What Needs to Be Done
By Dr. A. Khan
Chicago
Pakistan ’s interior ministry chief has presented evidence of the covert activities of ‘Indians and others’ inside Pakistan from Afghanistan. His has been a much delayed response. The need of the hour is to present the evidence to the international community. Pakistani leadership needs to present its case to the international community: all captured infiltrators who have been caught in the act of committing terrorism inside Pakistan should be presented to the international media. Pakistan leadership’s “coy” behavior in this regard is letting India and others get away with murder as they did in 1971.
In this regard the Pakistani leadership should take the following steps:
1. Present the evidence of terrorism sponsored by India and others to the international media and to the United Nations. If Pakistan is an ally in the war on terror, then why are Pakistan’s allies backstabbing Pakistan?
2. Appoint professional and career diplomats around the world so that Pakistan’s position and the “human and economic cost” it has paid for involvement in the war on terror can be effectively presented to the global community.
3. Withdraw all “ Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck” type political appointees presently enjoying “ Disneyland diplomatic” picnic tours in Pakistani missions around the globe. Services of retired and experienced career diplomats should be sought and utilized to strengthen the diplomatic corps.
4. Acquire and deploy appropriate technological tools to monitor public places and curb cross-border infiltration and movement of arms and ammunition. In this regard Pakistan should launch a satellite to safeguard its borders.
And the most important thing for Pakistani leadership to do is to acknowledge the causative factors of the 1971 debacle. The leaders must listen to the genuine concerns and grievances of citizens and not isolate them so that they are forced to seek refuge in others. They must realize that the use of force against civilian population is futile and conflict resolution via dialogue and open discussions is the only viable option. They should provide people with good governance via well-trained professionals; establish rule of law, curb militancy; show that no one is above the law, provide basic necessities; and focus on economic growth and job creation.
