Pakistan needs paradigm shift to battle terror: expert

Pakistan must dump its policy of using the Taliban and other militants against its foes and the paradigm shift should include an overhaul of its education policy, a Pakistani expert says.

"Momentary deviation from the long-held-dear policy of using the jihadi and Taliban outfits will never work," Zubair Torwali, head of a civil body dealing with education and development, said in the Daily Times Sunday.

"Neither does the short-lasting outrage work without a change in this security thinking," he said.

"Unless and until a paradigm shift happens in the security apparatus of Pakistan, we will continue mourning for our children, women, soldiers and general public."

The comments follow last week's massacre of over 140 children and teachers in a Peshawar school by the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Torwali said the curriculum taught in Pakistani schools, colleges and universities not only promoted extremism and religious chauvinism but also demonizes fellow Pakistanis.

"The curriculum is outdated, lacking the ability to meet the challenges of the post-modern world that progresses by leaps and bounds due to a knowledge-based economy...

"If we really want an end to terrorism, we need an overhauling of the curricula," the daily quoted him as saying.

The government must also closely monitor the Friday addresses in mosques where speakers' stress was on "sectarianism, politics, rituals ... and conspiracy theories".

He added that the use of religion for "national security" and "politics" must be stopped.

"It is now no secret that our military establishment has been rearing the militants as proxies to be used against India or Afghanistan, and has virtually made Pakistan a failing, if not failed, state."