SICK MINDS’ UNJUST CRITICISM ON PAKISTAN ARMY

By M Khan Chishti

“The military operations carried out by Pakistan Army in tribal areas show the pinnacle of professionalism and commitment to eliminate terrorism”, Jennifer McKay mentions in her post visit analysis on South Waziristan in Spherehead Research. The United Nations evaluation expert opines, “What the US-led NATO and ISAF forces, equipped with the latest sophisticated weaponry could not do in the last ten years in Afghanistan; Pakistan military did in FATA with utmost success”. Similar first hand accounts given by security experts and analysts cited that Pakistan Army’s successful operation against militants in Swat is a unique example in the history of counter terrorism, where not just routine life was brought back to normalcy but tourism and business activities were also revived.

Notwithstanding such independent and factual perspectives, some rumour-mongers continue to criticize national security institutions unjustly either for their vested interests or to make their publications look more attractive to the readers. The recent Tirah conflict yet again provided a subject matter to these propagandists, who strive hard to discredit the successes of security forces’ operations in FATA and Swat. They erroneously equate the tensed security situation in Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency with Swat where the peace has already been restored after the suppression of Taliban. If Pakistan state had ever surrendered to the radical militants in Swat, it was not possible for the district and divisional administrations of Swat and Malakand to arrange a number of events in 2013, including the Malakand Football Tournament, Dir Snow Festival, Malam Jabba snow festival, Dir Cultural Week, Golf Gala, Swat Youth Festival, Sports Gala, Kalam Festival, Shin Swat Campaign, Chitral Cultural Week and Youth Symposium, to promote tourism in the area. It is also true that some isolated terrorist attacks still occur in the area, however the frequency has significantly plunged. Much of the security responsibility has been taken over by Swat Police as the Army gradually transferred its duties to the local administration. Therefore, it is categorically wrong to associate two distinctly different situations of Swat and Tirah Valley merely to bring an unwarranted criticism on Pakistan Army’s counter terrorism efforts.

Coming to Tirah Valley, it is a landlocked area which is reported to be a bastion of the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Lashkar-i-Islam and Ansar-ul-Islam; these groups that started consolidating their positions in the valley and posed a serious threat to the settled areas especially Peshawar. Militants from Khyber Agency’s Bara area and TTP Darra Admakhel have also shifted their operational base to Tirah Valley as they consider it to be a safer place to regroup. Presently, a decisive operation has been launched against militants in Tirah Valley by Pakistan Army along with regular troops and local Lashkars. Scores of militants have also been killed in the offensive during the last two weeks. Sources said that Army troops and Frontier Corps are battling to root out the last pockets of resistance in the Tirah Valley especially on the border of Orakzai Agency. Around 18000 families have also left the area in a bid to clear the battlefield for the Pakistan Army. Army sources said that they have intensified the operations, rapid conclusions and clearances are in transaction and operation is hoped to be ended before the general elections.

Regardless of all these services rendered by Pakistan Army to defend the nation against threat of terrorism, certain media personnel make mockery of Pakistan Army’s efforts for eliminating terrorism and sarcastically blame security forces for surrendering sovereignty to militants. They ignore Pakistan’s sacrifices and losses while holding Pakistan responsible for US failures in Afghanistan. The perception that Army surrendered Swat to militants is simply misleading as Pakistan’s armed forces achieved a landmark victory by dismantling the command and control system of Taliban militants in Swat and South Waziristan. Operations conducted in Bajaur, Orakzai and Kurram agencies are also near completion; few remaining pockets of resistance are being tackled. Moreover, active operations are in progress in Mohmand agency, whereas intelligence based targeted operations are launched in NWA.

The spectacularly stark terrain makes FATA hard place to conduct operations without collateral damages, therefore peace building will be a long-term challenge in the region. To be optimistic, the fighting in Tirah Valley will also reach its logical end with Army’s victory over the militants and such illogical and deceitful critics of armed forces will lick the dust.

