Hillary Clinton’s visit
Friday, 30 Oct, 2009
US SECRETARY of State Hillary Clinton is in Pakistan on a mission, it seems, to mend fences with the Pakistani public, media and opposition. Ms Clinton is the highest-ranking official of the Obama administration to have visited Pakistan in an attempt to mollify detractors here who have been aggrieved by the strictures contained in the Kerry-Lugar bill and the army and the government’s role in the ‘US war on terror’. The words she has elected to use have been sensible. “Let us discuss and air the differences as friends and partners and let us not magnify them to the extent of exclusion of many areas of agreement and cooperation.”
Topping the list of those “areas of agreement and cooperation” are two things — which many here are loath to admit: one, dollars flowing directly from the US treasury and indirectly from the IFIs that have helped stave off disaster for the economy; and two, cooperation in the fight against Al Qaeda which menaces the state here and poses a threat to regional stability. Neither has gained much traction with the public or created goodwill for the Americans because the focus has been on the other ‘sins’ of a profligate, not-very-competent Pakistani government and the American ‘hidden agenda’ to undermine Pakistan’s security and territorial integrity. Be that as it may, and in fact reversing public opinion in Pakistan in the near term may be a lost cause, it is good to at least see a softer side of American diplomacy, one that emphasises opportunities and not threats.
Unfortunately, when it comes to strategic issues — the real meat of Pak-US relations — Ms Clinton’s trip has come perhaps a few weeks too soon. Reportedly President Obama will make a decision on his new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan after the presidential run-off in Afghanistan on Nov 7. What course Mr Obama elects to choose from the many, many options that have been debated internally and in the international media will have far-reaching implications on Pak-US relations in the years ahead. At the moment, the few signals being sent by a cagey White House indicate that the cut-and-run option is off the table and so is a significant drawing down of US troops in Afghanistan in the short term. Nor does a ‘Pakistan first’, purely counter-terrorist strategy appear to be imminent. But between those baselines and Gen McChrystal’s
full-blown counter-insurgency plan are many options, and the one finally chosen will be studied very closely in Islamabad and Rawalpindi for the implications on strategic relations between Pakistan and the US going forward.
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Plagiarism at KU
Friday, 30 Oct, 2009
IN the age of the Internet, photocopier and offset printing, when book piracy and plagiarism have gained ascendancy, it is intriguing that the Karachi University has not deemed it necessary to formulate a policy on the subject. This is a case of oversight that is difficult to condone given that the Higher Education Commission drew up a policy on plagiarism in 2007 and universities were expected to make their own rules within its framework. Not surprisingly, the KU does not know how to handle the cases of some teachers accused of plagiarism. It appointed two retired judges of sound reputation to look into the charges, which were found to be true. Meanwhile, the Sindh ombudsman has directed the university administration to draw up a policy on plagiarism and frame rules for a procedure to deal with cases relating to it. Now the university syndicate has decided to seek legal advice on disciplinary action.
The only positive dimension of this episode is that it has left no doubt in one’s mind that the university recognises the gravity of plagiarism. This in itself is something to be thankful about. Many people are not even aware that plagiarism constitutes intellectual theft. Others do not consider it a crime — legally or morally. But simply recognising plagiarism as a crime is not enough. One has to have rules and procedures to address any wrongdoing if justice is to be done, both to the accused and the victim, and the law is not to be misused to hurt an innocent person. While a plagiarism policy is being prepared — hopefully it will soon see the light of day — the university would do well to instruct the students in the virtues of honesty in intellectual pursuits. As for the academics, it would help if the final policy is publicised extensively.
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Slaughter at Machiara
Friday, 30 Oct, 2009
TUESDAY’S slaughter at Machiara National Park in Azad Kashmir must not go unnoticed. After spending the night as guests of a forest department official, a group of politically powerful people went on the rampage in a wildlife park that is protected under local and international law. Gunshots were heard throughout the day, according to area residents and wildlife department scouts. Machiara National Park is sponsored by the Global Environment Facility and is home to endangered and threatened species such as musk deer, ibex, horned tragopan pheasant and the snow leopard. The local community, which is involved in the park’s protection and has voluntarily renounced hunting within its boundaries, was understandably outraged. Senior officials of the MNP project have also confirmed the incident.
There is little doubt that wildlife laws were flouted with impunity at Machiara, possibly in connivance with the forest department. Be that as it may, it is unlikely that anyone will be taken to task. Part of the hunting party was Bilal Khar, son of veteran politician Ghulam Mustafa Khar and son-in-law of the new Azad Jammu and Kashmir prime minister. He was reportedly accompanied by the AJK PM’s brother-in-law. With so much clout at their disposal, will the perpetrators of the Machiara massacre ever be booked for illegal hunting in a country where the powerful can murder humans without paying the price?
Poaching and other forms of illegal hunting are not limited to AJK. Members of leading tribal-cum-political families were caught hunting two years ago in Sindh’s Kirthar National Park. They were let off with a nominal fine — though the fact they were even questioned was surprising in itself. Protected falcons are regularly trapped in Balochistan and the NWFP, and freshwater turtles are under siege in the Frontier and Sindh. Special permits are issued every winter to Arab dignitaries seemingly bent on exterminating the houbara bustard, an endangered migratory bird. All this must end. The special-exemption riders in our wildlife and environmental laws have to be discarded and fines replaced with jail time. Even if they are ever hauled up, money is no object for the bloodthirsty elite.
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OTHER VOICES - Pushto press Treated as terrorists
Friday, 30 Oct, 2009
…[T]he government has taken strict security measures by setting up check posts at which people are frisked. Vehicles are routinely stopped … to check for miscreants, which is laudable. However, Pakhtuns are always at the receiving end in these trying times.
They are mistreated … every Pakhtun is looked upon as a terrorist. Those who are poor and naïve are
not only humiliated but also fleeced before they are let go. Those who cannot afford to bribe are sent to the lockup.…
This humiliating treatment has created hatred for the security forces and sympathy for the terrorists. It tarnishes the image of the government because not every Pakhtun is a terrorist…. …[T]here are people from Punjab who have been arrested…. But it does not mean that every Punjabi is a terrorist or a Talib.
The government should take notice of such incidents where innocent people are being victimised….— (Oct 27)
Attacks on armed forces
THE other day militants attacked a security post in the Tora Warai area of Hangu in which 10 of the attackers were killed when security forces retaliated. … Security forces are being targeted by terrorists across the country…. There is no doubt that the security forces have made many sacrifices in their fight against terrorism, but the latter, instead of being wiped out, is flourishing by the day.
…To bring peace to the tribal areas the government should take firm steps, otherwise eradicating terrorism … cannot be ensured. …[T]he government has enforced Section 144 across the NWFP … besides keeping an eye on Afghan refugees and other suspects. So far hundreds of illegal Afghans and suspects have been rounded up.
The imposition of Section 144 in Peshawar is a positive step …But the government should see to it that common people are not faced with yet more problems because of such measures. — (Oct 27)