Indian propaganda about infiltrators

I FAIL to understand why the world is so biased and blinded as to believe in the Indian propaganda that infiltrators are crossing over from Pakistan along the LoC to occupied Kashmir, in the midst of such intense military activity from both sides.

The scale of artillery, machine guns and other weapons’ fire is so intense that any would-be infiltrators would be caught in the cross fire and may become a casualty on the way. No freedom fighter in his right mind would take the risk of getting caught in a fire exchange between the two armies. Besides this, the Indian forces are sitting on higher peaks than our troops. They have long range observation for miles and can spot movement of even small bodies of persons and can intercept them.

It is strange that till today the Indians have never reported a single interception of any freedom fighter in case of cross border infiltration, while they have 600,000 troops, mines, sensors, barbed wire, radars and observation posts on the border. It is also very strange that India has never allowed independent or UN observers near the LoC to monitor the movement of infiltrators across the LoC.

The impassable mountains and steep slopes have been seen by hundreds of US observers and delegations, from the Pakistan side since 1994 and they have never accepted that ordinary persons can cross over and that, too, without being observed. The United States has the capability to monitor movement of even a single person through the satellites. Why don’t they show any photographs or images of individuals crossing over?

It is also very strange that the world community does not insist upon India to allow surveillance of LoC by aerial and ground means to verify or reject Indian assertions. Perhaps it is in the vested economic interests of the world to overlook a devious regime like the Hindu fundamentalists in India.

Very few concerns were raised by the Christian community on the large scale massacre of Christians by Hindu mobs. A draconian law like POTO was passed by the so called democracy to curb human rights but not a single voice was raised against it from any international forum.

BRIG MUHAMMAD FAROOQ (RETD)

Karachi

Joint patrolling

WITH an offer of joint patrolling of the Kashmir borders, India has yet again come up with a clever and nefarious move to divert the world’s attention from its illegal occupation of Kashmir. Pakistan should reject this Indian proposal instead of letting the Indians build up world opinion in their favour.

Analyzing the underlying Indian intentions behind this facade of joint patrolling, the first thing that comes to the mind is an attempt to put the real cause of friction i.e. the Indian occupation of Kashmir, on the back burner. Secondly, by agreeing to the joint patrol, Pakistan would in effect be accepting LoC as the permanent border because who would determine how long this joint patrolling needs to be conducted?

If we accept India’s proposal for jointly watching the Kashmir borders, then tomorrow India would go even one step further to ask for continuing the joint patrolling for an indefinite period.

General Musharraf has already gone too far in meeting the US demands. And yet we are being told by our American ‘allies’ to meet the Indian demands and stop ‘cross-border terrorism’.

Pakistan has been offering conciliatory steps ranging from bilateral talks to stepped-up UN peace keeping and foreign mediation but all is being rejected by India. So now why should we consider any proposal coming from across the border? Do we really think there is an honest and sincere Indian motive behind this proposal? India had 50 years to show its sincerity of intention. Pakistan must immediately reject this Indian offer and ask it and the international community to seriously tackle the primary cause of the problem in Kashmir, which is Indian occupation and denial of right of freedom to the Kashmiris.

RIZWAN

Michigan, USA

The dying birds

WE have already lost 50 per cent of our bird population due to indiscriminate use of pesticides. Now, millions of beautiful birds are dying due to severe drought, in areas that had abundance of water.

Due to the closure of canals and branches, no water has been available in vast areas for months. All the ditches, ponds and watercourses have dried up. The villagers have to bring water from hand pumps and tubewells, miles away. In this situation, innocent birds are dying quietly for want of water. The hardest hit are the small birds who can fly over short distances only.

I want to invite the attention of the WWF and other such organizations to come forward with practical measures so that whatever birds are still there could be saved. There is also a need to create awareness among the masses to persuade them to arrange water for the birds, wherever possible.

ALLAH WARAYO BEHAN

Sanghar

Bury this system

THE other day I went to DC office in Islamabad, which unfortunately still exists in the federal capital. I found the same colonial culture there. No one is allowed to see or meet the DC sahib, who is actually a public servant. For even very trivial work people have to wait for a long time outside the DC office.

I have lived in the US, Canada and the UK but I did not find such a system there. The public feel secure and there is no need to be friends with police officials or other local administration officials. Here the situation is different. If you want to live in Pakistan with security and honour you must befriend police and government officers.

Islamabad should have local government elections so that this colonial system can be forever buried.

