| October 24, 2001 | Wednesday | Shaba'an 6, 1422 |
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The right way to fight terrorism
IUCN clarification
Government College of Commerce
India’s designs foiled
Jewish lobby’s powers
‘Hats off to Qazi’
Terrorism in any form is crime
Mobile menace
Adulteration of edible oil
CNG use in vehicles
Different prescriptions
US action: an American’s view
SO now the cat is out of the bag. There is a vast untapped mineral resource like oil in Afghanistan. According to some sources, the oil in Afghanistan can last for as long as 500 years. No wonder then that America, backed by Britain, is after Afghanistan with a hope to share the spoils.
The Daily Mirror in its editorial on Oct 18 says that a representative of an American company UNOCAL had offered big money to Mullah Omar to construct a $5 billion gas pipeline project from Turkmenistan to Pakistan. But Mullah Omar signed the deal with Bridas, an Argentinean company. That, according to the Daily Mirror editorial, was the beginning of the confrontation between Mullah Omar and America. So now the picture is in its proper perspective.
In the meantime, the anthrax attacks in America are causing grave concern to the innocent American people who really do not know why they have been subjected to such horrible attacks, mainly because their media has kept them in the dark about America’s inhuman terror activities around the world for over a hundred years.
So far almost all the anthrax attacks have been directed against the media. People are beginning to wonder why the media has been singled out for this attack. Many theories are going around government and media circuits. But it seems they really do not know whom to blame. This is surprising seeing that the American regime was quick to blame Osama bin Laden no sooner than the attacks on the twin towers and the Pentagon took place.
But in the case of the anthrax attacks they seem to be reserving their judgment. Why? Some days ago there was a similar attack in a subway in Washington where a man threw a jar containing some chemicals.
Fifteen people were rushed to hospital after experiencing breathing difficulties after inhaling this chemical substance. The man was arrested, but until now we do not know if he is of ‘middle eastern origin’ or not. Observers believe that if he were of ‘Middle Eastern origin’ the media would have splashed his face all around the world.
This, these observers say, would have been a good opportunity to blame Islam and the Muslims. The fact that his identity has not been revealed could mean that he is a home-grown terrorist like Timothy McVeigh.
There is another theory doing the rounds. This suggests that the anthrax attacks in America could be a ploy to use chemical weapons to get Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan, knowing very well that conventional army operations are well nigh impossible in the rugged mountain terrains of Afghanistan.
Hence (the hoax of) these anthrax attacks in order to prepare the world to accept chemical warfare (against Afghanistan) as a necessary evil to rid the world of ‘Islamic terrorists’.
HAMEED ABDUL KARIM
Colombo,
Sri Lanka
TERRORISM is not a genetic disorder, nor does it have its roots in race or religion. It is a peculiar acquired state of mind the root cause of which is persistent injustice and oppression, whether it is domestic or international.
Al-Quaida and Taliban are one such group who specifically blame America for its prolonged injustice to Muslims, particularly with reference to Palestine. Killing Osama bin Laden or overthrowing Taliban will probably not eliminate international terrorism.
The American attack on Afghanistan, without definitive proof, has further annoyed the Muslim world. The western media is constantly giving the impression that it is the Muslims who are responsible for all the unrest.
Who can deny that the CIA has been involved in destabilization of democratically chosen governments and killing of their leaders in many countries of the world? Is this not a form of political terrorism?
Most of the world’s flashpoints are located in the Muslim world where Muslims are trying to achieve self-determination, which has been denied to them by colonialism and imperialism in the last five decades. If the East Timor issue could be settled in a few months time, why cannot the decades’ old problems of Kashmir and Palestine be resolved? The state terrorism in Kashmir and Palestine is ignored and Muslim activists are called fanatics, fundamentalists and terrorists. Is this not double standard?
Would America be able to control global terrorism by heavily attacking Afghanistan and killing Osama? It does not seem possible unless and until deprived people are respected and given their due rights. Live and let live is the need of the hour. World leaders need to review their global policies for the sake of humanity.
In therapeutic medicine the fundamentals of cure lie in treating the cause not the symptoms. This applies to preventive medicine too.
DR MOHAMMAD IRFAN
Karachi
THIS in reference to an article that appeared in this daily (Oct 21) titled: “Afghan policy responsible for environmental degradation, says report”. We would like to assert a few points in terms of its content.
The heading is not only provocative and sensational, but also sets a critical tone from the outset, which does not resonate with Dawn’s objectivity. There are two quotes in the article, which are purported to be from the Environment and Security Study conducted by IUCN. First, “The policy makers thought that the crisis could be handled through trade and diplomacy that proved a wishful thinking”. This is nowhere to be found in the report since, the report was to support policy makers and was not intended to criticize them.
