Offensive resumed?

WHETHER or not it was an unofficial ceasefire, sheer coincidence, or perhaps compulsions arising from the Feb 18 general election, what had been a pause in suicide bombings was broken on Monday when militants struck Pakistan in four places. The most devastating of the attacks was in Rawalpindi, where the target was a lieutenant-general belonging to the medical services. Lt-Gen Mushtaq Baig, who was killed by a lone suicide bomber, was the highest serving military officer to fall victim to violence. It appears that the strength and reach of the militants is growing. Obviously, the suicide bomber knew the Surgeon General’s routine and movement, and only insiders sympathetic to the Taliban waging war

on Pakistan must have kept him and his ‘facilitators’ well-informed. Another daring attack was in Mansehra, where the militants, who came in two cars, lobbed grenades at an NGO office, burning four people to death. Balochistan also witnessed two explosions in Dera Bugti and Sangsila, leaving three security men dead.

The lull in terrorist attacks since Feb 18 had given hope to the people that perhaps things could improve now that a government elected in the true sense of the term was expected to assume office.

In fact, Baitullah Mehsud extended an olive branch when he said he was willing to work with the new government if it halts “Musharraf’s war on terror”. Who precisely was involved in the attacks in Rawalpindi and Mansehra is not yet clear, but given the pattern in evidence for quite some time fingers will be pointed at the Taliban. They have been trying to focus attacks on military and security personnel, though the NGO office was by no stretch of imagination a security installation. If the unified Taliban command is not behind these attacks it should disclaim responsibility to establish the credibility of its talk offer.

In Balochistan, the situation looks hopeful, because some Baloch nationalist leaders have responded positively to the PPP’s apology for past excesses. One hopes that the Baitullah army, which claims to be fighting for Islam — though intriguingly most of its victims have been Muslim — will stay its hand at least till a new government takes office in Islamabad. The Taliban and their supporters have brought a bad name to Muslims and have brought Pakistan to the brink of devastation. The government — whosoever heads it — must talk to them but within the parameters of the law as we understand it.

Iran: more effort needed

AS the UN Security Council prepares to debate a third set of sanctions for Iran, the latter continues to get mixed observations on its nuclear enrichment activities. While conceding that Tehran had cleared up some doubts regarding its atomic programme, the IAEA remains dissatisfied with other aspects of it as expressed by the nuclear watchdog agency in a recent report. These concerns include the new ‘Green Salt Project’ that would bring the conversion of uranium one step closer to developing bomb-grade material, explosives testing and a possible nuclear warhead design for the Shahab 3 missile. On Sunday, Iran added to the IAEA’s unease by confirming the use of new centrifuges that can speed up uranium enrichment. Considering that Iran has signed the NPT that allows it to develop its nuclear facilities for civilian use, there is, ostensibly, no reason to suspect that it is building an atomic weapon. Its cooperation with the IAEA, and last December’s report by the US intelligence that Iran gave up its plans for developing nuclear weapons in 2003, appear to support Tehran’s claim that its enrichment activities are intended only for peaceful purposes. However, the fact that the IAEA has not given it a clean bill is justified on the grounds that Iran has still not responded satisfactorily to the atomic body’s concerns. There is no sign that it is going slow on uranium processing. In fact, by seeking to accelerate it, Tehran is fuelling further suspicions.

It is true that the threat of a direct or sponsored US strike on its nuclear facilities seems to have subsided for now as the realisation of the possible consequences of such an attack dawns on Washington. But that should not embolden Iran to thumb its nose at the West. The mature course of action would be to allay western (and regional) fears by providing all the answers and documentation needed by the IAEA to verify its claim that it is not making a bomb. Iran should not feel humiliated if it is required to provide such information. By going slow on its nuclear programme as well, Iran would be demonstrating its maturity in a sensitive political environment, winning more international respect in the process. It is equally necessary that the IAEA and the West, especially the US, make Iran feel that its efforts at cooperation are being appreciated by them. A conciliatory atmosphere will boost the search for a solution that is acceptable to all.

