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.
Ukraine crisis
The crisis in Ukraine should be resolved peacefully and the Russian concern of threats to their security can be resolved in the manner, the Cuban Missile crisis was. If only Ukraine had retained their nuclear capability as a Defence Strategy and not bought NATO assurances and guarantees, today they could have avoided loss of lives. There is only one guarantee for the sovereignty of any nation and that is their own defence capability.
It is very unfortunate that the UN Charter and sovereignty of independent states, that are members of United Nations has been violated so often by powerful nuclear power states on one pretext or another. While regime change in sovereign countries should occur through domestic legal procedures, major superpowers have been resorting to covert interventions and even through invasions, reviving the colonial heritage of redrawing internationally recognized state boundaries to achieve their strategic goals. We have seen such interventions in Iraq, Syria, Libya etc., with colossal fatalities and displacement of millions of innocent citizens.
In 1962, President Kennedy cited Monroe’s Doctrine (MD) to justify the US confrontation with the (former) Soviet Union over the installation of ballistic missiles on a sovereign country Cuba, with their consent. What followed was a negotiated removal of these missiles by Soviet Union with a quid-pro-quo removal of missiles installed in Turkey. CIA Director Robert Gates defended the Contra operation in 1984 citing MD.
While President Obama’s Secretary of State told Organization of American States in November 2013 that “era of the Monroe Doctrine is over”, the same was revived in August 2017 by President Trump when he talked of the possibility of military intervention in Venezuela. He again reiterated his commitment to MD, while addressing the 73rd UN General Assembly in 2018 to achieve what is their perception of strengthening democracy.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore
Youth in abyss
Youths are considered to be future of any nation. But unfortunately, our youths face many problems and challenges. Nowadays our young generation has become so much addicted to their mobiles, they spend their valuable time on social media leaving them nothing but hopeless idols.
The youth of Pakistan has become engrossed in digital media that they are unable to learn moral values from their elders. Social media has made them so isolated that many mental health issues are seen in young people. Depression, social anxiety, suicide, hopelessness and other mental health issues have marred our young generation.
Peer pressure is also considered a big concern for the youth. The pressure of becoming successful in their careers from their elders leave the young generation frustrated. They become incompetent and begin to degrade themselves. Moreover, lack of opportunities and unemployment make them unable to perform efficiently.
They feel disappointed which in turn results in them using drugs and they become addicted to social media and other games. In essence, youths of modern era have found themselves in abyss with mental health issues, disappointment and frustration.
This situation is in dire need of attention from peers, parents, educational institutions and government. Where our youths are headed? It is a food for thought for everyone in this age of modern world.
MAHNOOR FATIMA
Gujranwala
The monster of dowry
Honourable sir, will you please spare a column in your esteemed daily and allow me to highlight the evils of the dowry system that is eroding the marriages in our society. One of the worst evils of Pakistani society is the dowry system.
It is an old tradition but sadly it still exists. Dowry refers to all those durable goods or money that the bride’s family lends to the groom and his family. It is a custom that is rampant in our society. The main cause behind this system is greed for money. Today, no wedding is regarded as complete until or unless it is followed by a train of dowry. This thing is engulfing our social satisfaction and peace.
It’s not voluntary at all. It’s a burden on the shoulders of the bride’s parents. Most people who belong to the lower class become victim of this system due to social pressure. Many innocent women face mental and physical abuse after marriage if their parents fail to fulfil the demands of dowry. Some fall prey to depression and some tend to commit suicide. It makes a girl feel like an animal or product that is brought home with a lot of luxuries.
To eradicate this unethical practice, we should teach our girls about their rights. Besides this, we should also educate young boys to respect their wives as they are their life partners not a source to earn money or luxuries. Government should also play its part to cease this evil practice by enforcing strict laws. Public campaigns about dowry are also a reliable way to create awareness among people. Let us raise our voices for a cheerful, happy, dowry-free society.
ALVEENA KASHAF
Lahore
Begging business
Begging is the very biggest issue in Pakistan. The menace of begging is increasing day by day in our country. The streets, markets, hospitals, bus stops, roads and all other public places are virtually taken over by the beggars. Moreover, begging is not merely a problem itself, rather it is a source of many social problems as well. Furthermore, beggars have become a burden on the economy and they are causing many different crimes and diseases.
It is almost impossible to find a street without beggars in Pakistan. As per cent estimates, there are between five and 25 million beggars in Pakistan, which would be appropriately 2.5 to 11% of our total population. So, it is my humble request to the government to take serious action about this issue.
SABA BARAN
Turbat