Militants’ Undemocratic and Un-Islamic Practices

By Sajjad Shaukat

In the recent years, militants of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliated outfits like Lashkar-e-Janghvi conducted terror-activities such as suicide attacks, ruthless beheadings of tribesmen, assaults on security personnel and prominent figures including Shias, Ahmadis, Sufis, Christians and Sikhs. Besides blowing children schools, while attacking the female teachers in order to deny education to girls, they also targeted mosques, Imambargahs, mausoleum and burial places of Sufi Saints, and disgraced dead bodies. Their nefarious acts resulted into killings of several persons in Pakistan. In the recent months, they accelerated their anti-social, undemocratic and un-Islamic practices to sabotage the democratic process and the forthcoming elections.

When the Supreme Court of Pakistan, armed forces, political and religious parties including media and civil society remained keen to see democracy, flourishing in the country by favouring the elections in Pakistan, TTT militants started propagating that democracy is western system of government which is against Islam. For the purpose, recently, a leaflet was distributed by the TTP-led Pasban-e-Shariat Organisation in North Waziristan Agency to reject the democratic system in FATA. While demonstrating its undemocratic trends and un-Islamic notions, TTP has not only openly opposed democracy, but has also propagated negative notions like as to “Why Democracy is Forbidden for Tribes.” The aim is to thwart the process of elections and create chaotic order in FATA.

Meanwhile, in a video message to the media, TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan said that militant group was withdrawing its offer of peace talks with the government. He also directed the people to stay away from polls, which he stated, was only serving the interests of infidels and enemies of Islam. Their leader Maulvi Fazlullah had also expressed his disdain for democracy, parliament and the Constitution of Pakistan.

It is notable that after passing through various forms of governments such as monarchy, dictatorship, Communism etc., western countries established the system of democracy, as it empowers people to govern through their elected representatives, and make decisions as agreed by the majority. Despite it, the opposition is free to oppose any decision of the ruling party. In case of any violation of the constitution or democratic norms, the opposition party can go to the court. In fact, it is a representative system which is based upon equality of all the people, ensuring enforcement of rule of law through an independent justice. Based upon the system of accountability, it provides justice to all—majority and minority elements of the country. People participate in the system to initiate and approve the development proposals, while rulers are made to regulate economic, social and cultural advancement. Nothing is forcibly imposed on the political will of people who fully enjoy the freedom of thought and action. It is due to these merits that democratic system is widely popular in the world.

While Islam is a religion of universal application, as it emphasises peace, democracy, moderation and human rights including tolerance of political groups, religious communities and sects which are in minority in a country.

The Constitution of 1973 which was unanimously adopted, clearly states that Pakistan is basically a democracy guided by the Islamic principles and values—no law would be made contrary to Quran and Sunnah.

Notably, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in his sermon at Hajjatul Wida issued directions for protection of life, property and dignity of the whole mankind. The sermon became a charter of democracy which was included in the constitutions of the western elected governments in one way or the other.

Besides, while addressing the Constituent Assembly on August, 11 1947, Quaid-i-Azam who wanted Pakistan as a democratic state, said that he did not want Pakistan to be a theocratic state. He wanted Pakistan to be a liberal, secular and progressive state where both Muslims and non-Muslims were treated as citizens of equal status.

Having co-relationship with each other, Islam respects women, while democracy also advocates the same. In fact, democracy does not evaporate respect for elders of a tribe or family and the process empowers the people to make their own rules for governance. Diversified people and religious scholars (Ulemas) participate in the system which does not exclude or discriminate any one on basis of caste, creed and sect. It does not confine religion to Mosque.

It does not tend to destroy the established cultural norms and tribal system. It makes police and security forces answerable to elected members, making the tribal elders more powerful.

Democratic system does not prohibit the religious parties or tribesmen to participate in elections. Islamic laws can be implemented through a system of governance, hence, elections are essential for placing the elected representatives to make rules and govern in any part of the country. Laws of Sharia (Islamic Jurisprudence) can best be put to practice through democratic system which does not make us un-Islamic or anti-Sharia.

Pakistan has to move along with the demands of modern time. Therefore, periodic reinterpretation of Islamic teachings in the light of inventions and discoveries is essential so that it can offer inspiration to all the people at all times. Such movement is called Ijtihad, which could provide new perceptions to Islam in accordance with the changed world vision. In this context, Allama Iqbal pointed out that the only effective power that counteracts the forces of decay in a people is Ijtihad, adding, Islam needs “new standards in the light of which we begin to see that our environment is not wholly inviolable and requires revision.”

