| 15 February 2005 | Tuesday | 05 Muharram 1426 |
What we have done for US
Recognizing Israel
Misuse of power
Fighting global terrorism
Relocating US consulate
Democracy: is there an alternative?
Pasni tragedy
Bugti's statement
People of Arandu
Petrol prices
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Irfan Husain asks in his column of Feb 5, "So why are Muslims generally downcast by the outbreak of democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq?" His answer is 'Bushesque' in its incomprehensibility:
"The subtext, of course, is that other Muslims living under tyranny will start demanding their freedom as well" and that "the elite distrust free and fair elections as they often produce results that do not suit the ruling classes". It completely ignores the fact that the opposition to US-imposed "free and fair" elections is widespread and extends through the elite and poor alike.
There is little argument that Afghanistan and Iraq are much better off without the Taliban or Saddam Hussein in power. So why really does much of the world still root for the resistance movement in Iraq? It is because much of the world views Iraq as a frontline state, not in "the war against terror", but for the future of American imperialism.
If the US were to completely pulverize the resistance movement, than it would only strengthen those in the US administration in their aggressive pursuit of world empire.
It would be informative to read the policy statement of The Project for the New American Century (PNAC) (www.newamericancentury.org). It's members read like a verifiable Who's Who of the current US administration, and include Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perle, and Jeb Bush, among others. Add to that prominent members of the media and Washington think-tanks (e.g. Charles Krauthammer, Frank Gaffney, as well as Daniel Pipes - a prominent Islamophobe).
So in answer to Mr Husain's question, one would have to say that we are downcast because we don't believe the Americans are here in our lands to generously share with us the fruits of their own deeply flawed democracy.
Their reason for being here is evident from the PNAC's Statement of Principle, signed by all of the above power-players including the US vice-president, secretary of defence, assistant secretary of defence, the chairman of the defence policy board and the US president's own brother.
In their own words: "We aim to make the case and rally support for American global leadership, we resolve to shape a new century favourable to American principles and interests, we need to increase defence spending significantly if we are to carry out our global responsibilities today and modernize our armed forces for the future, and we need to challenge regimes hostile to our interests and values". The PNAC has also called for repositioning of permanently-based forces to Southern Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.
Welcome to Pax Americana!
IMRAN S. SYED, MD
Rochester, MN, US
What we have done for US
This is with reference to the letter by Mr Jalal Ahmed (Feb 9) on the above subject. I know we all love to bash the United States, but one should do that with at least some care and by taking into account the overall picture. The very title "What we have done for the US" neglects the fact that we did it in our own self-interest.
When the former USSR invaded Afghanistan, it became a grave threat to Pakistan's own national security. And this was why we joined hands with the United States to neutralize this threat. Not to mention the kind of money and military assistance we received from the US as a result of that. It was not just a matter of helping the US out.
When the United States was attacked on Sept 11, 2001, Pakistan was on the verge of becoming a bankrupt country. Pakistan needed to get rid of international sanctions and obtain foreign debt consolidation, foreign aid and military assistance, which was only possible by helping the US to demolish Al Qaeda.
The correspondent has also blamed the United States for not resolving the Kashmir dispute, without realizing that America cannot do that. It can play a positive role only when both parties, Pakistan and India, want the US as a peace broker. India has consistently refused to do so. How then can the US resolve the Kashmir issue?
The US has denied any involvement of the Pakistan government into Dr A. Q. Khan's nuclear proliferation network. It is still after that black market of nuclear technology and not the government of Pakistan, as implied by the correspondent.
KHURRAM HANEEF
New Jersey, USA
Recognizing Israel
I read Mr Irfan Hussain's article "Facing up to reality" (Feb 12) with great interest. I couldn't agree more with him. I think Pakistan's foreign policy vis-a-vis Israel needs to be re-examined.
Clearly, establishing diplomatic ties with Israel is no more an endorsement of Zionism than establishing ties with Pakistan is an endorsement of the mullahs. While I am less sanguine about areas of military cooperation, there are many opportunities for beneficial mutual trade.
Israel has made many strides in desert agricultural development and its impossible to dismiss the usefulness of this knowledge in helping people in the arid interiors of Sindh and Balochistan to earn a living.
Pakistan in turn would find another sophisticated market for its textiles and other goods. It could also be a low-cost development centre for Israel's developed software industry.
While we are a riskier investment than neighbouring India, by the very definition of risk we should offer a higher return to investors as well. I suspect aggressive Israeli companies would be more willing to take such a gamble than risk-averse US multinationals. So why not court these opportunities when they clearly can be a win-win for both sides?
However, I must disagree with the writer on the usefulness of the religious establishment and the military junta to Pakistan's foreign policy. I would argue, instead, that these parties are essential to Pakistan foreign policy's success as long as we do the exact opposite of whatever it is these people propose/support.
