| November 18, 2001 | Sunday | Ramazan 2, 1422 |
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Combating extremism
Re-shaping our foreign policy
Targeting Muslims
Honour killings
Anti-India rhetoric?
War media centre
Western media
PIA charging for wheelchairs
Understatement
Foreign policy failure
Regional languages
Food for the needy
Islamic dates
Mushrooming of medical colleges
THE fall of Kabul to the US-supported Northern Alliance (NA) is the beginning of another era of bloodshed in the already devastated Afghanistan. The jubilation exhibited by the US pumped force is not going to last very long. The NA’s expedition to Kabul would result in an early disaster.
If we look back into the history we find that the NA is nothing but a hotchpotch of self-centered groups without any national cause. It does not have the ability to control the turbulent Pushtoons who are in majority. Rifts have already started appearing in the alliance with Uzbeks, Tajiks and Hazaras marching on the different tracks.
The NA is the creation of hatred and vengeance and both these factors could never bring peace in Afghanistan. In their previous stance they had a horrible track record of loot, arson, tyranny, rapes and unprecedented executions. It is simple case of a vicious minority trying to wipe out the overwhelming majority of the Pushtoons. The massacre has already started when hundreds were killed in Mazar-i-Sharif for their affiliations with the Taliban.
Ouster of the Taliban from Mazar-i-Sharif, Herat and Kabul is not the end of the story. This had happened 163 years back when Kabul was captured by the British after ousting Mir Dost Mohammed and Shah Shuja was installed as the ruler. Resistance to Shah Shuja culminated in an uprising in 1841 and British forces were withdrawn in utter humiliation in 1842. An army of 4500 was brutally annihilated in their return journey from Kabul.
Lady Sale, wife of General Sale, vividly depicted the miseries the British army suffered at the hands of the Afghans. The journal written by her is classic and should have been looked into before embarking upon the present adventure. At least the British PM should have guided President Bush on the history of three Afghan wars, which were nothing but disaster for the British army. Incidentally, Britain was the superpower at that time and could not see reason till three disasters, one after the other, brought them to their knees and they had to recognise Afghanistan as an independent sovereign state in 1919.
Montesquieu insisted on the significance of past to a true judgement of future, “History repeats itself”, is a forewarning to take proper measures to ward off catastrophe.
History in Afghanistan did repeat itself when Babrak Karmal invited the Russians to consolidate his hold on the turbulent Afghans. What happened? Ten long years of war resulting in the disintegration of mighty USSR at the hands of the Afghans.
The entry into Kabul had always been very easy but it is the exit, which is disastrous. The British and the Russians drove in with much ease and were routed once they were in. And what does the Northern Alliance expect?
Pakistan is the worst affected in this American-sponsored war game in Afghanistan and stands frustrated because of the taking over of Kabul by the Northern Alliance who had been openly condemning Pakistan over its Afghan policy. The President has persistently been insisting that the alliance should not be allowed to enter Kabul till a decision was taken as to the formation of a broad-based government in Kabul. Even the genuine demand for suspension of bombardment was not paid any attention.
Pakistan is being used as frontline state and bears the present and the future brunt and at what cost? In all probability the same drama is being repeated again when the Russians came to Afghanistan. Pakistan bore the brunt at that time and the Americans left when their mission was accomplished. But this time the US mission is not that easy to be accomplished as America is directly involved and is held responsible for all the bloodshed in Afghanistan. With the Taliban around in the killing mountains and Bin Laden and his network working with them, the Americans are not going to have a safe haven back home.
The time is slipping out of the hands of the UN. If the Northern Alliance is allowed more time, they will resort to unabated killings and bloodshed, which would lead to civil war.
GHULAM ASGHAR KHAN
Lahore
WHILE the world at large has been focusing on the bombing campaign and to a smaller degree on the diplomatic progress about the future of Afghanistan, we Pakistanis need to know how all that has happened since Sept 11 will affect us also. The days of protesting in the streets against the bombing and shouting pro-Taliban slogans are over. Try as we may, we cannot change the reality that now exists in Afghanistan.
While the lack of massive protests has given the government some confidence, we need to remind the government that while we support the decision made by it, we also want it to take this opportunity to crush sectarian and political violence and root-out corruption.
Most of our problems today are not a result of our Afghanistan policy or the aftermath of the Sept 11 attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. Yes, the refugee crisis has placed a heavy burden on our already sinking economy but we should not expect that the donors would not ask for repayment of debt. We have to work hard to revive the economy.
Now is the time for the silent majority to speak out and let its voice be heard. If we, the silent majority, continue to be quiet then we cannot counter the extremists. All Pakistanis want a secure and prosperous future. It will not become a reality without a struggle. We want our government to find solutions for our problems but we also need to support it and tell the extremists that we will not tolerate their behaviour.
