A rare overture - Newspaper

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Mudassir Ali Shah</a></span><span class="divider "></span><span class="story__time font--arial ">February 19, 2018</span> </div>  <div class="d-block d-sm-inline-block clearfix float-none float-sm-right"> <div class="social social--icon social--black social--flat social--facebook social--count float-left mr-1 my-2 "> <a onclick="return !window.open(this.href, 'Share on Facebook', 'width=640, height=536')" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F1390239&display=popup&ref=plugin" target="_blank"><span data-fb-count-url="https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F1390239"><span class="count"></span></span></a> </div> <div class="social social--icon social--black social--flat social--twitter float-left mr-1 my-2 "> <a onclick="return !window.open(this.href, 'Tweet', 'width=640, height=300')" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://twitter.com/share?text=A%20rare%20overture&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F1390239&counturl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F1390239" target="_blank"></a> </div> <div class="social hidden-xs-down social--print social--icon social--black social--flat float-left mr-1 my-2"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawn.com/news/print/1390239">   </a> </div> <div class="social social--email social--icon social--black social--flat float-left mr-1 my-2"> <a onclick="$('.mailer [name^=id]').val(1390239);$('.mailer').modal().open()" href="javascript:void(0)"></a> </div> <div class="mailer themodal themodal--centered" style="width:400px;height:260px;background:#fff"> <h3>Email</h3> <br/> <form accept-charset="utf-8" class="form-vertical emailer" onsubmit="javascript:$.post(this.action, $(this).serialize());$(this).html('Mail sent, thank you!');return false;" method="POST" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawn.com/news/email/1390239"><input class="form-control" type="hidden" name="jscheck" value=""><div class="form-group"><label for="sender" class="control-label">Your Name</label><input class="form-control" id="sender-2" type="text" name="sender"></div><div class="form-group"><label for="to" class="control-label">Recipient Email</label><input class="form-control" id="to-2" type="text" name="to"></div><input class="form-control" type="hidden" name="id" value=""><input class="btn mt-2" type="submit" value="Email"><input class="form-control" type="hidden" name="_token" value=""></form> </div> <div class="social social--comment social--icon social--black social--flat social--label text--700 float-left mr-1 my-2"> <a href="#comments">14</a> </div></div> </div>   <div class="template__main clearfix modifier--open px-1 modifier--widedefault modifier--quote-center-narrow">   <div class="story__content pt-1 mt-1"><div style="display: none"></div><figure class="media one-third palm--one-whole media--right "> <div class="media__item "><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710im_/https://i.dawn.com/primary/2018/02/5a89e901a3cb2.jpg" alt="The writer is a freelance journalist based in Peshawar."/></div> <figcaption class="media__caption ">The writer is a freelance journalist based in Peshawar.</figcaption> </figure> <p> </p><p class="">IN an uncharacteristic overture, the Afghan Taliban recently offered the Americans dialogue on ending the 17-year-old war, urging US citizens and lawmakers to mount pressure on the Trump administration to withdraw troops from Afghanistan.</p><p class="">Amid intensifying bloodshed in much of Afghanistan, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid held out the proposal in an open letter — a 10-page rebuke of the American military campaign, which began in late 2001.</p><p class="">The dialogue offer comes almost a month after two deadly assaults in Kabul claimed almost 200 civilian lives. Conditions for Afghan security forces and Nato-led troops on the battlefield, meanwhile, are fast deteriorating. </p><blockquote> <p class="">The Afghan Taliban’s propaganda has evolved.</p></blockquote> <p class="">The increasingly lethal impact of the armed conflict on civilians can be best gauged from the fact that more than 10,000 non-combatant Afghans lost their lives or suffered injuries in 2017. At least 3,438 people were killed and 7,015 wounded. </p><p class="">The chilling statistics from the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and the UN Human Rights Office, which may not fully highlight the unspeakable human suffering inflicted on the ordinary people, clearly prove the Taliban are still a force to reckon with.</p><p class="">Even if snubbed by Washington and Kabul, the letter is reflective of a gradual evolution in Taliban’s propaganda war and concurrently represents a struggle between moderates and hardliners within the group. It may also resonate with anti-war Americans, who genuinely demand better utilisation of their tax dollars.