Water emergency
FOR many years now, alarm bells had been ringing that water scarcity in the country was reaching a point where catastrophic consequences were imminent. It appears that the moment we were being warned about has more or less arrived. A new study by the Food and Agriculture Organisation looks at the impact that growing water scarcity in Sindh, as a result of the two-year drought from 2013 to 2015, has had on the province; it has given out truly disturbing numbers to substantiate its observations. More than 1.1 million people “fell below emergency-level thresholds” for survival as a result of this scarcity, and almost 75pc of people living in rain-fed areas “lacked the resources to cover basic survival and livelihood protection needs”. Not only that, the report finds “large reductions in yields and abandonment of cultivation altogether in the most drought-affected zones”, as well as widespread destruction of livestock — in some cases over 50pc of the herd died as a direct consequence of the drought.
These are staggering numbers. It seems we are no longer headed for an ecological calamity, but have entered one. If the levels of water stress continue to increase, matters will worsen and the consequences could be even more disastrous. Droughts are a part of nature, and in our part of the world, they have a cyclical quality to them. But in this case, the variation in rainfall that lay behind the drought appears to be linked to changing climatic patterns. Even though the study does not specifically flesh out the climate-change link, the report’s authors do acknowledge that there is one — a realisation that once again underscores the alarm that the impact of climate change on Pakistan does not lie in the distant future but is happening right now, and goes far beyond monsoon flooding.
The study itself was done on the request of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority of Sindh, which indicates that the authorities are aware of the impact of the drought and searching for ways to mitigate its effects. Now that the findings are before us, they must be taken up by the new chief minister, who should not only request an immediate briefing, but also demand an action plan going forward. The fact that such a study has been done at the behest of a department of a provincial government shows there is some political responsiveness to the important ecological ravages of climate change. The higher authorities now need to step up their efforts on an urgent basis and put together a coordinated response to mitigate the impact of the drought, as well as develop systems to build greater resilience. None of this is academic or wishing for the impossible. Given the will in the right quarters, we can surely mitigate the impact of climate change on livelihoods and ecology.
India’s hysteria
IT may only be a magazine cover, but it is emblematic of a new, nasty and unfortunate trend in India: vilifying Pakistan, attacking its leaders and even questioning this country’s very existence. Clearly, the Indian magazine India Today was aiming for a controversial statement in putting Gen Raheel Sharif on its cover with a faux imprint of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s hand across the general’s face. But some of that provocativeness was undone by the accompanying cover story, which concludes: “By raising Balochistan, Modi has succeeded in blunting Pakistan’s offensive on Kashmir and also addressed the public demand for a strong answer. But it has limited tactical utility … Modi has shown that he is capable of thinking out of the box. But he has to be careful not to be boxed in by his actions.” A modicum of sense, then, even in the midst of nonsense. Yet, the coarsening and hardening of anti-Pakistan rhetoric in India is an unmistakable trend. It seems India once again has a Pakistan problem of its own making and its own imagination. From government ministers alluding to Pakistan as hell to artists coming under pressure, and even facing legal trouble, for speaking sensibly about this country, India is seemingly gripped by an anti-Pakistan rage.
Contrast that with what has become the mainstream sentiment about India in Pakistan. While the violence in India-held Kashmir and the Modi government’s belligerence has elicited over-the-top reactions from some sections here, gone are the days when India was the unshakeable centre of political discourse in Pakistan. All major political parties want peace with India — even with a right-wing BJP government if it is willing to act sensibly and rationally — while few major segments of the population can be mobilised politically purely on anti-India rhetoric. The military too has evolved into recognising that the domestic security threat is bigger and more urgent a challenge than competition with India. To be sure, if India instigates, sections of state and society here are more than willing to respond. And there remains undeniably a terrorism problem that plagues the Pakistan-India relationship. Yet, what is on display in India and the seeming eagerness with which hateful anti-Pakistan rhetoric is both being spread by the mainstream media there and lapped up by large sections of the public is unprecedented for periods not involving hot, military conflict. Far too many in India are seemingly uncomfortable with the very idea of Pakistan.
Chaman closure
THE Pak-Afghan border crossing at Chaman, Balochistan, has been closed by Pakistani authorities since Afghan protesters burnt this country’s flag and reportedly vandalised the Friendship Gate at the crossing on Aug 18. Two separate demonstrations were held on the day in the vicinity, one on the Pakistani side to protest against Indian Prime Minister Modi’s inflammatory remarks targeting Pakistan, the other across the border, where a gathering to celebrate Afghanistan’s independence took on a decidedly anti-Pakistan tone. As is the case when hyper-nationalistic sentiments are whipped up, the Afghan demonstrators reportedly ended up attacking the border gate and burning the Pakistan flag. In reaction to this, the local authorities have kept the crossing shut; vehicles and people have been unable to cross the border for the last 11 days, with Islamabad insisting that Kabul apologise for the provocation.
While the flag-burning stunt is indeed deplorable, the fact is that common people on both sides of the border are suffering due to the closure. It is estimated that between 10,000 and 15,000 traders cross over daily, while trucks laden with perishable produce are waiting in queues, with their cargo bound to spoil in the summer heat. Moreover, vehicles carrying supplies for Nato forces in Afghanistan have also been held up. While Islamabad is well within its rights to protest the desecration of the national flag, it should take steps immediately to reopen the crossing and let common people cross the border. The incident should not be lumped together with the larger Pak-Afghan relationship, which, at this point in time, is anything but cordial. Earlier on, the Torkham crossing was also closed for a brief period. In fact, if Pakistan showed magnanimity over the issue and reopened the Chaman crossing, it would send a positive signal to Kabul. Those elements — such as militants — that are standing in the way of better Pak-Afghan relations should be the ones prevented from crossing the border, not ordinary citizens of both countries.
Source: Editorials
Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2016