The enemy within

SOMETIMES a little soul-searching is in order instead of impulsively pointing the finger of blame at a nebulous and ill-defined ‘other’ who might make an easy scapegoat in moments of collective insecurity. Recently, at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a panel of researchers reported that home-grown extremists are seven times more likely than foreigners to threaten peace and security in the United States. These local ‘terrorists’, it was argued, are typically young males who feel alienated from what is sometimes, and far more conveniently than is perhaps justified, called the American way of life. They include white supremacists such as the Aryan Nation and the National Alliance, rural militias that seek a radical reduction in government control over an individual’s ‘right’ to do pretty much anything, right-to-life activists who feel that blowing up abortion clinics is justified, and disenchanted youth groups that share ideological connections with racist movements. Among other fringe organisations with seemingly violent tendencies, but rooted in vastly different causes, are said to be the Animal Liberation Front, Anti-Castro Cubans, the Black Revolutionary Assault Team and the Environmental Liberation Front.

Xenophobia is not limited to the US, though after 9/11 it is perhaps more easily stoked in that country than in many others. Politicians of a particular bent contribute to this peculiar dread of foreigners, as do sections of the media. But why go so far away from home. We in Pakistan are quick to blame Afghans for our problems and vice versa. India always sees a ‘hidden hand’ in its domestic troubles and so do we, with or without sufficient reason. All manner of ethnic stereotypes — based on ignorance, lies, gross generalisation and a ready resort to hate — exist even within Pakistan. Myths abound such as the Sindhis are lazy, the Punjabis exploitative, Kashmiris have no loyalties and cannot be trusted, the Pakhtuns sell weapons and drugs, and the Baloch are much too backward for words. The problem with xenophobia and its narrow outlook is that falsehood is much too easily conflated with conventional knowledge. We all need to stop lying to ourselves and accept that this country’s real troubles lie elsewhere — gross economic disparity, victimisation of women and children, the failure to institute land reform and abolish feudalism, failure to provide quality health care and education to everyone and not only to the privileged, and a high incidence of violence. When it comes to mindless fear, we are not dissimilar from the Americans.

OTHER VOICES - European Press

A humble invitation

The Malta Star

When a party wins an election with a crushing victory over its opponents it is customary for the winning party and the winning leader not to gloat over the opponent but rather to recognise that the enormity of that victory places an even greater responsibility on them.

Malta’s general election results will not be known before another 13 days but Dr Alfred Sant’s address to the mammoth crowd on the Floriana Granaries on Sunday had that aura to it.

The opening words of Dr Sant’s speech speak for themselves; “Our invitation to Maltese and Gozitan families is to choose Labour. Because Labour cares for all….We are courageously and humbly offering to serve all Maltese and Gozitans, to safeguard the interests of our country….”

Continuing, Dr Sant said: “A Labour government will welcome and consider any positive idea, from whomever it comes. All those willing to join the coalition for change, for a new beginning with a better quality of life to all Maltese families, is welcome to join us.”

In our view, these very sincere sentiments confirm that Labour is not taking victory for granted. Labour is not gloating. This in our book is truly a humble invitation. — (Feb 25)

Continental shift

The Independent

A long time ago, the ‘Chariots Of Fire’ screenwriter Colin Welland warned Hollywood that ‘the British are coming’. But, quite unfairly, no one gave Tinseltown a heads up about the imminent European invasion. By the time the Los Angeles-based film community knew it was under attack at the Oscars two nights ago, it was too late.

The French actress Marion Cotillard had captured the best actress award for portraying Edith Piaf in ‘La Vie En Rose’. Javier Bardem, from Spain, had taken the best supporting actor trophy for his psychopathic performance in ‘No Country For Old Men’. Then there was the successful charge of the Anglo-Irish Daniel Day-Lewis for the best actor award.

Never has there been a European night at the Oscars quite like it. As if to make the new order yet more obvious, Senor Bardem even delivered some of his speech in Spanish. So why, in the wake of this victory for Old Europe, does life seem a little emptier this morning on this side of the Atlantic?

European triumphs are all very well and indeed a credit to the good taste of the US movie industry. Maybe America should send us Hilary Swank and George Clooney in exchange. Consider it a celluloid job swap. — (Feb 26)