M.H. JAFFARY

Islamabad

Senior most Urdu poet

THIS is with reference to ‘Literary Notes’ by Ariel (May 29). Commenting on Ahmed Nadeem Qasimi’s latest book, Mere ham safar, he claimed that Qasimi was the senior most among the living Urdu poets. This is not correct.

According to Urdu Encyclopaedia, Qasimi was born on Nov 20, 1916, whereas Tabish Dehlvi, another well-known living Urdu poet, was born on Nov 9, 1911. Tabish, according to late Sehba Lucknavi, editor of monthly Afkar, composed his first verse in 1923 while his first published poem was Dilli (monthly Saqi, Sept 1930).

So, Tabish Dehlvi, who is also known as Masood Tabish in the field of broadcasting, is the senior most among the renowned living masters of Urdu poetry today. This is just to set the record straight.

S. SHAMIM REZA

Karachi

Loving Pakistan

WE are facing the most critical period in our existence with a bully for a neighbour. I feel diminished and humiliated that some of my fellow citizens who profess to love Pakistan cannot present a unified front.

This is no time to extract political advantage. This is the time to stand up with pride and resolve like an impregnable wall of steel so that everyone understands that aggression would be an unimaginable disaster and that Pakistan is no easy walkover.

This is the time for us to love Pakistan and to defend it.

GULGEE

Karachi

I am a Pakistani living abroad and am deeply concerned about the current dilemma that the country is facing. At the same time I cannot begin to hide my disappointment in our politicians who seem more interested in changing the government than in rallying together for national unity.

I do not think that any sensible Pakistani would consider even for a moment the possibility of bringing corrupt leaders like Benazir Bhutto or Nawaz Sharif back in power. It was because of them that our country became notorious for corruption and was brought to the brink of bankruptcy.

ANNILA LEAQUE

Canada

THE Majlis-i-Muttahida Amal and the ARD appear to be reluctant to meet the president on the agenda of discussing the current border tension. Every Pakistani is ready to sacrifice his life for the defence of his motherland.

But there is a difference between supporting the acts of omissions and commissions by the president and the army. The president should not mix his personal interests with supreme national interests. He should set an example of self-sacrifice for others to emulate. In order to win the goodwill of the opposition, he should restore the constitution, and allow political activity to mobilize the masses for the war effort.

He should also appoint an impartial and independent election commission together with a full-time army chief.

A. RASHID

Lahore

Our place in Saarc

MAY I know why we are in SAARC? What have we gained out of it except India’s hostility? In any case, India by itself is seventy per cent of SAARC. The rest, be it Nepal, Bhutan or even Bangladesh, cannot change the Indian mindset. At the most they make some statements of academic interest only. Because of their geography, they have no choice but to remain at India’s mercy.

Pakistan, on the other hand, has wide options but first it must get out of SAARC. Nobody says we should not have any bilateral relations with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and all the other member states.

In my opinion, we should form a small group of our own primarily based on trade, commerce and mutual assistance. In this context, China, Pakistan and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan can easily form an economic group. China is a rising economic power. Neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan can benefit and this can happen with out any political strings being attached. The group should remain small so that decisions on policy matters can be arrived at easily.

The biggest advantage Pakistan will have is that it will come out of the Indian shadow, will be able to rejuvenate itself. We are tired and fed up of Mr Vajpayee’s cat and mouse game. We should not be fooled by any Indian leader.

KHAN AFZAL AFRIDI

Abbottabad

Is Bush with us or with them?

WHILE addressing Indian troops in occupied Kashmir on May 22, Mr Vajpayee called for a decisive fight against Pakistan. He exhorted his troops to be ready to make supreme sacrifices for achieving the sacred goal set for them.

These exhortations have left no doubt as to what are the future designs of the Indians against Pakistan. Is it not the right time to ask Mr Bush to clarify unambiguously if he is ‘with us or with them’?

SHAFI

Rawalpindi

IN all the years of Pakistan’s existence, we have proved ourselves to be a sincere friend of the US whereas it has always been an unreliable, and often selfish, partner. The joint US military exercise with India near Agra, the supply of US aircraft to India suitable for operations in high and cold terrain and the training of Indian forces in Alaska are all indirectly aimed against Pakistan.

This is so because it is Pakistan which happens to be the only obstacle in the establishment of India’s hegemony in the region.

It should not surprise anyone if in the war between India and Pakistan, the US extends satellite facilities to India. I have begun to see the stars in the US flag as the stars of David.

A.R. KAZIMI

Karachi

Car snatching and police

CAR snatching has become very common in Karachi. Recently, my neighbour came back from his office in his new car. Four young guys who had been following him, snatched the car as soon as he stopped in front of his house.

