July 2017 Across theLine PAKISTAN INTERVIEW NISAR MEMON Whither AAP? INDIA Kalabagh Dam! Kalabagh Dam! INSIDE Empowering aCity Sri Lanka consign ittothedustbin ofhistory? consign ittothedustbin ofhistory? Kalabagh Dam and take advantage Kalabagh Damand takeadvantage Kalabagh Dam and take advantage Kalabagh Damand takeadvantage of its many benefits such as more of its many benefits such as more Who cares Who cares hydel power capacity or will it hydel power capacityor willit hydel power capacity or will it hydel power capacityor willit about the about the A ParadigmShift NEIGHBOUR Will Pakistan build the Will Pakistan build the

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Contents 12 Kalabagh Dam Pros and Cons A project beset by controversy that is hurting Pakistan at its very roots.

Nepal Boon or Bane? The country’s new India 36 constitution is not marching in line with 26 the army. The Lal Batti Goes! A good tradition set by the Indian government. Bhutan Blessing for Women Women in Bhutan would 40 benefit in the long-run.

The Maldives Power Moves Fighting siblings cause 42 a power vaccuum in the Maldives. 34 Afghanistan The Misguided Bomb The Americans treat the land as a region for war experiments.

4 SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 REGULAR FEATURES

Editor’s Mail 8 On Record 9 Briefs 10 COVER STORY

Kalabagh Dam – Pros and Cons 12 Two Dreams 16 The ‘If’ and ‘But” dam 18 Interview: Nisar Memon 22 The Dam That Isn’t 24 REGION

India The Lal Batti Goes! 26 Whither AAP? 28 Pakistan 44 Quest for Transparency 30 International Across the Line 32 A Changed Stance Afghanistan The US plays to the 34 gallery in the Gulf. The Misguided Bomb Nepal Boon or Bane? 36 Walking the Talk 38 Bhutan Blessing for Women 40 50 The Maldives Development 42 Train to Nowhere Power Moves Shahbaz Sharif believes INTERNATIONAL in carrying forward with A Changed Stance 44 expensive projects. NEIGHBOUR

A Paradigm Shift 46 FEATURES

Economic Disaster Development Happy Cows Train to Nowhere 50 The cow gets more protection in India. 54 Health The Suicide Enigma 52 Economic Disaster Happy Cows 54 Youth Social Catharsis 56 Infrastructure Empowering a City 58 Society 46 Celebrating Prayer 60 Neighbour SOUTHASIA 15 Years Ago 62 A Paradigm Shift There is a warming of relations between Russia and Pakistan.

SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 5 Ad 3 COMMENT

Playing it Right JULY 2017 Vol.21 Issue 7 he Saudi-Qatari conflict poses a difficult diplomatic test for Pakistan as it enjoys close economic and geopolitical ties with both Riyadh and Doha. PRESIDENT & EDITOR IN CHIEF TThere is a diplomatic standoff in the Arab world and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Syed Jawaid Iqbal Egypt, Yemen and the UAE have severed ties with Qatar, creating a catch-22 MANAGING EDITOR situation for Pakistan. Saudi Arabia expects unconditional support from Pakistan Zeba Jawaid while Qatar demands firm support from the country in view of the much talked about Qatari letter and the LNG deal. Briefing the Senate standing committee, EDITOR Pakistan’s advisor on foreign affairs, Sartaj Aziz said that Pakistan would pursue Javed Ansari a neutral policy on the Gulf crisis and try its best for reconciliation among the ASSISTANT EDITORS brotherly Muslim countries. The situation turned a bit sour when Nawaz Sharif Faizan Usmani – Hafiz Inam dashed to Saudi Arabia and his offer for reconciliation was turned down with a Mahrukh Farooq simple question - Are you with us or…? He is said to have met the Saudi King as a part of his mediatory efforts and also talked with the Qatari Emir on phone. CONTRIBUTING EDITOR The situation got worse with the report that Pakistan could send up to 20,000 S. G. Jilanee soldiers to Qatar. Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria had to clarify things by CONTRIBUTORS saying that the report was false and appeared to be part of a malicious campaign Sanghmitra S Acharya – Dr. Moonis Ahmar – Engineer aimed at creating a misunderstanding between Pakistan and the Gulf Muslim Barkat Ali – Khawaja Amer – Mirza Aqeel Baig nations. Pakistan’s position is precarious because Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Huzaima Bukhari – S. M. Hali – Dr. Ikramul Haq enjoys a personal relationship with the royal family of Saudi Arabia while Qatar’s S.G. Jilanee – Dr. Raza Khan – Saleem Khan Prince Hamad bin Jasim bin Jaber Al-Thani is playing a role in defending the Taha Kehar – Dr. Syed Ali Madni – K. A. Naqshbandi Sharifs in the Panama case and the country just cannot afford to displease Qatar. Samina Wahid – Hujjatullah Zia Riyadh has saved Sharif’s life in the past when Pervez Musharraf imprisoned him after his coup in 1999 and this he can never forget. With the Qatar-Gulf GRAPHICS & LAYOUT States standoff, the question of Raheel Sharif’s commanding a military alliance Kamran Ghulam Nabi of Muslim states has also become controversial. The alliance was formed by Haroon Rasheed Riaz Masih Saudi Arabia in December 2015 with its headquarters in Riyadh. Though the Pakistan government is said to have granted permission to retired general Raheel MARKETING & ADVERTISING Sharif to lead the force despite reservations from Iran, the situation has now Aqam-ud-Din Khan changed. As such, Raheel Sharif’s continuation in the job has become somewhat SPECIAL PROJECTS controversial. There are some reports that Gen. Raheel Sharif is considering Syed Ovais Akhtar returning home in wake of the open anti-Iran posture by Washington and Riyadh. Hira Sarwar But his speculated departure from Saudi Arabia is as much shrouded in mystery and secrecy as was his decision to join the Saudi-led alliance. COORDINATOR Moreover, unfortunately the Saudi-Qatari conflict has come at a time when Shehryar Zulfiqar Pakistan has many internal problems and is going through tensions with India, Iran CIRCULATION and Afghanistan. At this time, it badly needs support from its friends, especially Danish Shahid the Arab world. With a seemingly prolonged Saudi-Qatar rift, Pakistan faces a difficult choice, especially vis-à-vis its multipronged security and energy crises. EDITORIAL & BUSINESS OFFICE Saudi Arabia is its largest source of remittances annually. With Qatar, Pakistan 20-C, Lane 12, off Khayaban-e-Ittehad, Phase II has signed a 15-year gas supply agreement to import 3.75 million tonnes of Extension, DHA, Karachi - 75500, Pakistan Phones: 92-21- 35313821-24 liquefied natural gas (LNG) annually and add 2,000 megawatts of power to the Fax: 92-21-35313832 national grid. Website: www.southasia.com.pk With the US approach to single out Iran, the situation has become difficult Email: [email protected] because Qatar and Iran share the same gas reserves and cannot afford to go against each other. Any effort for compromise between Qatar and Saudi Arabia MIDDLE EAST without Iran’s participation would not be possible. REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is definitely in a better position than Donald Pirana Advertising JLT Trump to broker a deal between Qatar and Saudi Arabia because of his personal PO Box 486207, 1704, Level 17, HDS Tower, relationships. He can still bring both the countries to the negotiating table very Jumeirah Lake Towers Cluster F, Dubai, UAE cautiously keeping himself away from siding with any party. Naturally, Pakistan Phone: +97-14- 4508309 Fax: +97-14-3688487 must take some difficult decisions in the process, including Gen. Raheel’s early Email: [email protected] return to Pakistan. Negotiating is a way of reconciling the various visions and needs of two parties, as well as an inevitable stepping stone to an improved future. Will Pakistan pick up the gauntlet by maintaining a neutral policy in this SouthAsia is published every month situation? The country is at the receiving end and needs to play its cards right by Syed Jawaid Iqbal for and on behalf of as the world’s second biggest Muslim state, the only Muslim nuclear power and JAWZ Communications (Pvt.) Ltd. possessing an army that is one of the best in the world. It must emphasise its and printed by Union Graphics, Karachi. position on these lines and emerge as an important country instead of simply Views expressed by the contributors are becoming a footnote of history. not necessarily shared by the editors.

