To gauge success and failure an independent analysis is needed by those who have no self interest. The cost-benefit ratio also has to be calculated. In terms of terrorism, unfortunately, hardly a day passes when there are no manmade disasters resulting in deaths of civilians and security personnel. Thousands have died and millions have been displaced.
What is needed in my humble opinion is to try and remove the root causes: poverty, injustice, unemployment and poor governance in Fata and the rest of the country. For Fata, the plan for peace, prosperity, and progress was devised by chief secretary Mallam and approved by the highest authority but 80 years have passed and it has yet to be implemented.
Dr Sher M Khan
Peshawar