Sunday, December 22, 2013

Why Pakistan Lost Bengalis - Some Insights

Knowing Thyself
By Saroop Ijaz, The Express Tribune, December 21, 2013

The State of Pakistan wants the 16th of December to pass silently and quickly every year. Theexecution of Abdul Quader Molla made this extraordinarily difficult this time around. Enough has been said on the execution and its implications, and saying any further will be surplus to requirements. However, not nearly enough has ever been said about 1971. There is some talk every year, lament mostly, meticulously avoiding the specifics. The attempt sometimes it seems is to make the fall of Dhaka look like a natural catastrophe, beyond the locus of human and state control. Let bygones be bygones, Bangladesh is a sovereign nation and the vile Yahya Khan lives in eternal infamy, where he belongs. By all means, however, let’s trace our steps a little and briefly revisit the statements made by the architect of the “decade of prosperity” (according to our textbooks), Field Marshal Ayub Khan.

Ayub’s ghost-written, and unironically titled book, Friends, not Masters, says about the Bengalis as “ … (having) all the inhibitions of downtrodden races and have not yet found it possible to adjust psychologically to the requirement of the new born freedom”. In his diary, he further writes that the East Pakistanis have the desire “to isolate themselves from West Pakistan and revert to Hindu language and culture”. He felt that it was because of the reason that the Bengalis had “no culture and language of their own”. Aside, from the obvious point of the gallant Field Marshal being ignorant, bigoted and a racist, there is something else. The Sandhurst-trained Field Marshal sought to emulate the “Masters” in taking upon himself the mantle to pass condescending, conclusive statements about the natives. Lord Macaulay’s observation on the matter was that the Bengalis were “feeble” people … trampled upon by men of bolder and hardy breeds” and whose “mind is weak … for the purposes of manly resistance”. Repulsive thoughts by two racists, are they not? Yet, we wonder, what went wrong in East Pakistan?

For complete article, click here

Related:
Shahbag Square will haunt us By Yaqoob Khan Bangash - Express Tribune
Chaudhry Nisar Ali is in the Wrong - By Nasim Zehra, Newsweek
Anti-Pakistan protests continue in Bangladesh - Daily Times

Background:
Dead Reckoning by Sarmila Bose - review: Guardian
Bangladesh and 1971 Syndrome - Moonis Ahmer: Dawn
Bangladesh Islamist Abdul Kader Mullah hanged for war crimes: BBC

Saturday, December 21, 2013

'Policy Seminar on Counterterrorism Strategy' - Pakistan Senate's Defense Committee - November 2013


‘Law Enforcement Model’ and ‘mutual coordination among LEAs’ are tools towards counter terrorism'

Associated Press of Pakistan, November 25, 2013

ISLAMABAD: Law Enforcement Model and mutual coordination among Law Enforcement Agencies are the fundamental tools towards countering the prevailing challenge of terrorism. Institutional policy support and relatively effective judicial practices must be brought together to resolve counter terrorism strategy mechanism. This was said by the speakers at the seminar on “Counter Strategy: What is to be done” which held today at Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Studies (PIPS)”.


The policy seminar, organized by Senate Defence Committee was addressed by various think tanks, policy makers, diplomats and academia. In his welcoming address, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed Chairman Senate Defence Committee said Pakistan was going through a phase where all the stakeholders have to have collective inputs towards the solution. Referring to Sri Lankan long war against Tamil Tigers, he said Pakistan can get benefit from the experience of a nation who fought with the menace of terrorism with determination and willpower. Professor Dr. Hassan Abbas, National Defence University Washington DC, in his presentation highlighted the key points of the required strategy mechanism in the given circumstances Pakistan is facing. He introduced a ‘Law Enforcement Model L(EM)’ according to which understanding to the nature of prevailing challenge, strong policing and effective and strong coordination among the LEA’ are the focal areas to be worked out. Dr. Hassan, while appreciating the great sacrifices laid by the security agencies said Pakistan had a policy framework and intensive commitment to counter terrorism. However he noted there was lack of institutional policy support and structural division of LEAs at execution levels. He suggested for the key role be given to the LEAs with backup of military forces and punishment & imprisonment culture. 


Seema Baloch, former High Commissioner of Pakistan to Sri Lanka delivered her findings of successful experience by Sri Lankan government in countering Tamil Tigers. She said Sri Lanka had experience international pressure and also hostile support to Tamil Tigers, but they remained committed and dedicated to get rid of the terrorists. However she maintained that Pakistan’s case was different to that of Sri Lankan. But still she urged for the unanimity, political will and clarity of the objective. Tariq Pervez, ex Chairman National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), shared his experience regarding effectiveness and the weakness of NACTA. He suggested that political influences must be eradicated from the organization and sole authority should be given to the Prime Minister. Senators, Haji Adeel, Afrazyab Khattak, Tahir Mashadi, Generals (R) Asad Durani, Talat Masood and former foreign Secretary Akram Zaki also spoke on the occasion. The seminar was attended by a number of diplomats, journalists, think tanks and academia. APP/ Hamza


Related:
Speakers call for clear policy against terrorism, extremism - Associated Press of Pakistan, November 25, 2013

Thursday, December 12, 2013

'The Genuis of Mandela' - A Glimpse of Tributes to the Great Leader

The Genius of Mandela
By I.A. Rehman, Dawn, December 12, 2013

MOST of those paying tributes to Nelson Mandela are focusing on his qualities that they themselves hold precious and thus they present a variety of portraits. But he was a greater person than the aggregate of his qualities and achievements.

No comment on Mandela’s life is complete without reference to his 27 years in prison, his release and his becoming the first black president of South Africa. But there was much in his life, between these milestones, that should be of interest to students of politics and social change.

When the 46-year-old Mandela told the court in 1964 of “his ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunity”, an ideal for which he was prepared to die, he mentioned his ideal and not the means. For he was changing from a hardline champion of the use of force into a man of peace. It may be useful to recall Mandela’s years as a militant revolutionary, or as a “terrorist” as Mrs Thatcher and other priests of reaction called him.
The African National Congress (ANC), Mandela’s political alma mater, was wedded to non-violence. Mandela argued that after the failure of a prolonged non-violent struggle a change of tactics was necessary.

For complete article, click here

Related:
Barack Obama's moving tribute to Nelson Mandela - The Telegraph
Nelson Mandela death: Queen leads tributes - BBC
Five Nelson Mandela tributes that will change how you think - The Washington Post