MOEZ DHARANI
San Francisco, USA
THE Northern Alliance might appear to have captured Kabul and other important cities in Afghanistan, but they will not be able to play a significant role in any government if they do not listen to the US and other partners in the war against terrorism.
I think the US and Pakistan have the same position for a new government in Afghanistan, that is, it should be a broad based government including proper representation of all ethnic and political groups.
Further, Pakistan should increase their contacts with all major Afghan political groups and tribal leaders, not just the Taliban, and should also convey a friendly message to the Northern Alliance assuring them of Pakistan’s support for a broad based government.
Pakistan now also has an opportunity to bridge the gap in its relationship with Russia. If the US and Russia can be friendly to each other, why not Pakistan and Russia. The present Russian government has a very different perception of world politics and is more sensitive to economic interests.
It is good to be a friend of the US. At the same time, there are good reasons to have improved and friendly relationship with Russia.
M. QAMAR IQBAL
Ridley Park, USA
PRESIDENT George W. Bush’s statement that the US is not targeting the Muslims for terrorism is just rhetoric. The United States government has come out in its true colours, by publishing a list of countries whose citizens shall have to wait for 20 days after submitting their application for an American visa. The visa forms will be sent to the Pentagon for verification of the applicants’ credentials.
Surprisingly, the countries listed in the notification are all Islamic, including Pakistan. There is not a single non-Muslim country in the list. What about Russia, India, Israel and some other countries which happen to be the breeding grounds of terrorism?
Another news item reveals that about 300 Saudi students have cut short their university studies in the United States and have returned home on account of harassment and maltreatment of Saudis after the September 11 disaster. How does Mr. Bush claim that the Muslims are not being targeted?
LT COL (R) RAFI NASIM
Lahore
OUR society is changing very slowly. There are two ways to change the society: formal and informal. The formal way is that in which the state makes a law enforced through agencies such as the police, the court, and sometimes the armed forces. The informal methods are those in which an attempt is made to create awareness in the society about the necessity for the change through school education, media, and community-based organizations.
Honour killing of women had been prevalent among the Hindus in India since ancient times in a different form called Satti. When the husband of a woman died, the wife burnt herself on the funeral pyre along with her husband’s dead body. In later times, the widowed Hindu women were forced to follow this custom even if they were not willing to do so.
This custom was adopted in different forms in some parts of the Muslim society in the various regions now forming Pakistan.
In Sindh, such killings are more frequent in the northern parts including Dadu, Larkana, Ghotki, Sukkur, Jacobabad, Khairpur, and Shikarpur.
According to this custom, the brother, father or some other male relative is authorized to kill a female on the ground of possessing bad character or for having illicit relations with someone. If the woman escapes the punishment, then a Jirga is arranged in which the Sardar of the tribe imposes a penalty on the accused.
The accused man is bound to pay the amount to the Sardar who, after keeping his own share passes over the rest to the family of the accused woman.
Furthermore, the family of the accused woman is bound to hand her over to the Sardar who might keep her at his house for as long as he wishes or, alternatively, the Sardar can sell the accused woman to someone out of the tribe. The price might vary from woman to woman. This practice is known in Sindh as Karo Kari.
This is a cruel custom which has no backing from the law of the country. But the Sardars are following it freely as the police and the local administration are their loyal servants.
It is necessary that the government should eliminate this terrible custom and should also take necessary measures to abolish the Sardari system. Not only the image of Pakistan but also that of Islam has been tarnished because of it.
ALI ASGHAR ARBAB
Khipro
I have been a regular reader of Dawn (internet edition) since the war on terrorism began on Afghan soil. I am amazed at the openness of your reporting in which I find nothing missing! There seems to be no twist or angle forced on the situation.
The stories on the front page are notable for their newsworthiness, and everybody seems to be getting a fair share of the front page. However, your editorials and opinion sections appear to be inclining towards anti-India rhetorics and toward the status quo in Pakistan.
I am surprised to see a total absence of reassesment of the situation on a long-term basis, especially in the field of education and eradication of corruption and poverty (which go hand in hand).
I hope that the economic windfall which Pakistan is about to get from the world community will be put to use for the betterment of Pakistan (excluding war toys) and not be squandered as before.
DR C.V. PATEL
Columbia, S.C.,
US
IT has been well said that the first victim of war is truth, as in the present case, the media is being used to conceal the facts. After the events of September 11, within an hour, CNN and BBC started to blame Osama bin Laden without any proof.
Now it has been reported that a “war media centre” is being set up in Islamabad soon to launch a campaign against the Taliban. Has Pakistan have become a plaything in foreign hands?
ISMAT JABEEN BUTT
Lahore
IT is a no secret that the Western media is biased against Muslims. Pakistan hosts three million Afghan refugees, but this news hardly gets the coverage it deserves. Nor the fact that two important religious leaders in Pakistan have been arrested, has found any mention on the so-called global media.
