David Miliband

Own it, fight it

There has been a big change in Pakistan since my last visit in January. The scale of engagement between the Pakistan army and the insurgency in the north west of the country is considerably expanded. I met some of the victims - internally displaced persons driven from their homes now sheltering in 45 degree heat in a camp north of Islamabad. They said they had lost relatives to the Taliban - one old man said his wife and two daughters had been killed. They wanted to go back - as soon as the government's 25000 rupee (250 pounds approx) grant was delivered. The government/army want them to go back as soon as security, governance and services are established.

The chief minister of North West Frontier Province says that Pakistanis now own the struggle and need to fight it. At the moment there is public revulsion at Taliban excess and support for the army, despite big losses. The emphasis on governance and security is key to sustainability but as one of the leading army commanders said, without social equity there will not be stability. The refugees from Buner have in significant numbers returned; the test of progress is the return of refugees from Swat, 80 per cent of whom are staying with relatives and friends. Our aid and the big American effort is for the short term; our reconstruction spending will be key to the long term.

Posted at 09:30 09 July 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[4]