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.
Pak response
to Kashmir
post 5 Aug era
By abrogating Articles 370 and 35-A, India aimed to change the special administrative and demographic status of Kashmir. After the decisions made by Indian parliament on the 5th of August, India has merged Kashmir in its territory. Pakistan, being one of the main parties in the conflict, tries to engage international community against the recent actions of brutality of India in Kashmir. Pakistan raised the issue on the international forums: UN, EU and OIC etc. Similarly, UN discussed the issue in the General Assembly session after 50 years which is a major diplomatic achievement for Pakistan. Along with diplomacy and hard power, soft power is also a key element in pursuing national interests. So, exposing Modi’s fascist approach through movies, songs and documentaries is also smart policy of Pakistan and it needs to work more on this aspect too.
But the dilemma is that although Pakistan is trying its best to engage international community over India’s brutalities, yet world has given very less attention to its concerns. This is probably because of its domestic constraints in the way of its foreign policy. For instance, weak economic conditions and struggling political system are major hurdles to Pakistan’s effective foreign policy. On the contrary, world do have its huge economic and strategic interests in India, therefore they can’t oppose India over the said issue.
If Pakistan wants its voice to be heard in an effective manner at international level, it has to give the world something useful in return. Pakistan needs to strengthen its economy and play proactive role in regional economic integration. Pakistan needs to make suitable ground for major economic investment in its territory. Moreover, strong and effective political system in Pakistan is need of the hour for pursuing healthy foreign policy.
BARKATULLAH
Via email
Kudos to these news channels
My kudos to Republic TV, Times Now, India Today and Aaj Tak TV news channels for investigating the deaths of actor Sushant Singh Rajput and his manager, Disha Salian which the Mumbai police and the Maharashtra government run by Uddhav Thackeray failed to do and claimed them as suicide.
The Mumbai police were not even willing to investigate the deaths and were shielding the culprits. They were not even ready to hand over the probe to the Bihar police (Sushant’s hometown) or the CBI. Shame on Maharashtra’s CM Uddhav Thackeray and the entire Mumbai police team. Now that the CBI has stepped in, everything has come to light. Hope the people who have killed Sushant Singh Rajput and Disha Salian are arrested soon.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
Pakistan-Bangladesh relations
Apropos to recent telephonic talk between Prime Minister Imran Khan with his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina in a rare occurrence of diplomacy as the two {estranged} countries seek rapprochement. The two leaders exchanged views on their respective steps to deal with the myriad of challenges posed by Covid-19. Imran Khan apprised of his government’s efforts and commended his Bangladesh counterpart on the measures taken by her leadership to contain the virus.
On the other hand, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina did not meet India’s High Commissioner despite repeated requests in the last four months. The Hindu reported that neither India’s High Commission in Dhaka nor the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responded regarding questions related to the meeting not materializing between PM Hasina and Indian High Commissioner Riva Ganguly Das. Pakistan and Bangladesh share strong bonds of religion and the legacy of a common struggle to rid themselves of the yoke of an impending enslavement by a Hindu majority in an undivided India.
The break-up of the two wings of Pakistan is now history and need not cloud prospects for working together for common good of their people. A true reconciliation can only emerge if both countries boldly face the true or imaginary demons of the past, forgive the perpetrators on both sides and then bury the rancour and unpleasantness forever.
AFIA AMBREEN
Rawalpindi
Prime responsibility
After the enormous hue and cry of different sections of society, the government finally gave in and has given a go ahead signal to marriage halls, parks, cinemas and shopping malls to run their business as per Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) from 10th August onwards. Amid this terrible situation, a deliberate decision taken by government needs prime responsibilities that falls on people’s shoulder.
It is now our duty to enforce social distance, wear proper face masks and remain adhered to SOPs as we don’t have the potential to face the second wave of this pandemic. If SOPs are not followed, a resurge can take place. I hope the people will do their best to avoid the spread of virus.
ZUBAIR AHMED RIND
Jacobabad
Beirut explosion
Two explosions, 35 seconds apart on 4th August, rocked Beirut, destroying essential food storage warehouses, over 220 fatalities, 7000 injuries and an estimated 300,000 citizens homeless. Established safety procedures and SOPs laid down in Carriage and Storage of Dangerous Materials were ignored and not followed. These SOPs are common to all modes of transportation. It was collective criminal negligence of Port Authority, Law Enforcement, Security Services and numerous departments, including judiciary, created and paid for by taxpayers.
Warehouse where 2750 tons of Ammonium Nitrate was stored in containers for over 6 years was located next to where firework explosives, chemicals and main wheat silo. Lebanon imports over 80% essential food items and faces multiple crises, because an accident was waiting to happen.
There seems to be a culture in our region to ignore established safety precautions and compromise public safety. We must not forget 10th April 1988, when an estimated 10,000 tons of arms and ammunition was stored in Ojhri Camp, Rawalpindi in the vicinity of populated areas. Over the years houses were built in its vicinity. Foreign media reported almost 93 fatalities with extensive damage to public property. Petrol Pumps exist next to residences in DHA Lahore.
PIA which in 2007, faced partial ban by EASA for compromising safety regulation, has again been banned in 2020 for failing to establish Safety Management System, which they had agreed after 13 June and 3rd September 2019, followed by nine months deadline. The irony is that after 2007 EASA suspension, PIA established a Real Time Safety Monitoring System, which unfortunately became redundant after 2008, when MD wanted to settle his score against Central Control for their role in exposing his dubious involvement as GMCC, in alleged smuggling of artefacts for Surrey Mansion.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore
