Say no to militancy

THE international pressure on the ISI continues to build. President Bush is reported to have told Prime Minister Gilani in Washington that elements in the agency were passing on information to terrorists that helped them avoid attacks by American and Pakistani forces. The New York Times, meanwhile, has revealed that a deputy director of the CIA secretly travelled to Pakistan last month to confront Pakistan’s top officials — including President Musharraf, Gen Kayani and Lt-Gen Taj, director general of the ISI — with evidence of the ISI’s involvement in the Afghan insurgency. According to the NYT report, the CIA assessment specifically pointed to links between members of the ISI and the militant network led by Maulvi Jalaluddin Haqqani, which has “close ties to senior figures of Al Qaeda in Pakistan’s tribal areas”. The Pakistan Army has reacted angrily to the allegation and its spokesman has rejected this report as unfounded, baseless and malicious.

What is to be made of these allegations? First, the notion of ‘rogue’ elements in the ISI acting of their own accord needs to be done away with. The majority of the ISI employees are soldiers on secondment from the army and it is next to impossible that systematic, regular support to any group can be given by mavericks within the ISI following their own agenda. Second, the ISI’s long-standing links to militants is unquestionable. It was after all the ISI that ran arms and money from the West and the Middle East to the mujahideen fighting the Soviets. In the 1990s, the ISI’s links to the Taliban were well known. Given the overlap between those fighters from the past and the present militants in Afghanistan, it is not surprising that the impression has gained ground that the ISI has links with militants in Afghanistan. But the US allegation that the Pakistan state is supporting militants in Afghanistan today should require the presentation of substantial evidence. After all it defies all logic that the ISI should be helping the militants who are engaged in killing our own soldiers. The assumption that the ISI is supporting the Taliban and assorted militants in Afghanistan today would be predicated on the misguided belief that Pakistan will eventually have a friendly government on its western borders were the US to pull out of Afghanistan. This view overlooks the disastrous consequences a pro-militancy policy has for security and peace inside Pakistan given that militants are ideologically driven and not Afghan nationalists committed to staying inside its borders. Moreover, this would forever prevent Pakistan from moving to a path of stable, long-term economic development. Self-interest demands that Pakistan says no to militancy and one can assume that the ISI understands the country’s strategic and political interests well enough to refrain from undertaking such unwise adventures.

Halfway to sanity

IN the environment of indecision and confusion that seemingly pervades the corridors of power, decisive government action has been a rarity in recent times. Though not as decisive as one would have wished, the move to revise the petroleum pricing mechanism is indeed an exception to the norm. It was long overdue and the government must be complimented for standing firm in the face of some active arm-twisting by certain oil marketing companies. There are several points on which the cabinet’s Economic Coordination Committee has done well to remove what can mildly be called logical absurdities. Assigning the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority the task of working out the freight equalisation margin for the OMCs — which they had been doing themselves — is one such decision that shall have a downward impact on local oil prices. There are other areas where the ECC has made a beginning but has shied away from going the whole hog. The deemed duty, for instance, has been brought down from 10 to 7.5 per cent when it should have been abolished altogether. The refineries were allowed this one-year concession seven years ago for specific purposes. They have since enjoyed a windfall of over Rs200bn without investing in either infrastructure or quality enhancement. Likewise, the dealers’ commission and OMC profit margin have been capped at the $100 per barrel level instead of a clear-cut delink from international oil prices as was the case until 2001. The minister concerned has himself confessed that the profit margins are extravagant and need to be curtailed further. The refuge he has sought behind the issue of petroleum differential claims is at best flimsy because the PDC itself is an issue that needs to be tackled but hasn’t been. In calculating the claims, the OMCs routinely include taxes when they should be limited to the import price alone. The ECC has not touched the matter at all which suggests that all the lobbying done by the OMCs has not been in vain.

From the consumers’ point of view, however, the decision means nothing because they don’t stand to benefit at all from the expected savings worth Rs15-20bn per year. The government stance that it will use the additional funds to shrink its budget deficit means household budgets will continue to suffer. Howsoever powerless the government may appear to be, when it wanted to make a move it did. But disappointingly it has made the move for its own sake and not for the people.

Turkey spared turmoil

THE constitutional court’s ruling against a ban on the ruling AKP has spared Turkey great domestic turmoil that would have also affected Ankara’s EU entry chances. The narrow margin of the court’s ruling — just one vote — shows how close Turkey’s secular establishment came to success in staging a ‘judicial coup’. Both the army and the judiciary view the AKP with suspicion and accuse it of making plans to turn Turkey into an Islamist state. The generals especially regard themselves as guardians of Ataturk’s secular principles and have so far managed to dismiss four elected governments either by directly taking over the state or by manipulating their fall. Last year, the generals attempted what has been called an ‘e-coup’ when a Turkish Army website expressed in no uncertain terms its distaste for Abdullah Gul, then the AKP’s candidate for the presidency.

