The question of recognizing Israel

THE time has finally come to decide about a crucial factor in our foreign policy regarding the recognition of Israel. The West, particularly the US, has given an unparalleled support to Israel for their own interests in the region.

Fifty years is too short a period. But it is full of bloodshed, agony, unwanted killings and a sense of uncertainty in the minds of both the Israelis and the Palestinians. The Muslim world in the region has played its role which is condoned by some and welcomed by others.

Pakistan always has the potential to lead the Muslim world in formulating a strategic limited policy on various issues confronting the Muslims in different regions. But we have wasted our energies and resources and remained isolated.

India, our neighbour, has made us target of aggression four times and has cut us into two pieces. Still we look forward for better political and economic relations with India. We struggle for peace and tranquillity between the two countries for the mutual benefit of our people.

Hollow slogans and religious blackmailing would only bring miseries and destruction without achieving any durable peace and development. So if we accept India, then why not Israel? Let us recognize Israel with all good hope, at least thereafter, one could talk to Israel regarding its wrongdoings against the stone- throwing Palestinians whom it is killing with helicopters and tanks supplied by the US.

MAJOR FATEH ALAM SHEIKH

Lahore

PRESIDENT Gen Pervez Musharraf’s statement that he would consider recognizing Israel provided there was progress on the establishment of a Palestinian state is encouraging.

Today, Israel is a reality that must be recognized and accepted by Pakistan. Unfortunately, within Pakistan, I see very little support for such a step. Even so, Pakistan must at least initiate some sort of secret diplomatic relations with Israel until full relations can be established and make it clear to it that Pakistan is no threat to its security. Doing so would allay the fears of some Israelis. In due course, Pakistan should recognize Israel and its right to exist.

If the Palestinians along with many other Arab states can recognize Israel, then surely Pakistan can do so. Obviously, this would be much easier if there is real progress in the creation of an independent Palestinian state.

At the same time, it is important for Pakistan not to antagonize important Arab states where many Pakistanis work and which are important for Pakistan in terms of its economic interests. However, Israel is an important country and establishing relations with it in the near future would be in Pakistan’s long-term interests.

TAIMUR MASUD KHAN

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Indo-Pakistan trade relations

IT is encouraging to hear that a delegation of 100 Pakistani businessmen will be visiting New Delhi next week for a meeting of the India-Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (IPCCI). It is, however, a matter of regret that the entire contingent will have to travel via Dubai in a circuitous fashion because of the current restrictions on the use of air space. Let us earnestly hope that wisdom will prevail and such irritations will be removed soon.

Let us now piously express the sentiment that trade between India and Pakistan may be a precursor to peace in the region. Or, is it the other way round — peace first and trade later? Alas, it boils down to the usual chicken and egg syndrome.

Fifty years of sustained hostility has made it nearly impossible to consider even a common sense issue like trade between the two geographically contiguous countries, outside the ambit of politics when the whole world is moving towards the notion of borderless trade. In the American continent, the tri-lateral trade agreement, NAFTA, despite some initial political overtones, has vastly improved trade in the region, benefiting manufacturers and consumers in all the three countries, i.e. the USA, Canada and Mexico.

In the Indo-Pakistan region, smugglers have thrived over the years, moving goods across the borders at will. Dope peddlers on both sides have ganged up too. For them politics and religion are no barriers, but the consumers are left holding the bag of high prices because of the artificial barriers to trade. Products like cement, steel, textiles, sugar, rice and wheat do not bear any labels like Islam or Hindu.

Members of parliament of both countries have already started meeting and conversing with each other. It is now the turn of the businessmen. Let not trade, which can largely remain apolitical, be held hostage to politics. It is an enormous mistake to speak of trade as trading with the enemy or supping with the devil.

KANGAYAM R. RANGASWAMY

Madison, WI, USA

Admission tests’ date

THE entrance tests of three top educational institutes, i.e. GIK, IBA and SZABIST, have been scheduled on July 6. Those wishing to apply in all the three institutes are greatly disturbed, as they can only apply in one of the three owing to the same date of entrance tests.

A few months back, a similar problem was faced by the students appearing in the tests of NUST and the Agha Khan University, Karachi. NUST changed the date of its entrance test, thus solving the problem of the candidates. Why do the universities choose the same date for entrance tests? Why don’t they plan well in advance to avoid changing dates at the last moment? Why do the universities create such problems and confusion for students who want to seek admission to all good universities of the country?

I request the authorities of the three institutes to change their entrance tests’ date, so that the candidates can take all the entrance tests, should they so desire.

M. USMAN ASLAM

Rawalpindi

Rentier activities

DEFENCE claims around 40 per cent of the budget. Why do then its units like the army, the rangers and the air force need to indulge in ‘rentier’ activities, at times engaging in non- transparent activities like the alleged sale of ‘fake beverages’?