The views of these guardians of the Islamic Republic are critical in clearly establishing what we shouldn't be doing. If we single-mindedly follow this rule, Pakistan's future is guaranteed to be a happy and prosperous one.
OMAR MOONIS
New York, USA
Misuse of power
This is with reference to Ayaz Amir's article of Feb 11. I am used to hearing about the misuse of power and public funds by prime ministers and other officials of previous governments in Pakistan. But when Shaukat Aziz became prime minister, I was confident that having lived and worked in America, he would be different.
Misuse of public funds and using official authority for personal gains can put officials in America in a very difficult position. The saddest part of the whole affair is that not one of the people who went with the entourages thought there was anything wrong with being a freeloader. I guess in our part of the pious world things never change and that is why we are where we are.
MOHAMMAD NASEEM
San Antonio, Texas, US
(II)
Replying to a question in the Senate, Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri said that a sum of Rs 43 million was spent by the government on the umra trips of Mir Zafrullah Khan Jamali, Chaudhry Shujaat Husain and Shaukat Aziz. Mr Jamali took 19 persons with him, Ch. Shujaat Hussain 134 persons while 49 accompanied Shaukat Aziz.
A senator from the treasury benches refuted the charge against Chaudhry Shujaat, taking the position that he had borne the entire expenditure on the trip from his own pocket.
The foreign minister must surely have based his reply on the official record of government expenditure. The matter needs to be thoroughly investigated and the public money recovered.
GHULAM MUHAMMAD
Karachi
Fighting global terrorism
In the aftermath of 9/11, terrorism has been posing great dangers to world peace. To counter this danger, peace-loving countries are taking many measures. The war against terrorism has been successful to a great extent. Pakistan has been a big contributor in this regard. A member of the coalition against terrorism, it has been fighting this war on several fronts.
It has been fighting terrorist groups and operatives along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and with more than 70,000 troops deployed there, we have been able to crush the backbone of Al Qaeda and its affiliates. Al Qaeda's command and control was hit hard and largely rendered inoperative.
However, a lot still needs to be done. There is urgent need for devising a multi-pronged strategy to counter terrorism to neutralize the ideological appeal of extremism, address the root causes that breed extremist tendencies and assist states in surmounting socio-economic problems.
It is necessary to point out that long-term success requires an international coalition, and countries need to cooperate through intelligence, law-enforcement, military, financial and diplomatic channels to identify, disrupt, capture and debilitate terrorists and their network.
MAJID BURFAT
Hyderabad
Relocating US consulate
It now appears that the rumours about the decision to re- locate the US consulate in Karachi to the People's Hippodrome site are, in fact, correct, and that barring eleventh-hour intervention from the president himself, it is just a question of when.
In your leader on the subject (Feb 10), you correctly cite the legitimate and grave concerns of local residents and businesses. Parents of children attending schools in the vicinity, realizing the implications, are deeply fearful.
It is deplorable (though sadly, not even shocking anymore) that such a major decision, having deep implications on so many, appears to have been without a full and informed public debate as would befit the new mantra of good governance, transparency, wholesome civic virtues propounded by our nazim and sensitivity to all "stakeholders", etc.
Most of us attending the demo last Thursday, I am sure, wish the Americans well. May their stay here be happy and safe. The fact is that any US consulate becomes a symbol, the fault line, the front line of the global war on terror raging throughout the world.
Parents and residents have a right to ask the authorities not to put their children in harm's way, between mad bombers and trigger-happy security personnel employing reckless tactics and hazardous efforts at vigilance and traffic control. Periods of enhanced tension and alerts would become a regular feature in the Boating Basin area as there appears to be no end in sight to this war. And lest we forget, the bomb usually goes off outside the consulate - in the parked car, the busy street. Pedestrians, bystanders and children become the innocent victims of terror.
I urge the authorities to consider two possible locations for our American friends. The British have far too much land at Runnymede. Could not out foreign office, or the US authorities themselves, prevail upon them, in a show of trans-Atlantic solidarity, to cede what the US requires to operate its consulate in safety and a style befitting the sole superpower?
Alternatively, sufficient land could be made available in Phase VIII to construct a suitable consulate. The consulate project would be of significant scope, and the importance and size of the undertaking would have positive "knock on" effects in the provision of services and infrastructure.
This project will certainly act as a catalyst for general development in the area, at present funded by exorbitant development charges. Lastly, the proposed site is zoned as a park which the city desperately needs.
S. OMAR AHSAN
Karachi
(II)
The US government is trying to relocate its consulate building and is said to be in the process of negotiating the deal with a local government for acquiring amenity plots ST-21 and ST-21/B in Clifton as the "preferred site" for its diplomatic mission. These amenity plots are also located on one of the busiest roads in the thickly-populated residential area of Block 5, with eight schools in the vicinity.
Relocating the US consulate building from Abdullah Haroon Road to Clifton Block 5 will not be a guarantee of safety and security. On the contrary, it will create a security problem for the residents of Block 5.