</p><p class="">Objectively speaking, the invitation should demonstrably influence Washington’s new policy for South Asia. America’s positive response to the call for peace parleys would vindicate its claim of seeking a negotiated end to the war and stabilising the region at large. </p><p class="">But the Trump team ostensibly remains in a combative and rejectionist mood. “The Taliban statement does not show willingness to engage in peace talks. Their horrific attacks in Kabul speak louder than these words,” the State Department spokesperson said, rejecting the move as a bluff. </p><p class="">Sticking to its guns, the United States wants the Afghan Taliban to engage with the government of President Ashraf Ghani in discussions on charting a path to peace. However, the insurgent movement is unwilling to talk to a president it views as an American stooge.</p><p class="">While the Taliban brand the unity government as a puppet regime with no authority, US officials appear to be divided on reaching out to the insurgents. For obvious reasons, the divisions spell bad news for the long-suffering Afghans. </p><p class="">Trump is the third successive US president to ramp up the military campaign in the war-devastated country. Without learning from the missteps of George W. Bush and Barack Obama, he has ruled out communicating directly with the Taliban. </p><p class="">But Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has hinted at US willingness for talks with what he calls moderate voices in the Taliban. He has also suggested that reconcilable militants could become part of the Afghan government.</p><p class="">By the same token, Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan also hopes communication with the Taliban would happen in due course of time. Nonetheless, he has not explained when conditions would warrant such contacts. </p><p class="">Now is the time for hawks in the Trump administration to see the reality that the war in Afghanistan is unwinnable and peace talks need to be given a fair chance. Despite spending billions of dollars and losing thousands of troops, the US is nowhere close to achieving its objectives.</p><p class="">Terrorist threats persist, Al Qaeda is regrouping and the illicit drug commerce continues to flourish in the country. And that’s why the US should heed the Taliban’s argument: “If the use of force continues for another 100 years, the outcome will be the same.…”</p><p class="">A spike in coalition air strikes notwithstanding, the Taliban control large swathes of the countryside. Undeterred by the heightened bombing blitz, the fighters have effectively foiled Trump’s much-touted strategy to break the stalemate.</p><p class="">Several rounds of fruitless negotiations between Afghan actors have taken place in Pakistan, Dubai, Russia, China and Turkey. But all such attempts have been scuttled by US actions, including the killing of Mullah Akhtar Mansour in a drone attack. </p><p class="">Regardless of the frustrating outcome of previous meetings, Afghan spymaster Masoom Stanikzai and National Security Advisor Mohammed Hanif Atmar are said to be in backdoor negotiations with representatives of the guerrilla outfit. </p><p class="">Intriguingly, however, the High Peace Council is being kept out of the loop. Given lingering dust-ups in the ruling coalition, neither of the two officials has so far bothered taking the peace panel on board. Even then, the door for reconciliation has been left ajar. </p><p class="">Pursuing an outright victory on the battlefield or bulking up US military resources in Afghanistan is going to be an untenable course of action. But Trump seemingly clings to his illogical position of ‘fight now, talk later’. </p><p class=""><em>The writer is a freelance journalist based in Peshawar.</em></p><p class=""><em>Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2018</em></p> </div> </div>   <div class="template__footer clearfix modifier--open px-1"> <div class="row no-gutters"> <div class="col-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1"> <div class="row no-gutters"> <div class="col-12 col-sm-11"> <div class="ml-0 ml-sm-6 px-0 px-sm-2"> <hr> <div class="row no-gutters"> <div class="col-12 col-sm-6"> </div> <div class="col-12 col-sm-6"> <div class="mt-2 mt-sm-0 clearfix social-container">  <div class="social social--icon social--black social--flat social--facebook social--count float-left mr-1 "> <a onclick="return !window.open(this.href, 'Share on Facebook', 'width=640, height=536')" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F1390239&display=popup&ref=plugin" 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data-id="2" style="float:left;width:32.333333333333%;">  <article class="box story " data-id="1073745" data-layout="story">  <figure class="media media--right media--stretch col-sm-6 col-12 px-0 "> <div class="media__item "><a title="" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawnnews.tv/news/1073745/"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710im_/http://i.dawn.com/medium/2018/02/5a8c1f22395d9.jpg" alt="پھیپھڑوں کے امراض کی یہ خاموش علامات جانتے ہیں؟"/></a></div> </figure>  <h2 data-layout="story" data-id="1073745" class="story__title py-2 "><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawnnews.tv/news/1073745/" class="story__link">پھیپھڑوں کے امراض کی یہ خاموش علامات جانتے ہیں؟</a></h2> </article>  </div> </div><div class="clear--both"> </div></div> </div> </section>  </div> <div class="border--top border--thick border--black"> <section id="comments" class="comments px-0 col-sm-10 col-12"> <h1 class="comments__label text--700">Comments 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<button type="button" disabled="disabled" class="button js-comments-sort-date float-right">Oldest</button> </div> <div class="comment pb-4 mb-4 border--bottom" id="5729056" data-id="1"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-11"> <div class="comment__author float-left">Trump Et</div> <div class="timeago comment__date" title="2018-02-19T09:14:07+05:00"><span class="timestamp--time timeago" title="2018-02-19T09:14:07+05:00">Feb 19, 2018 09:14am</span></div> <div class="comment__body mt-2 size-four clearfix"><p>The Pukhtoons majority is absent from the power scene. Their motto has always been, 'My land. My rule.' Why should that be so difficult to understand?</p> </div> <div class=""> <input type="button" value="Reply" data-name="Trump Et" class="button button--short mr-2 comment__reply"/> <div class="button button--social" title="Recommend this comment">  <span class="button__label votejs__cast" data-vote-key="1390239/up-5729056">Recommend</span> <span class="button__count votejs__count" data-vote-key="1390239/up-5729056">0</span>  </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="comment pb-4 mb-4 border--bottom" id="5729117" data-id="2"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-11"> <div class="comment__author float-left">Ahmed bin Babar</div> <div class="timeago comment__date" title="2018-02-19T09:42:06+05:00"><span class="timestamp--time timeago" title="2018-02-19T09:42:06+05:00">Feb 19, 2018 09:42am</span></div> <div class="comment__body mt-2 size-four clearfix"><p>Dialogue is an outstanding rather inevitable tool towards peace...</p> </div> <div class=""> <input type="button" value="Reply" data-name="Ahmed bin Babar" class="button button--short mr-2 comment__reply"/> <div class="button button--social" title="Recommend this comment">  <span class="button__label votejs__cast" data-vote-key="1390239/up-5729117">Recommend</span> <span class="button__count votejs__count" data-vote-key="1390239/up-5729117">0</span>  </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="comment pb-4 mb-4 border--bottom" id="5729265" data-id="3"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-11"> <div class="comment__author float-left">anonymouseeee</div> <div class="timeago comment__date" title="2018-02-19T10:44:43+05:00"><span class="timestamp--time timeago" title="2018-02-19T10:44:43+05:00">Feb 19, 2018 10:44am</span></div> <div class="comment__body mt-2 size-four clearfix"><p>Excellent article.</p> </div> <div class=""> <input type="button" value="Reply" data-name="anonymouseeee" class="button button--short mr-2 comment__reply"/> <div class="button button--social" title="Recommend this comment">  <span class="button__label votejs__cast" data-vote-key="1390239/up-5729265">Recommend</span> <span class="button__count votejs__count" data-vote-key="1390239/up-5729265">0</span>  </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="comment pb-4 mb-4 border--bottom" id="5729294" data-id="4"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-11"> <div class="comment__author float-left">SHAHID SATTAR </div> <div class="timeago comment__date" title="2018-02-19T11:00:45+05:00"><span class="timestamp--time timeago" title="2018-02-19T11:00:45+05:00">Feb 19, 2018 11:00am</span></div> <div class="comment__body mt-2 size-four clearfix"><p>The Americans can hardly learn from their own mistakes. The blame game being started by them, putting it on Pakistan, clearly shows how they can find a scapegoat for any of their own blunders and get away with it every time. Of course, they have others to take their side in such a situation, who, willingly or unwillingly take their side, not realizing that the next time is near when the buck will be passed on to them for similar reasons.