Published since 1977 as Thirdworld, the magazine was re-launched in 1997 as SouthAsia.

Syed Jawaid Iqbal EDITOR’S MAIL

world where even a low- citizens’ rights, this trend on the tradition of naming Avoid and performing government is is getting out of hand development projects and Rule able to stand up in front and should be stopped buildings after political of its people with its false immediately. figures in India. As per my claims about nationwide observation, the situation is development and economic S. Nagesha quite similar in Pakistan as progress. Krishnamurthy, well. Particularly in Sindh, Noida, India. the provincial government Rubina Anwar, has been consistently using Gujranwala, Pakistan. What Ails state machinery to glorify slain PPP chairperson Anti-Romeo Afghanistan Benazir Bhutto. On her first Along with many other death anniversary in 2008, Squads long standing issues, the State Bank of Pakistan UP Chief Minister Yogi the lack of genuine and issued a commemorative Adityanath has been taking visionary leadership is a coin of Rs. 10 denomination, innovative measures to major concern hurting while the Pakistan Post also tackle social evils. Soon Afghanistan since ages. issued a commemorative after taking oath, he There has been a continued postage stamp of Rs. 4 in introduced ‘anti-Romeo’ clash between individuals squads, a self-appointed and institutions for egoistic group of vigilantes to reasons and everyone in the curb eve-teasing and corridors of power seems to sexual harassment of drag each other’s feet, with women in public spaces. total disregard for the future Although the bizarre of the war-torn country. In decision could not bring fact, personalities tend to down harassment against have a definite dominance This is with reference women, it has given rise over institutions and try to to last month’s cover to harassment of innocent run state affairs as per their story on the complacent youth. Now, the so-called own discretion, instead attitude often shown by moral brigades have been of working in tandem the government over the given a mandate to cross- with all stakeholders. state of public welfare. For question any young couple Unfortunately, institutions honour of Benazir Bhutto. rulers in this part of the sitting in a public park or in Afghanistan are never This is utterly nonsense, as world, it has become quite they may go to the extent given their due status and well as a blatant misuse of a common phenomenon to of asking a couple walking individuals decide state public funds. As a prime rate their performance as in the street to show its matters or manage the minister of the country, satisfactory no matter how marriage certificate. In policymaking process, Benazir’s rule was full of poor it has been. To be very bypassing the legislature as lawlessness and corruption. honest, this approach makes well as other governmental If she were still alive, we sense for the government agencies. Frankly speaking, would know more about her as showing only a rosy this is not a conspiracy corruption scandals, instead picture to the people hatched by our enemies, of fabricated stories of her gives it a reason to stay but our own incompetence greatness. Personalities in power. No government and the lack of ability that should be venerated and can afford to blame itself pushes us way behind the discussed on merit, a culture for its wrongdoings. Briefly international community. the PPP can never afford. put, the ruling class has been religiously following Rajab Ali Kandhari, Syed Mohammad Imtiaz, an ‘avoid and rule’ policy Kabul, Afghanistan. Lahore, Pakistan. to focus on its vested interests, giving less regard to the plight of common a few incidents, some What’s In a GSP+ Status citizens. More than a couples with children under Threat Machiavellian approach, were even asked to show Name? this is perhaps the art of their children’s birth Recently, three European running government and certificates. Despite an This is with reference to Commission bodies have state affairs in the modern apparent violation of the article by Faizan Usmani jointly sent a warning

