“Clueless at Chicago” a column by S M Hali

Clueless at Chicago

By: S M Hali | May 23, 2012

Following the Salala attack, Pakistan’s leadership expressed its anger by taking some major steps: the Nato supply route plying through Pakistan was blocked; the Shamsi Airbase in Balochistan was vacated; the Bonn Conference was boycotted; and a formal apology was sought from the USA for the tragic incident. The mandarins at the Foreign Office were asked to delegate formulation of foreign policy to Parliament, after which the politicians began behaving like demagogues and US bashing became the flavour of the day. Pubic fury was whipped to a frenzy that reached a crescendo. However, six months down the line the world has moved on sans Pakistan, likening our protestations to Shakespeare’s “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

But the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back was the Nato Summit at Chicago. The Bonn Conference had been deliberately skipped by Pakistan, but come May 2012 and the panic started gripping in, since Islamabad had not received the invitation for the Chicago Summit. The same leaders, who had breathed fire and brimstone after the Salala incident instigating national pride and sovereignty, started singing a different tune. One is reminiscent of George Orwell’s political satire titled Animal Farm, where the sheep (signifying the general public), after the takeover of the farm by the animals, are initially taught the slogan: “Four legs good! Two legs bad!” But after the compromise and sell out to the humans, they are taught a new slogan: “Four legs good! Two legs better!”

“Chicago Summit and supply routes’ dilemma” a column by Khalid Iqbal

Chicago Summit and supply routes’ dilemma

By: Khalid Iqbal | May 23, 2012

As the Chicago Summit was on, the Western media carried reports that President Barack Obama had declined a formal meeting with President Asif Zardari until the supply routes were restored. With this, both Pakistan and America have exposed the crude fragility of their bilateral relations. America has indicated that it could go to any extent to arm twist Pakistan, in the context of the reopening of the supply routes via Torkham and Chaman. Its dependence on the supply routes through Pakistan came to fore once Washington’s bluff about the much trumpeted viability of the Northern Distribution Network (NDN) was called – in November last year. Pakistan also stood exposed about its economic vulnerability. Though direct American aid accounts for only 15-17 percent in terms of direct budgetary support, the real trouble surfaces when multilateral lenders look for Washington’s nod before entering into any arrangement with Pakistan.

In the run up to the Chicago Summit, a flurry of activity took place to reassess the cost-benefit balance of reopening the supply routes. The pressure was tremendous: external coaxing and American lobbyists from within Pakistan had almost pushed the government to reopen the route before the summit. Its significance was, indeed, grossly exaggerated. Thanks to Leon Panetta’s arrogance in rejecting Pakistan’s proposed transit charges, a disaster was averted.

“Trade with India and trading strategy” a column by Dr Kamal Monnoo

Trade with India and trading strategy

By: Dr Kamal Monnoo | May 23, 2012

There exists a lot of confusion at home on issues of bilateral trade with India in particular and on what should be Pakistan’s strategy at WTO (World Trade Organisation) forums vis-à-vis global trade and protectionism in general. Actually, when one closely looks at these two main policy decisions confronting the Pakistani policymakers, one realises that, in essence, for us the right way forward in both cases is common and one which firmly hinges on the elements of free and fair trade. Expand the scope of free and fair bilateral trade and you get a global model, Mother of free trades, in the shape of the WTO, an institution that promotes a culture ofinternational trade reflecting these very principles.

Its message statement: “Establishment of a rule-based global trading regime based on free, fair and ethical trading practices in order to promote global equality and alleviate poverty from the world.” Likewise, the guiding principles for trade relations between any two countries cannot be different either – a win-win for both and gestures of reciprocity that ensure not only enhanced mutual returns, but also control the pace of trade in a manner that the trading partners keep pace with each other and that one does not race too far ahead of the other. One cursory glance at the Indo-Pak trading history and it becomes obvious that when it comes to bilateral trade, India has been the main beneficiary between the period 1996 (period when WTO policies on removing quotas and lowering tariffs started coming into effect) to date!

“Sindh cannot be divided ever” a column by Marvi Memon

Sindh cannot be divided ever

By: Marvi Memon | May 22, 2012

PML-N Quaid Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif is the only leader of a national party, who has been categorical about how the PML-N considers division of Sindh equivalent to treason and how Pakistan’s territorial integrity is linked to Sindh’s bordersnot being tampered with.

As a worker of the PML-N, I consider my Quaid’s statement in line with the PML-Ns vision of intra and inter provincial harmony, which will bring prosperity to each Pakistani without any ethnic discrimination.

Of late, we have all noticed that the signage for a separate province for Mohajirs is fast spreading in Sindh’s big cities. We condemn such a movement and those forces who are actively assisting such a tehreek. Breaking Sindh in pieces would lead to bloodshed because every son and daughter of the soil would resist such a move peacefully. However, knowing the terrorist and fascists supporting such a movement, it is clear that our peaceful resistance would make us sitting targets for their firepower.