| December 06, 2008 | Saturday | Zilhaj 7, 1429 |
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Fiddling with Urdu
Dangerous liaison
The golden period
Obama’s likely approaches
Mumbai attacks: some arguments
The good old clenched fist
Difference of opinion
In bad taste
Readers are requested to restrict their comments to a maximum of 400 words. We reserve the right to edit letters for reasons of clarity and space. Letters, including those by e-mail, should carry the complete postal address of the sender. The views expressed in these columns do not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper.—Editor
ACCORDING to International Maritime Bureau, 90 vessels have been attacked by pirates since January this year. Of those, 38 were hijacked while pirates still hold 16 vessels with more than 250 crew as hostage. The majority of attacks on cargo ships have taken place in the Gulf of Aden over the past year, around the tip of Somalia which juts into the Indian Ocean and commands access to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
On Nov 18, in the biggest act of piracy, Saudi supertanker MV Sirius Star, with $100 million’s worth of oil with full load of two million barrels and 25 crew members, was hijacked by the marauding Somali bandits some 850km southeast of Mombassa, and anchored close to main pirate den on the Somali coast, Harardhere. It is the seventh ship which has been hijacked by pirates in 12 days (Nov 19).
According to international maritime security experts, few ships are now safe in the Indian Ocean. Admiral Michael Mullen, head of the US Military as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he was ‘stunned’ by the reach of the Somali pirates.
“They’re very well armed. Tactically, they are very good,” he said. Admiral Noman Bashir, Chief of the Naval Staff Pakistan Navy, while talking to newsmen at the Expo Centre at Karachi during a visit to the Ideas 2008 exhibition, also expressed his concern over the rising trend in high seas piracy (Nov 27).
The history of piracy goes all the way back to ancient times, the times of ancient Greece and Rome. Around 500 BC, pirate attacked the many cargo ships that sailed the Mediterranean Sea. Early Greek pirates used small, fast ships that had a shallow bottom. These ships were called triremes and had great manoeuvrability which allowed the pirates to escape into bays and channels where the large ships could not go.
After hijacking the ships the pirates held rich people for ransom and ordinary people were used as slaves. Roman emperor Julius Caesar was captured by pirates, when he was 25, on a voyage across the Aegean Sea. It is said that he demanded they double his ransom from 20 talents of gold to reflect his worth. He was released and then his troops caught and killed the pirates who had captured him.
Today’s pirates are often trained fighters aboard speedboats equipped with satellite phones and global positioning systems and armed with automatic weapons, antitank missiles, and grenades.
With the growing trend in piracy not only cargo ships but cruise ships are also equally vulnerable to piracy. The hijacking of the cruise ship Achille Lauro in the Mediterranean in 1985 proved that cruise ships can be vulnerable to acts of terrorism.
Compared to the existing luxury cruise liners, the Achille Lauro was in insignificant ship in a romote area of the world. But its victimisation completely changed cruise industry security. Terrorism at sea became a major cruise industry concern overnight.
All ships, regardless of the level of threat in the waters they operate, should have an uptodate security plan. The ship security plan should contain measures to be taken corresponding to the levels of threat which may be encountered.
All crew members must be familiar with their security responsibilities as set out in the plan. The measures set out in the plan must also form part of the training exercises to be undertaken at regular intervals.
When entering waters where pirate attacks are more likely to occur, it’s vital to emphasise to the entire crew the importance of general vigilance. A watch should be kept on the stern covering radar ‘blind spots’ and night vision (infrared) binoculars should also be used during hours of darkness when approaching high-risk areas, in addition to constant radar monitoring.
The element of surprise is important to any attackers, and the early detection may very well result in the attack being aborted. Early detection will also give the ship time to raise the alarm and prevent the crew from being caught unawares.
Anchored ships are the most frequent targets for attacks by pirates. Where possible, owners should aim at reducing time of anchor. Slow steaming whilst awaiting berthing prospects can help reduce the period during which the ship will be at higher risk.
If security guards are employed, ensure that security company and their employees are vetted by appropriate authorities. Before and after leaving the port or anchorage, the ship should be thoroughly searched. Anchored and berthed ships should use all lighting available, especially along the ship’s sides and the stern.
SQN LDR ( r) S. AUSAF HUSAIN
Karachi
IN his column of Nov 27, ‘Paving new paths to Romanise Urdu script’, Mushir Anwar has rightly decried the efforts by some quarters in Pakistan, with backing from some Indians, to Romanise Urdu or even to undermine the language itself.
This is indeed a disturbing trend that must be checked promptly, before it causes irreversible damage to our beautiful language.