The US government must think twice before a final decision is taken for relocating its consulate building. The most suitable place and "preferred site" for the US government should be a stand-alone office building on a commercial plot at the end of Phase VIII of the Defence Housing Authority, where there should be no access for motorists and the general public beyond the entry point of the consulate building.
SYED A. MATEEN
Karachi
(III)
We, parents and grandparents of children who study at the Grammar School near the Boating Basin in Karachi, are shocked and dismayed at the government's decision to allow the US government to shift its consulate located on Abdullah Haroon Road to an amenity plot adjacent to the school.
We are extremely worried about the security threat the move will create for the 1,500 students, ranging from four to 18 years, who attend this school. The suicide bombings in Nairobi, Daresssalam and other cities have shown how vulnerable citizens living in the vicinity of US embassies can be.
We are told that the Sindh chief minister is taking personal interest in resolving the problem. In a meeting at the CM's House, after a peaceful protest at the park on Sunday morning by over 700 parents and their children, he told a delegation of parents that both the president and the prime minister were in touch with him and were also concerned about the situation.
We are told that the CM visited the park with the delegation to see for himself the risks involved, and assured the parents that he would inform the president and the prime minister accordingly. We fully appreciate the initiative taken by the CM and sincerely hope and pray that he will succeed in his efforts.
CONCERNED PARENTS
Karachi
Democracy: is there an alternative?
This refers to the letter "Democracy: is there an alternative?" (Feb 7). As long as we have the feudal system and a politicized army, we can never have democracy in Pakistan. The feudal lords play a game of musical chairs in government.
The president recently admitted that 70 per cent of our population lives in the rural areas. These areas are controlled by chaudharis, waderas, khans, maliks and sardars; hence most voters rubber-stamp for their feudal lords. Unless we have land reforms, we will always be ruled by these feudals.
MOIEZ KHAN
Texas, USA
Pasni tragedy
According to early reports, the Shadi Kaur dam was built only two years ago, at the cost of over Rs40 million. Apart from loss of life, the breach in the dam has resulted in the loss of the capital investment as well as additional damage to infrastructure and property. The total financial loss may come to hundreds of millions.
The town of Pasni and surrounding villages have sustained heavy losses, and more money would be required to repair the damage and rehabilitate the people. This sad and unfortunate incident should serve as a warning towards building the Kalabagh and Bhasha dams. Every dam, including the existing ones, large or small, are prone to breaches due to a variety of reasons.
The existing and proposed dams on the River Indus and its tributaries are at a much higher altitude have steeper gradients relative to downstream areas, have a much higher storing capacity and are in the middle of an active earthquake zone. A breach in one of the larger dams would inflict damage of unimaginable magnitude.
I would ask the government to take a fresh, careful and hard look at all the proposed mega-projects and give a thought to the consequences of such projects, instead of just getting carried away by their charm.
Recent snowfall and heavy rain have clearly exposed the government agencies' lack of foresight, and their incompetence and inability to respond to any disaster. I would urge the government to abandon the idea of building any dam on the Indus River system.
DR SAIFULLAH NIZAMANI
Worcester, USA
Bugti's statement
Newspapers on Feb 1 carried a statement by Sardar Akbar Bugti, saying: "We will not give up our land", "we are purchasing defence arms and ammunition (from other countries)", "we are in a state of war with the Pakistan government and have shifted our families to safer places".
This is the tenor of the statements he is issuing nowadays amid Shujaat Hussain-led initiatives for reconciliation and efforts for resolving provincial matters through dialogue.
A "Balochistan Liberation Army" spokesman Azad Baloch told the BBC on the telephone from an unknown place that their battle against the government would not stop. He warned the people not to travel by train, which could be blown up any time.
Modern society has already rejected the sardari and feudal system but these sardars are trying to grow into warlords, raise their own armies and go back to the mediaeval times. Shouldn't saner elements in society take note of such provocative acts?
One hopes that the Baloch would not succumb to the designs being followed by the so-called sardars.
M. JAVED SUNNY
Islamabad
People of Arandu
This is with reference to the news regarding Arandu people's demands, appearing in a section of the press (Feb 10). These people are living in a sensitive area bordering Afghanistan but are deprived of basic amenities of life.
They do not have health-care facilities, their schools are without teachers and food god owns empty. It is the duty of the government to fulfil their demands.
BASHIR HUSSAIN
Chitral
Petrol prices
"Petrol prices raised by Rs2.00 to Rs42.39" (Dawn, Feb 2). In the same issue of your daily on the business page there is a news item "Oil prices ease", according to which New York light crude oil main contract price dropped 35 cents and of London Brent North crude to 42 cents.
Quite a contrast. Our rulers in their zeal to win the favour of the World Bank and the IMF are quite unmindful of disastrous effect of their decisions on the daily life of the masses.
R.R. ALVI
Lahore
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