The hurdle in Kashmir solution

DAWN’s issue of May 29 carries an interesting dispatch from its Washington correspondent in which he has reported the views of Robert Oakley, former US ambassador to Pakistan, and Tresika Schaffer of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies on the topic of ‘cross-border terrorism’: they believe that if General Musharraf can establish that cross-border infiltration has really been stopped as the Pakistani leader claimed in his speech, then India would have to respond to get a political process going.

Other things about these views apart, not a dissimilar expectation was aroused for Pakistan in the wake of the India-China war in 1962, when a heavy artillery combine of Averiell Harriman from the USA and Duncan Sandys from the UK were sent to the subcontinent to exercise persuasive skills on Nehru to start negotiations with Pakistan on Kashmir. Mr Nehru met them but more the Chinese danger receded the less and less reason he saw to solve the Kashmir issue.

In fact, nothing has changed in the Indian position on Kashmir since 1947. Neither does India have the slightest inclination to loosen its steel grip on the valley, which was taken by force and fraud in the first place nor is the UN particularly keen to see that happen. Nor is there any divergence of views between the USA and the UK on this point.

The UK has always seen to it that nothing happens which might lead to a loosening of India’s steel grip on Kashmiris. For its own reasons, the USA also thinks likewise and so do many other powers. India understood this situation quite clearly and did not take the UNCIP resolutions or statements of western leaders to really mean what they said.

The whisper about ‘the wishes of the people of Kashmir’ is not echoed any more in recent statements. What we now hear instead is that much water has flowed down the bridge since 1948 and the UNCIP resolutions are no longer relevant. India, UK, USA, Russia and the UN are all agreed on the point. Now the only point worth considering is that ‘cross-border terrorism instigated and supported by Pakistan’ should be stopped in the interest of regional and world peace. Pakistan is asked to offer proof first to India, which will then issue a certificate to the other countries, while India’s professions of innocence of human rights violation are accepted as gospel truth.

The world community has been supporting this position of India by adding its loud articulation on ‘cross-border terrorism’ but keeping complete silence about either the sufferings of the Kashmiri people at the hands of the Indian occupying troops or the need of addressing the ‘core issue’ which is at the root of tension between the two countries.

S. IRTIZA HUSSAIN

Karachi

NA: a non-starter?

THE recently-formed National Alliance between some parties is showing itself to be a non-starter owing to the government’s alleged interference. The leadership structure thrust upon the member parties of the alliance has caused dismay resulting in an apparent rift between the Millat Party and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek.

The simmering discontent held by PAT has slowly come to the surface. The extent to which Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri, chairman of PAT, was dissatisfied with the NA has only come to light this week with reports of him threatening to leave the NA and join the opposition. The fact that he was absent from recent NA meetings and the president’s APC supports these reports.

Appointing controversial figures as key players in the alliance was sure to lead to trouble. The government should not manipulate pro-government parties but only give full support to them. At present the structure of NA is totally unnatural as regional parties are the main players with PAT being sidelined. This only confirms reports that the government has realized that it cannot manipulate PAT on its principled stance. Bearing in mind that PAT fully supports all points of Musharraf’s seven-point agenda should be an incentive for Musharraf to bring the PAT forward.

Manipulating the formation of the NA has raised concerns on how far the government is willing to go in order to have its desired individuals in the post-election set-up. This has also confirmed skeptics of their fears of another rigged elec-tion.

The government is grossly increasing the gap between its words and actions. Talk of implementing democracy may be impressive but the appeasing of parties whose leadership were the main players in the Nawaz and Benazir governments is not hidden from anyone.

Musharraf continues to criticize the corrupt regimes of the past, yet he is willing to accept members of those regimes in the post-election set-up. The PML (QA) and some of the main players in the NA are known to be amongst those.

The government should let democracy run its course as its efforts to manipulate it are proving to be a miserable failure with regard to both the NA and the PML (QA). The government should limit itself to promoting the principles of democracy, making clear to the people what they should look for when they vote for a party.

The only reason why the people may still support corrupt parties is due to ignorance and lack of correct information about the parties. True democracy seems to be looking as far away as it was during Nawaz Sharif’s government, which poses the question of what happened to Musharraf’s drive to introduce true democracy.

JAVED IQBAL

Karachi

US-Israel lobbies

RECENTLY, a very strong resolution was passed by the US Senate, praising Ariel Sharon and condemning Yasser Arafat. The resolution was so one-sided that even the State Department tried to get it modified. One senator remarked that the legislators were after campaign contributions.

The American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is a powerful foreign-policy lobby in Washington. Its 60,000 members shower millions of campaign dollars on hundreds of members of Congress. It also maintains a network of wealthy and influential citizens around the country in support of its main goal — ensuring that there is no friction between the policies of Israel and the US.

There are other equally strong Israeli lobbies representing the 52 Jewish organizations in the US.

