Letters to the Editor (January 2019)

Learning from the Past

On December 16, the nation, besides bemoaning the dismemberment of Pakistan, painfully recalled the horrific incident of massacre at Peshawar’s Army Public School (APS). The response of our nation, its political leadership and security apparatus immediately after this carnage was guided by anguish and revenge. However, on the contrary, it should have been – and any strategy to deal with the monster of terrorism in future as well should be – dictated by reason. Besides adhering to those short-term defensive strategies and counterterrorism measures, we need to evolve an offensive counter-narrative. It is more important to isolate that mindset and get united against that insanity. In this way, it would deprive the bigots of their sympathizers and would render them bereft of spreading their venomous ideology and recruiting militants for their heinous assaults. The military operations and lifting moratorium on hangings, alone, we have seen, haven’t proved that instrumental to averting the tragedies we, unfortunately, confront every now and then.

Tasawar Bosal (Mandi Bahauddin)

India-Pakistan Missile Race

The quick expansion of military technologies and the ensuing arms race between the two neighbouring South Asian nations, i.e. Pakistan and India, is the result of their divergent threat perceptions. Obviously, the competitive security narratives, and their past stories of unending hostility are the root causes of such perceptions. Among all the major military technologies, missile technology is the most lethal, and most expensive one. It eats up a lion’s share of both the countries’ defence budgets.

Moreover, the history bears testimony to the fact that Pakistan only reacted to Indian sabre rattling when it resorted to including missiles into its defence arsenal to create deterrence and neutralize the actions initiated by India. Take, for example, the nuclear weapons; Pakistan commenced its nuclear programme after India’s so-called “Peaceful Nuclear Explosion” in 1974. Similarly, it was India that first conducted the nuclear explosions in May 1998. Hence, Pakistan was left with no option but to react in the same way only to balance the mismatched power in the region.

It is high time India realized the importance of stopping to invest its resources in military technologies.

Sheeraz Akhtar Bhutto (Shikarpur, Sindh)

Hockey in Turbat

I want to draw the attention of the authorities concerned with our national game, i.e. hockey, to the need of having hockey grounds in Turbat, the second biggest city of Balochistan. Unfortunately, despite the presence of a lot of talent here, no facilities have been provided to promote this game here. The government should promote this game and provide requisite facilities in all educational institutions.

Adnan Maqsood (Turbat)

Beauty of Swat

Swat is known for its mesmerizing beauty and rich history. Alexander the Great and Mahmood Ghaznavi came to this place and built great monuments the ruins of which are still visible all over the valley. But, marble-polishing factories in Swat are not only contaminating the Swat River with their waste and affluents but are also proving hazardous to this great heritage. I request the authorities concerned to take serious notice of the situation and help conserve the beauty of the Swat Valley.

Junaid Sultan (Swat)

Unemployment in Balochistan

Balochistan, the largest province of Pakistan by area and the richest province by resources, has been facing the menace of unemployment. Presently, the most pressing issue that needs to be resolved is unemployment. The joblessness is the cause behind many other evils in our society. The young graduates when fail to get some employment as a source of earning, get involved in illegal activities so as to get some income to make both ends meet. The youth of the province are being pushed into the depth of disappointment and depression. The government should look into this matter at the earliest.

Durdana Shakeel (Turbat)