I AGREE with the comments of Shaiq Usmani (Dec 2) that Talibanism will survive and may even endanger the stability of this country unless we take urgent and concrete steps to eliminate its baneful influence on our polity.
We must learn a lesson from the bitter events which happened in our country in the past and ensure that we do not commit such mistakes again.
In view of the immense oil and gas reserves in the Central Asian region, including Afghanistan, Pakistan has a golden opportunity to harness the newly-found international goodwill and the incoming aid for the revival of its economy.
A peaceful Afghanistan can provide pipelines for transmission of oil and gas to the markets of Europe and South Asia through Pakistan. Afghanistan will itself benefit through the export of its own gas. Besides, the whole of Central Asia will be open to the exports of Pakistani products through the land route via Afghanistan.
Pakistan can assume a leadership role in the new frontiers of business and trade which peaceful Afghanistan will present to the world as we have many enterprising businessmen and trained professionals to undertake this challenging task.
We can also set an example for the entire Muslim world as a vibrant modern democracy where fundamental freedoms are protected and the rule of law established, where education and healthcare is available for everybody and where every person is free to pursue any business, profession or vocation within the four corners of the land without any let or hindrance.
To bring about these changes, what the present government needs to do is to hold free and fair elections by next October and at the same time ask the political parties to help restore the 1973 Constitution in its original form by removing all distortions subsequently inserted in it due to narrowmindedness and myopic policies.
Fresh amendments involving larger constituencies, reintroduction of joint electorate, removal of discriminatory laws concerning minorities and enforcing democratic norms in letter and in spirit will also be necessary.
It will also be necessary to bring the 20,000 Madrassah in the mainstream educational system in order to stop the training of Jihadis. The government has already started this drive and it is not going to be easy, but given the strong leadership of President Musharraf, this drive is bound to succeed as the time is ripe to take the bull by the horns and do what is right for the benefit of the people. The whole country is behind the President. To ensure the continuity of the reforms, the President should remain at the helm of affairs as he has now become the symbol of creative and dynamic leadership for the country. He is the best example of liberalism, sagacity and statementship that we can present to the world.
M.G. HASAN
Karachi
A REFERENCE, dated November 25, has been filed against four senior officials of Sindh government with the Regional Accountability Bureau (RAB) for their involvement in corruption, illegal promotions, false declaration of assets, misuse of official position, practising extra-favouritism and possessing ill-gotten wealth and property that cannot be justified and accounted for. The same matter has also been taken up by the army inquiry team and instructions for necessary action have also been initiated by concerned quarters.
Unfortunately, almost all the officials named in the reference are serving in their positions, which will hamper the entire process of impartial and transparent inquiry because these people will use, to the utmost, their official position to influence the inquiry by concealing records, and hiding facts.
The concerned authorities both at the provincial and federal level are requested to immediately look into the matter for the sake of a fair, impartial and transparent inquiry.
ALI SHAH
Karachi
HAS America won the war in Afghanistan? I would say no. What has actually happened is that the left over agenda of the Soviet invasion and its defeat in Afghanistan has been completed, i.e. a compromised government (though seemingly) has now been seated in Kabul.
Thus it is only power that has changed hand, from Taliban to the new regime. It is to be seen how long it will last and whether America would be able to dictate this newly formed government and further how long America would be able to keep its forces in Afghan soil.
As for the general concept that America has succeeded in its main objective of getting control over Uzbek and Tajik oil and gas, I doubt that very much. I cannot comprehend this scenario in the presence of