Please refer to the news item titled: “Rangers blamed for sale of fake beverages” (June 25, page 12). This is the activity of the rangers in addition to their indulgence in the commercial handling of water through water tankers in Karachi. Earlier, the army deployed its considerable resources and manpower in the National Logistics Cell — dealing in inter-city transportation.

Not to be left behind is the navy, which runs a pay-in television channel service through the funds allotted to it for ‘other’ purposes.

I believe it is time we stopped the presentation of the defence budget in a ‘one-liner includes-all’ statement that is presented in parliament. To start with, I suggest a pie chart be released indicating the percentage allotted to the army, the navy and the air force for headings such as core defence, housing, entertainment, education and land distributed gratis to generals. Surely, this isn’t asking for sham democracy? Hiding it may be.

AMIR ALI ESMAIL

Karachi

Causes of political instability

GEN Pervez Musharraf blames the exiled leaders of the PPP and the PML-N for political instability because they are pulling the strings from abroad and are not allowing their elected members to accept the general’s version of democracy.

Gen Musharraf believes like the previous military rulers that only a special type of democracy is suitable for Pakistan. He is excluding the MQM leader from the axis of the exiled leaders, although the MQM is also managed and directed by Mr Altaf Hussain from his headquarters in London. The MQM has accepted the dominance of the establishment in the civilian affairs and is now using the establishment to eliminate its opponents.

When a level-playing field is not provided to all political parties and elections are engineered to allow only those politicians to become the people‘s representatives whose personal profiles are not above board and who have taken loans from the banks to have them written off, there could be no political stability. When military and political leaders try to rule with force, instead of winning the hearts and the minds of the people by alleviating rampant poverty, providing fresh water, electricity, education and health care, then political harmony becomes a pipe-dream.

Hollow promises of better lives, more jobs and modern civic services cannot guarantee political stability. When strategic national interests are decided by one man without the participation of the general public, political stability is not possible. When provinces‘ autonomy is considered against federal interest, then provincial disharmony will increase.

When people are denied their basic rights and ‘one-man rule‘ is legitimized by the judiciary, then political divide will weaken the nation. When state land is arbitrarily allotted to senior army officials at throwaway prices and devolution of power remains a farce in the face of centralized control over the resources, then it augurs ill for political stability and the health of the democracy is in danger.

ENGR S. T. HUSSAIN

Lahore

Enigma of change

THIS is with reference to Dr Mahboob A. Khwaja’s letter (June 23). He has asked how we can change the nation and its mode of thinking. I remember listening to Mr Ardeshir Cowasjee on television in one of his interviews. He was asked: what should we do to improve the state of affairs of this country? His answer was very simple — educate the people. I agree with him since majority of the people of this country have no idea as to what is going on in our homeland.

I would like to ask how many people in this country know about:

• Reasons behind the fall of Dhaka and the breakup of Pakistan

• Hamoodur Rehman commission report

• Increase in the rate of unemployment in the year 2003

• Reasons behind slashing the National Savings Schemes’ rate of returns

• Our heavy military expenditure

• Our actual spending on education in the budgets

• Admiral Mansoorul Haque’s case

• Constitution and the LFO

• The reason behind 15,000-sqyd Governor’s House in a country where people don’t have access to clean drinking water, food, shelter and clothing.

• The cost of Mercedes Benz, which our president uses with pride for his official duties and very many vehicles surrounding him. Can’t they use some other cars? When we are a poor country, why on earth the rulers have lavish lifestyles? Whose money do they spend? Their own or state’s?

There can be hundreds of questions like these, but again the question arises as to how many people know about them. I don’t know about all the above mentioned problems in detail but I do have some understanding about them — why? The answer is that I’m an educated man and get myself informed.

Let education be our topmost priority like in Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia and India, and see things change.

NIAZ H. JAFRI

Karachi

Motor vehicle tax

THIS is with reference to a letter by Mr Aftab Ahmed Memon, secretary to the government of Sindh, Karachi,(Dec 28, 2002) suggesting that a road user charge with fuel cost, as a substitute for motor vehicle tax, if approved by the competent authority, will be enforced from July 1, 2003. He has also requested the public to pay the motor vehicle tax up to June 30 2003.

The month of July is about to begin. In order to avoid harassment from concerned agencies and the police, a clarification is urgently needed.

FARHAD DAVAR

Karachi

‘Sex on the net’

I HAVE noticed that for the past three years the public in Pakistan is concerned about young people visiting pornographic sites on the web.

Some people have advised the parents to keep an eye on their children and discourage Internet cafes while others have suggested that such websites should either be banned or blocked. These measures will not help solve the problem because of various reasons. Keeping an eye on the children for the whole day is a tough job.

If the Internet cafes are closed, the spread of IT in Pakistan will get affected. Moreover, it is not possible for the government or any other organization to block access to millions of web pages which are growing fast.