The first question is why don’t the Arabs, Iranians, Indians, Chinese and the Japanese feel the need to change their script to Roman?
Together, the people of these countries or regions form about half the global population and we’ve also seen the advancement of the Chinese and Japanese in particular, while retaining their mother tongues.
The reason why a section of Pakistanis seems keen to adopt the western script or, as Mr Anwar pointed out, some of them actively discourage their children from learning to read Urdu as a low brow ability, is, I believe, an unconscious mental slavery from our colonial past and, by extension, to other white peoples.
Many years ago, an Iranian friend of mine, although being secular-minded and living in the West, after observing how we Pakistanis tended to mix a lot of English with Urdu when speaking amongst ourselves, had asked in surprise why we didn’t have any pride in our own language.
That, indeed, sums up the problem. While one certainly wishes the Pakistanis to become fluent in English to be able to deal proficiently with international trade and communications, however, we must not do it by killing or mutilating our national and regional languages.
About a year ago Turkish president Abdullah Gul had visited Pakistan and was accompanied by the first lady, whose name, if I recall correctly, was Hairunnisa. This is obviously a modification of the familiar Arabic name Khairunnisa. However, ever after the Turks adopted the Roman alphabet, many incongruities appeared in their language. I have heard some Turks pronouncing Khan as Han or Kan, just as they call Khadija as Hadija, because they don’t have the sound ‘khay’ denoted by ‘Kh’.
I am sure most of us Pakistanis wouldn’t want to get into that trap. Would Allama Iqbal’s or Faiz’s poetry have been as beautiful as it has been if they had written it in the restricting alien script? Incidentally, neither of them had Urdu as a mother tongue, which shows the universality and adaptability of this language.
And, come to think of it, having such a masterly command over Urdu didn’t hamper Iqbal from getting his PhD from Germany. Nor was Dr Abdus Salam’s winning of the Nobel Prize impeded by his ability to read and write Urdu.
Incidentally, even though I am a Punjabi, yet Urdu is spoken at home, particularly by the younger folks. Every one of us can read and write the lingo without feelings of inferiority while having studied in English-medium institutions, possessing fluency in English and having very sound academic performances.
Frankly, I get quite a kick out of seeing many people, even if not all, from the remote corners of Balochistan to the fringes of northern areas speaking in Urdu. This is what binds us and makes the language a national treasure.
Homer had observed that a man loses half his virtue the day he becomes a slave. That would have referred to those who are forced into slavery. But, the ones who become mental bondmen voluntarily destroy their own virtues and only flaunt their poor self image without remorse.
To my young friends, the youth of Pakistan, I would emphasise that our language and culture are the supply lines for emotional and spiritual needs and it is certainly cool to retain strong links with our roots.
It is earnestly hoped that the parents, schoolteachers, advertising gurus and all concerned will exert themselves fully to ensure the survival and flourishing of Urdu (without neglecting the regional languages) while strengthening the Pakistanis’ command over English.
A.G. CHAUDHRY
Karachi
IT appears that the US has put all its energies and efforts to win the second Afghan war but a very important element that is missing in this campaign is ‘common sense’.
US forces could have left Afghanistan a long time back if they really had the intention to implement the peace in Afghanistan. The US military can still leave victorious by bringing Afghanistan’s Northern Alliance and Pashtun Taliban forces together as Al Qaeda elements from Afghanistan have already been eliminated.
As long as the US and its allies will keep Northern Alliance and Taliban on a collision course, Al Qaeda will continue to make headlines and there will be no peace in the region, which will have deadly implications on neighbouring Pakistan.
Presence of the US and Nato war machine in Afghanistan has become a threat to the regional peace and security as US/Nato actions have only fuelled insurgency in Pakistan.
The national interests of nuclear armed Pakistan are under attack as US presence in Afghanistan has provided a strong base to Indian intelligence agencies there. Indian interference and terrorist activities inside Pakistan via Afghanistan have been published in various letters before.
Leaving conspiracy theories aside, ground realities clearly indicate that this is no more a war against terrorism but the execution of a straightforward military plan to sandwich Pakistan from both sides (East and West).
Russia and China could enjoy watching the show from the sidelines today but what they have failed to realise is that it is their own backyard and there will be no way left to defuse ‘future Afghanistan’, a new ‘Israel’ in the heart of Asia.
Therefore, the governments of Russia, China, Iran and Pakistan should take immediate notice of the unreasonable and prolonged presence of US and Nato forces in Afghanistan and try to work out an early timetable for their withdrawal.
SHAKIL AHMED
Dubai
THIS pertains to the observations made by Prof (Dr) Wolfgang Voelter on the golden period of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and its former chairman Prof (Dr) Attaur Rahman (Nov 23). Prof Voelter was sent by the German government in 1974 to look for cooperation partner in Pakistan.