</p> </div> <div class=""> <input type="button" value="Reply" data-name="SHAHID SATTAR " class="button button--short mr-2 comment__reply"/> <div class="button button--social" title="Recommend this comment">  <span class="button__label votejs__cast" data-vote-key="1390239/up-5729294">Recommend</span> <span class="button__count votejs__count" data-vote-key="1390239/up-5729294">0</span>  </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="comment pb-4 mb-4 border--bottom" id="5729386" data-id="5"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-11"> <div class="comment__author float-left">Umer </div> <div class="timeago comment__date" title="2018-02-19T11:36:57+05:00"><span class="timestamp--time timeago" title="2018-02-19T11:36:57+05:00">Feb 19, 2018 11:36am</span></div> <div class="comment__body mt-2 size-four clearfix"><p>Very well articulated.</p> </div> <div class=""> <input type="button" value="Reply" data-name="Umer " class="button button--short mr-2 comment__reply"/> <div class="button button--social" title="Recommend this comment">  <span class="button__label votejs__cast" data-vote-key="1390239/up-5729386">Recommend</span> <span class="button__count votejs__count" data-vote-key="1390239/up-5729386">0</span>  </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="comment pb-4 mb-4 border--bottom" id="5729561" data-id="6"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-11"> <div class="comment__author float-left">Abdul Hadi</div> <div class="timeago comment__date" title="2018-02-19T12:46:06+05:00"><span class="timestamp--time timeago" title="2018-02-19T12:46:06+05:00">Feb 19, 2018 12:46pm</span></div> <div class="comment__body mt-2 size-four clearfix"><p>Interesting reality. Pakistan should aside from Trump tactics of war so that after America Pakistan can built its relation with Afghanistan.</p> </div> <div class=""> <input type="button" value="Reply" data-name="Abdul Hadi" class="button button--short mr-2 comment__reply"/> <div class="button button--social" title="Recommend this comment">  <span class="button__label votejs__cast" data-vote-key="1390239/up-5729561">Recommend</span> <span class="button__count votejs__count" data-vote-key="1390239/up-5729561">0</span>  </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="comment pb-4 mb-4 border--bottom" id="5729617" data-id="7"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-11"> <div class="comment__author float-left">steevan roham</div> <div class="timeago comment__date" title="2018-02-19T13:07:53+05:00"><span class="timestamp--time timeago" title="2018-02-19T13:07:53+05:00">Feb 19, 2018 01:07pm</span></div> <div class="comment__body mt-2 size-four clearfix"><p>Looks like Trump's south Asia policy work's great, may be talibans realized they and there handlers sitting in neighboring countries have ran out of options.</p> </div> <div class=""> <input type="button" value="Reply" data-name="steevan roham" class="button button--short mr-2 comment__reply"/> <div class="button button--social" title="Recommend this comment">  <span class="button__label votejs__cast" data-vote-key="1390239/up-5729617">Recommend</span> <span class="button__count votejs__count" data-vote-key="1390239/up-5729617">0</span>  </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="comment pb-4 mb-4 border--bottom" id="5730173" data-id="8"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-11"> <div class="comment__author float-left">Fried Chillies</div> <div class="timeago comment__date" title="2018-02-19T16:22:35+05:00"><span class="timestamp--time timeago" title="2018-02-19T16:22:35+05:00">Feb 19, 2018 04:22pm</span></div> <div class="comment__body mt-2 size-four clearfix"><p>The running between various stakeholders have just begun. Hope the Fox does not get out of breath while trying to meet all the hounds. Heard today he is running towards Russia.</p> </div> <div class=""> <input type="button" value="Reply" data-name="Fried Chillies" class="button button--short mr-2 comment__reply"/> <div class="button button--social" title="Recommend this comment">  <span class="button__label votejs__cast" data-vote-key="1390239/up-5730173">Recommend</span> <span class="button__count votejs__count" data-vote-key="1390239/up-5730173">0</span>  </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="comment pb-4 mb-4 border--bottom" id="5730345" data-id="9"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-11"> <div class="comment__author float-left">Dr.Shams</div> <div class="timeago comment__date" title="2018-02-19T17:31:05+05:00"><span class="timestamp--time timeago" title="2018-02-19T17:31:05+05:00">Feb 19, 2018 05:31pm</span></div> <div class="comment__body mt-2 size-four clearfix"><p>So we can finally agree that in China, policy changes and government do not change. In US, Government change...but policy remains the same...which is manipulated to greater extent by Heads of weapon industries.