8 SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 ON RECORDSLUG

“India has “Pakistan’s nu- lost its secular clear programme credentials and created balance become anti- of power in South Muslim.” Asia, just becom- ing a symbol Pervez Musharraf, of peace as the former President of Pakistan smaller states in the region also heaved a sigh of relief.” Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan “It is true that we have a border dis- pute with China. “The motto of But in the last 40 Bangladesh’s years, not a single foreign policy is bullet has been guided by Bang- A Good Move fired because of abandhu’s direc- border dispute.” tive- ‘Friendship In India, it is a common practice for political Narendra Modi, with all, malice parties to receive cash donations from their supporters. Prime Minister of India to none.’” Though most of the donations come from unknown Sheikh Hasina Wajid, resources, there is no mechanism in place to check Prime Minister of Bangladesh on political funding. As per statistics released by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), in India “The motherland “I will not go to more than 69 per cent of the 11,300 crore in party was saved from Pakistan till the funding over an 11-year period came from unknown separatist ter- perpetrators be- sources. Despite receiving such a huge sum of money, rorism by none hind the attacks in the system’s inability to know the whereabouts of other than our Mazar-i-Sharif, the money senders is a matter of deep concern. The good own war heroes American Univer- news is that the Indian government is now going to as even foreign sity [in Kabul] and introduce electoral bonds to encourage donors to armies failed to do that in the 30- the Kandahar attacks are handed make donations through a banking channel. I fully year civil war in Sri Lanka.” over to Afghan authorities.” support the move, as this will clean up political Maithripala Sirisena, Ashraf Ghani, funding and will help us know who are the people President of Sri Lanka President of Afghanistan investing in political ventures. “Better manage- Sathish Kumar, “Why should you ment of our Dubai, UAE. stay in hiding forests and abroad? Those watersheds mean who thirst for that the entire power here should region will benefit come back to the from a healthier Maldives.” environment.” Abdullah Yameen, Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay, President of the Maldives Prime Minister of Bhutan

“Trying to spy on your allies, if you “We should prac- really consider tice teachings of them allies and letter to Bangladesh stating that it needs to implement Buddha to create a not vassals, is just the recommendations made by the International Labour better world.” indecent.” Organisation last year in order to avoid the suspension Bidhya Devi Vladimir Putin, of GSP+ status the country has been enjoying for the past Bhandari, Russian President few years. This calls for urgent attention because if the EU President of withdraws GSP+ trade benefits for Bangladesh it will not be Nepal able to get zero-duty access to the European market. This “Pity the nation will be detrimental to the country’s readymade garments that needs to jail sector that currently employs more than 4.2 million those who ask people. Owing to GSP+ cancellation, all shipments to the “Until the Iranian for justice while European market would be subject to 12.5 per cent duty regime is willing communal killers, that would be a major blow to Bangladeshi exports as a to be a partner for mass murderers, whole. The Bangladeshi government needs to take some peace, all nations corporate scam- immediate actions to avoid the looming threat of GSP+ of conscience must mers, looters, rapists, and those who concessions withdrawal. work together to prey on the poorest of the poor, isolate it.” roam free.” Ghulam Ali Kibria, Donald Trump, Arundhati Roy, Dhaka, Bangladesh. President of the United States Indian writer

SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 9 BRIEFS

PAKISTAN

Disaster Readiness United Nations World Food Programme, these initiatives are aimed at lessening the risks posed by natural disasters n Balochistan, the Provincial Disaster Management and catastrophes. The Royal Norwegian Embassy (RNE) Authority (PDMA) has recently launched Community has provided the financial support for the initiatives that IBased Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) and School will benefit more than 6,500 people, including teachers, Safety programmes in Jaffarabad and Nasirabad, two hazard- schoolchildren, trainers, and district and local government prone districts of the province. Launched in collaboration officials from 40 schools in 14 villages in two selected with the Focus Humanitarian Assistance Pakistan and the districts.

PAKISTAN Protection for Women he Government of Punjab has established the country’s first Violence Against Women Centre (VAWC) in Multan. The initiative is a part of the TPunjab Protection of Women Against Violence (PPWAV) Act that was enacted by the Punjab Assembly last year. Comprising a shelter home for affected victims, the VAWC will promote gender equality in the region and will protect women from physical, emotional and psychological abuse. The initiative has been inspired from the women’s crisis centres operating in many European and American countries. Three new VAWC centres are going to be established in Punjab this year.

INDIA Disabled-Friendly iranda House, a residential college for women of the University of Delhi, has installed digital talking signage for visually-challenged Mstudents to help them figure out their way across the college. Making technology more accessible to blind students, the new initiative has been taken to make the Delhi University campus disabled-friendly. The college has put up 100 QR code acrylic sheets at such frequently-visited places as classes, libraries, hostel rooms, canteen, etc. Besides installing digital signage, Delhi University has installed screen readers on the computers at the registration desk and also started a special bus service for physically challenged students.

INDIA Science Express aunched by the Indian Ministry of Science and Technology, Science Express is a mobile science exhibition mounted on a 16 coach AC train. It was started in L2007 with the objective of arousing the interest of the young people in science and technology through models, exhibits, and audio-visual displays put up in the train’s coaches. The coaches are thematically represented in such science-related subjects as the Big Bang, architecture of mind, building blocks of life, spaceship earth, universe, world of senses, etc. This year, the train will stop at 70 stations across the country, covering 19,000 kilometres in total.