While condemning the TTP insurgents’ inhuman activities, more than 60 Islamic scholars recently clarified in their joint fatwa (edict) and separate statements that “killing of innocent people, target killings and suicide bombings including sectarianism are against the spirit of Islam…the terrorists’ self-adopted interpretation of Islam was nothing but ignorance and digression from the actual teachings of the religion. They elaborated that Islam does not forbid women’s education.

However, the militant outfits also recruit very young boys, and after their brainwashing through indoctrination, they train them for suicide bombings. The planners misguide these Muslims by convincing that they will have a noble place in the Heavens in exchange of suicide attacks.

Nevertheless, Islam considers killing one innocent person equal to murdering the entire humanity, while Jihad is a sacred obligation, but its real spirit needs to be understood clearly, as murdering innocent women and children is not Jihad. These Taliban and their banned affiliated groups are defaming Islam and are weakening Pakistan.

These TTP related militants who were also found in other criminal activities such as killing the moderate dissidents, drug-smuggling, forced marriages, hostage-takings for ransom and even car-snatching seeks to impose their self-interpreted ideology of Islam on majority of the Pakistanis.

These terrorists are not only carrying out ferocious attacks, but are also taking pride in claiming the responsibility for the same. Now, people from all segment of life and majority of politicians want that a handful of terrorist elements must not be allowed to dictate their agenda and to impose their self-perceived ideology in the country.

Nonetheless, TTP militants who have turned insensitive and inhuman, having no sense of compassion and benevolence are acting upon anti-social, undemocratic and un-Islamic practices.

The right hour has come that Pakistan’s media, politicians and leaders of religious parties including security forces must show practical unity against these zealots who seek to create anarchy in the country to accomplish their self-motivated designs.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

Pak- Iran Gas Pipeline Politics

By Faheem Belharvi

Despite bitter opposition from the US and warnings of economic sanctions, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinijad on 11 March 2013 officially inaugurated construction work of a delayed $7.5 billion gas pipeline. The ceremony, which the President’s office described as a ‘big event’, was held in the Iranian border city of Chabahar. Both Presidents were accompanied at the ground-breaking by delegations comprising ministers, top officials as well as representatives of several Arab states.

Pak Iran gas pipeline is one of the important historic deals of the world especially in Pak and Iran horizons. The project will bring economic prosperity and opens new avenues of relationship between both the countries. Basically, Pakistan is energy stricken country and its growing economy failed to generate revenue requirements. Hence, it is need and necessity of the time to import cheap energy from neighboring country Iran in order to meet energy requirements and lessen our debt burden. The pipeline project will prove to be as the permanent energy bailout package for our energy deficiency.

The other impacts of this project could be; opening up new avenues of economic prosperity, extends business, commerce and trade activities and enhancing cultural relations with a country that has contributed so much, to our history, languages, literature, art and architecture. Meanwhile, tourism and sports activities will also increase which ultimately brings both countries closer.

Although the pipeline project’s formal completion date is December 2014, a detailed feasibility plan is still being worked out and the source of funding is yet unclear. In July 2011, President Ahmadinejad has offered to fund construction of the 761 kilometers inside Pakistani territory. Iran declared at the time that it had laid the pipeline on its side to within 50 kilometers of Pakistan’s border. But the Iranian offer has to be taken with a good meanwhile, Iran’s economic difficulties are rapidly mounting. China’s largest bank, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, has backed out from its earlier commitment.

In June of that year, members of the opposition benches in the Balochistan Assembly exhibited unprecedented unity and passed a resolution seeking royalty for the province in the proposed multi-billion dollar IP gas pipeline project. Further, the assembly also demanded Balochistan`s representation in the IP talks, free gas for adjacent populations, a 100 per cent job share and a major share in any royalty. It is added that, there is no constitutional or legal guarantee that royalty in any form, including security, jobs or gas, will be supplied to the people of Balochistan.
Islamabad cannot deny the fact that Balochistan represents 44 per cent of the country`s landmass and shares strategically significant coasts and border areas with the energy-rich Middle East, through Iran.