</p> </div> <div class=""> <input type="button" value="Reply" data-name="Dr.Shams" class="button button--short mr-2 comment__reply"/> <div class="button button--social" title="Recommend this comment">  <span class="button__label votejs__cast" data-vote-key="1390239/up-5730345">Recommend</span> <span class="button__count votejs__count" data-vote-key="1390239/up-5730345">0</span>  </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="comment pb-4 mb-4 border--bottom" id="5730550" data-id="10"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-11"> <div class="comment__author float-left">Outsider_view</div> <div class="timeago comment__date" title="2018-02-19T18:39:04+05:00"><span class="timestamp--time timeago" title="2018-02-19T18:39:04+05:00">Feb 19, 2018 06:39pm</span></div> <div class="comment__body mt-2 size-four clearfix"><p>In negotiations one who is a position of strength has advantages, so the Americans want to achieve that before they start negotiating.</p> </div> <div class=""> <input type="button" value="Reply" data-name="Outsider_view" class="button button--short mr-2 comment__reply"/> <div class="button button--social" title="Recommend this comment">  <span class="button__label votejs__cast" data-vote-key="1390239/up-5730550">Recommend</span> <span class="button__count votejs__count" data-vote-key="1390239/up-5730550">0</span>  </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="comment pb-4 mb-4 border--bottom" id="5731236" data-id="11"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-11"> <div class="comment__author float-left">Zak</div> <div class="timeago comment__date" title="2018-02-19T23:14:00+05:00"><span class="timestamp--time timeago" title="2018-02-19T23:14:00+05:00">Feb 19, 2018 11:14pm</span></div> <div class="comment__body mt-2 size-four clearfix"><p>US has lost in Afghanistan. It is repeating Vietnam folly.</p> </div> <div class=""> <input type="button" value="Reply" data-name="Zak" class="button button--short mr-2 comment__reply"/> <div class="button button--social" title="Recommend this comment">  <span class="button__label votejs__cast" data-vote-key="1390239/up-5731236">Recommend</span> <span class="button__count votejs__count" data-vote-key="1390239/up-5731236">0</span>  </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="comment pb-4 mb-4 border--bottom" id="5731459" data-id="12"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-11"> <div class="comment__author float-left">Jamyang</div> <div class="timeago comment__date" title="2018-02-20T01:46:25+05:00"><span class="timestamp--time timeago" title="2018-02-20T01:46:25+05:00">Feb 20, 2018 01:46am</span></div> <div class="comment__body mt-2 size-four clearfix"><p>Read the actual Taliban letter, and you will see that the only negotiations proposed are for the USA to leave, and for the Taliban to be restored to full governance in Afghanistan, meaning without express will of Afghans, Just hand it over and all will be well.</p> <p>This is not a peace proposal but a surrender proposal.</p> </div> <div class=""> <input type="button" value="Reply" data-name="Jamyang" class="button button--short mr-2 comment__reply"/> <div class="button button--social" title="Recommend this comment">  <span class="button__label votejs__cast" data-vote-key="1390239/up-5731459">Recommend</span> <span class="button__count votejs__count" data-vote-key="1390239/up-5731459">0</span>  </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="comment pb-4 mb-4 border--bottom" id="5731828" data-id="13"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-11"> <div class="comment__author float-left">Sj</div> <div class="timeago comment__date" title="2018-02-20T07:16:23+05:00"><span class="timestamp--time timeago" title="2018-02-20T07:16:23+05:00">Feb 20, 2018 07:16am</span></div> <div class="comment__body mt-2 size-four clearfix"><p>US should open some big educational institutions so these people get educated. Some factories so they get jobs. Only then will violence be over</p> </div> <div class=""> <input type="button" value="Reply" data-name="Sj" class="button button--short mr-2 comment__reply"/> <div class="button button--social" title="Recommend this comment">  <span class="button__label votejs__cast" data-vote-key="1390239/up-5731828">Recommend</span> <span class="button__count votejs__count" data-vote-key="1390239/up-5731828">0</span>  </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="comment pb-4 mb-4 border--bottom" id="5732017" data-id="14"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-11"> <div class="comment__author float-left">Lubna Beg</div> <div class="timeago comment__date" title="2018-02-20T09:08:53+05:00"><span class="timestamp--time timeago" title="2018-02-20T09:08:53+05:00">Feb 20, 2018 09:08am</span></div> <div class="comment__body mt-2 size-four clearfix"><p>@steevan roham there is no policy --kabul is seeing attack after attack--what policy---if usa dont take this chance of respectable exit will have to leave in humiliation soon as everybody sees the writing on wall ---history is repeating another russia(this time usa)is routed in aghanistan</p> </div> <div class=""> <input