The Najaf bomb blast

THE bomb blast in Najaf that killed Ayatollah Baqar al Hakim, a leading Shia leader, and 81 others will further heighten the crisis which grips Iraq today. Although this heinous act has been condemned by all sections of Iraqis as it should be, it is unlikely that the perpetrators of terrorism will ever be identified, let alone be caught. The fact is that violence has become endemic in that devastated country ever since it came under American occupation in April. With the administrative machinery destroyed by the war and a new political structure yet to be in place, it is not strange that the US-appointed governing council is proving to be so ineffectual and impotent. Friday’s attack was the latest in a series of incidents in which hundreds have been killed, the most prominent being the United Nations’ special envoy in Baghdad who was assassinated by a suicide bomber. Moreover, there have been deadly attacks on oil installations and a water pipeline which are designed to wreak havoc on a country already in ruins.

Who is behind these attacks? This question cannot be answered with any degree of certainty. The invasion by the Anglo-American forces and their subsequent occupation of the country have alienated the Iraqis and given rise to strong nationalistic groups, not all of whom are pro-Saddam in their loyalties. More significantly, these developments have also destabilized the country thus bringing into the open the rifts between various sections of a heterogeneous population. Many of these rifts had existed for a long time but had remained suppressed under the iron hand of Saddam Hussein. To reconcile the warring parties — they are divided by sectarian differences, politico-ideological contradictions and ethnic divisions — is next to impossible as long as the American presence continues in Iraq and acts as a divisive force. The governing council that has been set up is so closely identified with the occupation that whoever agrees to serve on it is bound to become the target of nationalist hatred irrespective of sectarian or ethnic affiliations. Ayatollah Hakim headed the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), which is cooperating with the US-supported governing body.

The United States has apparently still not recognized the gravity of the crisis in Iraq and its implications for the neighbourhood as well as international politics. If the killings and mindless destruction continue on this scale, Iraq will slide into total anarchy, if it already has not. The worst victims of this senseless policies will be the innocent people who have known no peace for over a decade now. With the civic infrastructure damaged by the war and the subsequent guerrilla action, life is increasingly becoming a daily struggle for existence for most Iraqis. The disengagement of outside agencies such as Oxfam and the Red Cross forced by constant strife will lead to an end to relief work. The farthest the US is willing to go is to let UN forces assume control provided they are placed under American command. This will be seen as an eyewash and will not ease the situation in any way since the American presence will continue to act as a provocation. It will also rob the UN of the little credibility it still has left. The US would do well to cut its losses while a face-saving device is still available.

Opening minds

THE decision by the government to start a foreign faculty hiring programme to attract foreign academics to Pakistan could turn out to be a welcome development. It is reported that the government is planning to employ 300 professors and assistant professors under this scheme who will contribute to academic learning on our campuses as well as bring in new ideas and experience in areas where we lack sufficient expertise. The immediate benefits of this scheme are obvious. For one, foreign academics will be able help reverse the stagnation that is seen in research and development, which have been neglected for so long in our universities. Also, their arrival will eventually lead to a decline in the number of students who go abroad for higher education or research since a certain level of academic excellence will now be available in the country. The most important gain, however, would be the interaction between foreign academics and students and teachers in Pakistan. It would raise the level of academic debate, open minds, and stimulate a desire to explore and inquire.

Despite its advantages, there are some issues that the government would have to take into account. The mode of selection of foreign academics would need to be transparent and impartial. This would allow the best and the brightest to come to Pakistan. At the same time, it would be a good idea to target Pakistani academics abroad as part of the larger programme, as many others would initially be reluctant to come to Pakistan for a number of reasons, largely related to safety. The government should also be aware of the resentment the arrival of foreign experts might generate amongst local faculties. Finally, the scheme should be part of a larger plan to address the decline in the standard and quality of higher education. In isolation, the programme will have only a limited benefit. The Higher Education Commission should use the expertise of foreign academics to raise standards of universities at home and in the eyes of the international community.

Impact on fisheries

THE Tasman Spirit oil spill will undoubtedly have a major impact on the fisheries sector. The immediate consequence is a three-month ban on fishing, and this will badly hit the livelihood of local fishermen and their families. By some independent estimates, at least 300,000 people could be affected by this ban, a figure that seems plausible with recent reports of oil being sighted at beaches several kilometres away from the grounded ship. The committee established to coordinate the government’s response to the oil spill and to find ways to compensate those affected must carry out a survey of the various fishing communities along Karachi’s coast to ascertain the loss to their earnings. Since the fishermen are dependent solely on their catch, they might well be in need of some form of compensation.

The other aspect of this issue, raised on Friday by the head of the Karachi city government’s agriculture and fisheries committee, has to do with containing the damage to fish exports. In recent years, the government has pushed through several reforms, improving storage facilities and enforcing certain minimum hygiene guidelines, raising exports to Rs 8 billion. However, rather than wait for trading partners to inform it whether they wish to renew their export orders, the government should adopt a proactive approach. It should be straightforward and open about the extent of the damage done to its coastline but at the same time should impress on buyers that given the size of the oil spill not all fish is unsafe for human consumption. This would at least shield those fishermen who catch their produce in high seas not contaminated by the spill.