INTERNATIONAL U.S.-Russia Relations Reg. ss-973 February 2016 www.southasia.com.pk

INSIDE INDIA SRI LANKA NEIGHBOR Local Focus Sad Saga No Child’s Play The Deal and After

ISIS Marches

Recent incidentsEast of violence in Afghanistan, , Bangladesh and Indonesia indicate that the Islamic State (IS) is moving eastwards from Syria and Iraq.

Afghanistan Afg. 50 India Rs. 65 Philippines P 75 Australia A$ 6 Japan ¥ 500 SR 15 Bangladesh Taka 65 Korea Won 3000 Singapore S$ 8 NU 45 Malaysia RM 6 Sri Lanka Rs. 100 Brazil BRL 20 Maldives Rf 45 Thailand B 100 Canada C$ 6 Myanmar MMK10 Turkey Lira. 2 RMB 30 Nepal NcRs. 75 UAE AED 10 France Fr 30 New Zealand NZ$ 7 UK £ 3 Hong Kong HK$ 30 Pakistan Rs. 150 USA $ 5

Ad 2 Contents 12 Eastward Bound The IS looks for new territories to conquer.

India Sri Lanka 26Local Focus ‘Make In India’ is still Sad Saga groping in the dark. The unwanted dividends of 32 prosperity.

Nepal Big Brother Politics Nepal should get better 36 treatment from India.

The Maldives Indian Ocean Turmoil 38 The pains of growth. 30 Bangladesh Rising Religious Extremism A surge of Islamic fundamentalism.

4 SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 REGULAR FEATURES Editor’s Mail 8 On Record 9 Briefs 10 COVER STORY Eastward Bound 12 IS and Saarc 16 Changing Directions 20 Expanding Territory 22 REGION Pakistan Honour Among Thieves 24 India Local Focus 26 Afghanistan Shattered Country 28 42 Bangladesh International Rising Religious Extremism 30 Hot and Cold Sri Lanka Indications for world peace. Sad Saga 32 The Nepal Big Brother Politics 36 The Maldives Indian Ocean Turmoil 38 Bhutan Border Politics 40 Afghanistan48 INTERNATIONAL No Child’s Play Hot and Cold 42 A pastime peculiar to NEIGHBOR tribal culture. The Deal and After 44 FEATURES Pakistan Who Killed Bisma? 46 Bangladesh Afghanistan The Missing Ingredient No Child’s Play 48 Better health planning Bangladesh needed. 50 The Missing Ingredient 50 Bhutan Sri Lanka Where Men Are Happier On a Tight Rope 52 Women could do with more support. 54 Bhutan Where Men Are Happier 54 Nepal The Lonely Woman 56 The Maldives Paradox in Paradise 58 Books & Reviews History Revisited 60 44 SOUTHASIA 15 Years Ago 62 Neighbor The Deal and After Iran is back in the good books of western powers.

SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 5

COMMENT

‘Generally’, the people

FEBRUARY 2016 Vol.20 Issue 02 t was rather graceful of General Raheel Sharif, the chief of staff of the Pakistan Army to have said that he will retire at the end of his regular term and will not seek an extension. The general is supposed to complete his 3 year stint in November PRESIDENT & EDITOR IN CHIEF I Syed Jawaid Iqbal 2016 but perhaps what prompted him to issue a statement as early as in January this year was perhaps to silence those voices that were clamouring that he extend MANAGING EDITOR his tenure for another 3 years or till at least the time when the major thrust of the Zeba Jawaid Operation Zarb E Azb had been completed and the last of the terrorists had been tackled. Operation Zarb E Azb has proved to be highly successful under General EDITOR Javed Ansari Raheel Sharif. He has led it from the front, making sure that he was physically present at all those locations where the operation was underway, raising the morale of the ASSISTANT EDITORS troops engaged in flushing out the terrorists and seeing to it that the required actions Farah Iqbal – Mahrukh Farooq were duly carried out. When the prime minister of the country was away on the Samina Wahid – Faizan Usmani occasion of Eid, General Sharif was right there with the troops. Similar examples have also been set by other top army commanders posted at various fronts, such as CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Maj. Gen. Bilal Akbar, the Director General of the Rangers in Sindh. S. G. Jilanee This is the sort of approach at the top army level that had not been in evidence earlier. Before this, the terrorists had been slowly expanding into various parts of CONTRIBUTORS the country and there was no resistance. General Raheel Sharif has struck quite Dr. Moonis Ahmar - Asna Ali singularly and decisively at the militants and has led his troops to uproot them from Malik Muhammad Ashraf - Syed Zeeshan Ahmed various parts of the country. What is even more encouraging is the fact that while the Huzaima Bukhari - Muhammad Ali Ehsan Pakistan Army has employed its resources to stamp out the terrorists, it has also come Mahrukh Farooq - S. M. Hali down with full vehemence on those elements that had been looting the country Dr. Ikramul Haq - S.G. Jilanee - Shabbir H. Kazmi through corruption of all kinds. The main focus of the anti-corruption operations so Taj M Khattak - Dr. Raza Khan - S. Mubashir Noor far has been in the province of Sindh but it is expected that such operations will also Fatima Siraj - Faizan Usmani - Samina Wahid be launched in other parts of the country and all those elements that are engaged in GRAPHICS & LAYOUT corruption funding and in milking the country dry at all levels will be exposed and Kamran Ghulam Nabi receive due punishment. It must be said that the Pakistan Army is today fighting the Haroon Rasheed kind of war it was never up against before and that is quite a challenge. MARKETING & ADVERTISING General Raheel Sharif has come to symbolize a force that works selflessly for the Ayaz ul Haq good of the country and is not restricted by any political leanings. In the Pakistani Syed Ovais Akhtar scenario, this could only have been achieved by the armed forces, more particularly Aqam-ud-Din Khan the Pakistan Army, because the political players could not have been expected to be driven forward due to their own compulsions. The politicians could never have COORDINATOR Muhammad Rashid had an even-handed approach. Pakistan is fortunate that in the person of General Raheel Sharif, it has an honest, upright and single-minded soldier who understands DIGITAL ADVERTISING everything that the nation has been through and is still experiencing and who, instead Ali Danish of simply waxing eloquent on what needs to be done, has set proud and pragmatic examples on two key fronts – terrorism and corruption. Before him, even General CIRCULATION Pervez Kiyani had declared war against the terrorists – but he had not gone the whole Danish Shahid hog. He had launched operations in South Waziristan but had dithered on going into EDITORIAL & BUSINESS OFFICE North Waziristan. In fact, in Gen. Kiyani’s days, there was a ‘good ’ and a 20-C, Lane 12, off Khayaban-e-Ittehad, Phase II ‘bad Taliban’ and the army acted on those lines. The former DG Inter-Services Public Extension, DHA, Karachi - 75500, Pakistan Relations, Maj Gen (retd) Athar Abbas has said that the military leadership of the Phones: 92-21- 35313821-24 Fax: 92-21-35313832 country was in favour of launching a military offensive against the Taliban militants in Website: www.southasia.com.pk North Waziristan in 2010, but could not do so due to the indecision of Gen Kayani. Email: [email protected] Gen. Raheel Sharif came and changed all that, with the result that terrorists MIDDLE EAST were flushed out from North Waziristan as well. It was then that the anti-Taliban or REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE anti-terrorist operation took on a more holistic approach and the results were much Pirana Advertising JLT better and much more focused. It is a fact that the Pakistan Army has been led by PO Box 486207, 1704, Level 17, HDS Tower, selfless men who have risen to the top through the ranks and who have proved their Jumeirah Lake Towers Cluster F, Dubai, UAE professional leadership skills by personal example. What makes Gen. Raheel Sharif Phone: +97-14- 4508309 Fax: +97-14-3688487 an outstanding example is that he is a ‘hands-on’ general who is always to be found Email: [email protected] where the crisis is. One reason for the public demand for his continuing as army chief is perhaps rooted in the need of the Pakistanis for a leader who is among them SouthAsia is published every month at their hour of need. It also seems that the confidence level of the nation is greater by Syed Jawaid Iqbal for and on behalf of when they are led by an army general rather than a civilian. They may have voted JAWZ Communications (Pvt.) Ltd. civilian politicians into power but when terrorists are to be combated and driven out and when corruption and misappropriation is to be identified and the perpetrators and printed by Union Graphics, Karachi. punished, it is the army that delivers. If the leader holds the good of the people and Views expressed by the contributors are the country close to his heart, then they would prefer to be led by a ‘non-elected’ not necessarily shared by the editors. soldier rather than an ‘elected’ civilian. Published since 1977 as Thirdworld, the magazine was re-launched in 1997 as SouthAsia.

Syed Jawaid Iqbal EDITOR’S MAIL

international organisations should ask independent Unfair must raise the issue at the prosecutors and judges Corruption- execution of United Nations Human from other countries to play free Pakistan Rights Council (UNHRC). a part in the legal process politicians to give the accused a fair Recently, Transparency Irfan Qaiser, trial. International (TI) issued Karachi, Pakistan. its annual Corruption Pulasthi Sarojith, Perceptions Index (CPI) 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka. which ranked Pakistan lower UNHRC than four other member states of SAARC such as report on war Smart Cities in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka crimes and Nepal. As per the report, India Pakistan is among one of This is with reference Indian Prime Minister those countries in Asia that to the Southasia article on Narendra Modi has have significantly improved justice and fair play in the recently launched a new their CPI score. The CPI post-war period in Sri Lanka. programme for rapid 2015 validates the efforts The write-up highlighted urbanization and progress of the Pakistan government key issues hindering the of the country. Under the towards reducing the level of fair trial of those accused of initiative, the government corruption, which touched heinous crimes during and aims to transform small and its peak in both public and after the decade-long civil medium-sized settlements of private sectors of the country, war. Recently, the United the country into smart cities particularly during the rule This is with reference Nations Human Rights of international standard. of Asif Ali Zardari. It is very to Southasia’s cover story Council (UNHRC) issued The government has encouraging to see that on the conviction and a comprehensive report allocated a sizeable budget execution of political on war crimes, which for this purpose. Though leaders in Bangladesh were committed by the Sri Modi’s smart-city mission on grounds that they had Lankan armed forces and looks quite ambitious on the committed crimes against members of the separatist surface, but for a developing humanity during the group ‘Tamil Tigers.’ The country like India, it is country’s independence UNHRC report also lists the necessary to increase the war in 1971. The speedy crimes committed by both pace of urbanization by trial of these war criminals sides against each other utilizing available resources. as well as an immediate during the civil war. This is Worldwide, information execution of the verdicts a valuable document and and communication indicates severe procedural will help to try those who technologies (ICT) are flaws and bias in the are accused of such serious being used to enhance Pakistan has shown some process, since it is a flagrant crimes as rape, , performance, interactivity improvement in this regard human rights violation and quality of urban services, as foreign direct investment not to give the accused a while the utilisation of can never be attracted to an fair chance to defend and ICT-based systems also economy tainted by financial prove their innocence. In help local governments to misconduct, bribery and case of Salauddin Quader reduce its running costs and lack of accountability. Chowdhury, a former resource consumption. For leader of the opposition well-developed nations, the Ahmed Mursaleen, Bangladesh Nationalist Party concept of the ‘Smart City’ Karachi, Pakistan. (BNP), the court disallowed is not new, but for Indians it his lawyers to summon will be more than a blessing witnesses in support of to become a part of the Call from his defence and awarded move being taken by the capital punishment on the government to improve and Afghanistan spur of the moment without extra-judicial killings and reinvent the overall urban Despite making efforts, obeying the standard legal indiscriminate attacks structure. I wish PM Modi the Afghan government has requirements. This is, on civilians, including a all the best. not achieved human rights really, a serious matter and number of cases related reforms until now, as the the Amnesty International to missing persons. In Sumita Kotwani, war-torn country is still ruled and other concerned my opinion, the UNHRC Bangalore, India. by rampant corruption,

8 SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 ON RECORDSLUG

“Since Modi “From Paris has taken over to Pathankot, India, the In- terrorism is a dians are high crime against the and indulged humanity. To fight in a fallacy this, we have to that they could do whatever unite.” and wherever they want.” Narendra Modi, Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister of India former President of Pakistan “Just like the “Democracy creates rest of the war Power game in the Maldives far better opportu- criminals, BNP nities for both eco- Chairperson The rise of democracy in the Maldives was nomic growth and Begum Khaleda initially termed as the start of a new era. However, cultural progress Zia also would a democratic Maldives could not gain the benefits than the authoritar- not be spared by it was hoping to achieve out of democratically ian regimes.” the people of Bangladesh for having elected regime. People now realize that the earlier Nawaz Sharif, committed similar crimes.” authoritarian rule in the Maldives was much better Prime Minister of Pakistan Sheikh Hasina Wajid, than the existing democratic setup, which has Prime Minister of Bangladesh failed to provide basic necessities. At the moment, “If we want to the Maldivians have freedom of expression, but combat extremism in the world, if “Sri Lanka is the they don’t have sufficient means to take care of first nation in their needs. The unemployment ratio is at an all- we want to fight terror, one of the South Asia to time high and both local and foreign companies embrace open are reluctant in making further investments owing roads before us is providing growth economy, first in to uncertain political conditions. Led by President Asia to go for free Abdullah Yameen, the incumbent government is and jobs. Lack of growth creates forces for terrorism. Unemployment education and one more focused on playing a power game to lengthen of the first nations in the region to creates terrorists not soldiers.” its tenure, while the opposition is too weak to speak enjoy universal franchise.” and fight for the people. Overall, the Maldives Hassan Rouhani, President of Iran Ranil Wickremesinghe, is on the verge of collapse in terms of its socio- Prime Minister of Sri Lanka economic stability. Nizam Uddin, “The war in “The society must Malé, Maldives. Afghanistan is a component of understand that a big war which women’s repro- has also engulfed ductive capacity Pakistan.” is a big charity for Ashraf Ghani, mankind’s devel- President of Afghanistan opment.” KP Sharma Oli, Prime Minister of Nepal “We have to work hard to ensure that our future gen- “It is in the erations also enjoy Maldives’ own free education and interest that they free healthcare and restore confidence that we have an in their judicial human rights violations, unfair trials, restricted freedom economy that can support all this.” independence and of expression, noncombatant civilian deaths and abuse of Tshering Tobgay, in their respect for power by law enforcing agencies. Issued by the Human Prime Minister of Bhutan democratic principles.” Rights Watch recently, the World Report 2016 clearly states Abdulla Yameen, that a large number of international forces withdrew from “We have not President of the Maldives Afghanistan by the end of 2014. On the other hand, the been good at ex- remaining forces and military from the US and other NATO plaining ourselves, “When I became countries cannot play a combatant role in Afghanistan we have not done secretary of State, under NATO’s ‘Operation Resolute Support’, which started a good job at I was surprised to in January 2015 to provide training, support and assistance reaching out to find that nearly to the security forces and institutions in Afghanistan. This the British media a decade after is not a positive sign for the Afghan people and a majority or to the British public or to the 9/11, there was of them remain uncertain about their future. A politically British institutions, academic institu- still no dedicated stable, powerful and resolute government in Afghanistan is tions, think thanks and so forth. We international vehicle to regularly required to achieve the objectives without anymore delay. maybe not have been as communi- convene key countries to deal with cative as we should be.” terrorist threats.” Abu Ahmer Ghulam Murtuza, Adel Al-Jubeir, Hillary Clinton, Qandahar, Afghanistan. Saudi Foreign Minister US politician

SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2015 9 BRIEFS

PAKISTAN Attracting Investors he Pakistan government has launched the Pakistan Stock TExchange (PSX) after merging the country’s three stock markets, Islamabad Stock Exchange (ISE), Lahore Stock Exchange (LSE) and Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE). This is fragmentation and fluctuation. The PSX could be beneficial an integrated national bourse and it is being hoped that it in the development and growth of the country’s stock market will help enhance governance and transparency in the and could help in expanding the investor base by attracting capital market, besides acting as a buffer against market strategic partnerships and foreign investment.

PAKISTAN Film Access he California-based television giant Netflix has started its Tservices in Pakistan, making its Internet TV service available in 130 new markets. Now people in Pakistan can watch films and TV shows for PKR 850 ($7.99) a month, along with a free offer. A leading provider of on-demand media streaming globally, Netflix started as a mail-order DVD service provider in the , but it has now expanded its global footprint to 190 countries, producing original content as well as offering an unlimited number of older films and TV shows to more than 70 million international subscribers.

INDIA Panic Button he Indian Ministry for Women and Child Development has Ttaken an initiative to ensure women’s safety. Now, all cell phones in India will be equipped with a built-in panic button to assist women when they are in trouble. Facing physical insecurity or harassment, women just need to press the particular button for more than a few seconds to get help immediately. The button will be available in both existing and new mobile phones, while users with old phone sets need to go to nearby dealers to install the button.

INDIA Birds Safety he government in Rajasthan (India) has banned kite flying Tfrom 6 to 8 in the morning and from 5 to 7 in the evening. This is to ensure the protection of birds, which mostly fly in the morning and evening and may get injured from kites. If a person is found flying a kite in these hours, a case will be filed against him under section 188 of the Indian penal code.

10 SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 SRI LANKA Germ Analysis he ministry of industry and commerce in Sri Lanka will Testablish a state-of-the-art laboratory to test the quality of processed food products. This is an initiative taken under the Sri Lanka Food Quality Certification Program. The food-testing laboratory will perform over 500 tests a month, including shelf-life testing and salmonella and microbiology analyses. In Sri Lanka, it is mandatory for local and international food manufacturers to obtain Sri cent of MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) in Lanka Standards Certification (SLSC). More than 40 per the country belong to the food sector.

BANGLADESH Floating Care he IMPACT Foundation in Bangladesh, has launched a floating hospital Tcalled ‘Jibon Tari (boat of life)’ for health care services to benefit people living in the far-flung rural areas. A three-deck floating hospital, the Jibon Tari treats loss of hearing, clubfoot, cleft lip, cataracts and post-polio deformities. The 40-by-10 metre vessel travels along 3,000 kilometres of waterways to 26 locations. The hospital has an operating theatre, wards, laboratories and a training centre, as well as a water purification plant.

AFGHANISTAN New University fghanistan is going to establish the country’s first Awomen’s university in the Tap-e-Maranjan area in Kabul. It will be called ‘Mawlana Afghan-Turk University’ and will be set up with the cooperation of Turkey. The university will be built on 47 acres and will offer courses at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels in arts and humanities, business administration, information technology, engineering, philosophy, science and technology, statistics, law, commerce and business studies. Afghanistan's Labour and Social Affairs ministry will provide training and employment opportunities to the university graduates.

BHUTAN Business Friendly he World Bank’s ‘Doing Business 2016’ report has Tranked Bhutan at the 71st position as a business-friendly country among 189 economies. The report says Bhutan is the easiest country to do business in South Asia. The report ranks Bangladesh at 174, Pakistan at 138, India at 130, Sri Lanka at 107, the Maldives at 128, Afghanistan at 177 and Nepal at 99. It takes 15 days to start a business in Bhutan and less than 61 days to get an electricity connection. There is focus in the report on the regulations and regulatory processes that an entrepreneur needs before starting a business.

SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 11 COVER STORY

Eastward Bound The Islamic State (IS) has launched a drive eastwards to influence the large Muslim populations in the region.