However, it is interesting to note that not much mention is made of these lobbies in the US media. Recently, an estimated 1,000 subscribers to the Los Angeles Times suspended home deliveries for a day to protest what they considered the paper’s pro-Palestine coverage. The Chicago Tribune, the Minneapolis Star, the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Miami Herald have all been hit by similar protests.

On the one hand, these lobbies are busy raising money for Jewish settlements in the West Bank (making refugees out of the Palestinians) while on the other hand Bush Jr mouths duplicitous inanities to try and befool the Arab and Muslim world.

Do the US and its citizens really expect any sympathy from the Muslim world when they shed tears at ‘Ground Zero’?

KHURSHID ANWER

Lahore

Almaty failure

WITH the Almaty conference having concluded without any headway towards bringing to an end the Indo-Pakistan stand off, it appears that Mr Vajpayee’s stubborn attitude through out the proceedings has made things all the more complicated.

Russia is an old and traditional ally of India. If Mr Vajpayee has not heeded Mr Putin’s advice for entering into a dialogue with Pakistan to defuse the tension, one wonders how far people of this region can pin their hopes on the forthcoming visit of Mr Rumsfeld. If Mr Vajpayee now listens to the US emissary, that might put Russia off. So, there is little hope of any significant outcome of Mr Rumsfeld’s visit.

Nevertheless, there is always a chance that good sense might prevail any moment to avert a full-blown war. Let us hope for the best.

NADEEM NASIR

Lahore Cantt

IT is regretful that the Almaty conference has not been able to bring India and Pakistan to the dialogue table.

Putin’s initiative had come as a ray of hope to the people of South Asia. But they were dismayed by India’s stubborn attitude. The US state department had also confirmed the fact that Pakistani actions had gone beyond words. But India was still not prepared for a dialogue.

Although President Putin sounded a positive note about the supposed wish of both the countries to attain peace, yet there does not seem to be even an iota of Indian willingness to resume the stalled dialogue with Pakistan.

Now the world community should know as to who is responsible for this standoff?

AMANAT ALI CHAUDHRY

Okara

Core issue

IN my opinion, the core issues for Pakistan are provision of basic needs to its citizens, elimination of poverty, improvement in the economy, removal of unemployment, free education at least upto the secondary level, a better law and order situation, and rooting out of terrorism and sectarian violence. But we are simply stuck on the Kashmir issue.

We all know that Indian atrocities are not acceptable to anyone, and as Muslims we should fight for the rights of the Kashmiri Muslims. But this should be and can be done only when we are much stronger economically because only then the world would listen to us.

RIAZ BADRASHI

Peshawar

Tactical nuclear weapons

WHILE browsing through the foreign news media on the internet, I came across an item in the Indian news weekly, Outlook India (www.outlookindia.com), reporting that the Indian strategists were grappling with a fresh and hitherto unknown factor: Pakistan possessing tactical nuclear weapons (TNWs).

It has been reported that these are low-yield nuclear weapons which could be launched by field artillery guns or aircraft to destroy an advancing tank squadron and could kill between 500 to 1,000 troops. The possession of TNWs by Pakistan has been confirmed in an interview with Lt-Gen D.B. Shekathar (Retd) captioned ‘Yes, Pakistan has tactical nukes’, in the same issue of the Indian journal.

Unlike the big nuclear bombs, the TNWs would be directed only on military targets in a battlefield, and would cause destruction in a very small area. The Indian army is reported to have acknowledged that possession of TNWs gives Pakistan an edge over India and that they need to reconstruct their strategy.

The Indian strategists are now contemplating to avoid an all-out war or provoke Pakistan for the same. They now, reportedly, want to confine themselves only to air strikes at ‘terrorist’ camps in AJK.

RAFI AHMED

Karachi

Agricultural loans

I WANT to bring to the notice of the governor, State Bank of Pakistan, the fact that in 1997-98 the SBP had allowed the defaulters of agricultural loans, as an incentive, to pay the principal of their secured loan without paying the accrued interest. Those who took the advantage were also granted fresh loans.

Now, the ADBP authorities have come up with a decision that those who took the advantage under State Bank’s incentive scheme will not be advanced any fresh loan until they pay the amount of interest which had then been written off.

On the other hand, no such restriction has been imposed on those who had taken the advantage under a similar incentive announced by the Prime Minister.

May I ask the policy-makers, why there is a double standard? I feel that the governor of the State Bank should intervene so that a uniform policy is adopted for all the ADBP clients.

IMDAD HUSSAIN ABBASI

Larkana

Violence in our movies

I CAN only wonder over the titles of the Pakistani movies when I see their ads in newspapers — Lahori Ghunda, Dada Badmash, Badmash Gujjar, Dakait, Asoo Billa, Jagga Tax, Kursi Tey Qanoon, Sher Lahore, and what not.

