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Belligerent statement indeed
This is with reference to the provocative statement of Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat who boasted that the Indian Army is ready to occupy Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and simply awaits a signal from the Narendra Modi-led government. The Army chief’s remarks come days after Gen Bipin Rawat took over as India’s first Chief of Defence Staff with a mandate to bring in convergence in functioning of the Army, Navy and Air Force and bolster the country’s military prowess.
India’s aggressive posturing and persistent enthusiasm to go to war with Pakistan is a grave threat for regional peace and stability. It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan was fully able to respond to any Indian aggression in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and New Delhi should not forget Islamabad’s befitting response to its aggression in Balakot last year. Pakistan would continue its efforts for peace and stability in the region despite India’s provocations. As Indian army has badly failed to suppress indigenous freedom struggle of the bare handed Kashmiris.
Kashmiri youths now seem determined not to let the divinely created opportunity go in vain and are continuously protesting against the brutalities of Indian forces to awaken the slumbering conscience of the world community. Struggle in Kashmir is virtually beyond control despite heaviest deployment of military and the phenomenon has become a dilemma for the entire Indian leadership. BJP-led Government faces sharp criticism from the opposition as well as the academia and the sane journalists. While, Pakistan continuous expression of resolving and supporting the issue of self-determination of Kashmiri brothers, India is trying to bluff the world with global joke of strikes and usual blame game against Pakistan.
AFIA AMBREEN
Rawalpindi
Pak-US bilateral ties
Since decades, Pakistan and the United States have enjoyed amicable and deteriorated relationship marked by convergence and divergence of national interests. During cold war era, Pakistan was comprehensively provided with US economic and military assistance in order to contain the growing Soviet communist expansion along the Soviet southern border, during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Pakistan remained a buffer zone for America in which the US collaboratively, surreptitiously and logistically assisted Pakistan to fight the Soviet forces in order to curtail its influence in the region.
In the post 9/11 scenario, once again the United States drastically needed Pakistan’s intelligence cooperation to get access to Afghanistan in order to exterminate terrorism enrooted in Pakistani soil. This time Pakistan overtly upheld and provided airbases and logistic supply routes to the US to wage a global war on terror led by America. There are multiple occasions in which Pakistan was in hot waters and needed required support from US but the US often left Pakistan high and dry such as 1965 war and in the 1971 war that led to disintegration of the country. Later the USA imposed embargoes and sanctions on Pakistan. This same fate also repeated when Pakistan conducted nuclear tests in 1998.
The incident of Raymond Davis, the clandestine attack in Abbottabad, the brutal Salala attack in 2011 resulted in further deterioration in friendly ties. These incidents also invited serious backslash of Pakistani nation which ultimately resulted in the closure of Shamsi air base, the blockade of NATO of supply routes and cessation of military cooperation.
M SHAHRAM BHUTTO
Hyderabad
Shaheen Bagh protests
India has become a boiling pot due to the protests against CAA and NRC. For the past 38 days, Muslim women are sitting round the clock in Shaheen Bagh, Delhi. These women, many of them holding infants and kids in their hands, are registering their protest against discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 and National Register for Citizenship. The protesters have two demands: (i) Rollback of CAA, (ii) Abort nationwide NRC. BJP has, so far, failed to handle the situation wisely.
The ruling Hindu extremist party is labelling the protests as an effort of radicalized Muslims, an incorrect stance worsening social and political environment of India. These protests are organic and not restricted to Delhi, spreading from Ahmedabad to Lucknow and reaching Priyaag, Pune Mumbai, Deoband and Kanpur. BJP has complete standoff with the protesters, blaming opposition for staging and promoting protests. A wrong point of view out-rightly rejected by Congress. Sikhs, Hindus and Christians are gradually joining hands with Muslims in protests. Sadly, most countries of the world are silent on the issue and not criticizing vociferously these Indian acts.
Most importantly, the flag-bearers of human rights liberators have yet to speak in favour of Muslims of India who have been once again rigidly marginalized. Muslim countries having no dearth of influence and pressure to be exerted on India must feel their responsibility and persuade and pressurize India to revoke both black laws intended to harm only Muslims.
IFTIKHAR MIRZA
Islamabad
Abusive language
One of the drawbacks of our society is that our people seem to use abusive language in all sorts of mood and gatherings whether it is a telecom conversation, social or political gatherings or simple chitchat which portrays that how {un-}civilized people we are that we do not even care females’ presence in a gathering and keep on using abusive language.
A person can only leave bad habits if he considers it a bad habit otherwise it is out of question to even think of leaving it. The problem is that we do not consider using neither abusive language a bad habit nor care rather it has ingrained in our habits.It is the responsibility of every citizen to induce general people not to use abusive language. Say no to abusive language and start stopping people using abusive language because if we start saying so one day people would leave this bad habit slowly and gradually. Nothing is impossible. If there is a will, there is a way.
FAISAL ANSAR
Karachi
Attack on St Francis of Assisi church!
The church of St Francis of Assisi at Satellite Town in Kengeri, Bengaluru has been attacked on the night of January 21, 2020 by unknown miscreants. The altar has been vandalized and the tabernacle destroyed.
Holy Communion has been strewn all around the place and trampled upon. We Christians condemn this dastardly and cowardly act of unscrupulous elements and urge upon the police and the authorities to arrest the culprits immediately.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Via email