Pakistan took a firm stand on the issue. In this regard last week, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, addressing a joint press conference with her Swedish counterpart, said that Pakistan was committed to the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline. She also laid to rest any doubts that a Chinese bank’s decision to back off from funding the project would affect plans to import gas from Iran. She said: “There are multiple sources available and this is a very viable project.”

For Pakistan the IP gas pipeline project is its energy lifeline for the future as it will provide the cheapest and most suitable fuel for power generation. According to an estimate that, the gas to be supplied by Iran would help generate around 4,000MW of electricity, besides providing job opportunities in the backward areas of Baluchistan and Sindh.

Anyhow, US factor again mounted pressure on Islamabad to forego with the project, otherwise sanctions could be imposed on Pakistan. In this connection, Hillary Clinton said that the Turkmenistan pipeline was a better alternative, predictable and would avoid business with Iran and added that embarking on the construction of a Pak-Iran pipeline is in violation of the Iran Sanctions Act. She said, “We all know what the consequences of that law are.” Else the U.S shall isolate itself away from a goal that is truly important, the fight against global terrorism.
On March 7, another US Department’s spokesperson, Victoria Nuland, spoke on the subject and said: “The proposed deal will violate UN sanctions laws.” She acknowledged that Pakistan has a lot of unmet energy requirements. The US, she added, was aware of these requirements and has been “working in close partnership to find better ways” to meet these needs.But Pakistan totally rejected American stance since Iran-Pakistan pipeline project is vital to her flourishing economic and meeting future energy requirement.

Another factor which need serious attention that fast friend of Pakistan “Saudi Arabia” is not very pleased over the Pak-Iran project. The Saudi attempt to create divisions and distrust with a neighboring country is plainly insidious and deserved a response from Pakistan’s leaders — one no less firm than the one delivered to the Americans. The Saudi plan is just as unworkable as the TAPI pipeline, which the US is pushing as an alternative to the IP pipeline. TAPI would run through Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. But with Afghanistan likely to be embroiled indefinitely in civil war after 2014, only a wild idealist can believe that a pipeline traversing its hostile and intractable terrain could provide secure oil supplies.

Let us hope the next elected national government would have to complete this Peace Pipeline Project with vision, will and capability to make up for the last decades and move fast to lift the society and the state to higher levels and scrupulously work for the development of the country development and welfare of the people. Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline can prove to be the starting point of a new era of peace and prosperity for the entire region. US and others opposing western countries should stop playing power politics with the developing and under developing countries in the name of nuclear proliferation . They should not forget US-India nuclear deal before yelling against Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline Project.

WESTERN MEDIA BRUITS

By Faheem Belharvi
Recent international media propagations have once again figured out Pakistan’s tribal areas as a global jihad hub consisting of thousands of foreign fighters from diverse countries. AFP reported that “Pakistan is still a major destination for radicalised Muslims bent on a life of jihad, despite hundreds of US drone strikes, the death of Osama bin Laden and the fracturing of Al-Qaeda.

There could be around 2,000 to 3,500 foreign fighters in the border areas from around 30 different countries”. It is strange that how a professional news agency floated such a report which is violative of it’s own standards of journalistic ethics. A bird’s eye view of this news report denoted that it projected a misleading opinion rather than presenting the factual position on the ground.

The propaganda was then, wittingly or unwittingly, picked up by some Pakistani media outlets and journalists without obtaining narrative of Pakistan security institutions over the issue. TTP also, hurriedly seized the opportunity to identify itself as a “global jihadist organization” by launching a video comprising of its slain western affiliates and gave an impression that TTP was actually organizing white jihadists in Pakistan’s tribal areas.

Such misinformation spread by western media is nothing new, rather just an old wine in a new bottle, as it is aimed at maligning Pakistan for nurturing terrorist training camps against coalition forces in Afghanistan and undermining its role after US-NATO withdrawal in 2014.

Recently, Afghan authorities have categorically recognized Pakistan’s importance for the country’s security after the withdrawal of coalition troops from Afghanistan. An Afghan delegation headed by Afghan Defence Minister Bismillah Khan came to Pakistan in January on a 5-day visit and showed willingness to accept Pakistan’s offer to train Afghan troops.