10 SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 BANGLADESH Internet Access ith more than 41 per cent of the population using internet, Bangladesh is way ahead than the rest of Wthe SAARC nations in terms of internet connectivity and computer access. According to the latest data released by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), the total number of internet users has crossed 67.245 million, which is nearly 41.52 percent of the country’s total population. In contrast, around 35 percent of the population access to the internet. In Pakistan, the total percentage of in India and nearly 30 per cent people in Sri Lanka have internet users is merely 18 per cent.

SRI LANKA Tourist Paradise ri Lanka has been recognized as Asia’s leading destination and leading adventure tourism destination by the World Travel Awards Asia & Australasia SGala Ceremony 2017. Hosted by the luxury Grand Kempinski Hotel, Shanghai, the prestigious event was attended by more than 245 hospitality leaders from across the regions. Sri Lanka took the title of the leading destination for Asia based on online voting cast by travel experts and industry leaders. More recently, Sri Lanka has emerged as one of the major tourist attractions because of its beautiful beaches, adventure tours, wildlife safaris, first-rate surfing and diving attractions.

BHUTAN Green Theme rganised by the Bhutan’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, the third Royal Bhutan Flower Exhibition was recently held in OBhutan. The international exhibition featured over 20 thematic gardens, which were designed by several horticultural organisations, including the armed forces, Green Bhutan officials, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, private florist, and representatives from India, Thailand and Japan. A series of fringe activities were held during the exhibition, including greening workshops, green talks, floral art demonstrations and green promotional stalls. Various gardening tools, cut flowers, seedlings and such souvenirs as picture books, flower paintings and Bhutanese handicraft were also put on sale.

THE MALDIVES TTM 2017 TM, the first international travel trade show of the Maldives, is going to be held in the capital Male from July 12 to 13, 2017. TThe two-day fair will be attended by more than 300 resorts, hotels, international airlines, investors, hospitality service providers and travel and tourism experts from all over the world. The first ever ‘Hotelier Summit of the Maldives’ will be also held during TTM 2017, which aims to facilitate the country’s tourism industry to reach the target of attracting more than two million international tourists by the end of 2020.

SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 11 COVER STORY

Kalabagh Dam Pros and Cons

Had the Kalabagh Dam been built, it would have contributed greatly to boosting Pakistan’s economy but the narrow vision of certain vested interests has rendered the project a non-starter.

By Engineer Barkat Ali

uring a visit to Washington in Dam was built would be that it would that the annual energy generated at 1963, President Muhammad generate a large amount of low cost Kalabagh would be equivalent to 20 DAyub Khan impressed upon the hydro-electric power close to major million barrels of oil producing thermal World Bank the need for a Development load centres; complement reduction in power. Now, thermal generation has Plan beyond Tarbela Dam. The WB the storage capacities of Mangla and upset the thermal-hydel mix in the set up the ‘Indus Special Study’ under Tarbela reservoirs, supply adequate and system, causing a prohibitive rise in the international experts of repute. After timely water for agricultural, industrial power tariff. Had the Kalabagh Dam three years, they produced a report and domestic uses; control the extreme been built, electricity today would be titled ‘Development of Water and Power flood peaks of the Indus, the Kabul available at Rs. 1.5 per unit. At present, Resources of West Pakistan.’ and the Soan rivers; provide irrigation growth of domestic industrial and It was made clear that if Pakistan facilities to new areas and improve agricultural sectors is being impeded wanted to maintain its pace of progress, supply to non-perennial and perennial due to the high power cost. it must have a third large dam by areas; reduce dependence on imported Also, due to non-availability 1992 and the preliminary engineering fuels and substantially reduce average of enough fresh water, secondary work on the dam must begin in 1977. power generation costs. salinization of lands has become This large dam should be based in The consequences of not building the difficult to control. For instance, Kalabagh, followed by the Basha Dam. dam would be a population explosion there is a fertile virgin tract of land of WAPDA started investigations in 1977 that would subject the economy to an about 850,000 acres in Bannu and and feasibility reports on the Kalabagh additional burden through numerous Dera Ismail Khan Districts which is Dam were prepared twice. Work was impacts; by 2020, the loss of storage still bereft of irrigation. This means completed in 1988. It became obvious capacity of on-line reservoirs (Mangla that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has lost a that the Kalabagh Dam, located near excluded) due to sedimentation major development opportunity for the town of Kalabagh, would be a big would result in increasing shortage of agricultural growth. Sindh could also and feasible reservoir. committed irrigation and absence of have been a major beneficiary from The important benefits that would new storages would give rise to bitter the Kalabagh Dam and would have accrue to Pakistan once the Kalabagh interprovincial disputes. It was estimated received additional supplies of 2.257