type="button" value="Reply" data-name="Lubna Beg" class="button button--short mr-2 comment__reply"/> <div class="button button--social" title="Recommend this comment">  <span class="button__label votejs__cast" data-vote-key="1390239/up-5732017">Recommend</span> <span class="button__count votejs__count" data-vote-key="1390239/up-5732017">0</span>  </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>  </section> </div> </div> </div>  </article> </div> </div> </main> <aside class="pb-4 ">  <section class="widget theme widget-adsense modifywidget-border-off modifywidget-transparent" data-type="adsense" data-id="1220"> <div class="widget__header"> <h2 class="widget__title modifywidget-title-off"><span>Desk Mrec Top</span></h2> </div> <div class="widget__main ">   <div class="ad " aria-hidden="true"> <div class="ad__label " 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href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawn.com/authors/7539/tim-blight">Tim Blight</a></span> </div></article>  </div> <div class="slideshow--row__item pr-0 pr-sm-2 mb-2 lap-and-up-border--right palm-border--bottom equalize float-left" data-id="3" style="float:left;width:24%;">  <article class="box story mt-1 mb-1 mb-sm-2 mt-sm-0 pt-0 pb-1 pb-sm-2 pt-1 pt-sm-0 pr-0" data-id="1388573" data-layout="story">  <figure class="media media--focus media--stretch col-sm-12 col-3 mr-sm-0 mr-2 float-sm-none px-0 "> <div class="media__item media__item--100 "><a title="" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawn.com/news/1388573/psl-recap-the-crests-and-troughs-of-pakistans-beloved-t20-league"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710im_/https://i.dawn.com/medium/2018/02/5a80d41d0d5c1.jpg" alt="PSL recap: The crests and troughs of Pakistan&#39;s beloved T20 league"/></a></div> </figure>  <h2 data-layout="story" data-id="1388573" class="story__title font--playfair-display py-0 "><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawn.com/news/1388573/psl-recap-the-crests-and-troughs-of-pakistans-beloved-t20-league" class="story__link">PSL recap: The crests and troughs of Pakistan's beloved T20 league</a></h2> <div class=" mt-1 "><span class="story__byline size-three text--black "><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawn.com/authors/7380/zohaib-ahmed-majeed">Zohaib Ahmed Majeed</a></span> </div></article>  </div> </div><div class="clear--both"> </div></div> </div> <div class="border--top border--thick border--black mx-sm-2 mx-0 clearfix"> <h3 class="opinion-stories font--playfair-display my-2"><a class="opinion-stories" href="/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawn.com/opinion">Opinion</a></h3> <div class=" slideshow--list pr-0 pr-sm-2 col-sm-4 col-12 float-left slideshow--opinion--first mt-2"> <div class="clear--both"> <div class="slideshow--row__item active pr-0 pr-sm-2 mb-2 lap-and-up-border--right palm-border--bottom equalize float-left" data-id="0" style="float:left;width:99%;">  <article class="box story mt-1 mb-1 mb-sm-2 mt-sm-0 pt-0 pb-2 pt-1 pt-sm-0 pr-0" data-id="1390693" data-layout="story">  <figure class="media media--stretch col-12 px-0 "> <div class="media__item "><a title="" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawn.com/news/1390693/pretorian-guard"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710im_/https://i.dawn.com/medium/2018/02/5a8c857c64c8f.jpg" alt="‘Pretorian’ guard"/></a></div> </figure> <div class="clearfix"></div>  <h2 data-layout="story" data-id="1390693" class="story__title font--playfair-display "><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawn.com/news/1390693/pretorian-guard" class="story__link">‘Pretorian’ guard</a></h2>  <div class="story__excerpt size-three font--georgia ">The ANC caved in to the demands of capitalism. </div> </article>  </div> </div><div class="clear--both"> </div></div> <div class=" slideshow--list slideshow--opinion col-sm-8 col-12 float-left mt-2"> <div class="clear--both"> <div class="slideshow--row__item active pr-0 pr-sm-2 mb-2 lap-and-up-border--right palm-border--bottom equalize float-left" data-id="0" style="float:left;width:24%;margin-right:1.3333333333333%;">  <article class="box story mt-1 mb-1 mb-sm-2 mt-sm-0 pt-0 pb-1 pb-sm-2 pt-1 pt-sm-0 pr-0" data-id="1390692" data-layout="story">  <figure class="media media--focus media--stretch col-sm-12 col-3 mr-sm-0 mr-2 float-sm-none px-0 "> <div class="media__item media__item--100 "><a title="" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawn.com/news/1390692/language-skills"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710im_/https://i.dawn.com/medium/2018/02/5a8c8526e0dfc.jpg" alt="Language skills"/></a></div> </figure>  <h2 data-layout="story" data-id="1390692" class="story__title font--playfair-display py-0 "><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawn.com/news/1390692/language-skills" class="story__link">Language skills</a></h2> <div