WHATEVER else Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif planned to speak about before the UN General Assembly, invariably the focus was going to be on his comments about his government’s policy against militancy and terrorism. And almost inevitably, the day of Mr Sharif’s address coincided with another militant strike — the bus attack in Peshawar — and a declaration by a branch of the TTP that talks within the framework of the Constitution were unacceptable. Perhaps knowing this, Mr Sharif chose his words carefully. The prime minister owned his government’s policy of talks with the TTP but also claimed that “dialogue should not be seen as a sign of weakness or a tool of appeasement” and that his government is “resolved to oppose the forces of terrorism, by all means at our disposal”. It is still some way from laying down specific conditions and red lines in any negotiations with militants, but slowly the prime minister appears to be absorbing that the tone and tenor of the APC resolution and subsequent comments by government officials had sent a weak message. Perhaps the government will now strengthen its present stance.

On drones, the prime minister took the now-familiar line that the US must cease violating Pakistan’s territorial sovereignty and that drone strikes cause collateral damage. But Mr Sharif stopped short of upping the ante: he only called upon the US to stop the strikes, making no reference to the APC resolution which suggested taking up the issue at the UN. Mr Sharif and other politicians and security officials who have expressed unease about an expansive drone programme are right: there are unquestionably problems with both the scope and legitimacy of the drone programme. But there is another side to the problem that Pakistani leaders have long avoided dealing with: drones continue to pursue terrorists in the tribal northwest — in reality, even more narrowly within the Waziristan agencies for the most part — because terrorists with cross-border and international agendas continue to operate in Fata with impunity. If the state here is incapable of addressing a serious threat that projects inwards into Pakistan proper and emanates outwards regionally and internationally, it makes arguing on grounds of principle and territorial sovereignty that much more difficult.

In articulating his vision for a prosperous and developing Pakistan, Mr Sharif was right. Pakistan, especially its youth, needs more opportunities to grow and prosper. But there is no such thing as prosperity without security, at least in a meaningful, societal sense. Security is where the greatest challenge lies for Mr Sharif’s government.