By Dr. Raza Khan

he Iraq and Syria-based militant- IS to expand in Afghanistan, Pakistan, of crucial significance. The reason terrorist group, the Islamic State India and Bangladesh. is the predominantly Sunni Muslim T(IS), has been able to get a The desire to expand towards population of these countries save toehold in Afghanistan and despite the South Asia and South East Asia is India, which is home of to one of the deep desire of its leadership to expand inherent in the agenda of the IS, largest Muslim communities in the to Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, the which wants to establish a global world but is dominated by a huge outfit has so far has not been able to Islamist in the world. In Hindu majority. establish an elaborate network in the this scheme of thinking of the IS, The Muslim populations in all three South Asia countries. However, all the four countries, Afghanistan, these four countries as well as the there is always a huge potential for the Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, are Muslim communities in India comprise

12 SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 mostly young men and women who are largely dissatisfied due to bad socioeconomic conditions of their The IS knows that its best bet in countries. Moreover, Afghanistan and Pakistan have served as the rallying Afghanistan could be former and present ground for the Al Qaeda in the recent past and the IS knows this quite well. Afghan Taliban commanders, who are The IS, which is also known by the names of Islamic State in Syria somehow dissatisfied with the strategies and Levant (ISIS) and Daesh in Arabic, has the most visible presence in of their leaders. Afghanistan. It has established strong sanctuaries in the eastern Nangarhar province bordering Pakistan’s Khyber Agency as well as Zabul in South dozens of fighters from both the sides. is surprising to note that the largest and Afghanistan and Kunar in the northeast The rise of the IS in Afghanistan is deadliest terrorist network in Pakistan, along the Pakistani border. A sizable, prima facie surprising. There have been the TTP, has dismissed the agenda of the if not large, number of men, mostly reports that the Afghan intelligence IS and termed the tactics of the group former Afghan Taliban fighters, have agency, the National Directorate of as ‘un-Islamic.’ The announcement joined the IS in Afghanistan. In the Security (NDS) was behind the steady from the TTP some months back beginning a former Afghan Taliban growth of the IS in Afghanistan. The that it did not recognize the Islamic commander, Abdul Rahim Muslim NDS wants to use the IS against its bête State (IS) top commander, Abu Bakr Dost, became the de facto head of noire, Afghan Taliban and to conduct Al Baghdadi‘s self-appointment as the IS in Afghanistan. However, the terrorist attacks inside Pakistan. As a ‘caliph’ of the Muslims across the central commander and the so-called the Afghan security establishment is globe as being legitimate. The TTP ‘Caliph’ of the IS based in Iraq and dominated by the former communist made the announcement in a recent Syria, Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, refused era (1973-1992) officials, they have a statement reported by international to establish separate chapters of the natural affinity towards the IS, which media. The statement read: “Baghdadi group in Afghanistan and in the South in Iraq is manned by a large number is not an Islamic Khalifa because his Asian countries. Instead, in early 2015, of former communists from Saddam selection is not according to Islamic he established a regional chapter, Hussain’s Baathist Party. However, this rules,” adding that the IS leader had crosscutting several countries of the IS is a very dangerous strategy which little control in Muslim countries like and termed it the Wilayat-e-Khurasan. may not attain the desired results but Egypt, Libya, Yemen and Afghanistan. Khurasan is the ancient name of further push the region into turmoil. “Baghdadi is not Khalifa (caliph) the region comprising Afghanistan, IS in Pakistan is in a budding stage. because in Islam, Khalifa means that Pakistan, Central Asia and parts of Dozens of young Pakistan men and he has command over all the Muslim India and Persia. Baghdadi made women may have joined the group world, while Baghdadi has no such Saeed Orakzai, a former Tehreek-e- but it has not been able to flower command; he has command over Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander into an elaborate outfit. However, a specific people and territory,” the from the Orakzai agency of FATA as more concerning are the reports of statement further stated. the head of Wilayat-e-Khurasan. Lashkar-e-Jhanghvi (LeJ) and Pakistan- After this announcement by the A number of TTP commanders also based Iranian-Sunni militant outfit, TTP, it could now be expected that joined the IS in Afghanistan, including Jundullah, joining the IS. The common at least for the time being the largest former spokesman, Shahidullah ground for the three groups is their terrorist and insurgent group in Shahid. However, Saeed Orakzai was anti-Shiite orientation and agenda. Pakistan would not forge an alliance killed in an operation on the Pakistan- The killing of LeJ head, Malik Ishaq, with the IS. This would have been Afghanistan border by Pakistani along with his two sons in July 2015 in disastrous for Pakistan and would have security forces while Shahidullah and a purported police ‘encounter’ while unleashed an unprecedented reign of several other top commanders of the being transported with a police escort terror in the country. Nevertheless, IS based in Afghanistan were killed in Muzzafargarh (Punjab) seems to the footprints of the IS in Pakistan in drone attacks inside Afghanistan. be the result of his group reportedly have already been evident as the After these losses and attacks on joining the IS. investigations into the Safoorah Goth its rank and file, the IS has been in The Pakistani Army Chief General incident in Karachi reveals. The IS in disarray in Afghanistan. In order to Raheel Sharif has made it equivocally Pakistan is far from being a reality but establish a firm base, the IS started a clear that his forces would not let even there is a great potential for the group turf war with the Afghan Taliban. The a shadow of the IS on Pakistan. But to grow depending upon two key IS command knows that its best bet with a huge Muslim population, the factors - the quality and quantity of in Afghanistan could be former and majority of which comprises young countermeasures from the government present Afghan Taliban commanders, men and women and a large number and the willingness of splinter groups who are somehow dissatisfied with of whom are part of the extremist of the TTP to join the group. On the strategies of their leaders. That is religious milieu, there is great potential one occasion, six key commanders, the reason that the IS commanders for the IS to get recruits and funding including Omar Khalid Khurasani, a like Baghdadi and spokesman Al from Pakistan. The pervasiveness of deputy of the TTP founder Baitullah Adnani started ridiculing the Taliban the radical Islamist narrative in the Mehsud, announced their joining IS founder Mullah Omar and his Islamist country due to de-contextualized and but there were also reports that they credentials. Consequently, a turf war selective exegesis of the holy scripture rejoined the TTP. Anyhow, if more and started between the Taliban and the IS by extremist groups for vested interests, more factions and individual militants which has so far claimed the lives of could also drive many to join the IS. It emerging from the TTP join the IS, this

SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 13

COVER STORY

would wreak havoc in Pakistan. The IS has not established a strong organization in India so far but the group has very clear intentions to expand to that country. In December 2015, the IS vowed to expand its fight to India, citing prophecies that refer to a global war. The threat is made in a new manifesto titled “Black Flags from the Islamic State” released online on militant websites. “The Islamic State would now expand beyond Iraq and Syria,” states the manifesto. “It would now expand into… India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan (and several other countries).” From the wordings of the IS future plans for the region, it is quite clear that the IS has not yet expanded. From expansion the IS leadership may mean establishing a strong and elaborate network. While revealing plans regarding India, the IS has analyzed the situation there after certain hard-hitting policies and measures regarding Muslims by the Hindu nationalist government of Prime (Bhatkal, Karnataka), Saheem Minister Modi. Farooque Tanki (Thane, Maharashtra), The IS manifesto regarding India Faiz Masood (Bangalore, Karnataka) says: “A movement of Hindus is and Mohammad Sajid alias Bada Sajid growing who kill Muslims who eat (Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh). beef. The people who fund these Bangladesh seems to be the only organizations want to grow a huge South Asian country which has the following of Islam-haters who can strongest presence of the IS. The IS turn into potential recruits for future itself recognizes and links a number of wars in their countries”. It further attacks on foreigners in Bangladesh to stated: “President (mistakenly referred its sleeper cells. The group dedicated so) Narendra Modi (sic) is a right- a full article to their activities in wing Hindu nationalist who worships Bangladesh or "Bengal" as it refers to weapons and is preparing his people the country, in a recent edition of its for a future war against Muslims. online propaganda magazine Dabiq. They have a political wing for the The article titled The Revival of Jihad propaganda to get more recruits and in Bengal claimed that while IS was armed militia who can start a terror busy preparing for further attacks, the campaign against their number 1 secular Awami League government enemy — the Muslims.” of Hasina Wajid continued to “twist This manifesto must ring alarm bells the facts” on the ground and play in Delhi where the BJP government a blame game that there was no of PM Modi has been taking several IS in her country. Surprisingly, the anti-Muslim measures which would Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, many of increase unrest among the millions of whose leaders have been executed Muslims in India. The IS has a huge or incarcerated by the Hasina Wajid potential to get recruits and finances secular government, has also been from among India’s dejected Indian criticized by the IS and termed its Muslim youth, whose number is in leaders as murtaddin (apostates). the millions. If a few thousand Indian The article also considered Muslims would join the IS, it would the banned Islamic militant outfit group in Bangladesh and conduct of be catastrophic for the country. In Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh more terrorist attacks. November, some foreign intelligence (JMB) a “proper jihad organisation in South Asia is a choices region agencies compiled a report on the Bangladesh based on the Quran and for the IS to expand but this would IS which they also shared with the Sunnah.” There is greater likelihood for depend on the respective government, Indian government, claiming that the JMP to join hands with Bangladesh. as to whether they have what it takes thus far 23 Indians had joined the At a time when attacks on foreigners to quarantine their territories from the IS in Syria and Iraq of which six got and Bangladeshi secular and non- eastwards expansion of the IS. killed in fighting. The dead were religious writers and intellectuals are identified as Athif Vaseem Mohammad growing under a tidal wave of religious The writer has a PhD in International (Adilabad, Telangana), Mohammad extremism, the agenda of the IS for Relations and is a political and security Umar Subhan (Bangalore, Karnataka), Bangladesh could have an interactive analyst specializing in Political Islam, Maulana Abdul Kadir Sultan Armar effect, leading to entrenching of the Governance and Political-Economy.

SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 15 COVER STORY

IS and Saarc The spread of terrorism in South Asia is an issue that must be tackled together by the affected countries.

By Dr. Moonis Ahmar

he Islamic State (IS), which is grown and expanded to other parts of some detail. known as Daesh and termed as the world including South Asia. Why After the killing of Osama bin Tan Islamic extremist group trying is the IS considered a major security Laden, the founder of Al-Qaeda to impose its tutelage, originated in threat to many countries of the following “Operation Geronimo” the Middle East but i t s world and how has it established its conducted in Abbottabad on May 2, activities in the last foothold in South Asia, is a question 2011, Al-Qaeda, which was considered few years have which needs to be examined in as a lethal terrorist organization, diminished with the passage of time and is perceived to have been replaced by IS. The emergence of IS in the recent past and its involvement in scores of terrorist acts, particularly the one in Paris last December prompted France and

16 SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 There is a lot of exaggeration in the West and in some Muslim countries in describing the terrorism unleashed by the IS. It may be what can be termed as ‘IS hype.’ other Western powers to launch several to recruit and indoctrinate hundreds of air strikes targeting the hideouts of youth not only in the Arab world but IS in Syria. The crisis of migrants in also in non-Arab countries. The surge Europe also got an impetus because of anti-Americanism following the of IS’s brutal killings in its controlled U.S.-led attack and occupation of Iraq areas of Iraq and Syria. But how did and Afghanistan, American support IS penetrate in South Asia, particularly to the Israeli policy of occupation of when Afghanistan and Pakistan face the West Bank and the siege of Gaza, Taliban-led terrorist attacks? tend to provide enough motivation One can figure out three reasons to a segment of Muslim youth in explaining the perceived influence Afghanistan and Pakistan and their of IS in South Asia, particularly in counterparts in India and Bangladesh. Afghanistan and Pakistan. First, the While there are around 7% hardcore Islamists who formed the Muslims in Sri Lanka, militant Islam nucleus of Al-Qaeda seem to have is not very noticeable in that Buddhist switched over to IS as they consider country. But the persecution of the latter as more regimented and Muslims in India, Myanmar and, to a devastating than Al-Qaeda. Like Al- lesser extent in Sri Lanka, is perceived Qaeda, IS is also run by the Arabs but to be a motivating factor for Muslims their following is in Islamist youth who in these countries who are supporting believe in Jihadi Salafism; restoration those forces who urge them to take of Caliphate and preaching strict mode up arms and fight a holy war against of Wahabi Shariah is growing. the infidels. Earlier, it was Al-Qaeda IS is ardently against the followers which was perceived to be behind the of the Shia sect and wants to establish terrorist attacks and now it is the IS a global Islamic state. Second, the which is held responsible for carrying culture of the ‘Madrasseh’ in South out suicide and other terrorist attacks. Asia, stretching from Afghanistan to The link between Tehrik-i-Taliban Bangladesh and India to Sri Lanka, Pakistan (TTP), the Afghan Taliban and provides a fertile ground for those IS needs to be examined because of who aspire to re-establish Islamic two main reasons. First, these three rule and bring what they call ‘infidels’ organizations have more or less the under the control of the Islamic state. same objective, i.e. to impose their But IS is more brutal than the Taliban own brand of Sharia and to disempower and Al-Qaeda and its involvement women and minorities. Second, all the in suicide attacks is well-known and three use violent and brutal means to documented. The challenge which target their opponents, ranging from India and Bangladesh face is how suicide attacks to the cutting of the to prevent IS from establishing its throats and necks of their opponents. strong network with the help of its Third, all the three are involved in counterparts in Afghanistan and kidnapping and extortion in order Pakistan. However, one can see a to arrange funds for their terrorist lot of exaggeration on the part of the activities. West and some Muslim countries in The hardcore militants and describing terrorism unleashed by the suicide bombers are recruited from IS. It may be what can be termed as Afghanistan and Pakistan. The two ‘IS hype.’ countries, in the last 37 years, have Third, a degree of motivation, failed to prevent the surge of the Jihadi particularly among some of the youth forces, following the Soviet military who are committed to the ideology of intervention in Afghanistan. In some the IS can be attributed to calls for the cases, suicide bombers also have proclamation of an Islamic Caliphate Chechen and Central Asian identities which would restore the ‘glory’ of and are held responsible for carrying Islam. Since the time when the IS out numerous terrorist activities in emerged till the present, it has managed Afghanistan and Pakistan. The three

SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 17 COVER STORY

groups are further divided into various would require periodic consultation prudence and are unable to learn the factions led by their group leaders. and the holding of brainstorming right kind of lessons from history. One One such group within the TTP is led sessions by the counter terrorism such lesson which is taught by history is by Omar Khalid Khorasani who is very organizations of various SAARC that ideologies cannot be imposed and active in carrying out terrorist activities member countries and formulating what the IS, Taliban and Al Qaeda are in Pakistan. New Delhi suspects that a joint policy of action for proper preaching cannot achieve success. the terrorist activities taking place on implementation. If today, the IS poses major security its soil primarily emanate from Pakistan What is the way out for South Asia threat to Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the Jihadi groups active there as far as the menace of terrorism is tomorrow it will be some other group are responsible for them. The recent concerned and how can this region, Therefore, the challenge of terrorism terrorist act at Pathankot Air Base is which was peaceful and stable some cannot be effectively dealt with unless, alleged to have been masterminded by decades ago, eliminate those who as pointed out earlier, its causes are these forces. are responsible for killing peaceful properly addressed. With substantial In order to deal with the menace people? Taliban, Al-Qaeda, IS and political will, determination and of terrorism in South Asia, SAARC has other militant/extremist/terrorist org- acumen, it is certainly possible to tried to establish a counter-terrorism anizations didn’t emerge in a day prevent the further spread of terrorism, mechanism to share information but came to the surface through particularly suicide attacks, not only and expertise among the member years of evolvement over issues in South Asia but also in other parts countries on the activities, mode of plaguing the Muslim world. Poverty, of the world. The making of human operation, leadership and sources of under-development, illiteracy, social bombs is a major challenge for the funding by various terrorist groups. backwardness and economic and contemporary world and it is time Unfortunately, instead of activating a political exploitation - all contributed this is addressed in a professional regional response to terrorism, India to the surge of the extremist, militant manner. Proper coordination at the and Pakistan are involved in their and terrorist groups. international, regional and national own ‘blame game’ with reference to The tree of terrorism cannot be levels on the sharing of intelligence terrorist activities in the respective cut unless its roots are dismantled. If information, expertise and resources countries. As a result, one can see lack more than 60,000 people have been to dismantle terrorist networks in of cooperation at the bilateral and killed in Pakistan in various acts of South Asia is the need of the hour. regional level among the members of terrorism since 9/11, the situation Afghanistan and Pakistan are members SAARC to combat terrorism and curb may not change for the better because of SAARC and are the worst hit through its intensity. the motivation and conviction of two decades of terrorism. They must A counter-terrorism mechanism the Islamist militants will not let this cooperate with each other to eradicate in South Asia is the need of the hour happen. They openly believe that the terrorism. because without proper coordination time has come to lay down their lives neither India, nor Pakistan or any other for the supremacy of Islam and the The writer is a Meritorious Professor member of SAARC can effectively cope defeat of its enemies. But, those who and Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, with the menace of terrorism. This preach such an ideology are devoid of University of Karachi.

18 SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 Spread of IS 2004 –Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi constitutes alliance against IS. the Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI). September 15, 2014 - Senior diplomats and leaders from 2006 –AQI carries out sectarian violence and starts to get 20 countries, including the US, UK, France and many Arab Sunni support against the Shia majority of the country. countries meet in Paris to discuss the prospect of joint June 7, 2006 - Al-Zarqawi’s death in a US strike deprives military action against the IS. the group of a leader. Abu Ayyub al-Masri, takes over as October 06, 2014 - Islamic State (IS) militants enter the head of the AQI. key Syria-Turkey border town of Kobane and fight with October 2006 - is set up by the AQI Syrian Kurd defenders. under Abu Ayyub al-Masri with Abu Omar al-Baghdadi as January 07, 2015: IS kills 12 people at the Charlie Hebdo nominal head. magazine’s office in Paris for its perceived insults to Islam. April 2010 - Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi takes over the leadership February 23, 2015: IS storms the central library in Mosul of the group, following the death of both Abu Omar al- and destroys about 100,000 books, manuscripts, and Baghdadi and Abu Ayyub al-Masri. newspapers. IS abducts 150 Assyrian Christians from April 8, 2013 - ISIS merges with Jabhat al-Nusra in Syria. villages near Tal Tamr (Tell Tamer) in northeastern Syria. The group names itself as ‘Islamic State in Iraq and the March 18, 2015: IS claims responsibility for the terrorist Levant (ISIL).’ attack on a museum in Tunisia that kills 21 people and May-June, 2014 – Many violent incidents of kidnappings, injures dozens. religious violence and other atrocities by ISIL come to March 18, 2015: IS takes responsibility for a quadruple light. suicide bombing attack carried out in a Sana'a mosque in June 10, 2014 - ISIL seizes control of Mosul city – the Yemen, which killed nearly 150 people. second largest city of Iraq. May 13, 2015: IS claims responsibility for the killing of 43 June 11, 2014 - ISIL seizes control of Tikrit and establishes Ismaili Muslims in a bus in Karachi, Pakistan. its military base close to Baghdad. June 24, 2015: IS attacks Kobanî, killing 146 people. June 21, 2014 - Al-Qaim and a number of other towns fall July 26, 2015: IS executes 7 civilians on charges of to ISIL forces. "collaborating" with the Iraqi government southwest of June 28, 2014 - Iraqi Kurdistan restricts border crossings Kirkuk. into the region for refugees fleeing the fighting. August 29, 2015: IS executes 20 of its gunmen in the city June 29, 2014 - ISIL renames itself IS (Islamic State) and of Mosul. announces the establishment of a caliphate with al- September 29: IS claims responsibility for the shooting to Baghdadi as the caliph. death of an Italian aid worker in Dhaka, Bangladesh. July 2014 – US support for Iraqi forces increases; a number October 31, 2015: A Russian airliner crashes in the Sinai, of Syrian cities are taken by IS troops; the crisis deepens as killing all 224 people on board. IS claims it is behind the more atrocities are reported and towns along the Iraq-Syria crash. border are ravaged. November 13, 2015: A coordinated series of IS attacks July 3, 2014 - IS seizes al-Omar, one of the biggest oil leave 129 dead and 352 wounded across Paris. fields in Syria. December 16, 2015: A serious offensive is launched by IS August 8, 2014 –US President Barack Obama authorizes forces, with 300 fighters attacking several Kurdish positions "targeted air strikes" in the areas controlled by IS. north and east of Mosul August 19, 2014 –IS posts a video on YouTube showing the January 16, 2016: IS executes dozens of civilians and pro- execution of American journalist James Foley. Assad fighters in Deir ez-Zor, Syria. Over 400 civilians September 2, 2014 - IS posts another video showing the are reportedly abducted and taken towards Raqqa, the execution of American journalist Steven Sotloff. capital. September 13, 2014 - IS posts a video showing the January 25, 2016: Iraqi security forces discover over 18 execution of British aid worker David Haines in retaliation corpses at a mass gravesite in Ramadi. The bodies, some of to Britain’s "evil alliance with America." British Prime which had been shot or beheaded, are believed to belong Minister David Cameron announces resolve to join the to police and civilians killed by IS in May 2015.

SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 19 COVER STORY

Looking for new pastures.

By S. M. Hali

S, ISIS, ISIL or Da'ish, as it is variously UN while most countries prefer to refer to the known, was founded in 1999 by Jordanian phenomenon by its Arabic acronym of Da'ish Iradical Abu Musab al-Zarqawi under (Dawlah al-Islamiyah fi'l-Iraq wa-sh-Sham). the name Jamaát al-Tawhid wa-al-Jihád. In The group currently has occupied vast October 2004, al-Zarqawi pledged allegiance landlocked territory in Iraq and Syria, with to al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and a population ranging between 2.8 million renamed the group al-Qaeda in Iraq or AQI. and 8 million people, where it enforces its Under al-Zarqawi, the group participated in interpretation of Sharia law. Da'ish affiliates the Iraqi insurgency following the March 2003 control small areas of Libya, Nigeria, Egypt invasion of Iraq by Western forces. In January and Afghanistan and operate in North Africa, 2006, the group joined other Sunni insurgent Europe and South and South East Asia. groups to form the short-term Mujahedeen Da'ish also controls the oil fields of Shura Council. After al-Zarqawi was killed in Iraq and gas reserves of Syria. The group June 2006, the Mujahedeen Shura Council is exceedingly brutal and has carried out merged in October 2006 with several more large scale massacres of Shia Muslims, insurgent factions to establish ad-Dawlah al- Alawites, Armenians, Christians and Iraqi/ Iraq al-Islamiyah, also known as the Islamic Syrian military. Its source of revenue is from State of Iraq (ISI), led by Abu Omar al- the oil and gas reserves of Syria and Iraq as Baghdadi and Abu Ayyub al-Masri who were well as from looting banks, kidnapping for killed in a US–Iraqi operation in April 2010, ransom and smuggling of historical relics. being succeeded by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as Da'ish has plundered and destroyed historical the group's current leader. In August 2011, sites, ancient relics, artifacts and rare books following the outbreak of the Syrian Civil after ransacking museums, libraries and War, ISI added the Syrian dimension. In April archeological locations. It is estimated that 2013, al-Baghdadi formed the "Islamic State Da'ish raises US$200 million a year from of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL). As it expanded cultural looting and sending it to Europe. territorially, the organization proclaimed Lately Da'ish has started spreading its itself to be a . Abu Bakr tentacles eastwards, towards Afghanistan, al-Baghdadi — known by his supporters as Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Amir al-Muminin (Leader of the Faithful) — Malaysia and Indonesia. There have been renamed the group ad-Dawlah al-Islamiyah, many incidents in recent days in which the Changing Directions "Islamic State" (IS), a name rejected by the stamp of Da'ish has either been suspected or

20 SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 chalking has appeared in a number of radio broadcasts, propagating the Pakistani cities. ideology of the Da'ish and offering huge Similarly, Da'ish attacks in sums of money to potential recruits. Bangladesh, the Philippines and most Reportedly, disgruntled Afghan Taliban recently in Indonesia depict the ingress and TTP miscreant — battered by the of the deadly militants in the region. Pakistan military Operation Zarb-e-Azb Da'ish has detailed its goals in its Dabiq — have joined the ranks of Da'ish. magazine, saying it will continue to To combat the scourge of brutality seize land and take over the entire and distortion of Islam by Da'ish Earth until its “Blessed flag...covers all requires concerted effort. Afghanistan eastern and western extents of the Earth, and other states in the region must make filling the world with the truth and an allied effort, which includes sharing justice of Islam and putting an end to intelligence sources and information the falsehood and tyranny of jahiliyyah pertaining to the threat. The appeal of [state of ignorance], even if America the ideology has started attracting even and its coalition despise such.” educated youth, including women, Da'ish announced the expansion which is a cause of concern. While the of its caliphate in the region with Occident has adopted the strategy of the creation of different Wilayat or launching aerial attacks on the Da'ish provinces. Wilayat Khorasan is a in Iraq and Syria, it is not getting the historical region incorporating parts desired results because of the absence of modern-day Afghanistan, Iran of ground operations. In Pakistan and Pakistan. Hafiz Khan Saeed was and Afghanistan, the strategy should appointed as its local leader, or Wali be utilizing credible voices from the (Governor). Abdul Rauf was named as intelligentsia to build like-minded active Khan's deputy; On February 9, 2015, networks and organize campaigns that Mullah Abdul Rauf was killed by a prevent the spread of the appeal. NATO airstrike. On March 18, 2015, A counter narrative must be created, Hafiz Wahidi, Da'ish’s replacement which can depict the erroneous modus deputy Emir in Afghanistan, was killed operandi adopted by the Da'ish. The distortion of Qurànic verses can be checked by presenting the authentic version through renowned scholars. Religious education and enlightened moderation needs to be disseminated through syllabi and curricula and also through the use of social media. Stopping Da'ish’s systematic indoctrination of intolerance for diversity of Islam (not to speak of other faiths) is the key. Winning the ideological war against the extremists is possible if vibrant young voices are recruited into the campaign to raise the tone and tenor of their opinion to speak to their peers urging them to catalyze action in novel and effective ways. The younger generation can have a deeper impact on their peers rather than septuagenarians preaching from the pulpit. While some decadent traced. In some cases, it has been Arab by the Afghan Armed Forces, along with youth may be attracted by the sexual members of the Da'ish, while in others nine other Da'ish militants who were freedom practiced by the Da'ish, it has been the local franchise. The accompanying him. In June, villages in others find appeal in references to the group has been challenging the Taliban several districts of Afghanistan's eastern End Times to promote Islamic State in Afghanistan where fierce battles Nangarhar Province were captured from propaganda. It's a big selling point with have raged for supremacy. A number the Taliban by Da'ish sympathizers. On foreign fighters, who want to travel to of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) July 10, 2015, , the the lands where the final battles of the operatives have sworn allegiance to Emir of Da'ish 's Khorasan Province, apocalypse will take place. The civil the Da'ish. In Pakistan, the government was reportedly killed in a U.S. drone wars raging in those countries today has been denying that there is Da'ish strike in eastern Afghanistan but Da'ish [Iraq and Syria] lend credibility to the footprints in the country but the social operatives continue to wreak havoc in prophecies. Historical facts need to be media savvy Da'ish has released a Afghanistan. corrected but it is a herculean effort and video in which TTP militants have Da'ish now presents a clear and could take decades. sworn loyalty to al-Baghdadi. On May current danger to the region. Apart 13, 2015, Da'ish claimed responsibility from Afghanistan, where it has a large The writer is a practising journalist. for the killing of 43 Shia Ismaili Muslims territorial presence, its sporadic attacks He contributes to the print media, in a bus in Karachi, leaving behind in other countries give credence to its conducts a TV show and produces ideological pamphlets. Da'ish wall footprint. There have been clandestine documentaries.

SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 21 COVER STORY Expanding Territory The IS has unleashed murder and mayhem but it cannot expect to establish a worldwide caliphate by these means.

By S.G. Jilanee

he “talk of the town” is IS, the ISIS the ISIS. Wilayat Khorasan is the ISIS individuals inspired by its propaganda, or ISIL. It is also called DAESH. The affiliate in Afghanistan and Pakistan. in Canada in Toronto and Quebec, in the Tacronyms stand for “Islamic State And, in September and October 2015, US in New York and Dallas, in France of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Islamic State of respectively, an Italian and a Japanese (Paris), in Denmark, Belgium, Tunisia, Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and “Da’watul national were killed in Bangladesh Algeria, Libya, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Islam fi Iraq wal Shaam” (DAESH). The for which ISIS claimed responsibility. Yemen, Russia (Dagestan) in Russia, organization is notorious for committing The government in Pakistan does not and in Australia (Melbourne). Of these brutal murders and for causing mayhem acknowledge any presence of ISIS cells in attacks, the ones at the sports stadium and wanton destruction of historical the country but remains on the watch. and Bataclan concert in Paris and at San sites. ISIS was founded in 2004. Some Bernardino (California) caused the most Based at the conjunction of Iraq and analysts say that it is the real weapon casualties. The former killed 130 and Syria, it has spread its tentacles to Europe, of mass distruction (WMD), being the injured 350 people. The San Bernardino USA, Canada, North Africa and, even, as direct fallout of the brutalities the US attack left 14 dead and 21 wounded. far as Australia. But now there are clear and British armies committed in Iraq. Today, the IS exercises control over signs that it is expanding its activities to The organization proclaimed itself a vast swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria, South and South-East Asia. worldwide caliphate in June 2014 under with an estimated population of between For example, on January 14, this Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who assumed the 2.8 million and 8 million, where it year, it claimed responsibility for the title of Amir al-Mu'minin. Since then, enforces its brand of sharia law. The explosions and fire in a busy commercial it has conducted or inspired over 60 number of fighters the group commands area in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, terrorist attacks in 20 countries, killing in Iraq and Syria, was estimated by the killing two people and wounding 19 at least 1,150 people and injuring more CIA at 31,000, with foreign fighters others, besides causing loss of property. than 1,700 others. accounting for around two-thirds, while Last year, a suicide bomber on a Immediately after its launch, the ISIS ISIS leaders claim 40,000 fighters, with motorcycle blew himself up in front clashed with the Iraqi forces and drove the majority being Iraqi and Syrian of a bank in , Afghanistan, them out of key cities in northern Iraq, nationals. killing at least 33 people and injuring including Mosul, which gave it access Muslim countries worldwide more than 100 others. A few days later, to oil. In Syria, it has conducted ground denounce ISIS actions. The US and local media received text messages attacks on both government forces and Russia shower bombs on them regularly allegedly from Shahidullah Shahid, rebel factions. but they cannot resort to indiscriminate spokesman of the Wilayat Khorasani, It has carried out lethal attacks bombing, for fear of causing severe claiming responsibility on behalf of directly or through affiliates and collateral damage because ISIS fighters

22 SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 live among the common people. ISIS therefore goes on merrily and fearlessly with its programme. The organization History of IS publishes a magazine, Dabiq. It has its own website on which it displays A militant group operating in Iraq and Syria, IS – or ISIS - stands Expanding videos of its activities and churns out its for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). It is also referred to as ISIL propaganda. It has chosen Raqqa as its seat of government cleverly, because, (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) or Daesh, which is an acronym the city is associated with a prophesy derived from the group’s Arabic name – ad Dawlah al Islamiyah fil-Iraq contained in a hadith of the Prophet wa Sham. (peace be on him). The hadith narrated in Sahih Muslim As per its religious and political ideology, the IS subscribes to a Territory states: puritanical school of Sunni Islam and denounces all people from other “Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as Muslim sects and religions. In June 2014, ISIS renamed itself as the IS saying: The Last Hour would not come (Islamic State) and declared its ultimate objective, which is to establish until the Romans would land at al- a Sharia-based caliphate in the world that will stretch across several A'maq or in Dabiq. An army consisting of the best (soldiers) of the people of the countries, spanning three continents. The caliphate is a form of Islamic earth at that time will come from Medina government led by a caliph (head of state), whereas the state enjoys (to counteract them). When they will arrange themselves in ranks, the Romans political, religious and military authority over all Muslims worldwide. would say: Do not stand between us and Using extreme violence and torture, the group has established those (Muslims) who took prisoners from control over a vast landlocked territory, that of Syria and Iraq. It was amongst us. Let us fight with them; and the Muslims would say: Nay, by Allah, following the US-led invasion of Iraq, that the ISIS was formed in 2003 we would never get aside from you and by Al-Qaeda insurgents under the leadership of Abu Musab Al Zarqawi. from our brethren that you may fight them. They will then fight and a third In Iraq, Al-Qaeda became known as the ‘Al-Qaeda in Iraq’ or AQI, which (part) of the army would run away, whom formed different rebel factions of the Al-Qaeda movement that developed Allah will never forgive. A third (part of in Afghanistan. the army) which would be constituted of excellent martyrs in Allah's eye, would Right after the fall and execution of Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, be killed and the third who would never several military commanders of the Iraqi armed forces decided to join be put to trial would win and they would be conquerors of Constantinople.” ISIS. Earlier, the group had the support of at least six Sunni groups that This is perhaps what inspires young were operating under the flag of ‘Mujahideen Shura Council (MSC),’ men and women from other countries and fighting against the US-led coalition and Iraqi forces. However, ISIS and lures them to flock to the ISIS in droves. was too violent since its beginning, beheading people and posting their But that said, the question is what videos on social media. can ISIS expect to achieve by these sporadic attacks on individuals and The violent approach soon led to a split within the group and Abu groups of people as far apart as Toronto Bakr al-Baghdadi took charge, having the support of the minority Sunni and Melbourne? population of Iraq which had been subject to political alienation and The bomb attack that destroyed a Russian passenger plane flying over discrimination for many years. the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, killing The , in the meantime, helped ISIS establish its 224 people, for which an ISIS affiliate in the Sinai claimed responsibility, can presence in many parts of the region and in February 2014, the Al-Qaeda be explained as retaliation for Russian officially broke its ties with ISIS, while Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, under the bombing of ISIS in Syria. The attacks on flag of ISIS, carried on fighting a violent guerilla war in the region. Shia mosques in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Yemen can also be explained as fanaticism. But the purpose for the attacks on Egyptian troops and in Jakarta, But ISIS, which has not yet been able on its interpretation. remains unexplained. to establish its caliphate in Iraq and Syria Moreover, ISIS is not only hostile The other incidents were utterly cannot hope to expand it writ farther towards the Christians, Jews and Shias but senseless and meaningless. For instance, (worldwide) by randomly targeting a also Sunnis, as evident from its attacks in on October 20, 2014, shortly after the synagogue in Brussels, a hotel in (Tripoli), Egypt and Indonesia. Today it is the US, formal launching of ISIS, Martin Rouleau- a cop in Toronto, New York or Melbourne, Russia and France that are pounding ISIS Couture, a convert to Islam, and supporter or abducting and beheading people. The positions regularly, but the time may not of ISIS online, ran over two soldiers, earliest caliphate was not established in be far away, when Muslim powers would killing one, outside a government office this way, because this is not the way of unite to fight this menace. in Saint-Jean-sur-Richilieu, Quebec. In the Prophet (peace be upon him) whom Meanwhile, the world watches in another incident, a French citizen Herve they pretend to follow. suspense for the denouement. Gourdel was abducted in the Tizi Ouzou As to the hadith quoted, from region of Algeria and later beheaded by which it draws inspiration, there is no The writer is a senior political analyst militants pledging loyalty to ISIS consensus among Muslim theologians and former editor of Southasia.

SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 23 REGION PAKISTAN

Honour Among Thieves

The federal and Sindh governments in Pakistan bicker while the people bear the brunt of the continuing quarrel.

By S. Mubashir Noor

24 SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 hese must be happy days for Asif If Helen of Troy was the face that while the Sindh government appreciated Zardari, co-chairman of Pakistan launched a thousand ships, then Dr. the “commendable manner” in which TPeoples Party (PPP). His embattled Hussain has the dubious honor of the Rangers had conducted anti- Sindh government repeatedly accuses short-circuiting NAP. The Center and terror operations, issues arose when the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Sindh are now locking horns over the they “overstepped their mandate and (PML-N) of cherry-picking National Rangers’ ostensible overreach and all began assuming jurisdiction in cases of Action Plan (NAP) items that spotlight because the good doctor is a Zardari alleged corruption.” Karachi and the PPP’s ostensibly corrupt crony. The Rangers initially nabbed The second politically seismic event leadership, while pretending Punjab is Dr. Hussain for abetting terrorism. He took place on December 16 when hallowed ground. Now, it is payback is a former federal minister and chair the Sindh assembly passed a motion time. Unfortunately for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his government’s moral high ground on the Karachi Rangers The Karachi operation became operation could now very well sink. a salient feature of NAP since Not long ago, the federal government pressed Sindh Chief Minister (CM) progress towards its “logical end” Qaim Ali Shah to widen the Rangers’ net province-wide in the national was a key lever. interest. The National Action Plan is a singular policy statement against of the Higher Education Commission demanding checks on the Rangers’ terrorism. Activated in December 2014 (HEC) Sindh. His nabbing was pursuant mandate. In short, going forward, after the school massacre, to reports that his Ziauddin Hospital they were not to arrest politicians or the NAP document represents the will in Karachi had knowingly treated raid government offices and seize of the people through a broad political individuals belonging to banned records. PPP lawmakers insist they consensus. In theory, this was also militant outfits. were only striving for due process and the first time that the government and After 90 days in Rangers’ custody cite Article 147 which guarantees that the army decided to shed delusions that yielded a yet-to-surface Joint provinces can entrust functions to the of good or bad Taliban and call a Investigation Team report, the Sindh federal government conditionally or spade a spade. The parliament further police got hold of Dr. Hussain and unconditionally. enabled the creation of military courts subsequently cleared him of all Not surprisingly, Ch. Nisar was to expedite prosecuting terrorists by charges. Much to the PPP’s chagrin, a apoplectic. He trashed the motion, passing the Twenty-first Amendment in Karachi Antiterrorism Court rubbished saying that Sindh “does not reserve the the constitution. the decision and sent Dr. Asim back to authority to amend federal laws." He The Karachi operation became a jail pending a new trial. This court also also questioned the PPP’s “sudden” need salient feature of NAP since progress instructed the National Accountability to seek assembly approval whereas the towards its “logical end” was a Bureau to start corruption proceedings provincial government green-lighted key lever in combating terrorism against Dr. Hussain for alleged land all previous extensions without drama. countrywide. The paramilitary Pakistan grab and graft in energy deals. The The PPP was not backing out of this war Rangers have patrolled the streets of the agency duly began the proceedings on of words either, especially after it swept city since September 2013, but they January 7. the municipal polls in the province. The ramped up both the number and nature Pakistan is undoubtedly in the eye federal government was slammed for of operations after the APSC attack. of a political storm right now and we its hypocritical stance on corruption, Called in then by the Sindh government owe the lull till February to both the when it accused Sindh of endemic under Article 147 of the constitution Center and Sindh extending the Rangers graft, but had no answer to the fudged in response to a deteriorating security special policing powers for another 60 finances of mega energy projects like situation, the Rangers have a mandate days. It reportedly took a last minute Nandipur and Neelam-Jehlum. to curb terrorism, target killings, tête-à-tête between PM Sharif and CM Sadly, an innate kink in pluralistic kidnapping for ransom and extortion, Shah for the latter to acquiesce. Two democracies is that they go into a stall as detailed under Section 4 of the events late last year may have rushed without political compromise. PPP Antiterrorism Act of 1997. the meltdown in relations. lawmaker Nafisa Shah hinted as much Before mid-2015, the federal and First, on December 12, Interior during a tirade in parliament, asking Sindh governments got along fine. Minister Ch. Nisar Ali unfurled his the question, “Is Dr. Asim Hussain your Under the supposed “captaincy” of acid tongue about the PPP at a press enemy or Da’ish? Is Al Qaeda your CM Qaim Ali Shah, the Sindh interior conference and torched the Sindh enemy or Asif Zardari?” Off the record, ministry extended the Rangers stay government for playing politics with she may well have added “Do we have every four months without friction national security. Nisar warned that a deal or should we pull you into the and the provincial assembly happily attempts to “de-track the Karachi mud too?” In a polarized political rubber-stamped these notifications. operation to save just one man” would landscape where a different party This coincided with a period where not work because “there are several legal controls each province, the future of only the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and constitutional options available” to NAP may well hinge on the only non- was in the Rangers cross-wires. Until supersede Sindh’s authority. This did not partisan power lever in Pakistan - the the August 2015 arrest of Dr. Asim amuse the PPP and Information Adviser army. Everyone else is invoking honour Hussain, the PPP leadership waxed Chandio shot back, “We are doing among thieves. lyrical about the Karachi operation this according to the constitution and and how it was serving as a smashing legal requirements.” Party spokesman The writer is a freelance columnist and success in their watch. Farhatullah Babar further explained that audio engineer.

SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 25 REGION INDIA Local Focus While the major objective behind the ‘Make in India’ initiative was job creation and skill enhancement in twenty-five key sectors of the Indian economy, it has not become quite a game-changer yet.

By Samina Wahid

he ‘Make in India’ initiative of doing business in the country and Interestingly enough, Modi’s launched by Indian Prime attracting foreign investment. “Make-in-India” push for a military that TMinister Narendra Modi on 'Make in India' aims at increasing has been the world’s biggest importer September 25, 2014 is an initiative India’s GDP and tax revenues by of arms for the last four years has also aimed at making India a global producing products that meet high made little headway, with negotiations manufacturing hub. It was rolled out quality standards and minimizing the stalled over various issues including with the aim of creating millions of impact on the environment. Fostering technology transfer and the local jobs in the country. innovation, protecting intellectual assembly of equipment. Historically, Under the 'Make in India' initiative, property, and enhancing skill India has been using technology the government has announced development are the other aims of the through licence agreements with several steps to improve the business program, according to the 'Make in Russia and a smattering of Western environment by easing the process India' website. countries. The exceptions are some of

26 SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 the missile systems, small arms and is the existing antiquated Research component of science, technology their ammunition and tanks, where & Development infrastructure and engineering, an element totally technology has been indigenously with a severely constrained design disregarded by the Indian industries developed by the Defense Research capability and limited support, both so far and unthinkable in the and Development Organization scientifically and financially. The issue aerospace sector. In this respect, (DRDO). that needs to be addressed is whether HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.) The government’s ‘Make In India’ the government and the DRDO are has singularly survived on licence policy and increase in the Foreign following the right approach and production and shown improved Direct Investment (FDI) cap in the strategy for R&D and technological bottom lines on captive production revised defence FDI policy (from development. without any investment in strategic 26% to 49%), announced with a The ‘Make in India’ programme research and development. lot of fanfare during the Aero India in defence will have to be facilitated It is time that a level-playing field show in February 2015, was seen as by way of bold reforms in policy, is provided to the Indian defence a major step to revitalize the defence procedures and approach towards industry for being able to showcase its industry and awaken it from its long global investors. There is an urgent capabilities and manufacturing plans slumber. This government action need to facilitate removal of other to users in the defence establishment was expected to infuse refreshingly manufacturing roadblocks, like land, in a much more structured and formal manner than is possible at present. Even though the Ministry of Defence (MoD) does interact with the Indian The ‘Make in India’ programme in defense industry in a number of small and ad-hoc ways, the challenge going defence will have to be facilitated forward — for the ‘Make in India’ mantra to become an all-pervasive by way of bold reforms in policy, reality in defense acquisitions — will procedures and approach towards be to multiply manifold the onset, frequency, range and depth of its global investors. industry engagements. While the modernization of the military requires substantial budgetary outlays, in reality, the gap between new attitudinal change in India’s power, transportation infrastructure, the requirement of funds projected policy-making processes, foster trust taxation and multifarious government by the MoD and the actual budgetary between the government and the clearances. The idea of technology allocation has been widening over industry and usher in major reforms transfer through either licence the years. This trend is likely to to improve India’s standing in World production or offsets is misunderstood continue, as is clearly evident in the Bank rankings. Accordingly, a by the decision-makers. Making this defence budget for 2015-2016. But number of committees under retired the principal strategy and cornerstone of greater concern is the fact that the bureaucrats were set up by the of defence technology development MoD surrendered a total of Rs28,000 government to review the problems and self-reliance in the country is crores between 2001- 02 and 2010- being faced, and recommend suitable like chasing a mirage. All it does is, 11 under the capital head. This was solutions to improve the business perhaps, short-circuit or kick-start mainly due to stalled projects amidst environment in the country. However, a process. But it can never lead allegations of wrongdoing, lack despite the prime minister’s personal to realizing the national strategy of indigenization and complexity thrust regarding the ‘Make in India’ of indigenous capability and self- of procedures. However grave the mantra, very little has changed on reliance. Nothing can substitute situation, a way out of the morass has the ground. Manufacturing requires strategic research and development. to be found to ensure the acquisition a significant edifice of infrastructural It can be achieved only by involving of operationally-critical weapon support, which is currently absent in the entire knowledge sector of the systems, including guns, helicopters, India. There is lack of a regulatory economy. The private sector in India submarines, aircraft and ammunitions framework, especially in the general today is in an embryonic stage when that form the core of a nation’s aviation sector, which has huge it comes to defence technology. defence capability. growth potential. Reforms require Setting up manufacturing facilities, While the government has ongoing consultations with the and fabricating buy-back components displayed the necessary political will industry and presently there is no using outdated technologies as a part for indigenization and establishment positive movement in this direction. of the offset policy, may perhaps be of an advanced manufacturing base Regardless of all the tall talk of tax a good start in the learning cycle. in the country, the challenge lies in its reforms in the defence and aerospace However, major efforts have to be comprehensive implementation — an industries, they continue to be made to hop step this learning curve enabling policy framework, focus and taxed as before. It should be noted and mature fast. commitment, including addressing that the high rate of service tax has One sure way to do this is to the fiscal and taxation issues, which placed India’s Maintenance, Repair develop technologies in-house, both currently impact negatively on the and Overhaul (MRO) industry at a designing as well as manufacturing, private industry. disadvantage vis-à-vis the MROs in so as to catch up. India has to Gulf countries and South East Asia. deliberately enter the age of The writer is a freelance journalist The biggest challenge in the innovation in which research and who contributes regularly to various ‘Make in India’ policy framework development becomes an integral leading publications.

SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 27 REGION AFGHANISTAN Shattered Country The war may have ended in Afghanistan but the people continue to suffer from its aftershocks.

By Asna Ali

ar, what is it good for? some time by the aid money which in the bureaucratic system, though that Absolutely nothing, says poured in following the US invasion, too is a very serious problem, but also Wthe song and, in the case of the country is finding it very difficult because of the deteriorating security Afghanistan, this is especially true. Not to get back on its feet and rebuild from situation. The Afghan National Unity only has the conflict failed to achieve scratch what has been so thoroughly government is struggling to maintain its its claimed goal of crushing the Taliban destroyed. grip on swathes of the country where and getting rid of terrorism, it has also Foreign presence in Afghanistan is the Taliban are gaining in strength. shattered countless lives in a myriad of decreasing fast and, consequently, aid Amidst all, this is a fast growing ways. money has also depleted. The projects population, looking for work - something Wars are expensive. They cost many and businesses funded by this money that the economy in its current shabby people their lives and limbs, are paid for are now facing a bleak situation. state is not able to provide. Businesses in blood and tears and have a not too Economic growth has stalled, a measly which relied on the presence of foreign salubrious effect on the local economy. 1.3 percent in 2015 according to the forces in the country have had to Afghanistan has been embroiled in one World Bank. Out of 189 countries, lay off employees. More and more conflict or another for more than thirty Afghanistan was placed at number 183 Afghans are looking abroad for better years now and is a prime example of the on the ease of doing business scale. opportunities and the country is facing devastating impact of Investors are being scared a brain drain crisis as skilled workers war. Fortified for away not just be- continue to migrate in droves. There cause of rampant corruption

28 SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 are calls from the government for the people to be patient and to stay behind for the betterment of the country. But The dream of eradicating the Taliban the prospect of better wages and safer homes for their families is too strong to ideology has long since been given up. be overtaken by patriotism, especially in the face of unemployment. The They simply have too large a presence urging of top level politicians to stay and are growing stronger. and rebuild the country ring hollow for most as it is well-known that the families of many of the richest and most powerful in Afghanistan live abroad. Amidst this myriad of problems, the National Unity Government has not been idle. There are ambitious plans underway to make the Afghan economy self-sustaining, or at the very least, less dependent on foreign aid. There are several large projects underway to rebuild the infrastructure and boost agriculture. It is hoped that big mining projects worth millions of dollars, invested in by foreign businesses will provide the much-needed employment opportunities. Meanwhile, the government is busy entering regional and international trade agreements. Afghanistan has entered a regional gas pipeline project with Turkmenistan, Pakistan and India. Following this, the country’s US-backed business deals the Afghan government is for their own economies and for their bid to become a WTO member has may undertake. This is an axiom that is security as well. While this tightening also been accepted. It is hoped that this often repeated by economic advisors, of borders will deter some, many will will make Afghanistan more attractive the UN and the Afghan government continue to brave harsh conditions and to investors and provide it with more itself. Little foreign investment is likely even the prospect of death in search of trading opportunities. to come by so long as the biggest a better life. However, questions have been concern faced by any investor is the No matter how many head out, raised as to what Afghanistan can hope threat of terrorism. there will be still more Afghans left to gain from entering the WTO. There The government appears to be behind and it is for them that immediate may be marginal gains to consumers hopeful that the steps being taken will change is needed. Unfortunately, poor through access to foreign products and make the dream of a self-sustaining economies hemorrhage their talented reduced prices, thanks to easing of tariffs economy a reality within the next and able bodied individuals, the kind but local businesses could be hurt by an decade or so. However, the situation on of people needed for development to influx of foreign competition. Openly the ground is a lot different. Companies happen. It is a vicious cycle in which entering the international market is not are seeing their business dry up and the weak and poor are left behind to always the catalyst to development that their employees head for foreign shores. cope with circumstances beyond their it is hoped to be. While many hope for betterment, they power to change. Then there is the drug problem. say that it is taking too long and, in Despite the billions of dollars in Apart from foreign aid, the biggest the meantime, things are deteriorating aid that Afghanistan has received, the sustainer of the Afghan economy at beyond repair for many. There does not only way for the country to regain some present is the export of opium which, appear to be much progress on getting semblance of economic stability will according to the Afghan Opium Survey rid of the bureaucratic red tape, delays have to be from the inside. The aid and 2014, is again surging. The drug money and graft which are a common feature support of others comes at a cost and is inevitably funneled back to fund of the tattered Afghan infrastructure. eventually it is withdrawn. The resilience terrorist activities in both Afghanistan It can take months to get licenses and of the Afghan people has been tried to and abroad. permits and this is not a very promising breaking point and still the hard times The dream of eradicating the Taliban situation for potential investors. they face are not over. It will take much ideology has long since been given up. Where does all this leave ordinary more than the WTO membership and They simply have too large a presence Afghans? Migrating to other countries trade agreements to solve Afghanistan’s and are growing stronger. Foreign has been availed as the only viable economic woes. These are steps in the military forces have by and large left. It option by many thousands. However, right direction but they must be backed is felt now that more fighting is not the the international community’s policy by internal changes both political and way to solve the problem. The only way towards economic migrants has changed social that can bring about lasting peace forward that can be pursued without in the wake of the mass Syrian exodus. and finally, prosperity. more death and mayhem is to broker a Already overburdened by opening their peace deal through negotiation. borders to the victims of war, developed The writer is a business graduate. She Peace is a crucial precursor to the nations have become more wary of has an interest in political and social success of developmental projects or accepting economic migrants. Their fear issues.

SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 29 REGION BANGLADESH

Rising Religious Extremism Bangladesh started out with a balanced world view but lost its way somewhere.

By Taj M Khattak

n 1971, after its separation from the popular perception, it is understood merged with Hindu West Bengal on the Pakistan, Bangladesh emerged as as ‘la-deeniyiat’ or total absence of basis of shared Bengali language. But it Ia secular state and for decades it religious thought. is also true that the 1971 independence was known for its moderate religious To put it in the correct perspective movement in erstwhile East Pakistan practices. Secularism, however, was though, this is not to suggest that was based on Bengali nationalism and always a hazy concept in Bangladesh historically there was a lack of passion not on religion. with a subtle and different meaning. for deeply religious strands in the The relatively recent surge of The Bengali term for secularism is Bengali population. Islam, as a religion Islamic sentiments in Bangladesh ‘dharma mirapekshata’ which literally was always a part of East Bengal or else coincided with the coming into power means ‘religious neutrality’ and is there would have been no political of its powerful military which began different from its meaning and use in impetus for the Pakistan Movement in to use religion as a counterweight the west and even in Pakistan where, in 1947 and East Bengal could just have to Awami League’s (AL) secular and

30 SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 socialist agenda. It was during the day. This jolted the country and brought and an appreciation of fine art. The tenure of General Zia-ur-Rehman, the it under the spotlight of international group has remained relatively quiet, first military ruler of Bangladesh, when extremist religious terrorism. The perhaps just below the threshold of secularism was dropped as one of the responsibility for the attacks was being declared as a terrorist network, four cornerstones of the constitution claimed by a terrorist group Jamaat-ul- although it has amply demonstrated its – the other three being democracy, Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). After ability to employ violence. With the AL nationalism and socialism. these attacks, both HUJ-B and JMB were government not relenting on hanging of It is difficult to ascertain with any banned by the BNP government - the erstwhile JI leaders, it can be expected degree of accuracy if Bangladesh’s very same political party under whose to intensify its activities in the years successive military rulers were earlier rule Islamic elements were ahead. influenced by Islamic policies of encouraged to foster their fundamental The Rohingya crisis festering on the General Zia-ul-Haq, who was ruling ideas as a political ploy against AL. In geographical borders of Bangladesh Pakistan during the same period a sense, the chicken had finally come with Myanmar is another matter of and encouraging his own brand of home to roost. concern. Myanmar considers these Islam. But it is a fact that the nexus in In 2015, the AL government put dispossessed and displaced Rohingyas Bangladesh between its military and on trial a number of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) as ‘Bengali Muslims’ who migrated to Islamic elements, which had taken root leaders, which is the largest religious Myanmar’s Rakhine province south during General Zia-ur-Rehman’s rule, party in Bangladesh, and hanged a few east of Bangladesh. Bangladesh which survived long after his assassination. of them. There has been a backlash believes them to be Muslims of the In fact, the relationship flourished against these executions and in high Rakhine province and has sheltered significantly during the period of his profile incidents, three bloggers were thousands of Rohingyas for some thirty successor, General Ershad, when hacked to death in Dhaka on different years. The UNHCR has estimated the Islam became a permanent political occasions in broad daylight, allegedly undocumented Rohingyas refugees at force to be reckoned with in the by radical Islamic elements for 200,000 while Bangladesh estimates country’s political landscape. Since holding atheist views and propagating them at as high as 500,000. then resistance from Islamist religious them openly. Successive Bangladesh The region where the Rohingya elements against re-introduction governments have taken measures to crisis is brewing is also a stronghold of secularism in the Bangladesh tackle the terrorism threat emanating for JI, HUJI and ICS and is known for constitution has been strong enough to from extremist Islamic thought and the fluid population and the weak dissuade successive government from some success has been achieved. It law enforcement mechanism. It has taking it up in parliament. has, however, generally remained in long been a haven for smugglers, Historically, religious extremism a denial mode and hasn’t gone after gunrunners, pirates and ethnic began to raise its head in 1977 when the Islamist extremists in a determined insurgents. If this salient bilateral irritant Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) was formed manner and as a part of a broader between Bangladesh and Myanmar is in the Dhaka University central national strategy. not resolved amicably, it could well mosque with its stated mission to As a result of this vacillation, the become a dangerous recruitment ‘satisfy Allah through rearrangement of extremist religious threat has spawned ground for Islamic extremists with total life of human beings in the way in other forms, like the emergence serious consequence for Bangladesh given by Allah and shown by Prophet in 2013 of Hefazat-e-Islam, a new and Myanmar. Muhammad (PBUH).’ ICS is a student Islamist group, which has raised the Bangladesh is also weary of the wing of JI and in 1971 was known by stakes with its public demand against spread of the self-proclaimed Islamic Rising Religious the name of Islami Chhatra Shanga. It ‘atheist bloggers’ and other activities State (IS) in Afghanistan and Al- was accused of atrocities during the which it perceives as cardinal sins. Qaida’s pronouncement about its new war of independence by AL. In 2014, The group was formed in Chittagong subsidiary in the Indian Subcontinent. it was named by a US think tank as the in 2010 and gained prominence when There have been odd arrests recently world’s third largest armed group. it successfully staged a long march of men suspected of recruiting for IS. The existence of Harkat-ul Jihad-e- from Chittagong to Dhaka in 2013 as The extent of the threat posed by Al- Extremism Islami Bangladesh (HUJ-B) with links a counter protest to a rival youth group Qaida and IS stretching all the way to to Pakistan came to light when a plot with secular underpinnings and seeking Bangladesh is not clear yet, but proven to assassinate the AL leader Sheikh the death penalty for those convicted appeal of these notorious organizations Hasina was uncovered. In the 1990s, for war crimes. is serious enough to reckon with. Taslima Nasrin was hounded out of the This group has come up with its Bangladesh needs to acknowledge country after publication of her book own set of thirteen demands which that religious extremism is a real Lajja and her other controversial views. include enactment of the blasphemy problem and should not remain in a However, during the decade long law with provision for death penalty, state of perpetual denial. It needs to political tussle between the AL and punishment for ‘atheists’ and others retain its secular cultural values and BNP, Bangladesh was not generally who ‘insult Islam’, segregation of defeat radical Islamic forces with a considered a hotbed of any Islamic men and women, ending ‘anti-Islam’ world view incapable of allowing radicalism. Bangladeshi politicians women policies, the education policy differences for co-existence. It should routinely mentioned the country’s and a demand to ‘stop turning Dhaka avoid any slide towards instability, moderate Islamic character and made a into a city of idols’ through erecting especially at a time when, after years point of emphasizing that Bangladesh’s sculptures. of struggle, the country has achieved struggle for independence was based All these demands strike at the core relative economic and development on nationalism and not religion. of Bangladesh’s culture of moderation successes and its policies hold promise All this changed in August 2005 which it had endeavoured to follow for its poverty-ridden masses. when nearly five hundred bombs over the years. The demands also run exploded suddenly and simultaneously counter to the country’s liberal policies The writer is a former Vice Chief of the in every city of Bangladesh on the same on women’s education, free expression Pakistan Naval Staff.

SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 31 REGION SRI LANKA

Sad Saga

With peace comes progress and with progress comes prosperity. There is a slight aberration in this story where the dividends of prosperity have also brought corruption.

By Huzaima Bukhari and Dr. Ikramul Haq

orruption and politics are not apartments, malls and office space, Division (FCID) of Sri Lanka Police so strange bedfellows. This was on a 4.3-acre piece of land leased has recently started a probe into the Cproven in Sri Lanka in the case for 99-years from Sri Lanka's Urban alleged financial misappropriations of the controversial US$ 650 million Development Authority (UDA). It was in the project owned by India's Krrish Krrish Transworks Tower project. It is initiated during the regime under Group — its website claimed that it planned around four high-rise buildings Mahinda Rajapaksa. started operations in 1983 and after in Colombo, comprising a luxury hotel, The Financial Crimes Investigations three decades “has made a reputation

32 SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 Krrish Square, a set of four supertall skyscrapers, is multi-purpose residential and commercial project on a 4.3-acre (17,401 m2) land estimated at a cost of Sri Lankan five billion rupees (approximately US$39.6 million). The Indian real estate company, Krrish Group, established in 1983, owns it. Official construction of the project was expected to ceremonially commence in June 2013. The new deadline for completion is not earlier than 2016. In 2014, Ritz- Carlton partnered with Krrish and the construction was expected to begin in October 2014. The project was ranked as the 10th largest of its kind in the world with a total project cost estimate of approximately US$ 650 million. The architectural design of the project is by Kukreja Associates, while interior design will be done by Wilson Associates of New York. Exterior landscaping will be done by Dandi Living Limited. Paris-based architect Edouard Francois was made to head the preservation and redevelopment of the historic Transworks House. The entire project, if completed, according to original plan, will have a 10-floor base "podium", to be used for car parking, high-end retail stores, and shopping complexes. Four supertall skyscrapers will be built over this podium, consisting of towers of 85 floors, 80 floors, and two towers of 55 floors, thus topping combined podium-and-tower heights of 95 floors, 90 floors, and two towers of 65 floors respectively. The last three tallest towers will be primarily used for residential purposes, while the first and tallest tower will be used for commercial purposes like housing office spaces, a 7-star hotel, etc. The three towers will be connected by two large skybridges. If constructions go according to plan, the towers would be some of the tallest buildings in the world. The project is planned over the historical Transworks House. A larger portion of the land bought for the development was previously used by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka for car parking facilities.

foreign loans and capital expenditure and several United National Party (UNP) and technical fees paid. MPs were highly vociferous in and Since March 2013, the project, outside parliament when they were in launched in September 2012, has the opposition during 2013-14 against been halted as the company had not the complete lack of transparency out of delivering unflinching standards honoured its payments to the UDA. in the ‘Krrish deal.’ A statement by of quality in all its undertakings.” The It is alleged that the Indian company Ranil Wickremesinghe in November allegations about the Krrish Transworks failed to make the final lease payments 2012, then the opposition leader, was Tower project in Sri Lanka speak on the property despite getting many given wide publicity in local media. otherwise. extensions. It is reported that the Indian It quoted him as saying “even though According to a media report, the investor ignored five deadlines for the Krrish Group was to have made a 20 FCID will “interrogate several big balance payment of Rs. 589.7 million per cent down payment of the total shots of the former regime regarding which has now ballooned to over Rs. sum within seven days of establishing allegations of secret payoffs to keep 800 million with interest. the company in Sri Lanka and the the window open for payments and for According to The Sunday Leader, remaining 80 per cent on signing the various approvals, which ended with the names of several powerful lease agreement, these monies had not some unfortunate incidents.” The report members of the former regime were been deposited in any bank account of claims that names of several powerful highlighted in the controversial Krrish the Government.” members of the former regime in Sri project while drafting of the agreement Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, Lanka figured in the allegation of secret was undertaken by a legal firm that when he was an MP, had called for a payoffs by the Krrish Group. was owned by the son of a VVIP of the high level investigation into a complaint In October 2012, Sri Lanka’s former regime. Krrish is yet to make by an official that his life was under Ministry of Investment Promotions a final payment of Rs.589. 7 million threat for accepting US$4 million through a gazette notification to close the land lease deal. The total on behalf of two powerful persons in suggested a 25-year tax benefit for payment made by them up to now is the government in connection with the Krrish Square Colombo project. Rs. 4.4 billion while the total payment the Krrish deal. Deputy Minister Dr. According to the gazette, the project to the local authorities to commence Harsha de Silva, making a statement in was to be granted a 10-year income the project is Rs. 4.995 billion. Parliament in August 2013, noted that tax holiday and a concessionary 6 per Prime Minister Ranil names of several key figures, including cent tax rate for the following 15 years. Wickremasinghe, Finance Minister Ravi that of the then Chairman of the Further, the firm was to be exempted Karunanayake, Deputy Ministers Dr. Securities and Exchange Commission, from withholding tax on interest on Harsha de Silva, Sujeewa Senasinghe Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, had been linked

SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 33 REGION SRI LANKA

had already paid to be refunded. Two investors, one Chinese and one Saudi A resolution to the Krrish saga is long Arabian, are said to be interested due and securing developers who would parties. The Chinese investor, who is linked to a casino group in Las Vegas, actually follow through on their promises wants to build a luxury hotel/apartment complex with casinos attached. It is would be a welcome move. reported that the “last suggestion raises the possibility of further controversy, with existing casino developments such with secret payments that have been Krrish Group visited Sri Lanka to as James Packer’s Crown Casino.“ allegedly made to secure legal rights discuss the possibility of resuming the But a resolution to the Krrish saga is to develop the land. Dr. Godahewa’s stalled project. Negotiations were held long past due and securing developers Executive Secretary at the SEC, Janssi between the Krrish officials and the who would actually follow through on Kuhanesan, was also a consultant Chairman of the Board of Investment their promises would be a welcome at Krrish, according to her profile on (BoI). The BoI Chairman said that the move. This concludes the sad story of LinkedIn. Krrish representatives had assured a mega project that was a non-starter According to The Sunday Times to pay the due Rs.589.7 million with from the beginning, involving alleged in June 2015, the new government, accumulated interest at 12 percent mega corruption. This is a lesson for largely controlled by the UNP, whose and commence construction work many developing countries where parliamentarians were strident against within two months. The Krrish Group, greedy rulers destroy future hopes of the Krrish deal when they were in the however, has yet not fulfilled this their nations. opposition, gave the go ahead to the commitment. Indian company to commence the The government in the meantime is The writers, partners in law firm long delayed and controversial Krrish looking for a new investor who would HUZAIMA & IKRAM, are Adjunct Square project. be willing to pay the lease amount Faculty Members at Lahore University Recently, representatives of the upfront, allowing the money Krrish of Management Sciences (LUMS).

34 SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016

REGION Nepal Big Brother Politics The Indian attitude towards neighbouring land-locked Nepal could be much better.

By Samina Wahid

n a significant development, the which was taken at an emergency against the seven-province model Nepal government has decided cabinet meeting, also agreed to set up proposed in the new constitution Ito amend the new Constitution a political mechanism to recommend that divides their ancestral land as a to address two key demands of solutions to disputes over the proposed way to politically marginalize them. the agitating Madhesis regarding provincial boundaries within three Protestors blocked Nepal’s border proportional representation and months of its formation. points with India, causing a shortage of constituency delimitation, a move that The move came after widespread essential goods and medicines in the was welcomed by India. The decision, protests by Madhes-based parties landlocked country. In fact, at least 50

36 SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 people have been killed in protests by interference in the internal affairs of demands and border blockade by Indian-origin Madhesis since August. Nepal and this has led to mounting India. Madhesis, who reside in the Terai anti-India sentiments in the country. India, on its part, seems to be region, constitute nearly 52 per cent No constitution in the world is convinced that all the Madhesi of Nepal’s population. faultless and India’s constitution has residents in Nepal are of Indian origin, Tensions between Kathmandu and been amended over a hundred times. but the Madhesi people who have New Delhi rose after the Madhesis In the Nepalese context, the second lived in the region for centuries reject criticized the new constitution as constituent assembly comprised many this claim. However, the 1950 treaty an attempt to curb their political elected politicians from the plains, but of Nepal with India, which allows influence. The resulting disruption to only a handful of Madhesi leaders are unlimited inflow of Indian immigrants trade has caused Nepali manufacturing protesting against the constitution. to Nepal, does pose a problem. industries to grind to a halt because of Furthermore, the Madhesis already Indian nationals can easily acquire a lack of raw materials. The de facto have a majority in the central plains. Nepali citizenship due to political and blockade caused severe economic Their demand that the entire Madhes administrative loopholes in the system and humanitarian hardship in Nepal, be divided into a maximum of two and the open border. This points to an impoverished country already provinces when they do not even have a need to regulate the Nepal-India struggling to recover from a severe a majority in all the districts in the border more rigorously. earthquake last April. Tarai is thus unjustifiable. The Madhesi However, whether these provisions The prolonged Madhesi agitation Morcha claims delineation of provinces will be acceptable to the Madhesi against the constitution is an as their bottom line for consensus even parties and activists remains to be seen. indication that external forces have as many people in the hills perceive In fact, there are indications that they succeeded in polarizing the Madhesi this to be a threat to national unity and want a revision in the constitutional and Pahari communities in Nepal. sovereignty. In addition, the Paharis amendment bill to include concrete India’s reported concerns and seven who constitute a significant portion terms of reference for the political recommended amendments to Nepal’s of the population residing in Madhes mechanism for settling provincial new constitution along with the also reject this demand. delineation. But the Madhesis can’t trade embargo seem to have further Nevertheless, the crisis has press the issue beyond a certain point. exacerbated the Madhesi agitation. highlighted some important points. They must display some flexibility. Many Nepalis perceive this to be an The Nepali political parties cannot After all, the current constitution ignore the aspirations of the Madhesis. was passed with a huge majority in They are legitimate citizens of Nepal Nepal’s constituent assembly. Hence, and deserve equal rights vis-à-vis any the implementation of the new other group in the country. As far as constitution can’t be indefinitely held Madhesi demands are concerned, it’s hostage to the whims of one particular welcome that the proposed constitution group. amendment bill commits to ensure Several Indian politicians, scholars proportional inclusive representation and the public in general are also not in state organs and delineation of pleased with the border blockade electoral constituencies on the basis by India and have criticized the of population. Additionally, it also action as a diplomatic failure of the provides for addressing the issue Modi government that has tarnished of re-demarcation of provinces India’s international image. India’s through an appropriate arrangement foreign policy towards its neighbors in the constitution on the basis of is influenced by a colonial mindset. political consensus. Issues related India’s ‘big brother’ attitude towards its to citizenship too will be resolved smaller neighbors has caused trouble through negotiations and consensus. in the region even in the past. Meanwhile, as the border India must now try to recover the blockade is entering its fourth month, goodwill it has lost in Nepal in the exacerbating the acute shortage last few months. But reversing the of essential items, medicines and perception that India is constantly petroleum products, hospitals have meddling in Nepali internal affairs had to cut down their services and won’t be easy. It may take many the prices of essential commodities months, if not years. For a start, change have skyrocketed, making it extremely needs to be effected in the Indian difficult for the poor to meet their daily security establishment’s approach basic needs. Black marketing of fuel and towards Nepal. The country can’t be cooking gas has become rampant and treated as India’s appendage. Of course, this could have devastating long-term the two nations share deep historical consequences for the economy. The and cultural ties. But this can’t be used fuel crisis has also made it extremely to dictate Nepal’s political evolution. difficult for humanitarian agencies It is one thing to engage in strategic to transport the much-needed food diplomacy and quite another to behave and clothing to the quake-devastated as an overbearing Big Brother. districts. Surprisingly, even after so much of suffering, people seem to The writer is a freelance journalist who be supporting the government’s stand contributes regularly to various leading to oppose unreasonable Madhesi publications.

SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 37 REGION THE MALDIVES Indian Ocean Turmoil Caught in the rivalry between global powers, the small island nation of the Maldives is working to strike a policy balance to control the disorders within.

By Malik Muhammad Ashraf

eportedly, the President of the Maldives, Abdullah Yameen, in Ra message on the eve of SAARC Charter Day, lauded the ‘Neighbours first’ initiative of the Modi government. He also urged the SAARC countries to prioritize improving relations with each other as a peaceful region was integral to ensuring peaceful nations. For this, the neighbouring countries must work together to combat cross- border terrorism and violent extremism in order to ensure peace and prosperity in the region. Conceptually speaking, no person in his right mind can dispute what the Maldivian President said and the policy of the Modi government to give priority to improvement of India’s relations with its immediate neighbours. The endorsement of the Indian initiative by President Yameen comes in the wake of attempts to salvage and re- establish relations between the two countries which soured in 2012 when the Maldivian government abruptly terminated an agreement with the Indian infrastructure giant GMR to develop the international airport in Male. India retaliated with tightening of visa requirements for Maldivians and revoked a special quota for import of aggregate and river sand from the Maldives. These restrictions, however, were lifted when President Abdullah Yameen assumed power in November 2013. The relations again came under strain when Muhammad Nasheed, the former President of the Maldives was imprisoned in March 2015, resulting in cancellation of Modi’s visit to the Maldives. But this estrangement was short-lived and in a sign of improving ties, Indian External Minister Sushma

38 SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 Swaraj visited the Maldives in October India and the Maldives inspired by out of the torpor that characterized the and revived the Maldives-India Joint the Indian policy of ‘Neighbours First’ policies of the previous regime. Commission after 15 years. Both the would benefit the former, it would be It is pertinent to note that President countries also committed to broadening appropriate to first look at the scope and Yameen has implemented a foreign policy cooperation in defence, human resource, thinking behind the ‘ Neighbours First’ shift towards increased engagement trade and health sectors. It may be initiative. with China, establishing diplomatic pointed out that India had very strong Intellectual circles in India believe relations between the two countries. He relations with the Maldives during the that this policy was actually specific to has employed Islam as a tool of identity rule of Mamoon Abdul Gayoum and improving relations with Bhutan, Nepal politics, framing religious mobilization even sent troops to quell the third coup and Bangladesh outside the purview of as a solution to the perceived attempts attempt against Gayoum. SAARC and was designed to strengthen by Western countries to undermine The Maldives economy has been security and governance in the north Maldivian national sovereignty. His devastated by losses inflicted by the eastern states to stop inflow of arms and policies have not gone well in the country tsunami in 2004 and the political turmoil contraband and not let the neighbours and an attempt was made on his life on that has gripped the country since 2008, look the other way when their territory September 28, 2015 as he returned to after the end of the 30 years rule by was used to launch militant attacks in the the Maldives after performing Hajj. Since Mamoon Abdul Gayoom which more north eastern states. the vice president of the Maldives was or less provided a lot of stability to the The BJP and, more importantly, the arrested on charges of conspiracy to kill country. The Maldives now needs foreign RSS have for long invested a lot in the the President, a number of his supporters support for infrastructure development north eastern states, trying to loosen have been incarcerated and are facing that was destroyed in the tsunami as well the grip of Christian missionaries and trials. The Maldivian government, over- as new ventures to keep the economy stop cross-border flow of arms and reacting to the attempt, has instituted going. To dilate on the question of contraband to insurgent groups in these a broader crackdown against political whether this new relationship between states. The thinking is that closer ties with dissent. Nepal and Bhutan can check infiltration President Yameen is a man besieged and much else, particularly in the context by a myriad of lurking dangers. He is of the Myanmar government losing its trying to secure his position and stem the control over militant groups and the rot in the Maldivian economy. Therefore, emerging Buddhist-Islamic conflict. his welcoming the Indian initiative Similarly, a friendly government in and restoring economic ties with India Bangladesh can nurture a mutually does make sense in the context of the productive relationship that can thwart obtaining situation. However, political varied attempts to infiltrate insurgents analysts believe that it would be difficult into the north eastern states. Modi’s for the Maldives to forge the bondage that overtures towards Pakistan also have had existed during Mamoon’s time. Things a greater emphasis on tackling cross- are not as simple as perceived, as new border terrorism while moving towards players have entered the arena. The tilt settlement of disputes between the two towards India might lead to a situation countries. As is evident, this policy is similar to that of Sri Lanka where, after more focused on security concerns the installation of pro-India and pro-US though there are also economic reasons government regime, relations between Sri to pursue it. Lanka and China have became strained. There is, however, a considered It needs to be remembered that China opinion within India that the ‘ Neighbours has invested heavily in the country’s First’ policy which was being hailed as infrastructure projects despite its facing a radical new breakthrough a year ago a financial crisis. has failed to deliver. Relations with China still has a well-entrenched Nepal have sunk to a new low and India position In the Maldives. As such, the has watched from the sidelines as the country may not find its overtures towards Maldives has prepared to jump into an India as rewarding as perceived or forced abyss. Instead of facing the threat from the by circumstances. The western countries Jihadists, the government has expended are also wary of the policies of President its energies on imprisoning much of the Yameen, particularly linking his policies opposition leadership, prosecuting one to Islam, which is radicalizing the vice president on charges of trying to Maldivian society and reportedly some assassinate the President, impeaching youth from the Maldives are also joining another, removing defence ministers and the IS. They are also likely to oppose throwing out two Supreme Court judges. the Maldivian regime and might even Bangladesh continues to complain of the try to influence India from extending lack of counter-terrorism cooperation economic support to President Yameen. from West Bengal, among other things. It is therefore a very tricky situation for Ties with Sri Lanka, though cordial, have the Maldivian regime and it will have to not shown any exceptional energy or tread very carefully to avoid being sucked direction. Myanmar, outraged by India’s into the dynamics of global politics, as decision to go public with a cross-border both China and the US-India nexus are raid early in 2015, has been assuaged locked in a struggle for establishing their but there has been no great push on ascendency in the region and beyond. economic ties or strategic cooperation. In short, this policy has not shaken India The writer is a freelance columnist.

SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 39 REGION BHUTAN

Border Politics A gateway to Tibet and north eastern India, the in Bhutan is important to China.