The second quote, is more provocative: “That is why today after 30 years, we come to know that the fall of Dhaka was not a political issue, it was an issue of social justice and fair distribution of resources”. This is not connected to the study at all. Actually it appears to be a quote from Hamoodur Rahman Report.
It is not specified throughout the article, whether the quotations in the article are from the aforementioned study, or are views of author or have been taken from some other report.
Some contents of the article are factually incorrect. For instance the statements such as “Dir .... Gives the look of a desert” and “Afghan refugees had polluted river Kabul to such an extent that at present there existed no aquatic life in its water” are baseless, and were never commented upon by myself.
We would also like to clarify that the criticism on governmental policies, as attributed to myself, has never been an IUCN Policy. IUCN works very closely with public, private and NGO sectors and maintains a mutually trustful relationship with all of them.
DR ASIF ALI ZAIDI
Head, IUCN Islamabad Office,
Islamabad
THIS refers to the report “Commerce college may be given to private sector” (Oct 15).
“The alumni of Government College of Commerce and Economics - COMMECS - is of the view that the reason behind taking over the management of the college is to rebuild the image of the college and restore its past glory.
It has been felt for some years that the standards at the college had deteriorated to an alarming extent. The Old Students Association has kept on reminding the management of the college and the Education Department about the falling standards and is ready to extend its cooperation to overcome the shortcomings.
Commecs has already proved that they can devote their time, money and energy for the cause of education and the Commecs Institute of Business Education (C.I.B.E.) is an ample proof of their capabilities.
The college founded by them in 1993 has been securing top position for the last eight years and is also offering B.B.A. programme under I.B.A. affiliation. The college is running under Commecs Educational Trust founded by the Old Students Association of Government College of Commerce and Economics - Commecs.
Commecs has now pledged to develop this college on the same lines as CIBE so as to provide initially a strong base middle order education between the S.S.C and postgraduate studies and later to develop a postgraduate study programme in a modern education environment.
The Association urges the concerned authorities to expedite the handing over of the college to save it from further destruction. The dedicated teaching staff at the Government College of Commerce and Economics has already assured their full cooperation to the Association and welcome this move by the Education department.
IQBAL UMAR
President - Commecs
Karachi
IN one brilliant diplomatic move, President Musharraf has out-manoeuvred India. The bogey of cross-border terrorism et al, towards which India had used all its energy in recent years, has been totally ineffective. Mr Jaswant Singh’s efforts to paint Pakistan as a rogue state has also not borne any fruits.
Never has India been so ignored by the international community, especially the US. Indian frustration and helplessness is naturally writ large on every gesture, official or unofficial. And it is for this reason that the Indian TV, for once, makes interesting viewing.
But we must be on our guard. Also, we should not squander away the opportunity presented by a benevolent providence. There is greater need for national cohesion and closing of ranks behind President Musharraf, who has amply demonstrated his diplomatic, political and patriotic acumen.
In the present situation, Riaz Rahman’s plea to our ulema in his letter (Oct 5) deserves blanket endorsement by every Pakistani.
It was instructive to see how a nation came behind President Bush in the USA’s hour of national trauma. The sensitive situation in which we are placed, with all its internal contradictions and divisions - ethnic and sectarian — demands unity.
In national unity and a correct sense of priority may lie our long-term salvation.
RIAZ RASHDI
Dadu
ACCORDING to a section of the press Imran Khan, the chief of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf, has termed the Jewish lobby as the most powerful force which influences decision makers in the US.
He has further stated that the US media and the Congress are under the total control of the Jewish lobby. That is why the US media never allows the true picture of the Palestinian-Israeli issue to emerge.
There is no denying the fact that the present crisis in Afghanistan is of the making of the US itself.
It was the CIA who groomed Osama bin Laden and used him against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan for the sake of its own interest. Now Osama is a bone stuck in the throat of America.
TAJAMUL BOKHARI
Lahore
I wrote a letter entitled “Hats off to Qazi” and it appeared in your issue of Oct 14. I am sorry I was wrong and I must withdraw my tributes.
I had written my letter on the assumption that Qazi Hussain Ahmad would stick to his words. I was wrong. Since then the JI chief has continued to play a dangerous game which could only create anarchy and help India. In fact, by his utterances, he is making our enemy thoroughly happy.
Criticising the government is one thing — many are doing it; asking the army to remove their Chief of Army Staff quite another; it is a dangerous game.
The army is Pakistan’s only institution that is under discipline and is fully united behind its chief, whosoever he is. By asking the army to remove their chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad is trying to destroy the only source of strength and stability in Pakistan. This could lead to anarchy, and could serve India’s cause. What a shame that a party founded by Maulana Maudoodi should now be headed by a man who does not know what he is talking about.
I admit I was wrong.