The defense team’s visit manifested that Afghans are finally convinced about the role of Pakistan in both countries combined endeavours to mitigate insurgency in the region. However, some hostile countries do not want Pakistan to acquire significance and a greater role in the region, therefore projecting Pakistan in clutches of foreign insurgents, to reflect that a terrorism engulfed state would not be able to help Afghanistan stand on its feet after 2014 withdrawal.

Coming to the issue of increased white jihadists in Pakistan; it would be right to say that in recent years Pakistan’s security forces’ crackdown against foreign militants has helped in reducing cross-border militant infiltration from Afghanistan to the Pakistani tribal areas. Security forces’ operations have constrained the space for foreign operatives; besides dismantling their infrastructure and hideouts.

Security officials articulated that in a number of operations against Al-Qaeda and its foreign operatives; thousands of foreign militants have been killed and hundreds of them have been apprehended. In addition, scores of foreign militants were killed in drone attacks in Pakistani tribal areas including Tahir Yuldashev, Usman Adil of Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, and Mustafa Abu Yazid, Abu Laith Al Libi of Al-Qaeda, which has discouraged these operatives from advancing towards FATA. Operatives from western countries say that they are now afraid to come to Pakistan because of Pakistan military crackdown and drone strikes.

Militants seeking Jihad in Afghanistan now focus towards the sanctuaries and training camps in Afghanistan’s Nuristan and Kunar provinces. These training camps comprise of thousands of local Afghan militants and foreign operatives, who are highly motivated to thrust out their anger towards invading forces in Afghanistan.

Recent surge in attacks on US and NATO troops has made the fact quite evident. These miscreants are also involved in heinous crimes like kidnapping, extortion of money, terrorist activities and drug trafficking within Afghanistan. Sources in Afghanistan’s Ministry of Tribal and Border Affairs confided that these miscreants were launched into Pakistani territory and adjoining areas to create mistrust between Islamabad and Kabul, as friendly relations between the two do not serve the long-term objectives of regional and international players in the region.

Besides, Arab spring and conflict in North Africa also diverted the focus of foreign fighters from Pakistan towards Middle Eastern and African countries. Al-Qaeda’s foreign affiliates who once travelled to Pakistan are now joining Al-Qaeda’s affiliated groups such as Al-Qaeda in Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Al-Shabab and Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), for which Al-Qaeda provides them practical expertise, weapons and communication skills.

Western intelligence officials also believe that the number of Al-Qaeda operatives and its foreign affiliates in Pakistan tribal areas has fallen to the “low hundreds”, as most of them are either on the run or finding sanctuaries in Middle Eastern and African countries. Moreover, Long War Journal cited that hundreds of foreign jihadists poured into northern Mali in recent months to help armed Islamist groups. Residents of the cities of Timbuktu and Gao, Malian security officials and Islamist commanders all confirmed that there had been a huge influx of foreign fighters over the past few months.

In a scenario where focus of the global militants has been diverted away from Af-Pak region and international community is more concerned towards conflicts in Syria, Libya and Somalia; baseless reporting regarding inflow of foreign operatives into Pakistan merits no serious concern. It is a mere propaganda tactic and a sequel to international media’s sinister designs to discredit Pakistan’s role in war on terror. Pakistani security forces are extending remarkable services to reduce infiltration of foreign militants into the country’s territory. Therefore, Pakistani media and intelligentsia must be taken on board by the concerned authorities to play their role in dispelling such misperceptions.

Quaid’s Vision of One Nation and Sectarianism in Balochistan

Zaheerul Hassan

During three decades of his political life, Mohammad Ali Jinnah had believed in the possibility of Hindu-Muslim unity and was awarded with the title of “Ambassador of Hindu Muslim Unity” by prominent Hindu politicians. However, the dubious character of Indian Congress and Hindu leaders convinced him that a Muslim homeland on the subcontinent was the only way of safeguarding Muslim interests and the Muslim way of life.

He philosophized the “Two Nation Theory” with his intellectual acumen to convince British rulers of subcontinent that Hindu and Muslims are fundamentally two separate nations. Their religious, cultural, social and political values are contradictory and both the civilizations have a long history of animosity.