These movies not only promote violence and glorify villainish characters, but also pollute the mind of an audience that is mostly semi-literate. No wonder our society has become intolerable and violent.

I think it is high time that the censor board should broaden its mental horizon and, apart from the heroine’s attire, take the trouble to check the gory plot of the movie as well. If this is not done, the establishment of a modern and tolerant society would always remain an illusive dream.

AHMAD IMRAN

Lahore

IT university welcomed

I AM pleased to hear of the establishment of an IT university under the city government.

It would really pave the way for those who cannot afford to take such expensive cour-ses.

This step should have been taken long ago but as it has been taken now, it is a good opportunity for the poor to come forward and avail it.

The work on the project should be expedited and should not be left to linger on, like other government projects.

ZIA UR REHMAN RIZVI

Karachi

A question

CAN any one tell me how one would know that a missile heading towards Pakistan or India is not carrying a nuclear warhead? And how would the targeted country react to such a launch?

COL RIAZ JAFRI (RETD)

Rawalpindi

Water rights

I READ with interest a letter captioned ‘Failure of water schemes’ written by someone belonging to a village bordering the NWFP, regarding the failure of two water supply schemes (May 4).

Living in a water-starved area we can easily imagine his plight. It is suggested that in case his grievances are not resolved by the Punjab governor, he should request the NWFP governor to intervene. After all, Mianwali was once a part of the NWFP. Moreover, neighbours are definitely entitled to certain rights.

ABBAS KHAN KHATTAK

Karak

I am Caesar

I WAS recently reading about the life and times of Julius Caesar and I came across some very interesting remarks attributed to him. I reproduce the same which should be read in the light of the posture adopted by George W. Bush immediately after 9/11:

“Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervour, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded by patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader and gladly so. How do I know? For this is what I have done. And I am Caesar.”

Are there any sane elements amongst the American people reading this?

DR DANISH ABDUL JABBAR

Karachi

Benazir’s outburst

THROUGH her article in the Los Angeles Times, ‘War is likely if Musharraf stays’, Benazir has exposed herself. By refusing to support the government in case of war, she is only strengthening the hands of the Indians. Perhaps, she is expecting Mr Vajpayee to install her in Islamabad after he has won his ‘decisive battle’ (God forbid).

I fully agree with Mr Altamash Javed Lone (June 5) in asking her as to how does she expect to be elected as PM after such an irresponsible outburst. The courts may or may not be able to prove her guilt, I think that she herself has sealed her own fate in the eyes of all loyal and patriotic Pakistanis.

NAELA HASAN

Ontario, Canada

Press power

I WOULD like to thank Dawn for publishing my letter ‘A new phone for internet users?’ (June 6). I have since received four phone calls from the PTCL — all informing me that my phone problem had been fixed and that the internet would now function.

Perhaps the power of the press can move mountains!

AYSHA SHEIKH

Karachi

EPZ working hours and investors

THE government of Pakistan these days, through its various steps, is seriously concentrating on two ‘Es’. The first E is for ‘export’ and the other stands for ‘energy’. The recent time adjustment of one hour in order to utilize maximum daylight is also one of those steps.

However, as far as export is concerned, it appears that some areas are still unattended. For example, the authority that is running the one and only export processing zone of Pakistan i.e. EPZA keeps its office closed both on Saturdays and Sundays with about 2-3 hours break on Fridays. This is a sheer wastage of working hours resulting in loss of exports from the country.

It may be noted that all major government as well as private organizations like ports, customs, post offices, banks, factories, service concerns, etc., are open on Saturdays. More interestingly, the industrial units, service establishments and banks within the premises of KEPZ also work on Saturdays. How can we afford to have a lavish ‘five days a week EPZ’ in Pakistan.

The investors of KEPZ face great difficulty in connection with their day-to-day work related to issue of their import/export documents and other essential matters on Saturdays. They have no choice but to wait till Monday. The skeleton arrangement made by EPZA on Saturdays with some junior staff members with lesser executive powers is unable to meet the requirement of KEPZ investors and is absolutely insufficient for them. The investors demand that this arrangement should be made for Sundays and other holidays so that the exporters of KEPZ have the facility to dispatch their goods abroad vide their already processed documents even on weekly and other holidays.

According to an old investor of KEPZ, it is surprising to note that when the office of the Ministry of Industries, under the umbrella of which EPZA works, remains open on Saturdays, then why does EPZA close its office on Saturdays?

It is an open secret that KEPZ could not emerge as a successful entity during the past two decades. Trade circles reveal that KEPZ has simply failed to achieve the targets set for it. It is losing even the local investment made by non-resident Pakistanis.

The chairman of EPZA, who has brought about some positive and visible changes in routine procedural work at KEPZ is requested to issue an order regarding the working on Saturdays to satisfy the investors of KEPZ.

ASIF SHEIKH JAVAID

Karachi