12 SOUTHASIA • July 2017 Kalabagh Dam Pros and Cons

MAF from the Dam’s storage supplies. Balochistan would have benefited by using additional supplies equal to some 0.732 MAF in the Kachhi Canal and Pat Feeder Extension. The total cost of failure to build the Dam works out to a horrendous figure of $900 billion. Pakistan is highly deficient as far as its existing water storage capacity is concerned. Out of total flows of the Indus and its tributaries of 140 MAF, the present storage capacity in Pakistan is can possibly be affected in Sindh conditions in the 170 miles reach of the hardly 11.77 MAF which is only 8 % downstream of the Kotri Barrage by river downstream of Kotri Barrage. of the total annual flows. The storage construction of upstream storages on Sindh holds the view that canals capacity in Aswan Dam (Egypt) is 132 the Indus River are sea water intrusion, are proposed to off-take from Kalabagh MAF which is 350% of the annual flow mangrove forests, fisheries, riverine Dam, which will draw excessive water of the Nile River. forests, riverine irrigation and domestic and, as a result, supplies to Sindh After the Indus Waters Treaty, signed water supply. Based on the results will be reduced. According to one in 1960 between India and Pakistan of detailed studies, the international point of view, “there appears to be no with the World Bank as the arbitrator, panel of experts identified the need for justification for any new canal from the India got about 33 Million Acre Feet continuous water escapage below Kotri Kalabagh Dam.” The factual position is (MAF) water and has constructed many Barrage (5000 cusecs) for such purposes that the Kalabagh Dam project does not dams. The Bhakra Dam on the Sutlej has as checking salinity encroachment in the include any canals from the left or right a storage capacity of 5.60 MAF and can river aquifer and coastal zone, providing flanks. Construction of any canal does generate 1325 MW, besides irrigating coastal stability, ensuring a sustainable not increase the share of a province in 17 million acres. Pong dam on the Beas environment, maintaining fisheries, the river water. All such objections are River has a capacity of 5.91 MAF and preventing salinity accumulation and baseless assumptions. can generate 360 MW. The Thein Dam providing water for riverine forests, At present, actual canal withdrawals on the Ravi River has storage of 2.65 riverine agriculture, pollution control in Sindh are about 105 MAF. There is a MAF and generation capacity of 600 and drinking water supply. River Indus shortfall of about 12.00 MAF which is MW. Pakistan has constructed no dam downstream of Kotri Barrage remains not being utilized by the provinces due after Tarbela and Mangla which have a dry for 8 months each year. This to lack of storage of flood waters and total capacity of 14.262 MAF. perennial supply of 5000 cusecs will non-availability of stored supplies. With The ecological disciplines which substantially improve the ecological the construction of the Kalabagh Dam,

SOUTHASIA • July 2017 13 this shortfall of about 12.00 MAF would have become utilizable and Sindh would be able to use an additional discharge of about 5.087 MAF over and above its present level of canal withdrawals. One major objection against the Kalabagh Dam is that water would not be available for storage in the Dam. In this regard, two approaches have been adopted in the calculations by Sindh. In the upstream approach, water received at the rim stations and that utilized above these points is taken as the starting point. The rim stations of the western rivers are Tarbela for Indus, Nowshera for Kabul, Mangla for Jhelum and Marala for Chenab. In the downstream approach, the average water going to the sea is taken as 32.5 MAF. Surplus water availability due to siltation in Tarbela and Chashma was raised that Sindh would become a from 34% to 37% and the Punjab reservoirs i.e. the loss in storage capacity desert if the Kalabagh Dam was built. share has been reduced from 40% of these reservoirs, will be added to The Water Accord of 1991 gave to 37%, although the area irrigated 32.5 MAF. From this discharge, new major concessions to lower riparian in the Punjab is much larger than commitments and future allocations will Sindh. These included river water the Sindh area. be deducted. Adding and subtracting all distribution to be taken away from the In view of the above advantages, any flows joining the river and withdrawals controversial WAPDA and be entrusted resistance from Sindh is meaningless there from including existing and new to a new federal body IRSA (Indus and damaging for the people of Sindh. commitments in future gives a surplus River System Agency), Punjab agreeing Some recommendations figure of about 11 to 13 MAF. As such, to a reduction in its share from 40% The Kalabagh Dam Project stands Sindh’s objection that no water would to 37%, in order to increase Sindh’s ready for implementation since 1988. be available for storage at Kalabagh is share from 34% to 37% in all future Delays in its implementation have hit nullified. dams and Sindh’s interest being further the national economy hard in every The Ministry of Water & Power protected with a monitoring contingent sector. For reducing dependence on constituted on November 15, 2003 of engineers from the Sindh Irrigation very costly thermal power and saving a Technical Committee on Water Department who were posted at major foreign exchange, it is recommended Resources. The recommendations of headworks in Punjab. that the Kalabagh Dam Project be this Committee focused on an urgent Playing politics by leaders in Sindh implemented without any further delay need for storage of water, top priority has deprived the country of a golden only as a “power project.” It would be for the Kalabagh Dam and immediate opportunity to resolve the dispute a “run-of-river” project which would construction of the Basha Dam to follow between Punjab and Sindh. The generate 3600 MW of power and would the Kalabagh Dam. Kalabagh Dam also became a victim of not supply any water for irrigation No doubt, the Diamer-Basha Dam politics when the political government to any province. It will maintain the is also a feasible project and is needed inducted IPPs (Independent Power present position of full outflows, below for boosting Pakistan’s economy. Producers) to overcome the prevailing Kotri to the sea. This will give a boost to However, the Kalabagh Dam is a far power shortage. Oil, which was $10 the economy of Pakistan and substantial superior project than Diamer-Basha per barrel at the time, increased to $100 relief to its people who have been hit Dam in many respects, such as a very per barrel, catapulting the cost per unit hard by load-shedding for the last 15 suitable location, high river flows, tenfold and forcing the government to years. modest height, longer life due to subsidize power and run up a circular flushing through low level spillway, easy debt of billions of rupees. Engineer Barkat Ali is the founding access, very economical transmission It is very important to highlight Chairman of National Development lines, shallower bedrock at dam site, here the major benefits that will accrue Consultants – an engineering lighter intensity of earthquakes, shorter to Sindh through construction of the consulting firm. He is known for his construction period, increased power Kalabagh Dam. work in Water Resource Engineering. generation at Tarbela and low project i) The major area extending over He worked on the design and review cost. about 170 miles below Kotri Barrage of Warsak Dam, Shadiwal Hydro- Politicization of Kalabagh Dam remains dry for 8 months each electric Project and the Kalabagh Before international tenders could year. This will receive a continuous Dam Project. At the Water and Power be issued for its construction, the supply of 5000 cs as decided in the Development Authority (WAPDA) Kalabagh Dam Project had to be put on report of the International Penal of he worked on the design and review the back burner because of controversy Experts (IPOE). of the gigantic Indus Basin Project. arising on the political front. During ii) Sindh will gain the maximum He provided services to the World 1986, a leading political leader in Sindh benefit, 5.087 MAF of water against Bank on appraisal and construction launched a virtual rebellion against 1.545 MAF share of the Punjab as supervision of numerous the government of Gen. Zia ul Haq, per WAA allocations. drainage and agriculture opposing him for everything, including iii) The share of Sindh in all future projects in Croatia, Kosovo, the Kalabagh Dam. In fact, an alarm storages on the Indus has been raised Bosnia and Turkey.

