| 06 April 2004 | Tuesday | 15 Safar 1425 |
Need for Awacs
National Security Council
When Bhutto was hanged
Suggestions to batsmen
Citizenship for aliens
Killing of policemen in Karachi
'On talking garbage'
Withdrawal from Wana
Hyderabad conditions
Convocation of Hamdard University
Poor postal service
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The postponement of the Tunis Summit owing to differences among Arab states over America's greater Mideast reforms agenda, domestic political reforms and the Israeli killing of Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin shows that the question of Arab unity viz-a-viz Arab identity is yet a great dilemma facing the Arab League.
There is a remarkable cross-fertilization of ideas that has been taking place between Arab intellectuals in the West and their colleagues in the Arab world, enabled and driven by the new media.
Some Arab intellectuals still advocate not only reforming the Arab League, but that the reformed league should in turn reform the social, economic and political systems in the Arab world.
There are those who speak of a new Arab identity, and the secretary-general of the Arab League has come up with the expression "neo-Arab nationalism". The concept of a "new Arab identity" is derived from an implicit and contractual agreement among a number of Arab states to work directly with Israel without the fear of domestic or outside opposition, to bow to American hegemony and to move closer to nations which are located on the other side of the political boundaries of the Arab world.
The crucial problem is the assault on "Arabism" by some Arab states which are totally immersed in the illusions of ultra-realism. No wonder lines of attack have been as follows: Arab civilization, the nations leading the Arab regional order, Arab nationalism, Arab solidarity, an Arab common market and the Arab League.
What is particularly interesting is that some of the advocates of liberating the Arab League from its identity, its past, its resolutions, and its whole legacy say that if it wants to survive, it must prove its ability to do so in the realm of regional - Middle Eastern, not inter-Arab - cooperation. Others, undoubtedly out of the best intentions, have joined their ranks and presented the Arab League secretary- general with another list of demands.
One of the most blatant challenges that he is facing stems from the following questions: what role can he perform to defy the interplay between the forces of Arab nationalism and neo-Arab nationalism? How can he win the support of the member states for reforms that would render the Arab League a tool, not for him to wield against the interests of its member nations, but an instrument that the member nations can avail themselves of in order to better their domestic circumstances and to support them in their relations with foreign countries against the forces of hegemony, aggression and occupation? The most gigantic challenge before the Arab League is: how to prevent it from the chaos being created by the horizontal and vertical polarization - a recipe for its failure?
S. Q. AFZAL RIZVI
Karachi
Need for Awacs
This refers to the letter "Need for an Awacs" by Mr Waqar A. Malik (April 4). I strongly disagree with his comments that Pakistan needs an airborne warning and control system (Awacs) to cover its western border with Afghanistan and that such surveillance is not necessary at the eastern border with India.
The threat at the western front is across-border human infiltration. Now let us see how an Awacs can resolve this problem. The American E-3 Awacs is equipped with an electronic support measures (ESM) passive surveillance capability. ESM is a passive listening and detection system which enables an Awacs to detect, identify and track electronic transmissions from ground, airborne and maritime sources. The ESM system can determine radar and weapon system type. An Awacs offers virtually little help to track human movement on the ground.
The Awacs come with a very high price tag and operational cost. So the effectiveness of such a system in this issue is as good as killing a fly with a canon.
Pakistan had tried its best to acquire the American E-3 Awacs system in 1980s. At that time also we were a major US ally because of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. That request was turned down, and it's highly unlikely that Pakistan will ever get this kind of sophisticated system from the US.
Pakistan needs an airborne ground surveillance and control system rather than Awacs which is an air surveillance and control system. One option is helicopter-borne systems such as Horizon (France) and Creso (Italy). These systems will have restricted capabilities in the mountainous Pakistan-Afghan border terrain.
There is no doubt that Americans have the capability to monitor and track every square metre surface in almost all kinds of weather. But how this technical superiority can be translated into special ground operations is a tricky thing.
The recent operation in Wana and the killing of four Americans this week in Fallujah are a sharp reminder. You can monitor them from the sky, in real-time, and bomb them but still your forces are unable to operate on ground.
No government can win this war with the help of superior weapons and technology only. The government and the people of Pakistan must stand together to establish rule of law in the tribal areas and win this war.
IMRAN KHALID ARAIN
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
National Security Council
The current debate on the proposed National Security Council is one which would never have arisen had it not been for President General Pervez Musharraf's apparent partiality to the Turkish model of government and Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
Practicalities aside, one wonders why the president wishes to apply his views, obviously formed during his stay in Turkey, to the 140 million living in Pakistan. If a security council worked for Turkey, why does the president feel it would work for Pakistan?
We have been fed on the dictum that the NSC is essential to prevent future military takeovers. But does not the presence of the chairman of the joints chiefs of staff committee and three services chiefs of the powerful military establishment in the NSC essentially mean that the council would be subservient to their will? A state of a persistent 'virtual military rule' would thus exist. Who can imagine a scenario where a civilian council member opposes the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff in a debate and wins?
