Sept/26/08

PRESIDENT Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who met at New York on Wednesday during their visit to New York to attend the 63rd UN General Assembly, agreed to work for "an early and full normalisation" of relations between their two countries on the basis of "mutual respect, peaceful co-existence and non-interference". Dr Singh hoped that the induction of a democratic government in Pakistan would pave the way for a profound transformation in their bilateral ties to enable them to attain peace and prosperity.
But it is unfortunate that these pious intentions, often expressed by the Indian leadership, should have hit a snag every time the core issue of Kashmir came up for meaningful talks. Its illegal occupation of the state has been the main bone of contention and at the root of keeping the two neighbours during most of their existence at loggerheads. New Delhi, which claims to be running the largest democracy in the world, should sense the pervasive global urge for democracy and, if it is genuinely interested in seeing peace and harmony prevail in Held Kashmir and improving its ties with Islamabad, it would have to review its current policy and grant Kashmiris the promised right of self-determination. Instead, it is making matters worse: cutting off the flow of water coming down from the hills in the state to the plains of Pakistan, in disregard of the sanctity of the right of the lower riparian.
The two leaders also decided to schedule the 5th round of composite dialogue by the end of the year. It is a pity that the four rounds failed to settle even relatively minor issues, except that Islamabad opened virtually a floodgate of CBMs in an attempt to persuade New Delhi to see the wisdom of genuine understanding between the Subcontinent's two major countries. Mr Zardari is also reported to have particularly raised both issues at the meeting: Kashmir and water. He was right in saying that if Islamabad's attempts at resolving Kashmir did not bear fruit, it would approach the UN, but the agreement on the liberation of trade with India is hardly justified. Held Kashmir, which is in ferment, ought to have received priority. On the canal waters issue, there is little cause for optimism in Dr Singh's assurance that his government would honour the Indus Waters Treaty "in letter and spirit", while it has built Baglihar Dam and is in the process raising 50 odd other dams in contravention of the treaty. Over the years, Kashmir has become more complicated as there has been accretion of other issues, like water. Lasting peace and harmony can only return to the Subcontinent once the principal contentious issue between Pakistan and India is settled on a just and equitable basis taking into account the aspirations of the people.


PRESIDENT Zardari's talks with President Bush and important members of administration have brought home to him the gravity of the situation Pakistan faces leading him to observe, "We are in a state of war, which we cannot wish away." While Mr Bush noted Mr Zardari's concerns regarding US military incursions inside Pakistan's tribal areas, he did not extend any ironclad assurance that this would not happen again which should be worrisome for our policy makers. Reports appearing in the international media also tell of the Pentagon trying to find alternative supply routes to Afghanistan indicating its determination to pursue its current aggressive policy even if Islamabad was to deny it the logistic support. Statements by Defence Secretary Robert Gates and Security Advisor Stephen Hadley also point to the mood prevailing in Washington which now considers Pakistan's tribal areas as focus of all international terrorism and crushing the Taliban and Al-Qaeda as the cornerstone of their military strategy.
The recent attacks by the US inside FATA combined with a new series of suicide attacks in various cities, the latest on Marriott Hotel, have caused widespread concern in Pakistan. As the public looks to the government for guidance, it gets contradictory signals in return. Within days of the assurance by the Interior Advisor that suicide bombings have been brought to an end, a horrific attack took place right inside the Red Zone in Islamabad. Subsequently a distraught public was warned that more terrorists have entered big cities, adding to its anxieties because it has no means to deal with terrorists Reports about mounting civilian casualties in Bajaur and Swat torching schools and even banks, with no light visible at the end of the tunnel, continue to add to the people's worries. One hopes that soon after Mr Zardari's return a process is initiated to take the entire nation into confidence on the gravity of the situation and the means at government's disposal to deal with it. The cabinet's decision to call a conference of all political parties inside and outside the Parliament is a step in the right direction in case adequate preparations are urgently initiated. It is time the legislators were briefed by the security agencies and the army and a national policy is formulated to deal with the situation before it is too late.
Meanwhile, what is urgently required is an end to policies leading to more political polarisation. The ongoing confrontation in Punjab where the PPP and PML-N remain divided over a power sharing formula should be abandoned forthwith by both the parties. If the country is really in a state of war the two partners have to cooperate with each other ignoring their narrow party interests.


THE general apprehensions expressed a few months back that the country would have to resort to foreign assistance on a large scale to end the liquidity crunch have proven true. The Friends of Pakistan Conference is being held in New York today. Its purpose is to pull Pakistan out of economic turbulence by collecting about $3 to $5 billion dollars from G-8 members and other rich nations around the globe.
Organized with the help of the US, the UK and Saudi Arabia, the conference is being hosted by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband indicating the fact that these countries want a prosperous Pakistan. It is heartening to know that our Saudi friends have assured us of their all-out support. Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Ali Awadh Asseri has observed that his country was very much aware of our problems. Guaranteeing that the Saudis were willing to do anything for us, he assured that the deal on availability of Saudi oil facility on deferred payments would be finalized soon. As the Saudis have come to our rescue in the past also and enjoy a position of respect in Pakistan, the present gesture will tend to reaffirm their genuine concern for us. Islamabad is trying to negotiate a similar deal with Kuwait.
The country's forex reserves are depleting at such a pace that it has pushed the rupee to record lows. While the worsening rupee-dollar parity continues to deal a heavy blow to economic growth, foreign investment is virtually becoming nonexistent. The inflation at home has eroded people's power to buy basic commodities. Moody's downgraded our credit rating the other day and thus changed the outlook on our bonds in market to negative from stable. The conference would certainly be of some help but it is clear that it is just a stopgap measure that would allow the country to prevent default. One hopes the government in the meanwhile would put its act together in order to turn the corner.

source: http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-ne...ds-of-Pakistan

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