Dr Muhammad Khan
AS per World Health Organisation (WHO), the epicentre of the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) is now the USA with over 42000 deaths. Globally, the numbers of infected people and deaths are at rise with each passing day. Total number of affected people has risen to 2.4 million with over 170,000 deaths world-wide. There is an alarming situation over the continuous spread of this pandemic without a clearly revealed vaccine for its treatment. As reported globally, the wider Pakistani community, the Diaspora present in the form of doctors, engineers, taxi drivers, philanthropists and even the labour class of Pakistan have done commendable job during COVID-19. The Pakistani Diaspora has been extending helping hand to locals and all those residing in those areas which were found affected with this deadly pandemic. The role played by Pakistani Diaspora has been appreciated by the governments and the people who were helped by them during the ongoing Covid-19.
Within Pakistan, the government has been able to greatly reduce the spread of Covid-19. Pakistani Government, its military and its medical institution has done unprecedented service to people of Pakistan. Pakistani doctors have provided their services across the globe. On the other hand, Indian medical system which was widely exaggerated behind the facade of Shining India has been badly exposed during Covid-19. The Corona virus outbreak in India has exposed the shallowness of Indian health system and how poor Indians have been left on the mercy of doctors and hospitals who charge exorbitant fee for basic treatment. Recently three Pakistanis returned from India after medical treatment, all three tested positive for Corona virus. Indian Government is segregating Muslims even during the treatment of people affected by this virus. Muslims are being killed and targeted under the cover of Covid-19. So much so, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and RSS have called for a complete ban on Tableeghi Jamaat and its Nizamuddin Markaz besides freezing its bank accounts and closure of all its offices for spike in COVID-19 cases across India. The fact is that the Coronavirus cases are not specific to any community. However, extremist government of BJP in India is especially targeting Muslims to advance its long-term agenda against Muslims.
Today, India is also facing severe socio-economic challenges in its fight against this pandemic. The lock-down of 1.3 billion people in India has negatively impacted its society and economy. Poor Indian men and women had to travel hundreds of miles to reach their native villages as the public transport system was stopped. Indian Stock Market has also been hit by the Coronavirus very severely. In India-occupied Kashmir (IoK) the doctor to patient ratio is 1:3866 compared to 1:2,000 in India. Kashmiris in IoK are facing severe issues during Covid-19. Kashmiri youths are being arrested and killed under the cover of this pandemic. China, the initial epicentre of Covid-19 has greatly overcome the pandemic, though there are still some effects of this epidemic in its Wuhan city. All credit goes to Chinese governance system through which this Asian nation of 1.3 billion population has overcome the deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19). In a short span of time, China was able to control it with a lot of professionalism and without letting its spread to other cities of this densely populated country.
Once criticizing China with phrases like ‘China Virus’ President Trump had to speak to his Chinese counter-part President Xi Jinping to discuss the ways and means to counter the spread of Covid-19 in United States and Europe. President Xi Jinping has positively responded to the global calls, promising Beijing’s help to all affected countries and a cooperative mechanism to deal with this epidemic, which has taken the shape of a global killing machine. Earlier during a video conferencing, China assured participants of G-20 countries for its full cooperation and dedication to fight the Covid-19.
In Europe and America, there remained ill-feelings during the pandemic. Neither the European States could succour each other nor the United States was able support its European allies. An incoherent and disjointed effort at the level of inter-state and between the allies further created chaotic situation in Europe and undermined a united fight against the pandemic. Overall, there is a recession in the global economy with oil prices falling to record low in last 30 years. With pandemic bringing the economy to a standstill, there is so much “unused oil sloshing around that American energy companies have run out of room to store it. And if there’s no place to put oil, no one wants a crude contract that is about to come due.” Oil is trading at less than $20 per barrel. People and states used to have highest living standards are facing severe economic crisis, chaos and uncertainty.
Though G-20 countries pledged to; ‘restore confidence, preserve financial stability and revive the growth’ however, the international stock markets have badly suffered in the wake of this epidemic. Chinese stock markets and economic system however remained unhampered even during the peak days of this pandemic. Today, China is providing huge assistance to US and EU in the form of masks, surgical equipment, ventilators and other medical support. Contrary to the negative propaganda of India and some western states against China, the world has started looking towards with optimism. Apart from countering Covid-19, China is being viewed for a greater partnership and cooperation in the field of trade, commerce, economic collaboration and larger aspects of human security. Like China, the US and other major powers also need to devise a cooperative mechanism for countering Covid-19 for the larger human security, rather getting into a new phase of power politics.
— The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
