To keep the process moving

IT is unfortunate that Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha should have once again spoken in a tone that is not in keeping with the positive atmosphere that has been generated by the current peace and normalization moves in South Asia. In a television interview, Mr Sinha ruled out an Indo-Pakistan summit unless all other bilateral issues were settled at the level of officials. Similarly, in a news channel discussion, Indian Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra said mediation by a third party was out of the question. The US was, no doubt, “legitimately concerned” about the possibility of a war between Pakistan and India, he said, but when it came to a dialogue with Islamabad “there is no third seat at the table.” Unfortunately, even the two seats at the table have for long been vacant, because India has for the last one and a half years refused to open a dialogue with Pakistan. This has prompted America to “engage” itself with South Asia if not to “mediate”, but at least to “facilitate” a conflict resolution process.

The issue is not one of semantics; it is one of war and peace in South Asia. Last year, the subcontinent had come dangerously close to war. Following the terrorist attack on the Indian parliament building in December 2001, India rushed troops to the border and deployed them in a threatening posture, with Pakistan taking defensive measures. From June onwards, the two nuclear-armed neighbours were locked in a menacing confrontation that lasted nine months. The international community was rightly alarmed, and mercifully a war was averted — thanks to the quiet initiative taken by the US. However, it took quite a few months before India started pulling back its troops from the border — a move reciprocated by Pakistan. Since then, the situation has been one of “no war, no peace”.

Last month, Mr Vajpayee took a commendable peace initiative when, in his Srinagar speech of April 18, he offered talks to Pakistan without any conditions. Since that welcome speech, and despite the continued charges against Islamabad of supporting “cross-border terrorism,” some positive steps have been taken by both sides to break the ice. They nominated high commissioners to each other’s capitals, prisoners held by both sides have been released, and there is talk of road, rail and air links being restored. The progress on all these fronts may be slow, but progress is there all the same. What the two sides need now is a continuous movement towards peace and normalization. A quick or dramatic breakthrough should not be expected, because no one expects the two governments to easily overcome the huge backlog of history. But what the world and their own people do expect of Islamabad and New Delhi is to continue to work towards normalization of relations. Mediation may not be acceptable to India, nor does a summit appear to be round the corner. But things seem to be moving in the right direction — even if at an agonizingly slow pace. Let the two sides persist in this direction with patience and realism and avoid acrimony that may retard progress towards normalization of their relations and the eventual settlement of all outstanding issues.

Gwadar people’s grievances

DISPELLING fears expressed by a section of Gwadar residents, the Balochistan governor and chief minister have done well to reassure the local people that the building of a new port in Gwadar will create better job opportunities and other means of income for them. The rush of investors eager to purchase land in the upcoming port city in recent months has led a section of the local population to believe that they would be dislodged and dislocated in order to make room for the development projects associated with the new port and short-changed in the process. Gwadar fish harbour has long been one of the remotest outposts offering little in terms of livelihood or even basic amenities. The construction of a deep sea port there will considerably enhance the prospects of a better life for the impoverished people of the Mekran region, who would find new job opportunities opening up, and a civic infrastructure built to meet the demands of a modern port. The economic activity thus generated will naturally prove beneficial for the generally poor local people.

That said, the fear of dislocation expressed by certain sections is not totally unfounded. Since the construction of the port began last year, some real estate racketeers and land mafia operatives from Karachi, Lahore and other big cities have done a roaring business buying land from the local people at nominal prices and selling it off to the moneyed people and multinationals at exorbitant rates. As work progresses on the construction of the port and the infrastructure, land grabbers are making quick bucks at the expense of the local, mostly small, landowners using pressure tactics and influence with the officials forcing the owners to sell their land and relocate to the desert outside the city. The Balochistan government would do well to look into the matter so as not to give a handful of greedy realtors a carte blanche to rip off and harass an already deprived and impoverished people.

Wasim Akram bows out

WASIM AKRAM’s decision to retire from international cricket marks the end of one of the most remarkable careers in the history of the game. The 36-year-old all-rounder has an astonishing record which will be difficult to match for years to come. Wasim is the only bowler to have crossed the 500-wicket mark in one day cricket and has 414 wickets in test matches, making him part of an elite group of cricketing greats. He also has the privilege of playing more One Day Internationals than any other player in history. One of the most feared exponents of the art of reverse swing, Wasim’s deceptively skilful fast left-arm deliveries were a batsman’s nightmare during his career spanning 19 years. Akram also had a long and successful stint as the captain of Pakistan’s cricket team and led the team into the World Cup final against Australia in 1996. He also played a pivotal role in the team’s World Cup triumph against England in 1992, under the captaincy of his mentor Imran Khan. While his bowling capabilities were rightly celebrated, Akram could also be a formidable force with the bat. Few will forget the magnificent unbeaten 257 that he stroked against Zimbabwe in 1996-97.

While Wasim Akram enjoyed a glorious stint at the top, there were also moments of controversy in his eventful career. He was fined and censured for not cooperating with the inquiry committee investigating into match-fixing and was barred from becoming captain again. Like many other senior players, Wasim Akram’s career seemed to have come to a standstill following Pakistan’s appalling performance in the last World Cup in South Africa. Wasim seemed to have read the writing on the wall and decided that it was time to bow out gracefully. He will always be remembered as a force to reckon with, especially in tandem with his long-time bowling partner Waqar Younis. The sight of a lanky long-haired Wasim in his prime, charging towards the bowling mark and striking terror in the hearts of the world’s top batsmen will always be a memory for Pakistani cricket to cherish. Pakistan can be proud of producing one of the most devastating fast bowlers in the history of the game.