By Faizan Usmani

espite sharing borders, Bhutan a hub of rail and road arteries. thought of establishing diplomatic ties and China are poles apart. A China claims four border districts with China. Dlandlocked region with a total of Bhutan that include Dramana, Fu Xiaoqiang, Director of the population of about 750,000, Bhutan Charithang, and Sinchulimpa. Centre for Counterterrorism Studies at is one of the smallest countries of the The dispute first emerged in 1950 the China Institute of Contemporary world. In complete contrast, China, when China claimed 900 sq. km in International Relations in Beijing, with a population of over 1.4 billion the north of Bhutan and 400 sq. km in believes that India has tremendous population is the largest country the west. Both countries started talks influence over Bhutan which would population-wise as well as in terms of in 1984. be a decisive factor in resolving any economy and trade. The two countries In June 2012, the Bhutanese border dispute between Beijing and have yet to settle a long-standing Prime Minister Jigmi Y. Thinley met Thimpu. dispute over their 470 kilometre border the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao for "If Bhutan can settle border issues in the west and north of Bhutan, which the first time on the sidelines of the with China, the result will certainly has a close proximity to the Chumbi United Nations Rio+ 20 Conference. create norms that will likely be Valley. In the meeting, Jibao clearly said that followed in the border talks between A vital junction between Bhutan, China was willing to complete border China and India," he says. China, and India, the Chumbi Valley is demarcation with Bhutan at an early To find a mutually agreement, of much significance to China because date. China has offered a ‘package deal’ to of its borders with and Tibet. Immediately afterwards, the Bhutan, inviting it to develop closer The Valley is located near the Siliguri Bhutanese and Chinese premiers met ties by initiating trade, establishing Corridor, which connects Nepal to their Indian counterpart separately diplomatic relations and enabling Bhutan and is a gateway for India to its to discuss the matter. China had to people from both countries to visit their northeast region. The Corridor is also accept the fact that without India’s holy sites on a regular basis. The deal known as the ‘Chicken Neck;’ it is also permission, Bhutan would not have also says that any further negotiations

40 SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 would be held on acceptance of the package deal with minor adjustments. Moving cautiously, Bhutan is yet to agree to this proposal, as it faces a severe backlash from both the Bhutanese public as well as India, a principal rival of China. In the National Assembly of Bhutan, the representatives have already declared that traditionally, the land always belonged to Bhutan and historically there has been no precedence of Bhutan paying taxes to the Tibetan government for any of the disputed claims. The authenticity of the Chinese border claims and the activities of its troops in the Bhutan-China border areas are questionable. To maintain peace in the disputed areas, both countries signed a ‘China-Bhutan Agreement’ in 1998. However, China has violated the agreement on numerous occasions. For instance, the Chinese forces often intrude into Bhutanese territory and attack border posts, which are held by the Royal Bhutan Army. China has also violated the agreement by carrying out road infrastructure development and extension works in Phuteogang and Zuri ridges that are located at the northern Bhutan border, near the disputed Charithang Valley. Though China is ready for making the narrow Siliguri Corridor, adds to smaller states will start treating India minor adjustments to reach a peaceful Indian strategic worries.” as a second rate power, lagging much conclusion with Bhutan, the repeated China has plans to extend a railway behind China in their foreign policy violations suggest China will not back line in the Yadong County to establish priorities. off from its stance. It wants to occupy a link to the borders of Nepal, Bhutan Pant believes that the ‘special’ the disputed Chumbi Valley and other and India. A lack of space in the narrow relationship that New Delhi and disputed areas in Bhutan to gain a Chumbi Valley makes it difficult for Thimpu share will only hold water strategic edge over India, as the narrow China to deploy its military, but it if both sides are equally interested Valley is located between Bhutan and may induct a large number of troops in sustaining the relationship. Much India (Sikkim) and has a single route through infrastructure development like other smaller states in India’s from Tibet (an administrative region of and road extension works in Tibet, neighbourhood, Bhutan would also China) to Yadong, which is a Tibetan particularly near India’s northern like greater autonomy in its foreign and trade market and is situated near the borders. security policies. And with democracy Indian border. Harsh V Pant is a professor of taking root in the country, India will Raj Mehta, a writer and a retired International Relations in the Defence soon be seen as a nosy external party major general of the Indian Army, Studies Department at the King's interfering in Bhutan’s internal affairs. says, “Bhutan's disputed border with College in London. He also teaches at China will then emerge as an effective China along the Chumbi Valley has the India Institute at the college. balancer against India’s overweening enormous strategic significance for Pant is of the view that besides presence. India in the event of a conflict with India, Bhutan is the only county True that democracy is taking China.“ with a land border dispute with root in Bhutan. Recent developments “Link the PLA (People's Liberation China today as the 470-kilometre are expected to resolve its border Army of China) transgressions in long border between the two nations disputes with China, including the western Bhutan with repeated remains contentious. China’s slow Chumbi Valley dispute. At this crucial Chinese intransigence with India encroachment into Bhutanese territory stage, Bhutan needs to take some concerning Dolam Plateau, which is also making Bhutan eager for an tough decisions to come out of Indian is located on the Indian side of this early boundary settlement. influence by forming a balanced dagger shaped salient and one can The issue, says, is larger than foreign policy that may help the sense that the Chinese transgressions economic assistance and military country become a free, self-reliant, are well thought out and orchestrated security. If New Delhi continues to and economically independent nation. to keep India uneasy about Chumbi treat its smaller neighbours as second However, the path is not that simple as Valley serving as PLA’s launch pad class states who are only to be courted it appears to be. in a future conflict with India. The if the Chinese end up expanding their fact that Bangladesh is proximal to footprint, then sooner or later, these The writer is a member of the staff.

SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 41 INTERNATIONAL Hot and Cold There is a silver lining for world peace in the evolving relationship between the USA and Russia.

By Shabbir H. Kazmi

he USA and Russia, it seems, adversarial trajectories. This was more this was all happening despite Putin’s are now being pulled together than obvious in the greetings message Crimea campaign and the fact that US Tby the exigencies of the times that President Putin sent to President ally Turkey shot down a Russian fighter and, in the interest of world peace, Barack Obama last Christmas. The US jet over Syria. are exploring ways to cooperate with Secretary of State, John Kerry’s visit to Russia (as the USSR) and the USA each other rather than follow their old the Kremlin is also a case in point. And have been traditional rivals since

42 SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 The US and Russia have a long history of trying to outdo one another. Many bilateral rivalries have occurred between the two.

the end of World War II. Both were 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and as a foe rather than a friend. Lately, contemporary superpowers in their Edwin Aldrin touched down on the the Russian regime has been making time. When the USSR was dismantled, moon. Moments later, when Armstrong a deliberate attempt to bridge the some say, following American announced that “the Eagle has landed” confidence gap but animosity spread machinations, the USA was left as the and stepped onto the moon, the space over decades is not likely to turn into world’s only superpower. But while race had been won. friendship easily through Pakistan has the rivalry progressed in the 50s, 60s In 1972, chess player Bobby recently purchased some advanced and 70s, it produced some interesting Fischer took it on himself to topple military helicopters from Russia. Both aspects. Both tried to one-up each the Soviet Union’s almost 25-year countries need to work harder to forget other during this period. They raced dominance in the sport when he went the past but many factors continue against each other on the ground in up against current world champion to haunt the relationship, the worst terms of military forces and arms and Boris Spassky. Given the bilateral being the ever-changing geopolitical in space with their respective rockets relations between the two countries scenario which often turns friends into and satellite programs. at the time, it’s no surprise that the foes or the other way round. In fact the US and Russia have a 21-game match in Reykjavik, Iceland, Since its independence, Pakistan long history of trying to outdo one drew worldwide interest. Despite has remained under the umbrella of another. Many bilateral rivalries have some infuriating disappearing acts and US foreign policy. It provided airbases occurred between the two throughout seemingly high-maintenance demands to the US from which spy planes would their tumultuous history. from Fischer, the eccentric American snoop on the USSR. At one stage, the After World War II, an arms race genius ultimately proved victorious USSR even threatened to attack these between the US and the Soviet Union (and even won a rematch against bases. One important factor that ruined ignited, with both powers vying to Spassky in 1992) and is considered by potential Pakistan-USSR relations right be kings of advanced weaponry. many to be the greatest chess player in the beginning was cancellation of This technological rivalry naturally who ever lived. Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan’s visit evolved from mere rocket-based arms In the 80s, Ronald Reagan to the USSR as he chose to go to the to the exploration of the cosmos, as challenged Mikhail Gorbachev, the US at the eleventh hour. both nations raced to put a satellite, leader of the Soviet Union. Standing Pakistan always enjoyed cordial an animal, and a man into orbit. The in front of the Brandenburg Gate in relations with China and is known Soviets darted fast out of the gate, Berlin on June 12, 1987, Reagan firmly as its ‘time-tested friend.’ This often launching the Sputnik 1 and Sputnik commanded Gorbachev to “Tear down restricted Pakistan’s relations with 2 (with Laika the dog in tow) into this wall!” This was the infamous Berlin the US, India and the USSR. Later, orbit in 1957. However, when the US Wall, which separated East Germany Pakistan’s relations with China astronauts, the Soviet cosmonauts and from West Germany. Twenty-nine were condoned by the US due to president John F. Kennedy entered months later the wall fell. its growing trade ties but Russia has the picture in the 60s, the race really The thawing relations between the always remained a foe in the Pakistani heated up. On April 12, 1961, the America and Russia were marred after perception. Soviets catapulted Yuri Gagarin — a Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet. Russia and the United States pilot in the Soviet Air Force who had It was feared that Russia would retaliate have always maintained diplomatic once fled his village from a German but it decided not to in all probability relations, but the already strained invasion — into orbit. because a Russian attack on a Nato relations between Russia and the U.S. Not to be outdone, President country would have been akin to an have greatly deteriorated due to the Kennedy soon addressed Congress international war. The change in US Ukrainian crisis and the Syrian Civil and the nation and demanded that policy towards Russia became too War. Even then, despite the tensions the US put a man on the moon by obvious when US Secretary of State between both countries, the United the end of the decade. Heeding the John Kerry visited Moscow. This was States and Russia are still willing call, American astronaut John Glenn pursuant to the efforts being made to to cooperate and work together on one-upped Gagarin by orbiting the organize talks aimed at ending the international issues such as security Earth three times in 1962. The next Syrian civil war. and international peace – and that is year, Cosmonaut Valentia Tereshkova Historically Pakistan has hardly the silver lining for world peace. became the first woman in space. enjoyed cordial relations with the And so a back-and-forth power-and- USSR. After fragmentation of the USSR The writer is an economic analyst. He prestige grab ensued and lasted until into smaller republics, Russia was writes for various local and foreign the end of the decade. On July 20, always seen by Pakistan’s ruling junta publications.

SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 43 SLUGNEIGHBOR

The Deal and After Sanctions lifted, Iran can now look forward to a new era of progress.

By Muhammad Ali Ehsan

he U.S. and European Union reactor using a design approved by the The tensions between the two sanctions on Tehran were finally international community which would countries gradually mounted with Tlifted on Saturday, Jan 16, make the production of weapons protesters storming the Saudi Embassy 2016, restoring Iran's access to world grade plutonium an impossibility. Most in Iran and the Saudi Kingdom markets. The country had been gearing importantly, Iran agreed to give up most announcing the cutting of ties with up for this moment for months. It was of its centrifuges which were used to Iran. expected that Iran would soon return to enrich uranium. It would bring down The lifting of economic sanctions the top ranks of global oil producers. their numbers from 20,000 to 6104. against Iran is being viewed as a In July 2015, Iran signed a nuclear Iran scaled back its nuclear dangerous sign by Saudi Arabia and deal with six world powers which program at a pace that far exceeded many countries around the Persian meant that Iran would curb its nuclear world expectations. This created Gulf and Jordan. Iran already enjoys activities and would thus circumvent Iranian access to around $100 billion and exercises immense influence and evade the economic sanctions that in Iranian oil revenue that was being in countries like Iraq, Lebanon, had crippled its economy. held under the UN sanctions. The Palestine and Yemen. It is accused The nuclear agreement bound IAEA submitted a positive report to the by Saudi Arabia for using subversive Iran to comply with certain actions. It UN on the implementation of the Iran and terrorist activities to enlarge and agreed to turn its Fordov facility into a deal. extend its control over these countries. research center where world scientists What would a post-sanctions Iran Saudi Arabia sees itself as the standard would work side by side with Iranian mean to the world and especially to bearer of Sunni Islam whereas Iran scientists. Fordov had for many years Saudi Arabia, its arch regional rival? regards itself as the defender and been the focus of world attention as a This is a country which finds itself on the protector of Shia Muslims everywhere facility where Iran was alleged to be wrong side of Iran after the execution in the world. The acrimony between enriching weapons-grade uranium. of Sheikh al-Nimr, a prominent Shia the two countries is historic and thus According to the deal, Iran has also leader who was influential in Saudi military, political or economic gains agreed to rebuild its Arak heavy water Arabia’s eastern provinces. by one are considered as a loss by

44 SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 the other. The sectarian battle lines the purview of the nuclear deal. This Iranian nuclear facility. With Iran not are the fundamental fault lines that infuriates Israel, a long time opponent of shying away and showing willingness have marred the relationship of the Iran and a country that does not accept to give a befitting response to military two countries over the years and have the world view of a nuclear deal with adventurism by Israel, what the six been the major cause of the overall Iran. It terms it as a bad deal as it does world powers have attained by getting destabilization in the Middle East. not ensure the complete dismantling of the Iranians to sign the nuclear deal is Today both Saudi Arabia and the Iranian nuclear program. to avoid a military flashpoint that had Iran stand at an important crossroad The rising Saudi insecurity also all the signs of turning very ugly and between their relations. On one side is means increased business for the US harmful for overall world peace. the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani military-industrial complex. Saudi Iran continues to maintain its who got elected in 2013 elections on Arabia has recently signed a $1 billion technical capabilities to maintain a mandate that he would open up his defence deal with the US for primarily and run its nuclear program and this country to the outside world, revive acquiring missiles for the US supplied is a win-win situation for the country. the economy and bring in the much F-15 fighter jets. The US continues to However, it is hoped that Iran will needed social reforms. On the other sell billions of dollars of weapons and grab this opportunity with both hands side is Saudi Arabia’s King Salman who ammunition to Saudi Arabia. With Iran to re-direct its nuclear ability towards ascended the Saudi throne just recently getting ready to flex its military muscle civilian use and utilize its nuclear and has already shown signs of being a after the lifting of the UN imposed program for creation of energy to boost tough ruler, given his military adventure economic sanctions, the region may its economy and also to provide the in Yemen and the executions of Shia also see increased militarization much-needed electricity to the energy- Muslims in the Saudi Kingdom. Both the countries continue to fight a proxy war in Syria – their main battleground with non-state actors sponsored and supported by both sides to seek political and military ends. Iran considers Syrian President The Deal Bashar Al Assad as its most important Arab ally. President Asaad is an Alawite which is an offshoot of Shia Islam. The Saudis on the other hand subscribe to the claim that Sunnis are in a majority in Syria and should have the right to rule their country. Both are at loggerheads and their policies take an entirely different trajectory and direction. and After This only contributes to the growing destabilization in Syria. Saudi Arabia is a partner in the US-led coalition that fights the war in Syria and views with suspicion the logic of lifting economic sanctions against Iran. According to an assessment, Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest oil exporter and could cut down its oil production to try and push up oil prices that have fallen below $40 a barrel. But its oil production continues to remain high as analysts find the Saudi strategy is in anticipation of lifting of economic and enhanced military budgets - all starved northern and eastern sectors of sanctions against Iran. The Saudis never at the cost of social development its country. wanted Iran to make a comeback in the and the much needed reforms that The world may also use its short term as a major competitor and should liberalize societies and reduce diplomatic influence to reduce player in the world oil market. Betting radicalization. growing tensions between Saudi on their big cash reserves, the Saudis Saudi Arabia has grudgingly Arabia and Iran. The possibility of are anticipating to hold on longer and accepted the nuclear deal that the six such an eventuality between the arch retain their market share. In any case, powers have signed with Iran. Going rivals is weak but if the world shows a oil production due to the Saudi-Iranian by the Saudi perspective, Iran will committed desire we may in the long rivalry is likely to remain high and oil have enhanced ability in the short run see both Iran and Saudi Arabia prices will continue to remain low – a term to improve its economic and burying the hatchet and making a new welcome strategy for the Iranians who military standing and in the long term beginning for a new relationship based are banking on their oil industry to it will continue to retain its nuclear on mutual dependence and trust. make an economic comeback. capability. In reality, the world, led Iran continues to demonstrate by the US, has been able to diffuse a The writer is a retired lieutenant colonel military bravado. One element of this likely confrontationist situation where of the Pakistan Army. He is currently is its ongoing ballistic missiles tests Israel was contemplating a unilateral pursuing a Ph.D in civil-military which it claims do not come under military action to strike down the relations.

SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 45 FEATURE PAKISTAN Who Killed Bisma? VIP culture is a part of life in Pakistan. Come hail or storm or a medical emergency, the VIP must have his protocol.