Banning a party that has scored two successive electoral victories, securing 47 per cent of the vote in the 2003 polls, would have been a blow to Turkish democracy. As long as the government led by the AKP does not adopt extremist policies that can damage the country’s image and lead it into confrontation with the secularists who constitute a significant section of the population, the politics of banning parties and suppressing dissent will be counter-productive. Experience shows that when a party has been banned it has re-emerged under a new name. Turkey needs Prime Minister Recep Erdogan’s leadership. He scored a major triumph when the EU agreed to begin entry negotiations, and even though Brussels has laid down stiff conditions his government has managed to continue with the reforms needed to meet the Copenhagen criteria. It has also adopted a less rigid attitude on the Cyprus question. One of Erdogan’s even greater achievements has been the AKP’s acceptance of secularism as Turkey’s creed and his renunciation of Necmettin Erbekan’s policies that often led to a confrontation with the army. The choice before the generals is not to interfere with politics and let the Turkish voters decide the kind of polity they want. All that the court decision did was to reduce the funds which every party in Turkey receives. On the whole the constitutional court’s decision is a victory for Turkish democracy.

Islamic view of natural world

RELIGIOUS principles and guidelines for the conservation of natural resources play a major role in the scheme of things. Islam perceives the natural world as a creation of Allah that reveals His glory and that the individual entities and creatures are reflections of supreme divine work.

As a matter of fact, the teachings of Islam are based on a moderate concept which means a balance is maintained in use of resources which are to be to be protected and preserved for times come. All biotic and abiotic elements in the surroundings make up the environment which include soil, water, air, forests, animals, birds, rivers, streams, insects, and other physical components.

None of the things is useless but meets human needs in this diversified system of the universe. Human beings and biotic and abiotic entities that Allah has created are inter-dependent and inter-related. Islam emphasises the need for sharing the natural resources which not only benefit individuals but the whole system.

Several references in the Quran and Hadith provide guidelines and knowledge about rational use of natural resources.

Numerous verses relating to environment in the Holy book explain vitality of earth, water, seas, birds, animals, atmosphere and insects that reflect the entire spectrum of life on the earth called biological diversity. In sura 13, verse 3, importance of earth, mountains, rivers and fruits has been mentioned. In sura 15, verse 19 to 21, it is stated that “the earth, We spread it out and set there on mountains standing firm. We caused all kinds of things to grow therein in due balance. Therein We have provided you and those you do not supply with means of subsistence and there is not a thing but its stores are with Us. We do not send it down save in appointed measures.” This clearly reflects the importance of physical components of the world. Similarly, the earth has been blessed as productive and fertile entity.

The Holy Quran is replete with references to importance of water which is an essential element of life on earth, without which the survival of living beings is not possible. In sura 50, verse 9 to 11, water is described as celestial bliss benefiting gardens, grains, tall palm trees, and reviving the land when it is dead. Why one should not be thankful to Allah for this matchless blessing down on earth. Water brings cleanliness to human beings.

There are also several passages dealing with the phenomena that occur in the atmosphere. The Quran maintains in sura 30, verse 41, that “corruption doth appear on land and sea because of (this evil) which man’s hands have done”. This refers to the fact that human beings while perusing their needs and wishes have tilted the level of the balance. Deforestation has largely influenced the quality of atmosphere and is a threat gaining momentum.

Resultantly, clean air which is the right of all living beings to have an access to is contaminated and polluted, due to decrease in area of trees or forests which are lungs of nature. This has increased dangers of global warming, climate change, ozone depletion, CFC, C02, S02, use of chemical and pesticides. Industrialisation and urbanisation have stepped up the scale of nature’s deterioration.

That’s why the Quran warns in sura 55, verse 9 that “you exceed not the measure”. This is very much true that once the balance in the system is upset it can result in its destruction and total collapse. Similarly, it appears in Hadith, Ibni Maja, 2340, “do not harm others nor your self”. This explains explicitly that inflicting harm on any element of the world in terms of use and utilisation will, no doubt, disrupt the whole natural process. Over-use has also been discouraged in the Quran, which is reflected in sura 7, verse 31. It is forbidden to over-exploit available resources.

The Holy Prophet (pbuh) had declared areas around Medina for about 20km as protected, where tree-cutting and leaves-plucking was prohibited. The vegetable kingdom is also referred to in the Quran. In sura 16, verses 10 and 11 it is emphasised that “(Allah) is the one Who sends water down from the sky. For you this is a drink and out of it (grow) shrubs in which you let (cattle) graze freely. Therewith for you He makes sown fields, olives, palm trees, grapes and all kinds of fruit grow”. In order to maintain the balance, Allah created things in pair as reflected in sura 13, verse 3 “of all fruits (Allah) placed (on the earth) two of a pair”.

Allah has extended divine beneficence to man for his living and fulfilment of needs. In sura 16, verses 5 to 8 state that Allah created cattle for you for warmth, services, food and for bearing loads. It is also stated that “And He createth that which ye know not”. This shows that man is ignorant of the worth of many things Allah has created.

