| 21 April 2004 | Wednesday | 30 Safar 1425 |
The Zardari episode
Promoting tourism
In less than a fortnight, Mr Zalmay Khalilzad has talked poppycock, the Pakistan foreign office calling his remarks "foolish and irresponsible". Though apparently a very strong and perhaps undiplomatic response, Mr Khalilzad deserves every bit of it.
Speaking to a group of Pakistani newsmen in Kabul on Sunday, President George Bush's Adviser on Afghanistan said that Pakistan had become a sanctuary for the remnants of the Taliban, Al Qaeda and others.
He alleged that they acquired training in Pakistan and then returned to Afghanistan to attack local and American troops. Earlier this month, Mr Khalilzad was a source of embarrassment for the Bush administration.
On April 5, speaking at a forum organized by the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Mr Khalilzad had said that US forces could cross into Pakistan to hunt terrorists.
In fact, his tone was quite nasty when he said, "We have told the Pakistani leadership that either they must solve this problem or we will do it ourselves". The Pakistan foreign office reacted strongly and correctly observed that Mr Khalilzad did not know his own government's policy on the issue.
Within 24 hours, he retracted his statement and said he was merely suggesting "alternative ways" to tackle the terrorists hiding in Pakistan's tribal belt.
The embarrassment he caused to his government was evident from the corrections that came from Washington, including the State Department and the spokesman for US forces in Afghanistan.
Now, Mr Bush's adviser has again indulged in what the foreign office called "immature diplomacy." Obviously, Mr Khalilzad forgets that the fight against terrorists is in Pakistan's own interest, and Islamabad is not doing this for the benefit of Mr Khalilzad.
Consequently, Pakistan does not require a certificate of good conduct from him. As records show, Islamabad has been working in conjunction with Washington in the fight against terror since before 9/11.
Among steps it took were the arrest of Aimal Kansi and Yusuf Ramzi, besides the exchange of intelligence data. After 9/11, the scope and level of Pakistan's role in the fight against terror have obviously acquired totally different dimensions.
Pakistan has to act against terrorists because they have committed heinous acts on its soil. They have killed innocent people, gunned down worshippers in mosques and churches, murdered Pakistan's foreign guests - French engineers working on the submarine project - and bombed the US consulate building in Karachi.
Also, they have made at least two attempts on the life of President Musharraf. In the recent operations against foreign terrorists in Wana, Pakistan Army has taken the casualties.
Mr Khalilzad's thoughtless remarks can will make no difference to the degree of understanding between Islamabad and Washington on the broad contours of the fight against terror. The campaign against Al Qaeda and Taliban is not going to be easy. Both enjoy a degree of support among certain sections of the population in Afghanistan and Pakistan's tribal belt.
Mr Khalilzad, who is an American of Afghan origin, would do a better job if he gave some advice to the Kabul authorities on how to tackle the terrorists who still exist in Afghanistan and who often cross over into Pakistan.
The Zardari episode
There has been a sudden flurry in the political dovecotes by the news that the government will allow Mr Asif Zardari to travel to Switzerland to defend himself in what is known as the SGC/Cotecna case.
The notice for Mr Zardari's appearance in the Swiss court, where he is appealing a sentence against him, was reportedly issued last month, but was handed over to him by the government only on Monday in the hospital where the incarcerated PPP leader is under treatment - that is, just two days before the date of his required appearance.
The delay needs to be explained. It was also not clear whether Mr Zardari was to be able to travel as a free man or as a prisoner. The latter seems to be the government's position, if the federal information minister's statement published on Tuesday is any indication.
The signs at this writing were that Mr Zardari was not ready to go in the present circumstances: he is said to be too unwell to travel. There could well be a prison term waiting for him in Switzerland, and the PPP might also believe that this could be a ploy to further weaken the party and deprive it of Mr Zardari's value as a symbol of resistance to the existing order.
The episode has already given birth to rumours of a deal with the government, which the PPP denies. There is no indication that the government is prepared to relent on its short-sighted stance of not negotiating with the PPP and the PML-N.
The effort appears to be to tire them out and emasculate them further. Whatever the truth behind this particular episode - which has come amidst speculation of a possible return of Mr Shahbaz Sharif - public attention has again been drawn to Mr Zardari's long ordeal.
He has been in prison since Mr Nawaz Sharif's days and has been kept engaged in a protracted legal battle. A welter of confusion surrounds the many cases against him. It is important for the sake of transparency that an impartial judicial review be carried out to satisfy the public about the exact legal position vis-a-vis Mr Zardari.
Promoting tourism
The Sindh culture minister's observation that his province's poor infrastructure was hampering tourism probably applies to the rest of the country as well. While the fallout of 9/11 and the various 'travel advisories' issued by western countries might definitely have a factor in the sharp fall in tourism over the past few years, the fact is that tourism has never been a thriving sector in Pakistan.
Our image problem and the current regional situation are only two of many causes for the tourist industry's poor state. However, poor infrastructure is perhaps the primary reason why even domestic tourism is not on the rise.
The whole idea of taking a holiday is to visit some interesting places or to relax and enjoy scenic beauty at a resort with family and friends. Those who go on holiday want to have peace of mind and wish to get away from the monotonous routine of daily life.
All of that obviously will be difficult to experience if, say, the road to the holiday resort is potholed and broken at places or is otherwise in a bad state of repair and maintenance.
Instead of asking western countries not to issue travel advisories warning their citizens against travelling to Pakistan, the government should try and encourage the private sector to come forward and invest in tourism.
Entrepreneurs who think that there is little scope for doing that in the current situation should think again because there is a significant amount of untapped domestic demand for tourism. One way of doing this would be to allow those who set up resorts or hotels in tourist areas tax concessions and a one-window operation channel for completing formalities.
With its Indus Valley Civilization sites, Buddhist stupas, Hindu/Sikh temples, Mughal-era structures and Islamic monuments, Pakistan is a dream-come-true for history and antiquity lovers.
In addition, it has some of the world's best trekking and mountaineering sites. To realize its true potential, the country's tourist sites need safe motorable roads, well-managed clean and affordable lodgings and essential services like guides and accurate and up-to-date information brochures.