By Faizan Usmani

nother victim of the VIP culture and gets special treatment wherever displays rampant discrimination and prevalent in Pakistan, 10- he goes. In fact, it becomes a VIP disparity impacting the general public. Amonthold Bisma died after having movement whenever he moves. He At the same time, the upper social crust been denied entry into the Karachi Civil uses a separate VIP elevator, hangs out is free to break the rules in the name of Hospital Emergency Ward owing to the in the VIP lounge at airports and is given VIP protocol. security for the Pakistan People’s Party a VIP ticket to watch a cricket match, “In this country, lawmakers are the Chairman Bilawal Bhutto and Sindh sitting comfortably in the VIP stand in biggest law-breakers,” says Mazhar Chief Minister, Qaim Ali Shah, who an otherwise overcrowded stadium. He Abbas, a senior journalist. He adds, were visiting the hospital at the time. enjoys unique VIP culture wherever he “Our class structure produces VIPs and The girl’s father pleaded with the goes because of his alleged supreme VVIPs. Politicians, bureaucrats, big security guards to let the ambulance status or importance. businessmen and people from the civil carrying her enter the hospital but they Shazia Mehboob, a journalist, says, and military establishment are a ‘class’ wouldn’t budge. Bisma died just before “This indignity, inflicted on us in the in themselves. Even if by chance they the father could get into the hospital. name of providing foolproof security to go to jail, there are VIP barracks and Provincial minister for education and senior political and military figures, has VIP rooms there with all amenities, literacy, Nisar Ahmad Khuro justified the no roots in Pakistan’s original culture. including servants.” incident, saying that Bilawal's security It has been imposed on the citizenry, According to Abbas, the list of so- was more important so the protocol was much like inflation, corruption, called VVIPs and VIPs had increased a necessity. unemployment and poverty.” by almost 300 per cent in the last 20 As a very important person, the In according special privileges years though the majority of them are VIP is found everywhere in Pakistan and protocol to VIPs, Pakistani society not even listed in the Blue Book. For all

46 SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 practical purposes, he says that these two categories mean they are people above the law. Immediately after the Bisma Mazhar Abbas says that a VVIP and VIP often becomes “Breaking News” incident, the provincial assemblies in when they travel with the common Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh, as people on trains or on buses but rulers have rarely made attempts to associate well as the Senate of Pakistan, passed themselves with the people. It is a common sight in Pakistan to resolutions to abolish VIP culture. see the people stuck in traffic jams for hours while roads are blocked to ensure a smooth path for the VIPs. Khurram In January 2009, during his first with a sense of nausea. The sheer scale Hussain, a financial journalist and official visit to Karachi as prime minister, of indifference to the sufferings of the columnist, says this sort of culture is Yousuf Raza Gilani had said, “The common man has become endemic spread across Pakistan. It supports the citizens of Karachi suffer a great deal of and a common feature of our daily lives view that in this environment, people inconvenience trapped in traffic jams and that it is why it is not considered like him who do not have VIP protocol during VIP movements. This practice odd any more that there are VIP lounges and do not have taxpayer-funded would not continue anymore and no at airports and that close to a quarter of protection because they are private traffic would be made to wait during the police force in a city like Karachi is citizens are perceived as weak and are VIP movements.” deployed for VIP security alone. treated accordingly. On October 9, 2014, a security Immediately after the Bisma Bisma is not the first victim of such guard who was escorting the vehicle of incident, the provincial assemblies in bureaucratic ineptitude as there are Abdul Qadir Gilani, the son of a former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh, as many who have sacrificed their lives to prime minister Gilani, shot dead a well as the Senate of Pakistan passed ensure the security of the VIPs. In April motorcyclist who refused to vacate the resolutions to abolish VIP culture. That 2006, Zill-e-Huma, a 23 year old girl VIP route. is where it all stopped because nothing who was a student of the University On January 19, 2016, the Sindh happened after that because the Very of Karachi, died of an appendix Assembly passed a resolution against Important Persons and those who think rupture before reaching the hospital VIP protocol. Right after the passage they are very important (like Imran as her ambulance was stranded for of the bill, however, members of the Khan) continue to move with long hours in traffic which was blocked in provincial assembly left the House vehicle convoys and there is no public anticipation of the arrival of President with a convoy comprising a dozen outrage. Pervez Musharraf. vehicles and scores of security guards. Writes Frank Wedekind, a German On September 12, 2012, a newborn In February 2015 in Quetta, a woman dramatist, ‘A culture is what you live by, died outside the emergency unit of gave birth to a baby in an auto rickshaw and it makes human living possible.’ In the Children’s Hospital in Lahore due since the road was closed due to the Pakistan, VIP culture makes life more to security restrictions because of the arrival of President Asif Ali Zardari. miserable – like the death of Bisma. movement of the Punjab Chief Minister Khurram Hussain says there are Shahbaz Sharif. endless such stories and they leave one The writer is the member of the staff.

SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 47 FEATURE AFGHANISTAN

No Child’s Play

An appalling practice in Afghanistan that feeds the fancies of mature men.

By Mahrukh Farooq

48 SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 roups of men stream into they are in a relationship with their saying in Afghanistan: ‘Women are for a modest, albeit tastefully masters, so their masters keep them, babies, boys are for fun.’ Gdecorated, cemented house house them and buy them food and It is this view that has led to nearly overlooking a massive courtyard, lined things. They have sex with their masters 69.5% of perpetrators, according to the with chairs that have been placed upon and then at the parties they are abused inquiry, to state their motives for bacha intricately designed carpets. Christmas by different people.” bazi to be that of recreation, lust and lights adorn the side roof as arrangements Such revelations come as a shock personal interest. What is perhaps even are made to have everyone seated. to many, mainly due to the prevailing more shocking is the sheer denial of any From the looks of it, it seems as if perception that exists of the country. wrongdoing; according to accounts stated locals from nearby towns and villages Afghanistan, as we know it, (or as per in the inquiry, 86% of the perpetrators have gathered for a wedding. On close inspection though, one realizes the reason is actually of a much more sinister nature. Once these boys have been lured with the As soon as all the men have managed to find their seats, a young boy, no more promise of work or education, they are trained than 10 years of age, steps out from inside to become dancers and are forced to perform the house. His innocent face painted with bright pink eye shadow and red lipstick dressed as girls with flowing skirts and make-up. triggers shouts of excitement along with a few whistles from the audience. The frail young boy, dressed in glittering what the international media insists on have claimed that the boys that they own colours of red and yellow, begins to telling us), is a barren wasteland engulfed are happy with the way they treat them. dance, moving his body seductively to in civil war; where poverty is rife and Their victims present a different side to the rhythm of an old Afghani folk song. where extremist groups have exerted that statement with 87% of them stating The crowd is soon stirred into frenzy, their influence and power to create their that they had been trapped against their with many men getting up to dance with own version of society. will. the young performer. And yet, deep beneath this carefully By the time these boys reach maturity, No Then, when the dance is over, the crafted façade of conventional ideals, the damage is already done and made lights are turned off and everybody customs and traditional values, this permanent, as illustrated by John L. Cook, gets up to leave, the boy is taken away terrible secret holds the potential to who paints a rather somber picture of where the true horror of his role is finally completely expose the country’s social what is to be expected. “When the boys revealed. A group of middle-aged men order from its core. reach maturity and their owners can no take turns in sexually abusing the child In a national inquiry launched by longer pretend that they are young girls, for the sake of their own gratification. the Afghanistan Independent Human they are of no interest to their owners. Once done, each patron makes a hefty Rights Commission (AIHRC) in August When this occurs, they are usually set payment to the child’s ‘owner’ who 2014, interviews conducted of both free to deal with, on their own, whatever Child’s almost always keeps the entire amount perpetrators as well as victims of bacha psychological damage this experience to himself. bazi along with local elite and witnesses has dealt them.” According to the Known as one of the worst forms who condone it, revealed startling report drafted by the AIHRC, former of sex slavery, this practice of bacha information about the extent of the bacha bereeshes suffer from serious bazi (which literally means ‘boy play’), practice. Through 71 focus group sessions psychological trauma as a result of the has been around for decades, gaining and 17 public hearing sessions held in sexual abuse and the ensuing behaviour momentum over the last 15 years, thanks 17 provinces of the country, it was found of their families. Forcibly shunned by to Afghanistan’s rising poverty and the that, in terms of social status, 64% of the society, these children either die from exit of the Taliban. Men scout the streets perpetrators constituted normal people drugs and acts of violence or end up Play for young boys in search for employment living in society. Of this percentage, the becoming abusers themselves. to make their very own bacha bereesh rich, the commanders and the elderly, The Afghanistan government had (beardless boys who are highly desired each contributed 8%. previously turned a blind eye to the by rich, male patrons). Once these The inquiry also shed light on the horrors of bacha bazi and has only now boys have been lured with the promise victims of bacha bazi with reports stating begun to take action. The report released of work or education, they are trained that most of them fell under the age of by the AIHRC has struck a nerve at the to become dancers and are forced to 18; 42% of those victims were found to highest levels with numerous ministries perform dressed as girls with flowing be between 13 to 15 years of age. of justice and religion campaigning skirts and make-up. In his book, ‘Afghanistan: The Perfect for penalties and punishment for Barat Ali Batoor, a freelance Failure’, John L. Cook describes the the perpetrators. For the first time in photographer hailing from Hazara, circumstances in the country which has decades, a law that deals directly with Afghanistan, spent months winning ultimately played a pivotal role in shaping the practice of bacha bazi has begun to the trust and documenting the lives of most Afghanis’ rather skewed perspective be put into place. It is hoped that other these ill-fated young boys. Beginning his of what is considered to be ‘normal’. “It is measures suggested by the AIHRC, photography career in 2002, Batoor has not uncommon for [a] husband to bring specifically related to the repatriation won numerous accolades and awards for a male sexual partner into the marriage, and rehabilitation of children within his work called, ‘The Dancing Boys of with or without his wife’s consent,” society along with a crackdown on Afghanistan’ which provided an in-depth Cook writes. “Under these conditions, powerful outfits that support the spread view on the plight of many young boys it is not surprising that Afghanistan has of bacha bazi, will also be executed in forced to become sex slaves. “The boys developed a distorted view of what due time. don’t earn anything from the parties,” normal, healthy sexual relationships are explains Batoor. “But they live as though all about. This is explained in a famous The writer is a member of the staff.

SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 49 FEATURE BANGLADESH

The Missing Ingredient An integrated approach can mitigate widespread vitamin A deficiency in Bangladesh.

By Faizan Usmani

itamin A deficiency or VAD refers Besides causing eye-related diseases, in children, such as diarrheal and to a lower than normal level of VAD diminishes the human ability to respiratory infections, slow bone Vvitamin A in the human body. fight several types of infections (e.g. development, low growth rate and a VAD causes numerous health problems measles), causes severe complications low chance of survival from serious such as nyctalopia (night blindness), during pregnancy and lactation periods illness. xerophthalmia (abnormal dryness of the and also contributes to maternal In many developing countries, the eyeballs), keratomalacia (corneal ulcer) mortality. prevalence of night blindness is high and visual impairment (blindness in Even a mild deficiency of vitamin among pregnant women with vitamin A both eyes). A develops many health problems deficiency. As per statistics released by

50 SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 the World Health Organization (WHO), VAD is rare in developed countries and is common in developing and under- A leading cause of preventable developed countries, mostly in Southeast Asia and Africa, affecting about one blindness among children, vitamin A third of children under the age of five. deficiency is crucial to achieving the In these regions, around 250,000 to 500,000 malnourished children under UN Millennium Development Goal 4, five become blind owing to VAD each which is to reduce child mortality by year and more than 670,000 children die within a year of becoming blind. two-thirds. A leading cause of preventable blindness among children, vitamin A deficiency is crucial to achieving the mitigate the growing rate of vitamin by the University of Copenhagen and UN Millennium Development Goal A deficiency. Under the programme, the Bangladesh Agricultural University, 4, which is to reduce child mortality children from 6 months to 6 years old the mola fish, also known as the ocean by two-thirds. Held in New York in were provided with vitamin A capsule sunfish, can be cultivated in ponds to May 2012, the United Nations Special (VAC) supplements. Nutrition education increase total fish yield manifold as well Session on Children also set a goal to was also provided to families and health as the nutritional quality of the yield.” eliminate VAD by 2010, but could not care providers in order to increase the Dr. Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilstead, achieve it. In 2013, around 65 percent consumption and production of vitamin who is a senior nutrition scientist at the of children aged 6 to 59 months were A-rich foods. The primary health care WorldFish Center, says, “The Bangladesh given two doses of vitamin A under the workers were also given special training government should promote the culture UN vaccination program. Living in the on how to diagnose and treat VAD. of mola to increase the frequency and least developed countries, 80% of these According to the National Vitamin quantity of mola consumption — there is children were fully protected against A Campaign of 2013, Bangladesh faces a great potential for this, as Bangladesh VAD during that period. some key challenges to address VAD has over four million household ponds in In Bangladesh, several studies and other micronutrient deficiencies. which mola can be cultured.” have been carried out to determine For example, weak monitoring system Shamsunnahar Nahid, a senior the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency and inappropriate target-setting at nutrition consultant at the Bangladesh among different population groups. sub-district level result in unexpected Institute of Research and Rehabilitation The International Centre for Diarrhoeal coverage in some areas. There are gaps for Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disease Research and UNICEF between administrative coverage reports diseases, says mola is a great source of conducted a joint survey there in 2011- and survey coverage reports, while it calcium, protein and vitamin B, and is 2012, which revealed that more than is difficult to reach those children who essential for growth in children. “If mola 75 percent of preschool children in live in the most remote and deprived fish culture is promoted nationwide the country suffered from some form of communities, according to campaign through proper campaigns, that would VAD. results. be a huge contribution towards ending Based on the prevalence of night Since 1988, the New York-based malnutrition,” she says. blindness in preschool children, some Helen Keller International Centre has been Dr. Ahmed is a senior researcher studies have positively shown that the running a community-based programme associated with the Institute of Nutrition overall rate of deficiency in Bangladesh in different parts of Bangladesh to produce and Food Science at the University of improved from 3.6% in 1982-83 to such foods that are fortified with vitamin Dhaka. He says, “Bangladesh needs a The Missing 1.78% in 1989 and 0.6% in 1996. A, as a long-term strategy to mitigate more appropriate mix of interventions However, the National Nutrition Survey vitamin A deficiency, particularly among for the entire population to improve the in 2012 revealed a high prevalence of children and women. situation of vitamin A deficiency. More subclinical vitamin A deficiency as one Vitamin A is naturally found in such operational research and evaluation are of the major public health concerns in commonly available foods as tropical needed if a fully effective programme Bangladesh. fruits, winter squashes, sweet potatoes, to alleviate the problem of vitamin A In a human body, low levels of dried apricots, dark leafy greens, deficiency is to be developed. To achieve serum retinol determine subclinical cabbage, beetroot, cantaloupe, lettuce, the goal of virtual elimination of vitamin Ingredient vitamin A deficiency. Based on this bell peppers, carrots, liver, and fish. A deficiency will require an integrated medical standard, many reports indicate Headquartered in Malaysia, approach which brings together that the rate of night blindness among WorldFish is a global, non-profit research appropriate actions at every level within adolescents and schoolage children is organization that is working to reduce and across the many sectors of society.” quite high in rural Bangladesh, whereas global poverty and hunger by harnessing Besides running short and long-term night blindness among rural women is the potential of aquaculture and fisheries. VAD control and prevention programmes, nearly 1.5%. In different population Craig Meisner, the Country Director the government of Bangladesh needs an groups in the country, dietary intake of of WorldFish Bangladesh, says, “In integrated approach to tackle growing vitamin A is found to be below the RDI Bangladesh, the mola fish represents a health concerns related to the vitamin (Recommended Daily Intake). RDI is the low-cost, locally-sourced food that can A deficiency. To achieve the goal, a daily intake level of a nutrient which dramatically improve nutrition and health mass public awareness programme is must be taken in adequate amounts by for a major section of the population. necessary which will help the people every man and woman to meet the basic Eating mola, a small indigenous fish, realise the significance of vitamin A and requirements. can give substantial health benefits, how to grow vitamin A rich foods on their In 1973, the government of particularly in preventing diseases caused own. Bangladesh initiated a nationwide by vitamin A deficiency.” ‘Nutritional Blindness Programme’ to According to research conducted The writer is a member of the staff.

SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 51 FEATURE SRI LANKA

Bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and China promoted in the Rajapakse regime are paying dividends now – and these may not necessarily be welcome for the new dispensation.

By Syed Zeeshan Ahmed

ri Lanka, it appears, is willing to stay Sri Lanka’s Finance Minister has said close to China. Both countries have that while his government has had close Sbeen participants in a number of deals relations with China, a few aspects related but not all have been properly managed to ‘government to business’ contacts were and have fallen short of the potential. certainly ‘messed’ up during the Mahinda Sri Lanka now plans to reinterpret all Rajapakse regime. the previous deals. Ravi Karunanayake, Rajapakse held office for a decade On a Tight Rope Tight On a

52 SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 and during his tenure welcomed Chinese investment int he country. But since the end of his tenure and start of a new government, questions Focusing on one country has also have started emerging. The deals have come under scrutiny and corruption limited Sri Lanka’s economic horizon. allegations have also been leveled. It is quite clear that the government Moreover, if reports are to be believed under Maithripala Sirisena is prepared to make amends and take then Sri Lanka owes more than $5 new directions. But how exactly are they going to do it? billion to Chinese lenders. Karunanayake, while acknowled- ging close relations with China, has also mentioned that all the inconsistencies and issues with the regime had developed a situation built bridges where there were no previous deals will be evaluated. He where China was the only country in rivers. . . That’s the type of corruption has also elaborated that the previous focus but the current government will that went on.” not be following that. He has said that While Rajapakse’s supporters have while China is certainly an economic rejected the allegations of corruption giant but there were other countries but the kind of imbalance in terms in the world which were ignored. The of economy cannot be ignored. This important question being: why focus situation has been damaging Sri on a single country and why not Lanka’s economy and has devalued make a plan that will involve other its currency. In the South Asian region countries too? there have been talks and discussions While Karunanayake’s statements regarding the various projects among might seem strange to some, to start South Asian countries, including reconsidering the nature of relations the ones involving China, India and with a country such as China after Pakistan. Keep that in perspective, it such a long period is quite intriguing. is imperative that Sri Lanka doesn’t But those who have been observing hamper its relations with China, given relations between both countries the poor ‘response’ to the funds given would know that the statements reflect in the past. Sri Lanka wants to assure the issues which have been ignored China that things will be carefully for such a long time. As stated before, taken care of. these ‘deals’ have not been up to the Another thing Sri Lanka appears to mark and have fallen well short of the be considering is the country’s place potential, with no clear evaluation. within the future economic framework Focusing one country has also among South Asian countries. For the limited Sri Lanka’s economic horizon. island country to prosper and keep Moreover, if reports are to be believed up with the developing region, it is then Sri Lanka owes more than $5 important that it stays ‘relevant’ in the billion to Chinese lenders. With no region and builds an image that puts clarity of plans, the situation becomes forward positivity with regard to the even more alarming. Considering economy. Anything contrary to that all these things, it’s only logical for will definitely put Sri Lanka’s economic the new government to start making ambitions, and financial stability in changes to the worn-out policies and jeopardy. reach out to other countries as well, What can be gathered from all this along with carefully analyzing the is that the government doesn’t want previous deals. Anushka Wijesinha, the country’s economy to suffer any who is a Sri Lankan economist, further. With so much debt already (an writes about the Sri Lanka – China overall gigantic debt of around $25 relationship: “We don’t know what billion) things have been going south the cost of these projects really was. for the country in terms of economy We’re just getting our mind around it. and the only solution, it seems, is to We don’t really know what went on start expanding the horizon. Right with the public finances.” now, it looks like the best option. This The projects which were put in ‘change’, however, should be carefully motion during the last regime included led and all details must be taken several highway projects, a cellphone care of leaving no loose ends. How tower worth $103 million and effective this ‘reinterpretation’ will be, shaped like a lotus flower and so on. is something yet to be seen. Highlighting the level of corruption and misuse of funds, Karunanayake The writer explores subjects of said in one of his interviews “They historical importance.

SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 53 FEATURE BHUTAN Where Men Are Happier

The lot of women in Bhutan needs to be re-examined to bring them at par with men.

