Targeted therapy

This refers to the editorial ‘Kerry’s carrots’ (January 4). There is an old adage: ‘an apple a day keeps a doctor away’. Prevention is not only better but also cheap. It is also said that ‘a carrot a day keeps cancer away’. Militancy and terrorism can be likened to cancer as it starts in cells, grows, spreads to distant parts and is sustained by certain factors in the body. Let us hope and pray that the ‘carrots’ – millions of dollars for IDPs and billions of dollars under the Kerry-Lugar bill – will not only prevent the cancer but also treat it.
Technologically and scientifically advanced countries have succeeded in some cases to find the root causes of this malady (in our case it is poverty, injustices, unemployment and poor governance) and also found the factors which cause the growth and spread of terrorism. It is advised to carry out targeted therapy rather than taking such measures that can harm normal body parts.
Dr Sher Mohammad Khan
Peshawar