SOUTHASIA • July 2017 15 COVER STORY Two Dreams

The Kalabagh Dam could be a most cherished development project had controversy not surrounded it.

By S.G. Jilanee

akistan seems to be all about two leaders from Balochistan also strongly generating electricity can be addressed dreams. One is annexing Kashmir; opposed the Lahore High Court verdict through the construction of the Kalabagh Pthe other, building the Kalabagh to go ahead with the construction of the Dam. It is expected to produce 3,600 Dam. The former remains mired in Dam. additional megawatts of electricity conflict with a neighbouring country. The proponents and opponents of with per unit cost as low as two rupees The latter is stymied by domestic the Dam are sharply divided in their whereas thermal power costs Rs16 per controversy. arguments on technical issues. The unit. This additional electricity will also Donkey’s years ago, in a study carried advocates of the project argue that reduce dependence on imported fuels. out under the Ayub Khan government, both the issues of water shortage and It is further claimed that with the large Kalabagh and Tarbela were identified as major sites for dams on the Indus where the power generation facility would be available while water reservoirs would be linked to canals for irrigation. In 1953, precisely, when it was conceived, the plan was to build a water storage place. However, during 1973 to 1984 the design was changed to make it a multi-functional mega dam. According to its earlier specificati- ons, it was expected to submerge 35,000 acres of land, generate 3,600 MW of hydel power with storage capacity of 6.7 MAF for flood control, and supply of 12.8 MAF water to Mianwali, Khushab, D.I. Khan and Jhelum districts for irrigation. Since then the project has undergone revisions. Under the latest specifications, it was 79 meters high, with a catchment area of 286,194 sq.km. and an annual power generating capacity of 11,400 GWh. The project has long been a subject of heated debate in the country, where politicians argue on the provincial share of water from the river. Due to vehement opposition by the ANP in KP and by the PPP in Sindh, the project was put on the back burner, where it lay for many years until President Pervez Musharraf brought it out of hibernation in 2005 in the proverbial “larger national interest.” But, soon after the PPP government came into power, the project was discarded perpetually on the plea that it was not feasible anymore and resolutions were passed against it by Sindh and KPK assemblies. The political

16 SOUTHASIA • July 2017 water reservoir, the irrigation needs of apprehensions about the construction Kalabagh Dam is not built.” all four provinces will be reasonably of the Dam, but there are also issues Conversely, former WAPDA Chief met. Furthermore, it will also play a related to the trust deficit. The project Engineer, Engr Shahr-i-Yar Khan has key role in prevention of floods and in is not only believed to be useless but claimed that construction of the averting the devastation in KPK, Central there is a whole debate surrounding Kalabagh Dam is not suitable for Khyber and Southern Punjab and Sindh. the serious environmental and human Pakhtunkhwa. According to this school, “the direct impacts the project is going to have. KPK Arguably, among the most important benefits after the dam is functional will objects to Kalabagh because it will lead prerequisites for the construction of a amount to Rs. 25 billion per annum to the displacement of a sizable number mega dam like Kalabagh, is adequate and the investment cost will be covered of its people and a large area of its land and reliable availability of water for at within 9-10 years. Moreover, it will will either be submerged or become least four out of five years. Critics of the create employment opportunities for waterlogged. Moreover, it is believed that dam in the engineering sector say that 30,000 persons during construction the Nowshera city - home to 2,000,000 Kalabagh does not fulfill this extremely and significant numbers after people may come under severe threat of essential criterion. They also question commissioning. flooding as it is situated at the banks of the veracity of the figures presented by The opponents of the Kalabagh the Kabul River. WAPDA about the availability of water Dam, mainly Sindh and KPK have some On the other hand, desertification because they are based on the quantity of water from India which is unreliable. They further claim that the life of the The opponents of the Kalabagh Dam, Dam is too short (only 28 years) and its cost too exorbitant that makes it highly mainly Sindh and KPK have some uneconomical. Besides, Kalabagh has the lowest capacity inflow ratio in the apprehensions about the construction world (0.26:1) resulting in its short life of the Dam, but there are also issues span. Some in the engineering community related to the trust deficit. also say that Kalabagh is also unfeasible geographically, because, it has an unnatural dam site and a narrow and long valley for storage that would allow being a significant issue in Sindh, the flood water to be wasted without storing province has constantly felt threatened in order to avoid de-silting. On the other by Punjab and it refuses to trust the hand, storing perennial water for power province that the waters of the whole generation would affect the availability River Indus will not be used to cater to of irrigation water to crops to the lower the needs of Punjab only, drying out regions of the country. the downstream river in Sindh. The Recently, the dam has again become opposition of Balochistan to Kalabagh is a focus of political point scoring. Imran also based on the belief that if the dam Khan, in his Larkana rally declared that overstretches the demand in the river the construction of the dam would not then it may not be possible to meet the be allowed without the consent of the requests for more water through Guddu people of Sindh., while, ANP president Barrage that irrigates about 30,000 acres Asfandyar Wali Khan has threatened that in the province. nobody could dare build the controversial Other serious issues such as dam, because, people would thwart all environmental degradation and human such moves with full force. impacts - rehabilitation and resettlement The fact, however, remains that as a result of construction - have also Pakistan has used only about 10 been raised. Most importantly, it is percent of its estimated 40,000 MW believed that the location of the Dam is of economically viable hydropower on a fault line. potential, due to which it is not only Even technical experts are divided facing severe electricity shortage but, on the issue. Former Chairman WAPDA despite the best irrigation system, it still Shamsul Mulk has said that the "Kalabagh imports wheat. However, this stark truth Dam would be helpful in erasing poverty is overshadowed by controversy. from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, as it would The opposition to the dam from irrigate 800,000 acres of cultivable land KP and Sindh is actually opposition to that is located 100-150 feet above the Punjab’s hegemony. The dam would be level of River Indus." The Kalabagh Dam a bonanza for Punjab, which is already would provide 6.5 million acre feet of most developed, giving it ample water, water to cultivate seven million acres of power and employment opportunities, currently barren land in addition to the to the detriment of the other provinces. 3,600 megawatts of electricity. It is therefore time to say goodbye to Bashir A. Malik, former chief Kalabagh Dam. technical advisor to the United Nations and World Bank, has also warned that The writer is a senior political "Sindh and Pakhtunkhwa would become analyst and former editor of drought areas in the years to come if Southasia.