class=" mt-1 "><span class="story__byline size-three text--black "><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawn.com/authors/5535/waqas-younas">Waqas Younas</a></span> </div></article>  </div> <div class="slideshow--row__item pr-0 pr-sm-2 mb-2 lap-and-up-border--right palm-border--bottom equalize float-left" data-id="1" style="float:left;width:24%;margin-right:1.3333333333333%;">  <article class="box story mt-1 mb-1 mb-sm-2 mt-sm-0 pt-0 pb-1 pb-sm-2 pt-1 pt-sm-0 pr-0" data-id="1390691" data-layout="story">  <figure class="media media--focus media--stretch col-sm-12 col-3 mr-sm-0 mr-2 float-sm-none px-0 "> <div class="media__item media__item--100 "><a title="" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawn.com/news/1390691/courts-of-the-people"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710im_/https://i.dawn.com/medium/2018/02/5a8c84cf7f3e5.jpg" alt="Courts of the people"/></a></div> </figure>  <h2 data-layout="story" data-id="1390691" class="story__title font--playfair-display py-0 "><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawn.com/news/1390691/courts-of-the-people" class="story__link">Courts of the people</a></h2> <div class=" mt-1 "><span class="story__byline size-three text--black "><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawn.com/authors/410/rafia-zakaria">Rafia Zakaria</a></span> </div></article>  </div> <div class="slideshow--row__item pr-0 pr-sm-2 mb-2 lap-and-up-border--right palm-border--bottom equalize float-left" data-id="2" style="float:left;width:24%;margin-right:1.3333333333333%;">  <article class="box story mt-1 mb-1 mb-sm-2 mt-sm-0 pt-0 pb-1 pb-sm-2 pt-1 pt-sm-0 pr-0" data-id="1390690" data-layout="story">  <figure class="media media--focus media--stretch col-sm-12 col-3 mr-sm-0 mr-2 float-sm-none px-0 "> <div class="media__item media__item--100 "><a title="" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawn.com/news/1390690/battle-to-no-end"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710im_/https://i.dawn.com/medium/2018/02/5a8c845a08e9c.jpg" alt="Battle to no end"/></a></div> </figure>  <h2 data-layout="story" data-id="1390690" class="story__title font--playfair-display py-0 "><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawn.com/news/1390690/battle-to-no-end" class="story__link">Battle to no end</a></h2> <div class=" mt-1 "><span class="story__byline size-three text--black "><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawn.com/authors/966/zahid-hussain">Zahid Hussain</a></span> </div></article>  </div> <div class="slideshow--row__item pr-0 pr-sm-2 mb-2 lap-and-up-border--right palm-border--bottom equalize float-left" data-id="3" style="float:left;width:24%;">  <article class="box story mt-1 mb-1 mb-sm-2 mt-sm-0 pt-0 pb-1 pb-sm-2 pt-1 pt-sm-0 pr-0" data-id="1390503" data-layout="story">  <figure class="media media--focus media--stretch col-sm-12 col-3 mr-sm-0 mr-2 float-sm-none px-0 "> <div class="media__item media__item--100 "><a title="" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawn.com/news/1390503/new-choices"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710im_/https://i.dawn.com/medium/2018/02/5a8b4ae16ac12.jpg" alt="New choices"/></a></div> </figure>  <h2 data-layout="story" data-id="1390503" class="story__title font--playfair-display py-0 "><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawn.com/news/1390503/new-choices" class="story__link">New choices</a></h2> <div class=" mt-1 "><span class="story__byline size-three text--black "><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawn.com/authors/496/touqir-hussain">Touqir Hussain</a></span> </div></article>  </div> </div><div class="clear--both"> </div></div> </div> <div class="border--top border--thick border--black mx-sm-2 mx-0"> <h3 class="editorial-stories font--playfair-display my-2"><a class="editorial-stories" href="/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawn.com/opinion">Editorial</a></h3> <div class=" slideshow--list slideshow--editorial mt-2"> <div class="clear--both"> <div class="slideshow--row__item active pr-0 pr-sm-2 mb-2 lap-and-up-border--right palm-border--bottom equalize float-left" data-id="0" style="float:left;width:15.666666666667%;margin-right:1.2%;">  <article class="box story mt-1 mb-1 mb-sm-2 mt-sm-0 pt-0 pb-1 pb-sm-2 pt-1 pt-sm-0 pr-0" data-id="1390689" data-layout="story"><span class="story__time size-two text--gray font--arial ">February 21, 2018</span>  <h2 data-layout="story" data-id="1390689" class="story__title size-four font--playfair-display "><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawn.com/news/1390689/role-of-institutions" class="story__link">Role of institutions</a></h2>  <div class="story__excerpt size-three font--georgia ">IT is a good idea, but much will depend on the quality of the debate itself. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has... </div> </article>  </div> <div class="slideshow--row__item pr-0 pr-sm-2 mb-2 lap-and-up-border--right palm-border--bottom equalize float-left" data-id="1" style="float:left;width:15.666666666667%;margin-right:1.2%;">  <article class="box story mt-1 mb-1 mb-sm-2 mt-sm-0 pt-0 pb-1 pb-sm-2 pt-1 pt-sm-0 pr-0" data-id="1390688" data-layout="story"><span class="story__time size-two text--gray font--arial ">February 21, 2018</span>  <h2 data-layout="story" data-id="1390688" class="story__title size-four font--playfair-display "><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawn.com/news/1390688/decriminalising-suicide" class="story__link">Decriminalising suicide</a></h2>  <div class="story__excerpt size-three font--georgia ">ALTHOUGH many outmoded laws still remain on our statute books, perhaps one of the cruellest and most damaging is ... </div> </article>  </div> <div class="slideshow--row__item pr-0 pr-sm-2 mb-2 lap-and-up-border--right palm-border--bottom equalize float-left" data-id="2" style="float:left;width:15.666666666667%;margin-right:1.2%;">  <article class="box story mt-1 mb-1 mb-sm-2 mt-sm-0 pt-0 pb-1 pb-sm-2 pt-1 pt-sm-0 pr-0" data-id="1390687" data-layout="story"><span class="story__time size-two text--gray font--arial ">February 21, 2018</span>  <h2 data-layout="story" data-id="1390687" class="story__title size-four font--playfair-display "><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawn.com/news/1390687/curbing-human-smuggling" class="story__link">Curbing human smuggling</a></h2>  <div class="story__excerpt size-three font--georgia ">DESPITE Europe’s restrictive measures to keep migrants out, refugees from Asia and Africa make perilous journeys ... </div> </article>  </div> <div class="slideshow--row__item pr-0 pr-sm-2 mb-2 lap-and-up-border--right palm-border--bottom equalize float-left" data-id="3" style="float:left;width:15.666666666667%;margin-right:1.2%;">  <article class="box story mt-1 mb-1 mb-sm-2 mt-sm-0 pt-0 pb-1 pb-sm-2 pt-1 pt-sm-0 pr-0" data-id="1390493" data-layout="story"><span class="story__time size-two text--gray font--arial "><span class="timestamp--label">Updated</span> February 20, 2018</span>  <h2 data-layout="story" data-id="1390493" class="story__title size-four font--playfair-display "><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawn.com/news/1390493/afghan-taliban-offer" class="story__link">Afghan Taliban offer</a></h2>  <div class="story__excerpt size-three font--georgia ">A RENEWED offer of negotiations by the Afghan Taliban, though once again insisting on direct talks with the US ... </div> </article>  </div> <div class="slideshow--row__item pr-0 pr-sm-2 mb-2 lap-and-up-border--right palm-border--bottom equalize float-left" data-id="4" style="float:left;width:15.666666666667%;margin-right:1.2%;">  <article class="box story mt-1 mb-1 mb-sm-2 mt-sm-0 pt-0 pb-1 pb-sm-2 pt-1 pt-sm-0 pr-0" data-id="1390492" data-layout="story"><span class="story__time size-two text--gray font--arial ">February 20, 2018</span>  <h2 data-layout="story" data-id="1390492" class="story__title size-four font--playfair-display "><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawn.com/news/1390492/witness-protection" class="story__link">Witness protection</a></h2>  <div class="story__excerpt size-three font--georgia ">IN Pakistan, witnesses are particularly important for prosecuting criminal and terrorism cases given the state’s... </div> </article>  </div> <div class="slideshow--row__item pr-0 pr-sm-2 mb-2 lap-and-up-border--right palm-border--bottom equalize float-left" data-id="5" style="float:left;width:15.666666666667%;">  <article class="box story mt-1 mb-1 mb-sm-2 mt-sm-0 pt-0 pb-1 pb-sm-2 pt-1 pt-sm-0 pr-0" data-id="1390491" data-layout="story"><span class="story__time size-two text--gray font--arial ">February 20, 2018</span>  <h2 data-layout="story" data-id="1390491" class="story__title size-four font--playfair-display "><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180221001710/https://www.dawn.com/news/1390491/saving-ranikot-fort" class="story__link">Saving Ranikot Fort</a></h2>  <div class="story__excerpt size-three font--georgia ">REGRETTABLY, it is only after the loss or wilful destruction of heritage and culture that our government is moved to... </div> </article>  </div> </div><div class="clear--both"> </div></div> </div> <div class="px-2">   <div class="ad py-4 d-block d-sm-none" aria-hidden="true"> <div class="ad__label " style="max-width:728px;">Advertisement</div> <div class="js-ad clearfix" style="max-width:728px;padding-bottom:12.362637362637%;text-align:center;margin:0 auto;overflow:hidden;"> <div class="radWrapper ad__wrapper"> <div id="div-gpt-ad-1455531878761-2" class="ad__wrapper__slot" style="width:728px;position:absolute"> <script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1455531878761-2'); 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