The only realistic and possible solution to the problem is to let both sexes communicate to allow their behaviour and mental state to mature. This solution has been applied, with good results, in many modern Islamic countries, including Egypt, Turkey.

BILAL MAZHAR

Islamabad

Thal canal controversy

THIS is with reference to your editorial of June 23 regarding the Thal canal project. I would like to mention some facts for record.

First, the canal is not being constructed in the D. G. Khan district but in the districts of Khushab and Lahiya in Punjab

Secondly, the Kachi canal is not being constructed in Sindh. It is a canal of Balochistan but will pass through Punjab, which will cover more than 100km of Punjab and will cultivate large parts of Punjab and some lands of Balochistan.

Thirdly, while the issue of the Thal canal was being considered, Irsa did not have majority of members from Sindh. There was one member from Sindh as one each from other provinces. One member who was a representative of the federation was from Sindh. However this must be brought on record that the Irsa member from Sindh had vehemently opposed the construction of the canal.

The other points, which also need correction for the sake of record, are that the canal project did not pass through the appropriate approving bodies and the procedures as required under the law.

The project is still awaiting the feasibility study and its report has yet to be completed.

ALI AHMED QURESHI

Dadu

A ray of hope

AN agreement was recently concluded between China and India, whereby India has admitted Tibet as an inalienable part of China.

This makes us believe that India has started taking note of the ground realities in connection with the settlement of its border disputes.

We hopefully wish the same attitude with reference to Pakistan and an admission/ acceptance by the Indians that the future governance of Kashmir can only be decided by the Kashmiris and none else.

ABDUL SALAM DADABHOY

Karachi

‘Generals’ elections’

IN his article titled “The cost of trusting the general” (June 24), Imran Khan has referred to the October elections as involving “the most shameless pre-poll rigging in this country’s history.”

Imran should have realized by now that in Pakistan there is a whopping difference between “general” elections, and “Generals’” elections.

M. AYYUB

Lahore

Blatant lies about WMD

THE Washington Post has reported that in his last Oct 7 speech in Cincinnati Mr Bush said Iraq posed an immediate threat to the US, partly because of the ties it had with Al Qaeda, blamed for Sept 11 attacks. He cited the high-level contacts that “go back a decade,” and added: “We have learned that Iraq trained Al Qaeda members in bomb-making, and poisons and deadly gases.”

Picking up this lead, the coalition partners, particularly the US and the UK, repeatedly orchestrated the motive behind the war on Iraq, that is, the destruction of WMD, a regime change to liberate the Iraqis from the tyrannical rule of Saddam Hussein and to punish for the Al Qaeda link.

According to The New York Times, two of the highest-ranking leaders of Al Qaeda in American custody have told the CIA in separate interrogations that the organization did not work jointly with the government of Saddam. Furthermore, the CIA, the Defence Intelligence Agency and the State Department’s intelligence division could find no evidence of a connection between Saddam and the Al Qaeda network.

Now 96 days after the invasion of Iraq and 67 days of Saddam’s ouster, not even a trace of WMDs has been found. Hans Blix, chairman of UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), told the Council of Foreign Affairs in New York that the US jumped to conclusion on the basis of “shaky” evidence that Saddam possessed WMDs.

One official told The New York Times: “As an employee of the Defence Intelligence Agency, I know that this administration has lied to the public to get support for its attack on Iraq.” The intelligence has been deliberately manipulated by the Pentagon hawks. Jacobson and Khan observed for the American right-wingers, super patriots that “there is a high purpose than legality for which they stretch, torture, or deny the truth so long as they are serving robustly reactionary and imperial agenda.”

Regarding WMDs, two former British senior ministers, Ms Clare Short and Robin Cook, who resigned from the cabinet, accused Prime Minister Tony Blair of deceiving the public at the start of a parliamentary inquiry on June 17 into the government’s justification for launching an invasion of Iraq. Robin Cook said there was no sign of equipment or a workforce for Iraq to produce weapons of mass destruction. “It is inconceivable that both could have been kept concealed for the two months we have been in the occupation of Iraq.”

Andrew Wilkie, a former defence analyst with Office of National Assessment Australian government, told The Sydney Morning Herald that he would expose what he called the Australian government’s “exaggeration” of intelligence on WMD and the “concoction of links between Saddam Hussein and terrorists” when he gives evidence to a British parliamentary inquiry. “Australia went to war with the US and UK without international endorsement, on the basis of what our prime minister described as weapons of mass destruction programme of Iraq.”

The Newsweek said: “These are serious charges that go to both the administration’s candor and its competence. If it is proven that President Bush misused the CIA to take country to war that would be worse than Watergate,” adding that “the White House asserts that the CIA did not pass along the information about the forged documents and, therefore, President Bush was unaware that they had been falsified.”

PROF (DR). P. NASIR

Gujrat