The above mentioned facts elucidate that Jinnah became exponent of Two Nation Theory just to prove the implacability of a single state for Hindu and Muslim civilizations. He never believed in religious and sectarian divisions.

In his first presidential address to the Pakistan’s Constituent Assembly, he made clear that all the Pakistanis; Hindus, Christians, Sikhs and Muslims will be free to practice their religious beliefs in the new country. He had a vision of a state that will be Islamic in character with full respect to Hindu and Sikh temples, churches and mosques.
However, some thinkers attempt to distort Quaid’s vision of a separate nation for Muslim by misinterpreting it as a source of religious fanaticism amongst Pakistanis.

They also curse Objective Resolution – an articulation of Quaid’s vision – for creating sect and ethnicity based polarization in the Pakistani society and hold it responsible for the current state of sectarianism in the country. Yet, they omit the fact that Jinnah was a strong advocate of religious freedom and harmony. They also overlook Quaid’s notion of national integration which transcends the concept of religious discrimination, limited nationalism and racialism.

No doubt, the delay in constitution making gave India an opportunity to create confusion on the national identity of Pakistan. The nefarious Indian agenda to create divisions in Pakistan was materialized in the form of Indian intervention in East Pakistan, which is well known to the historians. Continuing the same scheme, RAW is now highly active in Sindh and Balochistan in fomenting sectarian and ethnic violence.

Recently, IG Sindh Police Fayyaz Ahmed Leghari made startling revelation that forensic investigations of sectarian killings indicate that same weapons and killing patterns are used in targeting the leaders of various sects. These facts take us to the conclusion that a third group is staging assassinations of rival sectarian parties to provoke large scale violence in Karachi. This scheme is a handiwork of a hostile agency and we should see the attacks on the Hazara Shia community in Balochistan in the light of these findings.

The rich minerals treasures of Balochistan and strategic importance of Gawadar Port are the focus of all the major powers. The various schemes of division and maps of independent Balochistan projected by strategic organisations of these powers make this fact evident. Balochistan share border with Iran and Afghanistan and the attacks on the Hazara Shias are mainly linked with their influence and the presence of hostile agencies.

The overall deteriorating situation of law and order in the province is also contributing factor for the brazen attacks of LeJ on the members of Shia sect. In fact, it is the part of strategy of Al-Qaeda, TTP and LeJ to break the social fabric of Pakistan through sectarian violence and Balochistan is feeling the heat.

The friendly Muslim countries are involved in promoting and strengthening of sectarian organizations in the country in general. Iran is backing Shia organizations and Arab states are financing Sunni sectarian groups to further their own interests. The Western countries are also providing funds to moderate religious groups as part of their strategy to counter radicalization in Pakistan. These foreign interventions are major agents of sectarianism in the country, which are eventually harming the cause of national integration.

The sectarian violence remains limited only to the members of sectarian groups and the general public in Pakistan is living in religious harmony. In fact, people never became involved in religious riots on community level. However, the sectarian violence has heightened recently and it can engulf whole population of the country, becoming the greatest security threat. The government and law enforcing agencies must take concrete steps to dismantle militant groups, enforce bans on hate speech and sectarian propaganda, and reform the madressah system in order to tackle the problem of sectarianism

Pakistan launches first Ever National Climate Change Policy

Ishaal Zehra

Much compliments for the Ministry of Climate Change, in Islamabad, on providing a framework for coping with the threats of climate change through adaptation and mitigation measures. The policy, officially launched on February 26, 2013, focuses on development sectors such as water resources, agriculture and livestock, forestry, human health, disaster preparedness, transport and energy.

“The goal is to ensure that climate change is mainstreamed in the economically and socially vulnerable sectors of the economy and to steer Pakistan towards climate resilient development,” Javaid Ali Khan, director-general of climate change and environment at the ministry said during his presentation at the launch.

Now that the policy has been launched, implementation is the biggest challenge the policy faces. Policy implementation committees will be formed at the federal and provincial levels. The relevant ministries and departments as well as provincial and local governments will come up with their own strategies to get to work.

According to the National Economy and Environment Development Study 2011, climate change adaptation measures from now to 2050 will cost around $6 billion to $14 billion and mitigation efforts during the same period will cost $7 billion to $18 billion.