SOUTHASIA • July 2017 17 COVER STORY The ‘If’ and ‘But” dam While billed as crucial for Pakistan’s future, the Kalabagh Dam has been opposed tooth and nail by vested interests and there is no hope of its ever becoming a reality.

By Khawaja Amer

ven after about six decades the Kalabagh Dam project despite Ebeing the most essential, in fact indispensable for Pakistan’s energy requirements, its irrigation system and the future development of the country, could not be started because of the whims of political leaders of Sindh and KPK. The Sindh politicians argue that if Kalabagh Dam is constructed, river Indus will have no water in flow and sea water will enter the river bed, damaging agricultural land. The KPK leaders believe that Nowshera will be submerged in water if the dam is built. Had the project been commissioned and completed as per schedule, the Kalabagh water reservoir could also be utilised for irrigation in the barren areas of KPK, Sindh and Balochistan besides generating electricity. Instead of the acute power shortage now being faced by the country, Pakistan would have, in fact, been exporting electricity. Moreover, the timely irrigation of fields in all the three provinces would have produced bumper crops. Unfortunately the provincial rivalry and lack of vision deprived the country of great blessings. The Kalabagh Dam would have provided 6.5 million acre feet of water to cultivate seven million acres of currently barren

18 SOUTHASIA • July 2017 land in addition to 3,600 megawatts Kalabagh Dam - Important Statistics electricity. The project was conceived way back in 1958 by Ayub Khan. Soon after taking over the reins of the government, realizing the problem of the severe energy crisis in the coming years, he gave full attention to resolve the issue on a war footing. Accordingly, immediate surveys for suitable sites for the construction of hydel projects and water reservoirs/ dams were conducted and within a short period of six months, a complete study was prepared. Two sites on River Indus were selected for dams capable of generating enough power to offset the energy deficiency as well as storage of sufficient water which could be linked to canals for irrigation purpose. One site was Kalabagh, which was a natural dam and the other was Tarbela. But President Ayub Khan favoured construction of Tarbela over Kalabagh because the former fell in his native area. Though the Kalabagh Dam project was shelved decades back, it always came under discussion whenever the power crisis in the country was discussed. It seems this will keep haunting the nation till the Kalabagh controversy is settled rationally and not on whims. The policy of successive governments to avoid revisiting the project just to After all, you cannot please ‘save the federation’ from political pressure from the two provinces, everyone, and if you do, there’s has not provided a permanent solution. According to experts and something wrong. This is exactly those involved in the constructions of dams, arbitrary decisions are what is happening with the depriving the country of a very useful and long-lasting project. The Kalabagh Dam. time has come to resolve the issue on merit instead of postponing the project under pressure. After all, you cannot please everyone, and if you documents of the 3,600-megawatt Ali referred to resolutions adopted do, there's something wrong. This is Kalabagh Dam had been completed by some provincial assemblies exactly what is happening with the in 1988. But the construction of the against the project and said that the Kalabagh Dam. dam could not be undertaken as government would not undertake It is interesting that despite a fairly there was no consensus. Surprisingly construction of any controversial strong opposition, the Kalabagh Dam enough the senators from the parties project. The controversy regarding project is still very much alive. It is vehemently opposing the project the Kalabagh Dam is, in fact, a result encouraging to note that according i.e. Awami National Party and the of a lack of relevant information and to reports the controversial dam Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf from Khyber distrust among the provinces. Experts is very much on the government’s Pakhtunkhwa and the Pakistan believe that a debate in the assembly current list of ‘ready for construction’ Peoples Party from Sindh did not after a presentation from the experts projects. This was disclosed when a speak on the issue. The change in will help a lot in developing the list of under-construction, ready for the attitude of the two provinces required consensus. construction and under planning opposing the project tooth and nail It is unfortunate that despite hydel power projects was presented could be described as significant and being the most studied and proven to recently before the Senate by the may lead to a firm decision in the be a technically sound project, it was Ministry of Water and Power. The near future. abandoned because the three smaller house was told in a written reply However, the Minister of State provinces somehow view it as a that the detailed design and tender for Water and Power, Abid Sher Punjab project though this is pretty