After visiting 15 research institutions in Pakistan, he states that he found sophisticated equipment received on donations from abroad out of order, empty libraries, laboratories short of chemicals and frustrated university professors but for the HEJ (postgraduate) Institute of Chemistry at the University of Karachi, founded by the late Prof (Dr) Salimuzzaman Siddiqi, and subsequently developed by Prof Attaur Rahman, engaged in scientific research activities.
In my opinion out of the various achievements of Dr Rahman as chairman of the HEC, one was the hiring of active and viable retired indigenous professors with PhD for the advancement of knowledge amongst university students.
In the competitive world of today a fierce fight is going on for survival and sustenance. A knowledge-based economy is of great value and importance for socio-economic development. If the performance of the golden period is not retained, then we may fall back into bronze period (even a bronze medal was not won by us in the last Olympic games). World history is a witness to such an epoch.
I would, therefore, like to request the people at the helm of affairs to at least continue with the educational standard and progress made by the HEC, if we are to live in the comity of nations with dignity.
DR M. JALALUDDIN
Department. of Agriculture
University of Karachi
THIS is apropos of Tariq Fatemi’s article, ‘Obama’s likely approaches’ (Nov 20). As a realist, US President Barack Obama is most likely to question the very reason why the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were started, in the first instance, without a clear proof about OBL, Taliban or Saddam’s role or even their technical capabilities, to launch such a bewildering hi tech event like 9/11 in the US.
As a matter of fact, even the 9/11 Commission Report could not produce any cogent proof, except conjectures and failure of US intelligence in both cases.
Instead, it had recommended on pages 537 581: “Humane and generous treatment of Arab and Muslim world, strictly abiding by the US values of human dignity, rule of law, generous caring and creating environment for development and opportunity, etc, in order to avoid extremists and terrorists to emerge and create problems against US interests.”
Instead of following such a policy, actions appear to be totally the opposite, thus increasing hatred and extremism, instead of winning the hearts, to eliminate extremism as recommended.
This is apparently the reason why other countries appear to be inclined to withdraw their forces from these prolonged wasteful conflicts, more so as this has created a global economic and financial crisis, far worse than seen for a century, even after World War II.
Mere withdrawal of forces from Iraq, as indicated by him, is not likely to overcome this global crisis, unless the war in Afghanistan is also ended and enough resources, rather war reparations are offered, for rebuilding the war damage in these countries, including Pakistan, where the war has caused tremendous loss of human lives, property, besides creating vast economic and financial crisis.
SYED MOHSIN
Karachi
READING Qamar Iqbal’s letter, ‘Mumbai: India blames Pakistan’, and the several reports titled, (i) ‘India sending top official to US’, (ii) ‘The misplaced hype about Faridko’t, (iii) ‘Gunmen spoke Hindi with strong Punjabi, north Indian accent’ and (iv) ‘Taj hotel was warned of attack’, all in Dawn’s Dec 1 issue, only strengthened my earlier conclusions.
Going by some of the past actions of the Indians, I had already suspected that the attacks on Mumbai had been engineered by New Delhi in order to ward off the immense and increasing pressure it has been coming under on two accounts. First, the peaceful and massive uprising in Kashmir in recent months has caught the Indian establishment and even the independence-minded Kashmiri leaders by surprise. What is worse, some Indian intellectuals and rights activists, too, are now demanding of their leaders to give freedom to Kashmiris.
Second, and perhaps even more worrying for New Delhi seems to be the apparent intention of American President-elect Barack Obama and his advisers to take concrete steps to resolve the 60-year-old Kashmir dispute. Its impact on the Indian ruling elite can be judged by the frantic efforts on several fronts not only to influence Mr Obama’s thinking but, preferably, to keep the US and other western countries away from any mediation. The recent weighting in by Paris as well in favour of a Kashmir resolution has increased the panic in India.
Therefore, the best way out for the South Asian power would be to divert attention away from Kashmir and also to badly malign Pakistan as the instigator of the most audacious assault not just on the Indians but also against American, British and Israeli visitors. In this way, there would be no doubt left in anyone’s mind the work wasn’t undertaken by any Indian organisation but by Muslim militants originating from, if not actually backed by, Pakistan.
Here are some supporting arguments: 1) As noted by Mr Iqbal, Leopold Café’s cook told the BBC that the terrorists had consumed liquor just before initiating action (as was done by the Indian operatives in the killing of 36 Sikhs in Kashmir during Mr Clinton’s visit). This proved that Muslim extremists couldn’t be involved.