There were a variety of financing options available for projects under the climate change policy such as the international Green Climate Fund which aims to raise $100 billion for environmental projects worldwide by 2020. A National Climate Change Fund will also be formed. Climate change is a huge challenge that the government cannot handle on its own. It requires collaboration and cooperation between the private and public sectors, Hussain asserted.

Some of the measures in the policy include flood forecasting warning systems, local rainwater harvesting, developing new varieties of resilient crops, health impact assessment of changing weather patterns, promotion of renewable energy sources and efficient mass transport systems.

Water and agricultural sectors are likely to be the most sensitive to climate change. Fresh water availability is expected to be highly vulnerable to the anticipated climate change. Pakistan has in most areas of agriculture a monsoon climate, and there might be abundant rainfall during the wet season and then a very long dry season where crop production depends very heavily on irrigation water. Though Pakistan has the worlds best irrigation system in hand but the neighbor India is a continuous threat to Pakistan’s water resource. May it be through the construction of Wullar Barrage or Kishan Ganga water project.

In the past two decades many a researches have been undertaken which point to the fact that Pakistan's struggle with scarce water resources will escalate with time until and unless remedial measures are taken. These measures include the need for seeking alternate sources of water In addition to ensure that India does not violate the Indus Water Treaty. Knowing India, the latter seems totally out of question hence more focus must be put on local rain water harvesting.

At present, there are few reservoirs to capture rainwater and probably this added to worsen the situation in Sindh and Balochistan where Pakistan had to struggle with floods and displacement of entire communities. There is a dire need to construct reservoirs throughout the country on a war footing to ensure that rainwater can be used to meet the needs of the people. Certain concrete step towards climate threat and water issue was long due. Appreciation must be given to the Ministry who seemed to believe in the phrase better late than never. Climate change clock is ticking too fast and the time to act is here and now.

February 27, 2013

Gwadar Seaport Completion Requires Special Attention

By Sajjad Shaukat Gwadar Seaport

When during the Musharraf regime, Pakistan government initiated the construction of Gwadar deep-seaport in the Balochistan province in March 2002 with Chinese assistance, a siren went off in the capitals of the United States, India and Israel. The US took it as a threat to its global plans, and India felt that it threatened its integrity. Israel also took it as a greater threat from an Islamic country. Some defence analysts had opined that development of Gwadar port would shift the great game of Central Asia to Pakistan, though Afghanistan would remain its gateway.

As regards its strategic importance, due to its proximity to the vital sea lanes, Gwadar is the major important seaport in the world. Located on the southwestern coast of Pakistan, it is close to the Strait of Hormuz from where more than 17 million barrels of oil passes every day. Its ideal location between three key regions, South Asia, the oil-rich Middle East, and oil and gas-resourced Central Asia have further increased its significance.

If once becomes fully operational, Gwadar Seaport could connect the landlocked Central Asian states with rest of the world. Being the commercial hub, the port is likely to increase volume of trade, bringing multiple economic and financial benefits to Pakistan like the Suez Canal which changed the destiny of Egypt when Israel returned it to the former. It will enable high-volume cargo vessels to move in the major oceans. Otherwise, big vessels cannot move from and to Karachi Seaport owing to dearth of depth. Therefore, small cargo ships with low weight are sent to Dubai from where containers are re-loaded on big vessels. This practice causes many problems for businessmen, discouraging Pakistan’s imports and exports.

In case of its completion, Gwadar project will not only uplift the impoverished people of Balochistan by providing thousands of employment opportunities and is likely to develop whole the province by redressing their grievances. The resulting prosperity would trickle down to the Baloch people and damp the separatist sentiment.

Besides, as an alternative deep water port, it is situated 470 km away from Karachi making it less vulnerable to the Indian naval blockade which Pakistan faced in 1971 during the war with India.

As Pakistan has close friendship with China, so in the long term, the Gwadar Seaport could serve as a port of entry for oil and gas to be transported by land to the western region of China. If Beijing wants to emancipate itself from transportation or military problems along Asia’s southern coastline, direct access to the Indian Ocean may be the solution.

