Mission to Iraq: points to ponder

Indecisiveness at the highest level can be worse than a difficult decision taken at the right time even with a certain unavoidable margin of risk. On the question of dispatching our forces to Iraq, we have shown incredible ambiguity to leave people wondering as to what exactly the government wants. Even after the brutal murder of two of our citizens in Iraq, we remain at sixes and sevens on the issue.

Wouldn't it be only rational and relevant to put it to ourselves as to what do we stand to lose if we say a firm no to our controversial military mission to Iraq - whether the loss thus incurred would be more or less than the gains made?

Also, whether such a mission, if undertaken at all, would mean little more than material advantage in terms of foreign exchange earned and some specialized professional training gained by way of peace-keeping and peace enforcement.

Here also we must seek a clearer understanding of the difference between peace-keeping and peace enforcement. While the one is mainly policing and patrolling a designated zone of responsibility, the other may well mean actual engagement with the rival (mainly civilian) force.

In the utterly confounding and dangerously volatile situation that prevails all over Iraq, it would be naive to think that any peace-keeping force under attack from insurgents, overwhelmingly Iraqis, would refrain from an appropriate response in self-defence.

The 'likely number' of the Pakistani complement, if and when detailed, was described as being 'in the hundreds' - hardly a cog in the huge Anglo-American coalition approaching some 200,000.

The strength of the American contingent alone is said to be 1,60,000. Exactly how strong might be the actual combat component at a given point of time should be anybody's guess. Rotations, transfers, combat casualties, and leaves affect the number of troops available at a given point of time.

As for the possibility of raising a 'Muslim force' to help bring stability to Iraq, as suggested by the prime minister, the organization of its command and control structure alone would be a complex task in terms of training and the time required to assemble it.

This would be besides the problems arising from different languages spoken and different words of command used. Malaysia, Algeria, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Morocco have reportedly indicated their consent to participate in an Islamic force.

Yet another vital point to ponder is whether it would be at all fair to expose our men to unwarranted risk on a mission recognized as controversial in aid of an occupying power.

This is regardless of the unquestionably high sense of discipline and obedience to lawful command of our men and the way they act and behave as dedicated soldiers in the face of danger.

Now a few words about the threats extended by the various so-called Islamic militants like the Al Qaeda operatives and the free-booters of the Omar Al-Mukhtar Brigades of the Tawhid wa al-Jihad (unification and holy war).

A statement posted on www.islami.minbar.com. reads: 'We will not stand idle if forces from any Arab or Muslim country, notably Saudi Arabia, Pakistan or Egypt, are sent to Iraq.'

Already over-stretched in the tribal territory, along the Line of Control, the traditional eastern and the emerging western fronts, Mission Iraq would further strain the army.

Faced as we are with a few (three including the LoC) fronts, can we afford to send our troops to Iraq? And let this be understood clearly that the number cannot be in the hundreds. Nothing less than a brigade group would do to make its presence felt in a force approaching 200,000.

It is also to be noted that while Pakistan and Saudi Arabia figure most prominently in the contemplated 'Muslim force', those states bordering Iraq have been excluded from it. Interestingly, while Saudi Arabia is in, Iran is out despite the Shatt al-Arab in between.

- The writer is a retired brigadier of the Pakistan Army.

Plan to set up art galleries

The district government has decided to establish art galleries at all government colleges, schools and libraries to promote art and culture in collaboration with the business community.

The first of the galleries has been established at the Allama Iqbal Library, which has been dedicated to Sialkot-based noted artist and calligrapher Bashir Ahmad Kanwar. This was stated by District Nazim Mian Naeem Javed while presiding over a meeting of the district heads of government departments. Sialkot DCO Syed Tahir Raza Naqvi was also present.

The meeting was told that the aim of the project was to give an opportunity to art lovers to hone their skills under the tutelage of renowned artists and calligraphers. The Nazim informed the meeting that a special department of arts would also soon be established at the assembly's building.

Artist Bashir Kanwar, who has been decorated with pride of performance, would deliver lectures on the subject at the institutions. DCO Tahir Raza told the officials that the principals of the government colleges and heads of the schools had been directed to establish art departments at the earliest.

He said the provincial government had released a special grant of Rs40 million to the local government for the completion of the mega project of making Sialkot a hub of information technology. Work on this project was going on smoothly, he said, as all the government offices had already been linked.

The district government's record was being computerized and the day was not far when the concept of e-government would be materialized in Sialkot, the DCO said. Bashir Kanwar said on the occasion the district was rich in talent, but there was a need for supporting art lovers by establishing galleries.

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The district government has directed the EDOs of the nation-building departments to ensure availability of officials at offices so that people face no difficulty in getting their problems solved.

At a meeting of the non-devolved departments the other day, DCO Tahir Raza said Rs22.7 million had yet to be distributed among 8,500 deserving people as sustenance allowance and Rs16.3 million from zakat fund had not been given to seminaries so far.

He said Rs2 million had been spent on various health projects and Rs4 million on vocational training of students.

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There is no lady inspector at the social welfare department to look after prisoners at the district jail. Sialkot jail officials told Nazim Naeem Javed that the appointment of a lady inspector at the jail was a must.

Responding to the demand, the Nazim directed the department's authorities to appoint a lady inspector at the jail. He also constituted a free legal aid committee, which would help the poor prisoners. The Nazim also announced installation of a water filtration plant at the jail.