Deal result in tea shops closing during prayers and a ban on music but no peace
Albert Einstein reportedly defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Nobody, apparently, has passed this nugget of wisdom on to the Pakistani government. Numerous peace deals and ceasefires between government authorities and Pakistani Taliban over the past two years have resulted in the Taliban expanding its oppressive reach across the country. Most recently, the Pakistani Army and then the provincial government in Swat District – about one hour north of Pakistan’s capital – agreed to allow local Taliban to impose Islamic law, known as Sharia, across the region, in exchange for an end to the insurgency. As the New York Times reports, the deal has resulted in tea shops closing during prayers and a ban on music – but no peace.