In this respect, Balochistan’s Gwader project where China has invested billions of dollars irks the eyes of US-led India and Israel; hence, they have been supporting Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Jundollah (God’s soldiers) and other separatist elements which are arranging subversive activities in the province as part of their covert designs. In this regard, Pakistan’s civil and military leadership has repeatedly said that training camps are presence in Afghanistan from where arms and ammunition are being sent to the militants in Balochistan in order to dismember Pakistan. In the past few years, a number of Chinese engineers, working at Gwadar were kidnapped and killed by the foreign-affiliated insurgent groups. The main aim behind is to discourage Beijing for the development of Gwadar port.

Although secret agencies like American CIA, Indian RAW and Israeli Mossad have been arranging acts of sabotage in Balochistan including other parts of the country for their countries’ collective strategic interests, yet it is our misfortune that Pakistan’s political leadership has caused delay in the completion of Gwadar Seaport owing to lack of interest and willingness, instead of vigorously pursuing the project. Unfortunately, short term vested interests of these politicians have prevailed over the long term national interests, creating differences between the state institutions which further complicated the situation rather than a progress for the rapid development of the project.

In this context, Pakistan’s Minister of Port and Shipping, Senator Baber Khan Ghauri has often found involved in blame game so as to shift his responsibilities and failures in relation to the Gwadar project. On August 28, 2012, in a meeting of the Senate Committee on Ports and Shipping, he pretended that government’s failure to transfer 584 acres of land in possession of Pakistan Navy at the mouth of the port was a major obstacle with Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) and resolution of the related issues.

Notably, in 2006 after completion of the Phase-1 construction work, Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) invited offers from experienced port operators for the management of the project, and in February 2007 signed an agreement with Concession Holding Company (CHC), a subsidiary of PSA for operational control of the seaport. PSA was to invest $ 550 million during the next five year for development of the port, but since than, no substantial progress was achieved. In fact, GPA’s lack of thinking in strategic terms in maritime sector and its inability to persuade PSA in marketing and operationalisation of the current terminal area has failed to capitalise on the immense potential which resides on this project.

However, actual facts which have delayed the completion of strategically important deep-seaport of Gwadar have not made public. In this regard, the agreement between GPA and PSA was flawed, and the Minister of Port and Shipping, Senator Baber Khan Ghauri is largely to be blamed. It was because of the minister that contract rules were violated and laws were bent wherever these were needed to ensure the interests of the concession holders rather than to safeguard the business interests of both the parties. In this context, a former chairman of Gwader Port Authority disclosed in 2009, “People fear that PSA Gwader’s name is only being used as a cover and the party is really interested in running the port will come to the fore after the former disinvests.”

While Senator Baber Khan Ghauri who is from Karachi-based MQM political party, is not interested in the operationalisation of the Gwadar port because it will reduce national dependence on Karachi Port Complex. As a result, his party will lose political leverage and in turn control of Karachi city. So the minister who has deliberately neglected development of Gwadar project, himself is involved in land grabbing in Gwader city rather than acquiring land for completion of this key port. It is owing to these reasons that even after the lapse of several years, Gwadar city still lacks road and rail track connectivity due to which, its usage is severely limited.

Now, Pakistan has decided to give the operations at Gwadar port to China as soon as the terms of agreement with the Singapore Port Authority expire. In this regard, the Planning Commission’s task force on maritime industry has proposed that an operational agreement with PSA be cancelled, which had undertaken to spend $525 million in five years, but nothing was spent during the last three years. No commercial vessel had arrived at Gwadar port during the same period.

Nevertheless people regret that like PIA, railways, power and energy sector, steel mills, poor performance of the government on the Gwadar Seaport is yet another tale of woes. But reality remains that the project has been victim of deliberate carelessness by the Senator Baber Khan Ghauri who can not be exonerated from his responsibilities as Minister of Transport and Shipping.

While the ball is in government’s court, so it is the right hour that an amicable solution of the issue with effective plan so as to take corrective measures, and appointment of sincere leadership could play a positive role in completion of the Gwader project which is in everyone’s best interest. Nonetheless, this port requires special attention for its completion. Otherwise, immense benefits like advancement of the strategic value of Pakistan including socio-economic development of Balochistan will remain a dream.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power