They took him along with the car but released him after some time.

As an eyewitness, what I found surprising was the fact that they were armed with small and medium size weapons.

This was despite the fact that now a days strict checking of motorbike riders is going on in the city.

A few days back, I was myself stopped twice while going to the seaside, and the police carried out a body check besides the checking of the documents.

So, when aged and respected citizens are not being spared, how come those suspicious looking guys could get away with those weapons remaining undetected by the police.

What I conclude is that car lifting and snatching is being carried out in this city with the connivance of some black sheep among the policemen. If these people, who are the custodians of law and order, are reformed in some manner, such crimes can be eliminated.

I hope the government would do something about it.

MUHAMMAD ARIF

Karachi

Coalition support

GEN Musharraf has rightly decided to divert some of the Pakistani troops from the western to the eastern border where India has concentrated its troops. Pakistanis are extremely hurt and disturbed by the US and the Western attitude and once again feel that they have been betrayed and are being pushed to the wall.

The world should not forget that India is the pioneer of terrorism in this region and Parbakharan, the leader of Tamil Tigers, is their product who is carrying out terrorist activities in Sri Lanka from the Indian soil.

Despite all the odds, Pakistan joined the international coalition to fight the war against terrorism. But Pakistan should now take a strong stance and tell the world leaders that its army cannot continue to participate and support their war due to Indian threat against Pakistan.

ASAD RIZVI

Karachi

Kuldip’s views

AFTER going through his article of 1st June, the only thought that crossed one’s mind as to why Mr Kuldip Nayar should be given space in your newspaper.

An article from an Indian would only carry Pakistan-bashing content and a one-sided view from Delhi. By making us read his columns exactly what is the purpose Dawn is serving?

The people of Pakistan are right behind Musharraf when it comes to war with India.

SAJID ISHAQ KHAN

Karachi

Stone-laying ceremonies

EVERY now and then while reading the newspaper, I come across pictures of VIPs laying foundation stones of one project or the other. After seeing their pictures the following questions come to my mind:

Are these ceremonies necessary?

Do these ceremonies serve any purpose?

What is the contribution of the VIP to the project except that he is gracing the project with his presence and immortalizing his own name, engraved beautifully on the foundation stone?

Is there no better use of money spent on the travel and food arrangements of the VIP and the gathering at the ceremony?

Would the present government take any notice of this and put an end to such ceremonies which are a sheer waste of time as well as money.

MAHFUZ-UR-REHMAN PASHA

Karachi

Time to fulfil promises

GETTING posted to Islamabad is not a very pleasant experience for government officers who arrive here from other cities. Since there are not enough government accommodations here, one has to find an estate office-hired residence. It’s here when an unending agony starts. For reasons which do not need to be discussed here, people who own houses are not ready to rent them out to the estate office.

A number of civil servants are, therefore, forced to take residences outside Islamabad in villages-turned colonies. Those who remain committed to live in Islamabad proper, after strenuous exercise, find houses that are either in debilitated conditions or their locations are unsatisfactory. In all cases the government servants have to make substantial contribution to the owners over and above the rent which is paid to them by the estate office.

Another murky aspect of this travail starts when one somehow locates a house and then tries to get it hired from the estate office. Red-tapism and rampant corruption causes hindrances at each and every step resulting in months and months of delay.

There is a way out of this. Instead of the government paying rents directly to the owners, this amount should be made a part of salaries of the government servants. This will enable them to find houses of their own choices. In this way, manipulation of the government servants at the hands of owners, property dealers and staff of the estate office will end.

Since government servants are ready to pay even undue rents, there is consequently a false hike of house rents throughout Islamabad. Giving cash as a part of salary would improve the bargaining position of the government servants which would in turn result in lowering of the rents. This situation is in larger interest of people living in the capital and would benefit government and non-government employees alike. There is a worldwide trend towards deregulation and decentralization. So why not to deregulate and decentralize the hiring procedure as well, especially when this exercise would not cost the government any extra money? Rather abolishing the estate office can save the national treasury millions of rupees.

Most of the opponents of this proposal, sitting at influential positions, are taking advantage of the facility of self-hiring being provided by the estate office. Moreover, they get their houses repaired, maintained, painted etc at government expense through the Public Works Department — another white elephant.

The finance minister is, therefore, requested to put aside the arguments of vested interests and to take a bold decision in the forthcoming budget to bring thousands of government servants out of this agonizing situation.

MAHMOOD HASSAN

Islamabad