First words with Biden

The visit by Joe Biden, the US vice president-elect, has been watched closely by many in the country and also others from the outside. The question of how the Barack Obama administration, due now to take over within days, will handle the issue of Pakistan is uppermost in minds. Biden, as an experienced politician with a special interest in Pakistan, is naturally expected to be a pivotal player in policy making – particularly in the early days as Obama gets to grip with the range of issues on both the domestic and foreign front that await his attention. The signals vis-à-vis Pakistan from the Obama camp have so far been mixed. In his electoral campaign, the president-elect took a tough line and, even today, the possibility of US attacks on targets in Afghanistan lurks. Indeed, this matter was taken up for discussion in Islamabad Friday between Biden and the ISI chief. It is not clear what answers, if any, were given to queries raised by the Pakistani official. On the other hand, Senator Biden has played a key role in pushing the Biden-Kerry-Lugar legislation under which Pakistan will receive US $1.5 billion socio-economic assistance over the next five years and possibly an additional $7.5 billion over the next half decade. The bill falls in line with the argument by Biden and key allies that one weapon to be used against terrorists is development and that there can be little hope of scoring a victory against militancy unless the welfare of people is also promoted.

The hope of Pakistani leaders that this prong of proposed US strategy works out was reflected in the award of the Hilal-e-Pakistan to Biden. He becomes the second US official within the last few weeks to be meted out a top civil honour. But the fact is that placing shiny medals around the necks of US officials will, on its own, do little to win their trust and confidence. One must hope that those holding key positions in Islamabad realize this. Eventually, Pakistan will need to show that, it is serious in its intentions as far as the war on terror goes, it has a definite plan of action in mind to achieve victory, it is aware that this is in its own interest and does not need to be constantly prodded by Washington to be reminded of its commitments. Only when this happens will it become possible for Islamabad to insist that the US not intervene in its internal affairs. The extent of its readiness to intervene has, most lately, been indicated by the demand expressed by the US ambassador to the country, that the sacked adviser to the prime minister on national security be reinstated.

Biden’s one-day visit, which he described as an attempt to ‘get some sort of baseline’ has gone well. The former senator has a good understanding of Pakistan, and this, no doubt would have come in handy during his detailed talks with the president, the prime minister, the COAS and the ISI chief. These men then are the figures that the US sees as key to its future relations with Pakistan. Biden has also promised continuing US commitment to the country. But beyond the comforting words, it is clear that tough times lie ahead. The task for Pakistan’s top leadership will be to establish a good rapport with the new White House team and ensure that they are able to work with it to extract maximum benefit for Pakistan and its people.


The bomb blasts at two theatres in Lahore fit in with the pattern seen previously in the city. The low-intensity explosions, that took place at a time when the theatres were closed, created mass panic as the noise rang out in two of the city’s most congested areas, but caused no casualties. Logically enough, the police have linked them to previous incidents in the city – including explosions at juice shops frequented by young couples out on dates and at the Punjabi Complex close to the site where the World Performing Arts Festival was being held in November last year. It does not need the skills of Sherlock Holmes to deduce this. Threats have also been made to shops selling pornography, triggering a mass destruction of video material by Hall Road traders a few months ago. The purpose appears to be to deliver a ‘moral’ message and impose a particular code on the city.

The similarities between all the various incidents, which have taken place over a period of six months, make it obvious that the same group of extremists is involved. It is unfortunate that while law enforcing agencies say they had ‘prior’ information and had warned cinema and theatre-owners to take precautions, they are apparently no closer than before to identifying the groups involved and arresting those planting bombs. It appears intelligence reports are present. Surely the focus should be on using this information to reach those responsible for creating harassment and terror. Simply delivering messages to shop-owners or those running entertainment businesses to protect their establishments is senseless. There is, after all, a limit to what these people can do anyway. The terror unleashed in Lahore must stop. It is obviously intended to challenge our way of life. The effort to arrest those behind it must be stepped up.


The statement by the senior minister in Punjab, Raja Riaz, that the government is planning to develop additional energy resource by using solar power and solid waste, is a reminder of what we have left undone over the years. The crippling energy crisis we now face may have been averted had the immense potential of the sun been utilized to run homes, factories and other concerns. This indeed has been done in countries such as Turkey where solar panels installed on roofs provide heat and light.

It is unlikely the crunch we face now will be overcome any time soon. Building new dams or setting up alterative means to generate energy on a large scale will, inevitably, take time. The suggestion by the Punjab minister, while talking to a delegation from the business community, needs to be taken up seriously. If indeed, our mountains of waste can be turned into energy, this is not something we should miss out on. It is also true that the potential for generating wind energy exists along coastal areas. This too needs to be explored. Such alternative energy sources would also prevent greater environmental damage in a situation where air quality is low in all our major cities and thick smog, triggered by high pollution levels, blankets Punjab each winter.

In this situation, we need to think innovatively. It is time to move beyond words and take action. Entrepreneurs, scientists, businessmen and policy-makers need to come together to decide how best we can use non-conventional means to create the energy we so urgently need. Sunlight is one resource we have in abundance. We must find a way to tap its potential, both for the industrial and domestic sectors.

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Regards,
P.R.