2) The only terrorist to be arrested gave his name and place of origin, but investigation by the police and media personnel looking for such a person in Pakistani villages named Faridkot revealed there was no such person known, as show in report (ii) cited above.
3) Report (iii) says that the gunmen spoke Hindi with a strong north-Indian accent. I, too, had noticed that, being a Punjabi myself. Besides, it was also being said that a group called the ‘Deccan Mujahideen’ had claimed responsibility for the operation. But, upon listening to the telephone conversation of the person, I had immediately realised that it wasn’t a Hyderabadi (Deccan) accent at all.
Therefore, the call seems to have been made as a decoy to pre-empt any suspicion falling on the Indian establishment and divert it towards the Muslim militants, although, conveniently enough, it was a name never heard before.
4) The story at no. (iv) quotes the owner of the Taj Hotel, Ratan Tata, as saying that the management had been warned it was a possible target. So, they had taken some protective measures such as keeping cars away from the hotel’s front entrance and using metal detectors.
However, he said the extra security measures were eased shortly before the attack. Also, the terrorists used the rear entrance of the hotel, Whereas the security arrangements were only at the front. This shows that the attackers knew this beforehand and terrorists from villages or cities in Pakistan couldn’t have been aware of such recent developments.
Only insiders very familiar with all the sites in Mumbai as well the hotel’s security measures could have bypassed the impediments and moved from place to place with remarkable ease. Furthermore , that some of them even hijacked police and private vehicles and drove around easily, supports my argument.
5) Pakistan’s naval chief had clarified the other day that of the two ships, M.V. Alpha and Al-Kabir, alleged to have been used by the terrorists to reach Mumbai from Karachi, our navy had none with such names and that M.V. Alpha belongs to Panama. Apart from that, the KPT website showed these did not use Karachi recently.
Finally, report (i) says that India’s foreign secretary Shivshankar Menon is being hurried to Washington to persuade Mr Obama to pressure Pakistan for cracking down on terror groups. Also, that India is concerned over the Obama administration’s keen interest in resolving the Kashmir issue. This shows India’s great alarm about Washington’s impending move, but why it should fear a powerful, honest broker is not hard to guess.
WASEEM BHATTI
Karachi
I CAN’T agree more with the comments expressed by the balanced writer in this era of maddening cacophony of these 24 hour news channels (The good old clenched fist, Dec 4).
Just to be more ‘current and uptodate’, more ‘patriotic’ than their competitors, they surpass any limit of decent reporting. In our country all the real issues which affect majority of people’s day-to-day life are conveniently ignored.
The whole focus is on news from big cities where the commercial interest of the media lies. Bihar floods would have killed many more people than this unfortunate attack on Mumbai but there was no media hysteria about political and bureaucratic deficiencies.
In India these media channels have assumed a great power which can make or destroy overnight. They are no better than our Bollywood movies in creating sensational stories. Maybe after sometime as they mature, they will improve and do a balanced reporting as their western counterparts.
AJAY CHAUHAN
Bangalore
DISSENT, discord and difference of opinion has been observed among the Muslims for hundreds of years, and our enemies have always made the best use of it to divide us more and more.
But when it comes to even minor matters, it appears to be quite distasteful. Not to observe Eidul Azha on a day other than the one observed in Saudi Arabia does not appear to be reasonable.
Eidul Azha is to be observed on a day after Haj. The emphasis is on Haj, which can only be performed at the ground of Arafat in Saudi Arabia. If the moon is not sighted in Pakistan, Haj will not be postponed. Appearance of the moon in Pakistan has no relevance to the performance of Haj.
It is absolutely the prerogative of the government of Saudi Arabia to announce the date of Haj. Not to observe an important festival jointly on the same day indicates that we tend to show our disunity for no rhyme or reason.
Many years ago, as a schoolboy, I was told by one of my teachers that ‘common sense’ is not all that common. After many decades, this attitude of our religious bosses confirms what I heard a long time ago. However, as an optimist I would like to say: “Kutch to samjhe Khuda kare koi” (May God let anyone understand something).
PROF KHALID HASSAN MAHMOOD
Karachi
I HAD always been a fan of the ‘Four-man show’ on a local channel.
It was always good to see political parodies with intellectual humour. However, I switched off the channel utterly disgusted.
I expected that the entertainment department would show class. However, they have behaved as uneducated as imaginable when they confused harmless fun with personal attacks on character of a defence analyst.
It was also an act of indecency when our religiously revered figures like Muhammad Bin Qasim and Tipu Sultan were also mentioned time and again in highly disrespectful context.
The entertainment department needs to get its act together.
The fine line between humour and slander has already been crossed.
AYA MALIK
Rawalpindi
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