Articles and letters may be edited for the purposes of clarity and space. They are published in good faith with a view to enlightening all the stakeholders. However, the contents of these writings may not necessarily match the views of the newspaper.
Afghan war: Who to blame?
A lot of people are asking questions as why Afghan war went on for so long and why America has lost this war. Many foreigners end up blaming Pakistan for America’s failures.
‘Directorate S’ is a book written by Steve Coll that explains Pakistan’s position from start of the war till the end.
From former President Musharraf till current Prime Minister Imran Khan, every Pakistani military and civilian leader has been telling the US only one thing, negotiate with the Taliban as they are local Afghans and cannot be expelled from their own country.
The book also categorically tells us how the US always went against Pakistan’s advice, whether it was to help the Northern Alliance take over Kabul, or whether to give Pakistan time to deploy troops to the borders before the US bombed Tora Bora mountains or even when Pakistan asked them to negotiate a peace deal with Taliban.
The book also highlights how the US used India-funded Ahmed Shah Masood’s Northern Alliance whose second command was Amrullah Saleh, former VP of Afghanistan who spew hatred against Pakistan at every opportunity.
Going through the book one would understand how Pakistan had always tried to help the US and even how the Taliban continuously asked to negotiate peace with the US, but in both cases their requests were turned down.
Therefore, at this juncture, peoples of America, Afghanistan and Pakistan should be asking themselves as why the US government and CIA allowed the US Army and coalition forces to continue a war, when in the end the US had to negotiate a peace settlement?
SHAHRYAR KHAN BASEER
Peshawar
Depleting water reserves
The growing water shortage is a major challenge for the country. At present, per capita water availability in Pakistan is 500 cubic meters and per capita water consumption ranges from 30 litres to 350 litres.
The gap between demand and supply is widening. Pakistan is one of those countries in the world whose economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, which gives Pakistan about 18.9% of GDP, but due to increasing global climate change people involved in agriculture are facing major problems and challenges due to depleting water resources.
In 2017, the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources issued a warning that if water wastage is not controlled, there could be severe water shortage in the country by 2025. This warning is now becoming a reality.
Current situation is that drinking water available to 80% of the population is unhygienic causing many diseases.
Dr Pervez Amir, former member of the Prime Minister’s Task Force on Climate Change and Director of Pakistan Water Partnership, said in an interview that at the time of formation of Pakistan, there were about 5,000 Cubic meters of water reserves that have now shrunk to just 1,000 cubic meters.
The main reason for decline in these reserves is rapid increase in country’s population and relentless use of clean water for basic necessities.
IRAJ MANZOOR
Karachi
Cyber crime
Cyber crime is an illegal act of stealing one’s sensitive personal information, harassing or blackmailing through technological devices or software.
Each day at least 11-15 rape cases prevail throughout the country as per reports suggest. Unfortunately, women are not only attacked sexually but also targeted by detecting their privacies online.
FBI and DRF estimate nearly 80 percent of the cyber crime victims are women, which lead to depression, suicide or even honour killing. This shows how vulnerable women are online and offline.
It is to draw attention of authorities to show resolve and upgrade reforms so that strict punishments are awarded to offenders.
GANJI ALI
Via email
Early marriage
I would like to draw attention towards trend of early marriage, through column of your esteemed newspaper.
Child marriages remain a serious issue, especially in developing countries. It is fuelled by gender inequality, poverty, social norms, insecurity and has devastating consequences.
Pakistan is also facing this problem, as children under eighteen are forced to contract marriage by their family elders in rural areas, especially girls. Girls of poverty-ridden families in slums of towns and cities are married before 15.
According to research every year at least 12 million girls marry before the age of 18. It’s due to poverty and illiteracy.
The parents of their families can’t afford to send their girls to high schools and can’t provide them with job.
Early marriage affects psychological well being as well as intellectual, personal and social growth of the child.
Robbed of happy childhood experiences, given an incomplete education that mars career prospects later, overburdened with responsibilities and subjected to domestic violence, there is an increased risk of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in such children.
Similarly, a male child married at a young age faces economic pressure to support his family, which may hinder his education and training.
Human rights and many other organisations are working against child marriage by holding awareness programmes, sessions etc yet much more is needed for fruitful results. Child marriage is still in practice and situation is becoming worst day-by-day.
Government should make strong law against child marriages, and also develop educational institutes in backward areas because illiteracy and poverty is the main reason of child marriage.
SYEDA SHIZA
Karachi