The military's function is to guard the borders of the country. Armymen are not politicians and should not attempt to be so. The military establishment's poor performance when it has actually attempted to run politics is evident from the miscalculations in the 1965 war, the fall of Dhaka in 1971 (a direct result of resentment born during Ayub's regime and grave mismanagement of the situation by Yahya) and the devastating rule of General Ziaul Haq.
If President Musharraf wishes to be remembered well by history, he should relinquish power to the politicians, who unlike the military do represent the people who vote them in. By setting this unprecedented example, he may lay the foundations of a tradition where the military does not interfere in the political affairs of the state.
MUBASHIR KHAN
Indianapolis, IN., USA
When Bhutto was hanged
On the evening of April 3, 1979, I was at a restaurant in Chicago (11 hours behind Pakistan Time) when a friend came running and told me the news that Bhutto had been hanged in Rawalpindi. I felt like someone had driven a knife in my chest.
I had known that Bhutto had been tried under the drummed charge of murder, been sentenced to death, and that dictator Ziaul Haq had rejected all appeals for clemency. Yet, deep in my heart I nourished a hope that somehow Bhutto would survive, even though death had been closing in on him.
I had detested Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's autocratic styles and had never been an ardent political supporter. However, his dynamic personality, charisma and brilliance, and his great mastery of the art of communication with any kind of audience had always mesmerized me.
At the time, I was too young to fully understand the mechanics of political evolution. Later in my life, I came to realize that a country must undergo this transformation before it could claim having attained a reasonable level of nationhood.
Bhutto had set into motion exactly such a process in Pakistan. Although he had himself impeded this process many times, many had hoped that in the end he would not stand in the way of this process especially when it picked up the cascading effect of bulldozing anti-democratic forces in Pakistan.
On that sad evening in Chicago, the news of his judicialmurder at the hands of an ignorant dictator took away the glimmer of hope from me and in my despondency I wept for a murdered leader and at the loss of the country that he had left behind.
SIDDIQUE MALIK
Louisville, KY., USA
Suggestions to batsmen
In a recent interview, former Indian cricket captain Azharuddin has said that Pakistan may bowl India out for 225 or 250 on fast wickets in the two remaining Test matches, but then their own brittle batting is incapable of putting up big scores on the board.
It is true that unless Pakistani batsmen convince themselves that they can handle any type of bowling, they cannot succeed. India was not impressed with the reputation of Pakistani fast bowlers and that is why they scored freely against them. Even Balaji hits a six against Shoaib Akhtar and Irfan Pattan hits boundaries against well-known bowlers.
Inzamamul Haq and Yousaf Youhana are the only batsmen who can be relied upon. Others can be regarded as 'also ran'. Yasir Hameed and Razzaq are good but not good enough. Anil Kumble should not be given undue respect by the Pakistan batsmen if they want to be successful against him.
ASHFAQ AHMAD
London, UK
(2)
This is a note of encouragement for our cricket team. The Pakistani cricketers should realize that they have the talent to tilt the balance in their favour and that they have to do it. There is no reason to lose heart; instead they have to rise to the occasion.
We are confident that our team is capable of fighting back even under unfavourable circumstances. God has gifted us with quality players like Inzamamul Haq, Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar, Yasir Hameed, Yousaf Youhana, Abdul Razzaq and many more. It is not the end of the show. They have to prove that we are a nation endowed with strong determination and will power. So, cheer up, fight it out and win.
QUDSIA KAMAL
Karachi
Citizenship for aliens
A question has been raised to grant citizenship to over three million illegal aliens living in Sindh. This is an important issue with huge consequences, as it will greatly affect the demography of the province. The way we reach a decision on it will define for one more time how we debate, discuss and decide upon highly contentious matters. It will also determine how wise we have become with time.
One way to resolve this controversial issue would be to give in to the arrogance of the powerful lobbies and impose a verdict on the rest without listening to all the stakeholders. That is how we have taken most of our decisions in the past. The other, more democratic way would be to hold an honest dialogue and take into account the concerns and the wishes of all the people in the province.
It won't be out of place to point out that a large number of people belonging to all the provinces have already been demanding to repatriate all illegal aliens from the country. This demand has a special significance for the indigenous people of Sindh.
They have long been expressing the concern that granting citizenship to illegal aliens on a massive scale coupled with the repatriation of more people from Bangladesh would hasten the process of turning them into a minority in their own land.
Looking retrospectively, one could emphasize that it was not in the scheme of things at the time of the partition that any of the provinces constituting Pakistan would be inundated by a sea of immigrants that would one day threaten its original inhabitants' existence as a distinct people. It was indeed a blunder on the part of the politicians not to foresee and thus prevent this development.
