ISLAMABAD: Former chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) Dr Qibla Ayaz on Tuesday said no state negotiates with terrorists like Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which had been declared as Fitna al Khawarij by the government.

He said respect for the writ of the state is the prerequisite for any dialogue or negotiation between the state and TTP, which has contributed to severe violence in the country, including attacks on civilians and community elders and security forces.

While the TTP’s presence in Afghanistan is a reality, Pakistani stakeholders believe that the Taliban government could play a constructive role in addressing this threat to Pakistan’s national security and its relationship with Afghanistan.

Dr Qibla Ayaz, currently a member of the Shariat Appellate Bench of the Supreme Court (SC), was addressing the 5th round of Pak-Afghan Religious Scholars Dialogue held in Islamabad by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS).

According to a statement, in the context of education, Dr Ayaz highlighted that internationally accepted educational models, such as Indonesia’s, could be adapted in Afghanistan to provide a curriculum that aligns with both sharia guidelines and modern standards, without requiring an extensive overhaul.

This approach was suggested as a pragmatic response to the complexity of revising hundreds of books.

“The Afghan government must consider the international demand on the matters of girls and women rights to work and education; reversing restrictions on their fundamental rights can actually pave the way for their recognition by the global communities including states and citizens, whereas conditioning education on international recognition will create more obstacles to the acceptance and might even risk reducing international aid and support to the country already undergoing severe humanitarian crisis,” he said.

Participants emphasised the need for media in both countries to counteract divisive narratives, especially those that foster hatred or animosity. While social media can be used to disseminate negative stereotypes and misinformation, which can exacerbate tensions, the same medium can also be used to connect and understand each other better.

Dr. Aamer Raza from the Dept. of Political Science, University of Peshawar, moderated the dialogue.

CRSS Executive Director Imtiaz Gul explained the purpose of the dialogues like Beyond Boundaries extremely relevant and crucial for two countries to resume formal dialogue, address differences, and issues of terrorism and shift from entrenched positions toward a common ground.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2024