RAFEEQ ZAHEER
Karachi
ISLAM preaches balance and moderation. To a Muslim, Jihad first and foremost means a constant struggle to better oneself by doing good things and shunning evil.
Jihad in the broader sense of the word means fighting an oppressor. It does not mean bombing, killing, maiming or terrorising the innocent. Jihad is waged on self and in self-defence.
Where then lies the difference between George W. Bush and the so-called extremist Osama bin Laden? If one has committed a dastardly act, is not the massive bombing of a tiny ravaged land, the size of Texas an equally extremist act?
The situation would become much more dangerous if the US widens its campaign against terrorism and starts attacking countries other than Afghanistan. This may destabilize the entire region.
Terrorism is terrorism, be it individually-sponsored or state-sponsored. The moderates should prevail and restore a sense of balance before the US and its allies find themselves embroiled in a David / Goliath like situation.
A. AFRIDI
Karachi
AT one of the mosques this Friday, I saw that after the Khutba when people stood up in Jamaat, some of them kept their mobile phones on the ground. Can’t they leave them in their houses or in the cars ?
Those phones continuously rang during the prayer. They were not switched off even for 20 minutes.
Do we always have to misuse a new technology?
SAMBEG
Karachi
THIS is with reference to a news item (Oct 19) saying that 13 samples of edible oil and ghee out of 15 were found adulterated or not in conformity with the specifications laid down by the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA).
Certainly there are other oil and ghee brands as well, which do not meet the PSQCA standards. Those should also be analyzed at the central testing laboratories of the PSQCA.
By taking contaminated food people are getting ill. They are facing gastrointestinal, high cholesterol and heart problems. But this is of no concern to those who are giving slow poison to this nation.
The move by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the PSQCA is commendable and should be widened to other food items such as jam, jellies, custard powder, packed masala etc. Also, the results of the tests should be made public and the culprits be punished.
AMIR JALAL SANI
Karachi
THE problem of environmental pollution may be reduced to a considerable extent with the use of CNG (compressed natural gas) as it will reduce discharge of carbon dioxide by about 25 per cent, unburnt hydrocarbons by 50 per cent, carbon mono oxide by 90 per cent, particulate by 98 per cent and lead by 100 per cent as compared to petrol.
The above figures show that the use of CNG will obviously improve our environment or at least the harm will be less. So I would like to ask the authorities to look into this matter and promote CNG use in Karachi and other cities of Pakistan.
SOBIA ZAREEN
Karachi
ABOUT 7000 people died in WTC, and President Bush reacted by saying that it is not time for ‘negotiations’ but for ‘action’.
More than 70,000 people have died so far in Kashmir and the US says, “Talks best way to resolve Kashmir issue.” (Oct 19) .
No doubt, talks are the best way to resolve issues. But why is the prescription for us, not the same for you?
YASER MAQSUD
Lahore
THE letter from M. Shaiq Usmani titled “The September watershed” (Oct 19) makes some interesting observations but the argument’s basis is in my view, incorrect.
Usmani suggests that a “war against terrorism cannot be a declared war, it has to be, by its very nature, a covert war ....” He continues to suggest that as a result of this overt action by the United States, the problem will actually worsen.
I must point out that the unspeakable actions of Sept 11 have left an indelible impression on the people of the United States and it has in fact only increased our awareness of the intolerable organizations that operate in the world today. It has even gone beyond that - it has given us a sense of urgency ... a feeling that we share with other civilized nations of the world that value stability and prosperity.
This urgency has spawned “an attack on many fronts” as President Bush and his cabinet members have explained. This includes the economic and military fronts both overt and covert. The importance of publicly declaring war on terrorism is critical. It makes a call to the world that extremist organizations finding it impossible to live at the same place as those who do not share their views are in the minority and must realize that the world is not moving in that direction.
More importantly, the overt actions of the U.S. military and its allies makes a statement that those who go beyond peaceful disagreement to a realm of violence will absolutely not be tolerated. There is simply no place in our ever shrinking world of clashing cultures for people who turn to terroristic threatening as a means to advance their own perverted cause. Simply put, the time has come to put a stop to those who practise targeting innocent civilians as a cowardly way to make a statement.
The cause being headed by the United States should stretch beyond the borders of Afghanistan, and I am sure it will. It does not make sense to stop with Al-Qaida. A world that moves towards acceptance of one another and understanding of differing opinions simply cannot afford to have terrorist groups operating freely. The United States has boldly called on other nations to hear the rallying cry and join in the effort to eradicate terrorism. This sort of rallying cry is exactly what is needed. It is time to stamp our extremism all across the globe - in whatever form it may be motivated - be it religious, political or whatever. We the people of the United States of America, in an effort to defend ourselves against such dangerous people, ask the rest of the world to help in the cause - in an effort to defend themselves.
AARON RUBY
Little Rock, Arkansas,
USA
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