By Fatima Siraj

ather than being a nation that most countries make use of to to prosperity that focuses on the well- focuses on common economic determine their progress, Bhutan has being of its people. The country’s Gross Rmeasures, such as GDP, that been known for its unique approach National Happiness (GNH) Index has

54 SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 been a refreshing statistic that has gender index to examine countries ultimately take a toll on their physical set this nation apart in a world that across education, health, political and mental well -being. The same GNH values economic growth more than the empowerment and economic opp- study of 2010 that found women to be general well-being of the population. ortunities, found that Bhutan remains less happy than men concluded that However, Bhutan’s levels of well-being, a South Asian country that faces Bhutanese women were overworked satisfaction or ‘happiness’, are far from the worst gender disparities. These and time-deprived. Their home and equal when it comes to gauging them disparities are particularly pronounced community responsibilities add to their across genders. The multi-dimensional in the areas of health and political economic and agricultural activities and GNH index covers nine areas, empowerment. The results are backed this makes a working day for them very which include time use, literacy and by statistics that shed some light on long indeed. Their ‘work’ consists of education, political participation, life just how wide the gap is in these two many forms of unpaid labour, including satisfaction, living standards and social areas. Female representation, both in childcare, household maintenance, support. Describing how the index the parliament and in local government farming, gardening, looking after the works, the Asian Development Bank bodies, is significantly low, standing sick and community work. said in a report, “assessments using at 9% and 7%, respectively. Women Even in areas of employment and the index consider the proportion are also poorly represented in the education, while there is improvement, of respondents that have achieved a civil service, especially at the upper there is still much that needs to ‘sufficiency’ on each indicator as well decision-making levels. According be done to close the gender gap. as well-being above that.” Based on to a 2014 report published by the Particularly troubling is the fact that this assessment, the 2010 GNH Report Asian Development Bank, it was despite increasing levels of equality found that only 33% of women had found that in 2012 only 36% of all in education, employment levels still achieved sufficiency or ‘happiness’ as civil servants were female with a remain much lower for women than for compared to 49% men. This significant mere 6% being a part of the executive men. This is especially pronounced in gap reflects the troubling fact that level. Furthermore, there was only the urban areas where unemployment women are less happy in Bhutan than one female district administrator levels for women at all levels of men. (Dzondag) out of the total twenty and education are very high, especially those In 2015, the Global Gender very few female judges. having acquired tertiary education. The Gap Report (GGGR), which uses a This under-representation is a situation stands is in contrast to the one reflection of the attitudes prevalent in in rural areas where women dominate Bhutan regarding women’s potential and work hand in hand with men, to succeed in leadership roles. A 2010 resulting in them being overworked study focusing on these attitudes is as they have to shoulder the burden of worth discussing here as the sample domestic duties as well. There is a great surveyed consisted of students of the need to pay attention to women’s needs Sherubtse College. Being Bhutan’s in the context in which they work. leading educational institution, the While there needs to be more access to college grooms a large chunk of the employment opportunities for women nation’s new generation of leaders in urban areas, there needs to be more both in the private and public sectors. support for women in rural areas too so What they think is therefore of great that they can have a healthy work-life relevance but the results sadly indicate balance. discriminative attitudes towards It is the responsibility of all women. stakeholders involved to bring forth When asked about the comparative and highlight women’s issues so that capacity of men and women for they can be dealt with proactively. leadership, male participants There needs to be pressure on the responded by saying that men made government to introduce women- the best leaders (58%) while 78% of friendly legislation. According to the women thought that their capacity was chairperson of the Women’s Committee more or less equal to that of their male in the parliament, which also deals counterparts. When asked why they with children and youth issues, there think few women hold top leadership have hardly been any issues that have positions in public office or politics, been referred. He urged agencies to men responded by attributing such refer problems that can be solved under-representation to women’s lack through legislative action so that of drive, toughness and leadership recommendations may be made to the qualities. Women, on the other hand, parliament. He quoted the example of attributed it to societal factors and a six -month maternity leave proposed discrimination. by the Royal Civil Service Commission, Furthermore, with regard to health, saying it has been taken in a positive the Global Gender Gap Report found light by the government. If more such that women are more likely than men proposals are put forward, the path to fall victims to deaths resulting from can be paved for a reduction in gender heart disease and diabetes. These based disparities across the country. lower life chances can be attributed to the many issues women face at home The writer is currently pursuing a BBA and outside. One such issue relates to degree. She focuses on marketing and the increasing demands on women that social issues.

SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 55 SLUGFEATURE NEPAL

The Lonely Woman Widowhood is traditionally a curse in Nepal but times are changing and the ‘single’ woman is now less oppressed.

By Samina Wahid

n a patriarchal and male-dominated death. Widowhood in Nepal begins vegetarians, stop wearing bright colours society like Nepal, where women with the primary mourning period (especially red) and often face hurdles Iare systematically discriminated known as kriya which means 13 days when it comes to matters of inheritance against, widows (often referred to of fasting, bathing and prayer. Women or obtaining travel documents, both as ' single women ' given the agony observing kriya are not allowed to touch of which require male signatures. As and humiliation attached to the word anyone and can only be dressed in it is, women in Nepal do not have ‘widow’ in the country) remain the most white clothes that have no seams. They any rights over their children since marginalized and abused section of the are also required to prepare their food they are thought to belong essentially population. No sooner is a Nepalese without salt. Often, the family also takes to the father and his family, and this woman widowed, she is looked down part in this primary mourning ritual, does not change even after the latter upon and often perceived as a burden preparing their meals without salt and dies. Widows are also not permitted to on the family. wearing white, so that their mourning remarry and it is mandatory for them The death of her husband means a may be publicly recognized. to observe sarad on the anniversary of lonely and quiet life for her regardless It doesn’t end here – widows in their husbands’ death. When it comes of how old or young she is. A young Nepal, like their counterparts in India to festivals, weddings or any cultural single woman (widow) is viewed as an who also practice the same customs, event, they must attend as widows, adversary and the family often taunts her are required to commit to lifelong wearing white or light coloured clothes as being responsible for her husband's chastity and loneliness. They become without makeup or jewellery so that the

56 SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 community is aware of their status. In fact, position in society. For instance, a husbands' families after their death. in the ancient Sanskrit text Manusmriti, widow who is childless or has only However, a weakness of the Bill is that a work considered important to Hindu female children basically has no rights. the widow must return the remaining law, it is said that widows should only No one is obligated to provide for her inheritance to the late husband’s heirs if eat fruit and make themselves lean or her daughters – the in-laws do not she remarries. and thin and should not even utter the take care of them because the woman While these legal changes seem name of other men. Similarly, another did not provide the family with a male hopeful, tradition trumps law. The media religious book, Aagiras Smriti, says that offspring while the birth family pretty has been arguing heavily against the new if a woman wears colourful clothes after much conveniently signs off its rights inheritance rights laws, alleging “The the death of her husband, the couple is over the woman once she is married. Nepalese society is not yet prepared doomed to hell. These women often depend on the to embrace equal property rights. Widowhood in Nepal can only be kindness of strangers but withdrawing Nepalese social structure would be understood if one understands what it one’s support to them is not perceived badly disturbed by equal property rights means to be a Hindu wife. Nepalese as socially unacceptable. and Hindu religion would be wounded if women marry into their husband’s Add illiteracy and an agrarian equal property right is given.” The media families and are adopted into the latter’s economy that does not offer much has also stated that domestic violence multigenerational homes. Inheritance of opportunity for people without land and divorce rates would skyrocket as land or property happens through men or family, and the young widow faces result of power struggles between the since Nepal is an agrarian economy a cursed fate if her in-laws are unkind. two heads of the household. where land means wealth. Spiritually, Seen as unlucky, she may be shunned, Even so, cultural expectations for Hindu scripture essentially recognizes isolated and barred from celebrations, young women are slowly changing. The the fullest expression of a woman’s too. literacy rate among women in Nepal religious life as her role as a wife and Despite the 1990 revisions to the Ne- has risen steadily, going from 15 percent mother. Critically, this setup provides palese Constitution, which guarantees in 1981 to 75 percent in 2011. The security as long as a woman stays within women the “right to equality” in regard agrarian economy is changing, offering it. A husband is responsible for his wife’s to inheritance (including the daughter’s more opportunities for independence. well-being, and if a woman is widowed claim over a father’s estate), such laws Cell phones and social media have at a venerable age, she is cared for by have not been enforced. Widows, become ubiquitous, connecting women a son who inherits the household, in daughters, ex-wives, divorcees and rape to each other and to information. And which she has become a respected victims are routinely denied inheritances. with thousands of young men migrating matriarch. Widowhood customs at their Recognizing this, the Nepalese abroad for work, there are more young most conservative, therefore, can be government has taken the initiative to women at home alone than ever before. seen as reinforcing a secure social and enforce its constitutional promises. One ‘Single’ women in Nepal may not be as spiritual identity for women, limited as such initiative is the Country Code (11th oppressed as they were two decades ago that role may be. And for old women Amendment) Bill of 1997, which grants but they are still required to live a life of in rural areas, these customs are often widows unfettered access and authority quiet desperation and loneliness. meaningful as such. to the estate. The Bill has also removed However, a young widow in Nepal the age restriction placed on widows, The writer is a freelance journalist who does not fit into society’s preconceived allowing them to claim property contributes regularly to various leading notions of the woman’s role and and even live independently of their publications.

SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 57 FEATURE THE MALDIVES Paradox in Paradise Climate change and rising sea levels threaten to disrupt the beauty of the Maldives.

By Mahrukh Farooq

ccording to a report titled, ‘Have highlighted by the report states that if ecosystem; coral reefs. In addition to There Been Large Recent Sea the rate at which sea levels are rising this, the Maldives holds the distinction ALevel Changes in the Maldives were to accelerate and instead rise by of being the ‘flattest country on Earth’ Islands?’ by Philip L. Woodworth, the three feet (approximately one metre), with no ground surface higher than Republic of the Maldives, which is then the Maldives will be completely 9.9 feet (3 meters) and 80% of the land sometimes referred to as ‘the lowest inundated by 2085. area lying below 3.3 feet (1 meter). lying country on Earth’, has been These findings present just a portion It is also the most scattered country deemed extremely vulnerable to rising of a much larger problem that is afflicting on the planet with a highly dispersed sea levels and, as a result, faces the us on a global scale. According to the population, thus making the country very real possibility of virtually its Environmental Protection Agency, the most vulnerable to displacement entire land area becoming submerged global sea levels have risen by around of local populations due to floods. underwater by the end of this century. 7.5 inches since 1870. Another paper Combine this with rising temperatures In order to fully determine the future titled, ‘A 20th Century Acceleration of the sea as well as acidity of the trends of the phenomenon, a research in Global Sea-Level Rise’, by J.A. ocean, both of which have proven to team was sent to the island nation to Church and N.J. White, states that be deadly to coral reefs, and you have analyze the past and current variations sea levels the world over have been a recipe for disaster. of sea levels. The conclusion drawn increasing at a steady rate of 0.07 inch Up until two years ago, much from the expedition clearly showed a (1.7 millimeters) per year since 1950, of the Maldivian civil society and previous estimate of sea levels having although the rate has increased to 0.13 business community had yet to take dropped 30 cm during the past few inches (3.3 millimeters) from 1993 the issue seriously. The country’s decades to be completely implausible. onwards, thereby suggesting an overall 400,000 islanders are entirely hooked In fact, the report predicts, while citing acceleration of pace. onto Diesel for all their energy needs. additional suggestions made by the These circumstances pose dangers According to a report drafted by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate to other low-lying countries such The Guardian, “The nation, which is Change Third Assessment report that sea as Kiribati, Palau, Micronesia and close to broke, spends over a quarter levels around the islands will actually Seychelles; yet, it is the Maldives which of its GDP on the fuel and pays rise by around half a metre – thereby is the most susceptible to the threat as, colossal subsidies to keep energy bills resulting in the Maldives losing 77% unlike the aforementioned countries, affordable.” of its land area – by 2100. Another, the country’s very foundations are Though solar power would even more disturbing, probability based on the world’s most endangered represent just a quarter of the funds

58 SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 Paradox in Paradise

already spent on fuel, the sheer groundwater and increase in rainwater According to Mohamed Aslam, absence of capital and infrastructure harvest along with an increase in the a former environment minister, most to support the development of solar elevation of the critical infrastructure. voters are concerned with matters that power related projects has rendered Other countries that have responded directly affect them in the short term, that alternative virtually impossible. to the crisis of rising sea levels, such such as housing, welfare and health According to Mohamed Arjwad at as the $332 million U-shaped berm benefits. "There is a mismatch in the Maldives Energy Authority, this that protects the Lower East Side of timescale. Climate change is decade- is due to international investors Manhattan with an isolated flood long or more but political timescales concentrating their investments in zone and a slew of recreational areas, are four to five years," he says. "But tourism, the mainstay of the country’s Rotterdam’s massive floodgates that you need to survive to enjoy those economy. As of 2013, the existing protect the city from storm surges and benefits. Just because you are not dead 110 resort islands were expected to flooding, Vietnam’s initiative to build now doesn't mean you are not dying." be joined by nearly 50-60 additional stronger, more flood-resistant homes, Although the recent release of similar projects. as well as Semarang’s flood forecasting the report for the Intergovernmental Further complicating the situation system, can serve as examples for the Panel on Climate Change is expected is Maldives’ fishing industry which Maldives. to draw attention of major quarters in has been responsible for eradicating Another alternative is the country’s both the political and governmental the island’s groupers and snappers, vast resource of solar power which has segments of the country, what remains both of which play a pivotal role in its been proven to be cheaper than fuel to be seen is whether the warnings ecosystem. Cumulatively, the country’s but which may involve payment of a issued via the report, most of which growing rubbish problem combined hefty cost upfront. are related to rising sea levels and with a lack of freshwater caused by But perhaps one of the biggest the effects of global warming, will be transient seawater inundation during challenges for the country is the overall heeded. What is for certain though the event of the 2004 tsunami, have lack of awareness. Most Maldivians is that should there be any delay in further amplified the hazards facing rarely get the chance to travel in the action with regard to the adverse the picturesque islands. vast archipelago, simply because it is effects of global warming, there will There is, however, still some hope. too expensive. As a result, many miss come a time when it will be too late to The Maldivian Ministry of Home out on seeing the riches below the sea do anything. Affairs, Housing and Environment has surface as well as the dangers posed already emphasized the protection of to them. The writer is a member of the staff.

SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 59 BOOKS & REVIEWS History Revisited

The geographical areas Kenoyer’s regret finds a louder that are part of Pakistan today echo in the next essay, “The Advent Book Title: A History of Pakistan had a flourishing urban society of Islam in South Asia,” by Manan Author: Roger D. Long when most of the world was Ahmad Asif. “This essay,” he claims, Publisher: Oxford University Press still plunged in darkness and “is one small step” to contest was ruled by the Nanda dynasty Pakistan’s origin myth and takes the Pages: 888 through the Mauriyas, Sungas, official version of the “advent of Islam ISBN: 9780199400249 Greco-Bactrians, Parthians, in South Asia” as taught in schools, Kushanas, Sakas, Guptas and head on, exposing with elaborate Harshavardhana. quotes from school textbooks, how Reviewed by S.G. Jilanee This knowledge should history has been distorted to create ordinarily have been a source the myth about Pakistan’s origin, de- of pride for Pakistanis, but the linking it from the ancient past and History of Pakistan” is not author laments that “there has been tracing it to the conquest of Sindh by another book of history in little attempt to use the archaeological the Umayyad troops in 711 CE, and “A the general sense of the past to reinforce the modern political “the assumption that it was from this term as it is neither written by one structure or to validate the existence of seed that Islam spread throughout the author, nor is it a continuous narrative Pakistan as a modern nation.” Indian peninsula.” about people and events. It is a The author also debunks two ba- collection of 19 essays, most of sic claims made in the textbooks, which read like op-ed pieces namely, that Mohammad bin by eminent scholars and are Qasim’s expedition was the first set in a chronological order. Arab foray into this region and Each essay is self-contained that it was in retaliation to Raja and independent, with profuse Dahir’s refusal to return Arab annotations, dealing with a women, captured by pirates, as particular topic. A few are they were sailing home from Sri opinion pieces, like Ayesha Lanka. Siddiqa’s on Pervez Musharraf. To the contrary, Arabs had As a result, there is much been sending expeditions to this duplication and overlapping region from long before and had that has enlarged the size of captured Makran in 664 C.E. the book. Similarly, “the piracy episode….. The two opening chapters and the expedition against Daybul are by archaeologist Jonathan led by bin Qasim were separated Mark Kenoyer and deal with by at least a decade!” Moreover, Pakistan’s rich archaeological “Not only was the piracy episode heritage. One covers the Stone not the casus belli but there Age; the other dwells on the is no historical justification “Early historic chiefdoms to even seek a unique cause and states of the northern behind Mohammad bin Qasim’s subcontinent.” With the help expedition.” And, finally, “there of figures and maps, the author never was mass conversion; traces the origin of Pakistan ….there never was a ‘Muslim’ nor to “more than two million a ‘Hindu’ category,” as the pupils years ago” with the “earliest are taught. evidence of human presence This is followed by discussion in the Potohar Plateau,” being on the Delhi Sultanate, through 500,000 years old. the Mughal Empire and British

60 SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 rule to the achievement of Pakistan. which makes him the only military Benazir and Nawaz Sharif, each took In the essay on Delhi Sultanate, ruler to date in Pakistan to have actually two turns at governance. we come across the eye-opener kept his word of holding elections a Next follows a lengthy critique that temple destruction was not year after assuming power.” of Gen. Pervez Musharraf by Ayesha indiscriminate as a state policy. In fact Bose argues that “Yahya was a Siddiqa. But she misses mention of “Temple desecration pre-dates the general with no political interests Musharraf’s state visit to India and coming of Muslim rulers. ….Hindu or ambitions. And one who did the Kashmir formula he sent to Indian rulers (also) engaged in acts of temple not seek political power, but had it Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. desecration.” thrust on him ….through the force Much of what has been discussed One chapter lists other luminaries of circumstances.” He wanted the in other essays, has, perforce, been among “Founders of Pakistan,” besides feuding political leaders to sort out repeated in the chapter on Pakistan’s Qaed-e-Azam, who contributed to the their differences amicably. So, when foreign policy. But, nothing has achievement of independence. in Dhaka, Mujib and Bhutto each been said about Pak-Soviet relations. In “The democratic phase,” Ian sat “half turned away from the other, Why, for instance, the relations have Talbot analyses why democracy failed Yahya chided them ….indicating always remained sour, despite Soviet to take root, leading to the 1958 coup. that they appeared to be like bashful mediation in the 1965 War and its gift Separate chapters discuss Ayub Khan, newlyweds.” Even as to Yahya’s of the Steel Mill. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Ziaul Haq at weakness for alcohol, the author cites In the end, one chapter discusses length. The Bhutto chapter mentions some of his close associates saying Pakistan’s economic model and the little heard of letter by Lt. Gen. that his drinking habit “did not affect concludes with the remark that the Chishti to Bhutto, warning him about his policy decisions.” He was “never economic hardship which the people the growing frustration in the lower drunk at cabinet meetings.” He was of Pakistan have been facing since ranks of the army and requesting him a “man who lived without pretence” its creation “can be transformed to hold elections: a clear warning of and one who “would go an extra only when institutional barrier to a the impending doom. mile to help people.” In the author’s pro-human development model are Sarmila Bose, is perhaps the first opinion, “….he was the wrong person removed.” writer to look at Yahya Khan kindly. in the wrong business at the wrong The book ends with a scholarly Under “Three turbulent years,” she time.” discourse on the social and examines his rule and highlights some Mariam Mufti gives a quick survey cultural history of Pakistan “post- of his major achievements such as of the “years of a failed democratic independence.” helping the Sino-US rapport. He also transition” covering the period from Despite its shortcomings, this “restored normal political activity and Ziaul Haq’s demise in 1988 to Nawaz History of Pakistan is valuable for its conducted elections ….in good time, Sharif’s exile in 1999, during which many gems of rare information.

SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 61 SouthasiaSLUG 15 Years Ago

A page from Southasia, 2001

SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016 6262 SOUTHASIA • FEBRUARY 2016