In contrast, each and every day the electronic media showed bearded demonstrators. This gave the perception that the country has only extremists who are against General Musharraf and his government.
I was also shocked by the arrogance of the American public in general. In a poll on the CNN website, an overwhelming majority was in favour of Iraq being bombed. Perhaps Afghan and Iraqi lives are not as precious as American lives.
ADEEL KHAN
Canada
I discovered this with great pain that the management of the Pakistan International Airline has started charging money for providing a wheel chair to a sick, handicapped or aged passenger.
The charge varies from US $ 17 to US $ 25, depending on the destination. While travelling from Karachi to Manchester on Nov 7, one passenger had to pay Pak Rs 1,050 for a wheel chair. In my opinion this is cruel and well below all norms of decency.
Will the PIA care to answer?
SALEEM MOHAMMED
Karachi
I have read with interest the article by Prof Khalid Mahmud titled, “Time to tame the fanatics.” (Dawn Nov 6). He has hit the nail on the head when he says: “The historic opportunity to rectify the aberrations of the Zaiul Haq era should not be wasted.”
This is an understatement by the learned professor because now almost everybody admits that Gen Zia was the arch enemy of democracy and sectarian peace and harmony in Pakistan.
MOHAMMAD ISHAQUE SOOFI
Rabwah
FALL of Kabul to the Northern Alliance is a set-back for Pakistan and its policy makers. We have lost the strategic depth on our western border for a mere $ 1 billion . This is the end result of the one dimensional foreign policy which has always been dictated by the military and intelligence agencies rather than by the foreign office, the politicians, scholars and think-tanks.
MAHBOOB IHSAN
Islamabad
NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah declared on Nov 6 that the Pushto Academy of the University of Peshawar had been given the status of a language authority. He also announced a Rs one million grant for the language laboratory of the academy.
Putting an end to the discriminatory policies of the past governments, the governor should also pay some attention to the unprivileged languages of the NWFP - Hindko, Seraiki, Goujri, Kohistani and Kohwar.
SAGHEER AHMAD
Peshawar
ONE of the major gifts of God is food, without which we cannot live. We take this great favour for granted and do not even bother to utter a grateful word.
Respect for food is not so common among us. Everyday, the leftovers are thrown away in trash sans consideration. These leftovers are a treat for stray dogs and cats. But sometimes these same leftovers become the only source of survival for many desperately hungry children.
Many times, I have seen children searching for a discarded piece of bread to fill their empty stomachs. Many times, I have witnessed disturbing sights of old men picking up chicken bones from garbage to overcome their hunger.
The situation might not be as terrible if everybody is a little thoughtful. If we tie up the leftovers in a plastic bag and put it in a basket outside our door, it can be gratefully utilized by those in need of nourishment.
By acting in this manner, we can do our share in making this city and the world at large, a better place to live.
YAMNA SULTAN
Karachi
THE PTV news shown daily at 9pm PST should inform its viewers about the sighting of the moon, indicating the beginning of the new Islamic month.
This would help in creating awareness about the Islamic calender among the viewers.
MAHJABEEN AZIZ
Karachi
SOME great names in the medical profession and their affluence have created a false belief in the minds of the parents and children alike — that just getting a medical degree is a sure and easy course to fame and prosperity.
This has encouraged the roaring business of medical colleges. Anybody who has a control of a facility which is usually an apology for a hospital, starts a medical college. Eager parents pour their life’s savings to get their children enrolled in them. The number of good schools and colleges has only minimally increased over what we inherited from the British, and which could feed only 50 seats of Dow Medical College, the only medical college of the province at the time of Independence. The worthwhile institutions established by the Habibs and Adamjees fell victim to nationalization, leaving only the Hamdard School doing a commendable service. During this period, the number of medical seats have multiplied resulting in admission to medical colleges of candidates with inadequate premedical education.
This has created a very alarming situation regarding the production of doctors whose knowledge of medicine is less than that of an experienced grandmother. On the economic side, this over-production of doctors has eroded their market value to an extent that a doctor’s salary is now less than that a driver gets in the same organization.
All this is due to the greed of the owners of the so-called medical colleges. If these entrepreneurs are sincere in the cause of education, why do they not open schools?
Any party interested in opening a medical college should, at first, run a prescribed number of good schools and colleges, and health and paramedical centres, for a given period. Only after the concerned party has provided this community service, it might be allowed to establish a medical college which must meet some minimum requirements in respect of buildings and equipment and student-teacher-patient ratio.
This is the only strategy to produce candidates who will have the ability to become a skilled doctor. This will also ensure that sufficient number of nursing and paramedical staff is also produced for optimum utilization of the services of doctors qualifying from a medical institution.
PROF S. H. SHAFQAT
Karachi
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