There are references to existence of animal communities such as ants, bees, spiders and birds in the Quran. In sura 16, verse 79 it is mentioned “do they not look at the birds subjected in the atmosphere of the sky. None can hold them up except Allah.” Cruelty to animals has been discouraged. The Prophet states “leave the birds in their nests and dwelling places peacefully.” At other place, he says “do not target any living being purposelessly.”

The Quran describes Heaven as a place of plants and greenery as mentioned in sura 85, verse 11. There are several kinds of trees and plants mentioned in the Quran. In sura 29, verse 40, it is stated that “it was not for Allah to wrong them but they wronged themselves,” a reference to human activities. At several places justice and just use have been emphasised. When the Noah deluge occurred, Allah ordered Noah to keep living beings in pairs in his Ark. This clearly depicts the purpose to perpetuate biodiversity thereafter.

Community vs commerce

WHAT happens when digital sharecroppers are not happy on the electronic plantations? A dispute (over the amount of space devoted to advertising) between the wiki-hosting startup company Wikia Inc. and the creators of the sites it hosts, is a case study of the conflicts between so-called community and commerce.

Wikia is a for-profit corporation which was launched by several high-level people involved with Wikipedia, such as co-founder Jimmy Wales. Wikipedia has no significant financial connection to Wikia. But an enormous publicity benefit accrues to Wikia due to Wikipedia’s fame: $14m of venture capital has been invested in Wikia.

Its business model is to have a “community” (writers who work for free) to build a wiki website about a topic, and then to sell advertising on those pages. In short, Wikia hosts sites in return for all the ad revenues.

At the start of June, Wikia’s CEO announced that many changes would be made to the appearance of sites, mainly to have more advertising and for the ads to be more prominent. As Wikia’s community development manager put it: “We have to change things in order to make Wikia financially stable.

Unfortunately, Google ads in the footer pay pennies a click, and nobody clicks.” He went on to explain that ads paying based on view count were needed. And that type of advertiser wants their ad to be displayed where viewers are sure to see it, such as within an article, near the top.

In reaction, various content creators made it clear they understood the needs of the company and had no objection to advertising per se. But putting ads inside content risked changing their material from articles into decorated billboards. The conflict between management and (unpaid) labour became acrimonious. There were declarations such as: “If Wikia does not resolve this situation to our satisfaction, then we will leave, taking our content, our communities’ inward links, our established service marks and our fellow editors with us.”

But it is unclear if these statements signified opposition with real power or just empty bravado. Though Wikia makes content open, which means anyone can re-use it (and hence copy a website), there’s a possibility that Google’s algorithm will have the effect of marginalising any schisming website.

Google often automatically penalises or obscures sites which duplicate or are too similar to other sites, as such sites are often attempts by web spammers to gain viewers parasitically. In fact, Google has become quite vigilant about marginalising redundant sites, in part due to the horde of click-seekers who have all had the idea of making a complete copy of Wikipedia and slapping ads on it.

However, at least one group – devoted fans of the shape-changing toy robots called Transformers – is determined to secede from Wikia. This site was used as part of the chief executive’s initial announcement, but now has a page of accusations against Wikia management. The typical digital sharecropping website is a capitalist’s fantasy. The workers receive no pay and no benefits, have no rights and their only option to address a grievance is to quit.

—The Guardian, London

OTHER VOICES - Pushto Press

Pakistan’s right to react

Khabroona, Peshawar

WHILE talking to a senior adviser of an American think tank, President Musharraf said that Pakistan has the right to react if the allied forces continue to irk the people of Pakistan with their constant bombardment of Pakistani territory. The president added that neither are Pakistanis attacking the allied forces … nor can armed militants enter Afghanistan from the border areas.

According to a report the allied forces have attacked Pakistani territory nearly 800 times in recent months. They have killed civilians and security personnel in these attacks despite the fact that some 100,000 military personnel are posted on the Pak-Afghan border. The military is there to protect the citizens of Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan should ensure that Pakistani forces defend the country’s territory. Those who fail to do so must be done away with. If the government does not react to the bombardment of the allied forces, this matter will be of grave concern for the people of Pakistan. — (July 27)

Crisis in Pak-Afghan relations

Wahdat, Peshawar

AFTER the attack on the Indian embassy [in Kabul], the Afghan president and other high-ranking officials accused Pakistan and its secret service, the ISI, of supporting the continuing insurgency in Afghanistan. The Government of Pakistan has consistently denied this charge.

Taliban commanders arrested in Afghanistan have also confessed that Pakistan is behind most of the insurgent activities in Afghanistan. But the information provided by the spokesperson of the Taliban, Dr Hanif, indicates that the ISI is involved.

The Government of Afghanistan has noted that whenever the Pakistani Taliban and the Government of Pakistan strike a peace deal, it results in an increase in attacks on the local and allied forces in Afghanistan. If the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan are unable to resolve their outstanding issues, both will incur immeasurable losses. It is in the interest of both countries to endeavour to resolve their outstanding issues. — (July 27) n

—Selected and translated by Khadim Hussain.