| 26 January 2005 | Wednesday | 15 Zilhaj 1425 |
Threat to Iran
Wintry thoughts
There has been an unfortunate deterioration in the tone of recent exchanges between Pakistan and India. Both say they remain committed to the composite dialogue process, but both appear close to resurrecting the idiom of the bad, old days before the current thaw set in.
This is a worrying development, and the slide needs to be checked before it does any substantial damage to the cordiality that has prevailed for some time and that has led to the creation of a large pool of understanding between the people of the two countries.
The latest fusillades have been fired from New Delhi and Islamabad over a reported violation of the Line of Control. Each side appears equally firm in blaming the other for the violation.
That an incident took place cannot be denied; there may be others in the future because the LoC remains an uneasy frontier. Unless there is a deep and substantial withdrawal of forces, the potential for trouble will remain despite the cease fire.
It is important that every incident should be thoroughly investigated before the respective foreign offices make accusatory public statements. It often serves the purpose of the political leadership, under pressure from various lobbies, to let their bureaucrats assume a harsher posture while maintaining their own mild and friendly tone.
This tactic has long marked Indo-Pakistan relations, but it will not do if the two countries are really serious about pushing the past back. It confuses the people, provides sustenance to the hawks, and makes all those interested in peace throw up their hands in despair.
There is too much of a history of distrust and bitterness to permit the playing of diplomatic games. Whether it is Baglihar or the gas pipeline project or a stray exchange of mortar fire, the dialogue must remain restrained and civilized.
There is much riding on the effort to construct a new basis for peace and friendship, and indeed if one looks back at the past few months, much has been achieved in at least trying to live like neighbours.
Travel has become somewhat easier, and numerous non-official delegations and prominent individuals have criss-crossed the border. There is a desire for peace that has nothing to do with what the western powers may or may not wish us to do and which appears to have suddenly found an outlet after long years of suppression.
It would be tragic if this desire is not respected - a betrayal of the pressing needs of the millions who live in this region. Pakistan may not be seen as being right in everything it says, but it is India that is in possession of the disputed region of Kashmir, it is Indian forces that are in confrontation with the people of the Valley, it is India where Baglihar is being built.
There must be greater flexibility and understanding on the part of New Delhi, which should resist the temptation of pushing the Pakistani establishment into a corner. It should seek to help those in Pakistan who want to bring about a measure of stability in bilateral relations.
It should be hoped that a conscious attempt would be made to smooth the path of the meetings due between the two sides at the Saarc summit in Dhaka early next month and during the Indian foreign minister's scheduled visit on February 15.
Threat to Iran
Israel now seems to be preparing the ground for an attack on Iran on the nuclear issue. Two statements in this respect, one from Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres and the other by the Mossad chief, are revealing.
In an interview with the army radio on Monday, Mr Peres said the world must mobilize against Iran because it had become "the focal point of all the dangers" in the Middle East.
The Iranian nuclear capability, he said, was a danger not just for Israel but for the whole world. The same day, the Mossad chief told the Knesset's foreign affairs and defence committee that Iran was on the brink of achieving the uranium enrichment capability and that by the end of the year Tehran would reach "the point of no return".
The two statements come in the wake of similar warnings from the United States. While Vice-President Dick Cheney said that Israel could launch a pre-emptive strike against Iran, President George Bush said he could not rule out using force if Tehran continued with its nuclear plans.
The amazing thing about Mr Peres's claim is his reference to Iran being a problem for the whole world. The truth is that trigger-happy Israel is the Middle East's only nuclear power.
Iran has never posed a danger to its neighbours, much less to the world. In 1980, it was Iran which was attacked by Baathist Iraq, not the other way round. Iran has friendly relations with all its neighbours - in contrast to Israel, which has committed repeated acts of aggression against all its neighbours.
Even countries far away form Israel have not been safe from Zionist depredations - notice, the air raid on Tunis to kill Yasser Arafat, the attack on Iraq's nuclear reactor, and its cloak-and-dagger operations in many parts the world.
For such a county to say that Iran is a threat to the world is ridiculous.
The most unfortunate aspect of this bullying is that America has placed its diplomatic and military services at Israel's disposal.
If nuclear non-proliferation is really America's concern, then the country it must first apply sanctions against is Israel. Warning Iran against acquiring nuclear weapons while pampering Israel has deprived America's non-proliferation concerns of a moral basis.
Wintry thoughts
The current spell of rains and cold has created in its wake the usual troubles. Those living without adequate protection and without the means to shield themselves from the weather have suffered.
There have been house collapses, power failures, and interruptions in road, rail and air traffic. At the same time, the heavy snowfall in the north promises more water in the rivers in the summer, and the rains are expected to cut the projected water shortfall of 40 per cent to 30 per cent.
Many southern areas that were yearning for winter rains have had their thirst quenched. It is always like this: sharp weather changes bring both misery and comfort. But on the whole the rain and snow have been welcomed.
The air is crisp and clean. Trees laden with dust have been washed. The cold snap has brought the rose back to pale cheeks. Scarves have been dug out, and despairing "landa bazaar" traders have had a windfall.
In Karachi, the umbrella was seen on the streets after a long time. In Islamabad, children delighted in the snow on the Margalla Hills. The spirit of the long Eid holiday weekend has carried forward, and it was only very reluctantly that many office-goers put themselves together in the morning to go to work.
The political arena remained frozen, with fears of confrontation in Balochistan. A bridge was blown up on Monday near Sibi. Government ministers intone the usual inanities.
Many people might want to echo the poet's lament about the winter wind's sting not being as unkind as man's ingratitude. But for the while the patter of rain on rooftops during the night makes soothing music, and the carpet of snow on the hills raises images of peace and goodwill.