Defence ties with China

One important aspect of Pakistan's relations with China is the continued growth of military ties. At a meeting in Islamabad with the visiting Chinese delegation, led by Defence Minister Gen Cao Gangchuan, President Pervez Musharraf hoped that the military relationship between the two countries, especially with regard to defence production, would continue to grow.

The president seemed to be echoing Gen Cao's statement a day earlier that Beijing was keen to enhance its relations with Pakistan "in all areas concerning the three services."

An indication of the growing defence ties between the two countries is the $12.08 million interest-free loan extended by Beijing for Pakistan's armed forces and for training Pakistani personnel in China.

As revealed by Gen Cao, Pakistan too will provide training to Chinese soldiers. The loan and the sentiments expressed by the two leaders should be seen against the background of the growth and consolidation of relations between the two countries in all fields, including defence.

The military relationship between Pakistan and China is decades old. Chinese fighter aircraft, tanks and heavy artillery are a major component of Pakistan's armoury. In addition to military purchases and supplies, China has helped Pakistan set up many defence-oriented projects, including the heavy forge and foundry plant at Taxila.

The crowning achievement of their defence cooperation came last September when a fighter-bomber produced jointly by the two had a successful flight. The most satisfying aspect of Pakistan's defence ties with China is its reliability.

It is based on a sound foundation and is not subject to transient expediency. The defence relationship with Beijing is also important in the context of Islamabad's desire not to remain overly dependent on the US, which has been a major source of arms supplies to the country.

Unfortunately, military supplies from the US are dependent on many considerations, and Congress has never hesitated to place Pakistan under restrictions.

Islamabad has, thus, done well to diversify the sources of arms supplies and develop military ties with European countries, especially France, which is helping this country in submarine production.

The Chinese defence minister's visit and the grant of the loan have come in the wake of the American decision to give non-Nato ally status to Pakistan. China has reacted positively to this development, saying it would not affect its relationship with Pakistan.

This underlines the deep and abiding understanding China has of Pakistan's position in the region and its security concerns, especially the close ties Islamabad has developed with Washington in the wake of 9/11.

China is one of America's major trading partners and, like the US, is a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. The two are cooperating with each other in the fight against terrorism.

Its positive reaction to Pakistan's non-Nato ally status is, thus, an indication of its friendly relations with both Pakistan and America and should serve to allay any apprehensions that anyone may have in this regard.

One hopes that the relationship between Pakistan and China will continue to grow and serve the cause of peace and stability in South Asia.

Deserved victory

With India winning the five-match one-day series 3-2 in Lahore on Wednesday, the first leg of the historic tour of this country by Saurav Ganguly and his band of talented cricketers is now happily over.

From the first ball in Karachi to the last at Lahore's Qadhafi Stadium, the games were played in the highest spirit of sportsmanship. The evidence we have from Karachi, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Lahore is that in spite of the bitterness that has devilled India-Pakistan relations over the last fifty years or so, the two peoples still have friendly and warm feelings for each other.

The pundits had given India better than even chances of winning the series and that is how it turned out to be. As a critic has said about the Indians, the best thing about them is their togetherness. It is one for all and all for one down the line.

The decider in Lahore was marked by a welcome return to form by VVS Laxman who hit a brilliant century. The under-rated bowling attack of the tourists came into its own when it mattered the most and demolished the Pakistan top order before the hundred went up on the board.

In a brilliant opening spell, Irfan Pathan, still not out of his teens, accounted for Taufiq Umar, Yousaf Youhana and Younis Khan and threw Pakistan out of the game.

But for Shoaib Malik and Moin Khan, who made face-saving fifties, Pakistan would have lost by a much bigger margin than they actually did. Clearly, India had saved their best for the final encounter. They outbatted, outbolwed and outfielded the hosts who were never nearly in the run.

The upcoming Test series is likely to further expose Pakistani weaknesses in all departments of the game. India will be strengthened by the inclusion of Ajit Agarkar, the pace bowler who can also bat when in the mood and Anil Kumble, the ace spinner who did so well in Australia recently along with the former.

As we see it, then, India must still be regarded as the odds-on favourites for the three-match series. So far, the Indian tour has been an unqualified success. Pakistan may have lost the one-day series but as a banner carried by some of the Indian spectators read at the Qadhafi stadium on Wednesday: "Thanks to Lahore, we are clean bowled by your hospitality". That about says it all.

Killing 'unwanted' babies

A report published in this newspaper on the pathetic state of newborns recovered from garbage dumps all over Karachi by the Edhi Foundation is yet another indication of the utterly callous attitude and spirit that have come to characterize a large part of our society.

For no fault of their own, infants are left to die a grisly death in garbage dumps where most either succumb to hunger or fall prey to stray animals and reptiles, while some are strangulated at birth and their bodies dumped in open sewers. Last year, the foundation collected some 153 decomposed bodies around Karachi - the nationwide figures being 281 - about 98 per cent of which were female newborns.

According to Edhi sources, in what appears to be the start of another dreadful trend, four bodies from among at least 33 recovered so far this year bore the marks of killing by hanging, burning and injuries to the head.

What is equally tragic is that there seems to be utter apathy in political, social and intellectual circles over this horrendous practice of abandoning and killing unwanted babies.

Just how many times has the matter been debated in parliament or at public forums? Have any steps been taken to actively dissuade indigent parents or couples in an illicit relationship from resorting to this brutal step? While many 'unwanted' babies are left in cradles installed outside Edhi centres around the country, surely this is not the real solution to a problem that could become deep-rooted as time goes by.

Efforts have to be made to sensitize society to the heinous nature of this crime even if it means revising societal mores and offending conservative elements, who are opposed to protection and upbringing of children born out of wedlock.

Unless we take up the issue in real earnest and evolve a set of humane principles to deal with it, we will forever be guilty of robbing the most innocent in our midst of the gift of life.