Relations with Kabul

Pakistan and Afghanistan look set to develop even more meaningful relations, going by the outcome of President Hamid Karzai’s two-day visit that also saw five agreements signed. That the Afghan president was the chief guest at the armed forces’ parade on Pakistan Day shows the importance Islamabad attaches to relations with its western neighbour. History and geography have put them together, and they have no choice but to build on these realities. Joined by ties of religion, culture and language, the two countries also have a deep economic relationship. A landlocked country, Afghanistan has traditionally relied on Pakistan for its trade with the outside world. It has also depended on Pakistan for essential supplies, including food, oil and pharmaceuticals. The Soviet invasion of that country in 1979 not only shattered these ties, it set off a chain of events whose negative impact still haunts their bilateral relationship.

At present, the biggest issue facing them is terrorism. While the Taliban regime is no longer there, their remnants are still active in Afghanistan and in Pakistan’s tribal region. There are also foreign militants in the tribal region, and their strength is considerable. Provided refuge by pro-Taliban elements, these foreign militants are still strong enough to fight back. The Wana operations have weakened their military capability considerably, but they are still far from extinct and have not taken advantage of Islamabad’s amnesty offer. Since the militants operate on both sides of the border, Islamabad and Kabul need to strengthen their cooperation if they are to eliminate terrorism from this source. The issue also needs to be looked at from the point of view of Afghanistan’s domestic scene.

The Karzai government is doing a commendable job in trying to rebuild the country and consolidate representative government, but it has a long way to go. Its security apparatus is weak, and the new Afghan national army has not yet reached the stage in strength and professionalism where it can be on its own. The challenge before it is tough because Afghanistan is one huge arms dump. The Nato-led International Security Assistance Force is confined to Kabul and Kunduz and does not want to venture out into the countryside, where Taliban and freebooters operate. To make matters worse, the warlords in outlying provinces often defy Kabul’s writ. They have well-armed militias and have turned some provinces into their fiefdoms. Some of them — like Uzbek general Rashid Dostum — are guilty of war crimes and often fight each other. This lawlessness has also led to an increase in poppy cultivation. Here too the two countries need to cooperate closely to control drug smuggling.

From a regional perspective, peace in Afghanistan and friendly relations with Pakistan are essential if the Turkmenistan gas pipeline project is to materialize. At present, the project is still in a discussion stage, and it is difficult to see how foreign firms will agree to invest huge resources in the project unless there is peace in Afghanistan. Islamabad also needs to tackle the situation in Balochistan if the Gwadar port, fast under completion, is to serve as an opening for Afghanistan and Central Asia. For regional peace and development and in their own interest, Pakistan and Afghanistan must become a model of good neighbourly relations.

An unpleasant episode

The rough treatment of two citizens by police and security guards escorting the convoy of an official of the US consulate in Karachi on Tuesday gives an impression as if they had committed a serious crime or that Karachi is like some place in Iraq or Afghanistan. According to a report in this newspaper, a real estate agent was travelling in his jeep on Sharea Faisal when he slowed down his vehicle to attend to a call on his mobile phone. A vehicle carrying an official of the US consulate was behind the jeep and it seems that the official inside sharply reacted on seeing that the driver of the vehicle in front was slowing down. Given the experience of past attacks on US citizens and the consulate itself, the need for precaution and security was understandable.

However, this does not justify what happened to the two persons in the jeep after they were stopped. Allegedly acting on the orders of the consulate official, the police and private security guards in the escort took it upon themselves to beat the occupants of the slowed vehicle. The ordeal did not end there, with the two men then being taken to the consulate for further questioning. Of course, the driver should not have been talking on a mobile phone while at the wheel (a recent law forbids it) but that is a separate matter that could have been dealt with in a more civilized manner. In fact, the whole episode could have been handled without resorting to high handedness. The occupants of the vehicle in front of the one carrying the consulate official could have been asked to move to the side and if they did not obey, the police could have been radioed for assistance. In addition, if there was need for further questioning of the two men, the right place for it was the police station and not the US consulate. One can only imagine what would be the US government’s reaction if diplomats posted in Washington indulged in this kind of behaviour. The government would do well to convey its disapproval to the US embassy so that such unpleasant incidents do not occur in the future.

Disciplining bus drivers

There are conflicting reports about an incident in Karachi’s Surjani town, in which an enraged mob set a minibus, two eating houses and a wayside kiosk on fire — although it is fairly certain that the violence was preceded by an angry exchange between a woman and the bus crew. According to the police, the minibus hit the woman’s daughter who was crossing the road. The mother berated the driver who reacted sharply, sparking off protests. The other version has it that the woman was travelling in the bus, and was angered by the conductor’s indecent behaviour towards the women passengers. When she complained she was forced to get off the bus by the driver and the conductor. This led to a brawl at the bus terminus between the infuriated passengers and those supporting the bus crew.

Unfortunately, the state of public transport is such that both versions appear equally plausible. Buses and coaches are driven carelessly at breakneck speed, and the drivers have absolutely no regard for traffic rules. Pedestrians are greatly at risk when crossing the path of one of these racing vehicles. Bus commuters also suffer not only from the dangers of speed but also on account of the distasteful behaviour of the bus crew. Here, women commuters are the worst sufferers. They are routinely subjected to lewd remarks, obscene gestures and vulgar songs; the whole process of travelling by public transport is one that they have come to detest. There are no signs of improvement in this situation. If anything, it is deteriorating. This is unacceptable. Instead of focusing solely on building overhead bridges and underpasses, the local government must also attempt to enforce road rules. However, their efforts should not be restricted to merely disciplining traffic but should also extend to ensure courtesy for pedestrians and public transport commuters.