briefing by the COAS who was assisted by the chiefs of important security agencies. While the leaders agreed that the country's soil was not to be allowed to be used for terrorist activities, a complaint that the US and its allies have frequently made, they also made it known that its sovereignty would be defended against foreign intervention. So far the government has not gone beyond routine protests against the violation of Pakistan's airspace or against missile attacks. Meanwhile the ISPR has announced the winding up of the week-long Hangu operation. The meeting was timely, as it would strengthen the hands of Mr Gilani during talks with the Bush administration, which gives top priority to the issue of terrorism.