However, they were horrified when communal riots broke out in the two countries and, in an effort to end the sufferings of the people, the prime ministers of India and Pakistan met in Delhi on April 2, 1950.
The gruelling talks continued for six long days with the breakthrough coming on April 8, 1950, when they reached an agreement on the status of minorities. It later became known as the Liaquat-Nehru Pact.
That and the 1951 Citizenship Act should have settled the entire question about migration and citizenship. It is unfortunate that it has not happened and illegal immigration has continued ever since. It now seriously threatens the political, economic, social, cultural and basic human rights of the people of Sindh.
The solution: the people of Pakistan have to realize that they cannot have an open border policy forever. No country can afford it. This is a time to forget the legacies of the past and the torments of partition and concentrate on the welfare and well-being of the citizens of the present-day Pakistan.
Serious efforts have to be made to build camaraderie among the constituents. People living in different parts of the country have to try to understand the concerns of each other instead of hating, hurting and blaming each other while the government should act and be seen as belonging to all and not to a few.
AZIZ NAREJO
Corpus Christi, Texas, USA
Killing of policemen in Karachi
I was saddened to hear about the brazen murder of five policemen in Karachi. When criminals show such wanton disregard for institutions and those entrusted to uphold them, severe action should be taken. Not only should such criminals be brought to justice but a clear message should be made to all would-be "cop killers" that crossing the line carries dire consequences.
The officers who died in the line of duty deserve the nation's highest honours. I would take issue with the wording of your report which refers to the actions of the surviving and injured constable Jatoi as "token resistance". Given the circumstances where the police were unexpectedly attacked by a large group of well-armed criminals, the spirited response of constable Jatoi who not only shot back at but injured two assailants is nothing short of bravery.
MOHAMMED M. ELAHI
Brampton, Canada
'On talking garbage'
In your editorial of March 21, entitled "On talking garbage", you have correctly pointed out that sometimes savings can have negative growth.
Last year I deposited a sum of Rs1.85 million with a bank in Karachi in the hope that if I got a reasonable return on the deposit, I would transfer more money to Pakistan as I wanted to spend my last years in my own country.
To my surprise, at the end of the year, the bank informed me that in one whole year I had earned a total sum of Rs13,500 less 10 per cent income tax which leaves Rs12,150 net income on that investment which even does not cover the value of money lost due to inflation.
Will Mr Shaukat Aziz or Dr Ishrat Hussain explain why anyone should save money?
ZAKI MALIK
Via email
Withdrawal from Wana
This is with regard to the news emanating from South Waziristan about the 'withdrawal' of Pakistan Army from the troubled area in that region. This is perhaps the first time in recent history that a country's armed forces in peacetime are withdrawing from its very own territory. Isn't the so-called region of tribal areas a part and parcel of Pakistan? If so, why the 'withdrawal'?
The Wana operation has exposed the true colours of MMA clerics. To them the interests and goals of foreign terrorists seem dearer than the interests of our country. It's the duty of every Pakistani to fully support and stand behind the Pakistan government and the army in this critical endeavour.
DR K. T. KAMAL
Dharan, Saudi Arabia
Hyderabad conditions
Hyderabad is one of the major cities of Sindh. It is renowned for many manufacturing goods. But the sanitary conditions in the city are not properly maintained and getting worse day by day. Busy roads are cracked, sewerage lines are broken and daily power failures are common in big areas like Qasimabad, Hirabad and Saddar.
I request the governor and the chief minister of Sindh toorder the relevant authorities to do the needful.
SHAHZAD ALI ABBASI
Hyderabad
Convocation of Hamdard University
We the students of BCS fall-98, Hamdard University, Islamabad, want to bring the attention of the university vice-chancellor to a matter regarding our convocation to be held on April 24 in Islamabad. We are being prohibited to participate in the convocation for no fault of ours.
We completed our first four semesters of BCS with Hamdard and the remaining four semesters while staying at IBADAT. We took this option after a straightforward decision taken by honourable chief justice (retired) Ajmal Mian in which he clearly stated that in the wider interest of the students they are allowed to complete their studies in either of the two campuses.
In view of the aforementioned, it is requested that all our other batch mates who stayed at IBADAT may kindly be allowed to attend the convocation that is a lifetime event for any student.
WORRIED STUDENTS
Islamabad
Poor postal service
I am a Pakistani working for the Dubai government. My family is living in an apartment in Gulshan-i-Iqbal 13D/2, Karachi. I have been corresponding with my family for four years, but for the last three months they have not received a single letter of mine, although I have sent them eight letters. I have checked here and the records show that all the letters were delivered to the Pakistan Postal Service.
For me the letters are the only way to communicate with my parents. They are very old and can't chase after the post office staff repeatedly. When they inquire about the letters from the postman, he responds very rudely and tells them to go see the post-master general.
I urge the relevant authorities to take urgent action against the negligent staff of the Pakistan Postal Service.
ADNAN ISMAIL
Dubai, UAE
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