SOUTHASIA • July 2017 19

COVER STORY

immature thinking. Abandoning the politicians just for the heck of it. no irrigation canals can be taken out Kalabagh project, which is ready Frankly speaking, all the political from it because of the hilly terrain.” for construction, without coming leaders are well aware about the There are some facts about this up with an alternative of that urgency of construction of the dam worth mentioning. In December magnitude and cost is certainly not Kalabagh Dam but prefer to keep the 2004, General Pervez Musharraf, only irresponsible politics but the controversy alive just to fulfill their announced that he would build the worst kind of economics. There is no ulterior motives. dam to serve the larger interests of doubt that it is a very difficult choice Besides what the politicians Pakistan. However, on 26 May 2008, but at times the federal government are saying, attention must also be the Federal Minister for Water and has to take such bold decisions in given to what the experts are saying. Power, Raja Pervez Ashraf, said that the larger national interest. Frankly According to Bashir A. Malik, former the "Kalabagh Dam would not be speaking, at present, the country not chief technical advisor to the United constructed" and that the project had only needs one particular dam but a Nations and World Bank, "Sindh been cancelled and due to "opposition series of them because apart from the and Pakhtunkhwa would become from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh continuing energy crisis, agriculture, drought areas in the years to come and other stakeholders, the project the economic base of the country, if Kalabagh Dam was not built." At was no longer feasible". In 2010 after is in bad shape. The time has come the same time, former WAPDA chief the worst floods in Pakistan’s history, when credible institutions like Shamsul Mulk has stated that the the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Yousuf the parliament take this important "Kalabagh Dam would be helpful Raza Gilani, said that flood damage decision.. in erasing poverty from Khyber- would be minimised if the Kalabagh A study conducted by the World Pakhtunkhwa, as it would irrigate Dam were built. Bank titled ‘Development of Water 800,000 acres of cultivable land that All said and done, the time has & Power Resources of West Pakistan is located 100 to 150 feet above the come to think seriously about the – A Sectoral Analysis’ specifically level of River Indus." In response Kalabagh Dam if we really want recommended Kalabagh Dam due to the push towards side-lining to get rid of the energy crisis and to its natural location, to be the Kalabagh altogether in favour of the irrigation problems --- the two main next dam followed by Bhasha Dam. rival Basha Dam project, Engineer hurdles in the economic progress of Unfortunately, a project which Anwer Khurshid stated that "Basha the country. guarantees economic stability Dam is no substitute for Kalabagh has been made controversial. The Dam, not because of its altitude, The writer is a veteran confusion has been created by some which is high enough, but because journalist.

SOUTHASIA • July 2017 21 INTERVIEW

Do you support the building of the Kalabagh Dam (KBD) Why? Dams are built to meet storage and power generation needs for economic development of the country. The decisions are based on complex technical and economic considerations and not the support of individuals. In a federation, all the federating units must agree on such a major project. Consensus does not exist in support of the KBD project, which has a planned live storage capacity of 6.1 Million Acres Feet (MAF) and electricity generation of 3,600 MW. Why has the controversy surrounding the Kalabagh Dam not been resolved in the last 50 years? It is a matter of technical as well as political understanding and agreement. The controversy has been created by vested narrow interests without considering national interest. All four provinces must reach a common understanding on its technical aspects, after which political consensus can follow. In order to bring various segments of society on one page, due consideration must be given to management measures, ecological balance in the Indus Delta and hydel profit allocations under an institutional arrangement based on constitutional guarantees. In all such matters, we need to follow a long-drawn process with patience. Nation-building projects require looking beyond our tenures in office. Unfortunately, we have yet to develop this approach in our national psyche and this is true for the KBD project too. ‘The controversy has been created by vested and narrow interests.’ Nisar Memon, a former federal minister and a known authority on water affairs, talks to SouthAsia in this exclusive interview.

22 SOUTHASIA • July 2017 Many experts oppose the idea of We need large as well as small Understanding the design constructing the Kalabagh Dam due dams. This has been discussed in considerations and engineering to its economic and technical non- various forums all these years as well factors, this issue can be addressed. viability. What are your comments? as in the Parliamentary Committee Your magazine may like to engage in Technical and economic viabilities on Water Resources (PCWR) during bringing all aspects under discourse, of projects must be taken up by 2003-04. I was part of the PCWR and including the impact of climate professionals and specialists with all its unanimous recommendation was to change, glacier melt, floods, pricing seriousness and in depth, without fear go for both small and large dams. The and the water-energy-food nexus. and favour. All previous work on the recommendation to build dams was How can we create inter- subject should be taken as the base if adopted by all four – the then Chief provincial harmony on building the we are to arrive at agreements for our Ministers and Federal Water & Power Dam, keeping in view that three out future. The technical findings must Minister in the Parliament House and of four provinces have categorically be communicated in non-technical later adopted by the Senate. The details rejected the project? language to gain understanding and can be seen in the PCWR Report at Dialogue, dialogue, nothing but consensus. All discourse, reporting and writing requires a thorough understanding of the subject before anyone venturing to write on it with Pakistan needs dams for not objectivity and responsibility. What are the apprehensions only water storage but for power of Sindh and KPK towards the construction of the Dam? generation too. We should focus Sindh has expressed several single-mindedly on exploiting our reservations but the main one is the release of water from the KBD reservoir untapped hydel energy. to Punjab while KPK’s key concern has been the flooding of Nowshera. There is lack of clear understanding, appreciation and agreement on the http://nisaramemon.pk/pcwrdetail/ dialogue amongst the stakeholders. design and administrative aspects. Don’t you think that the Dam, Pakistan has not built a large dam There is a trust deficit among the if built, will create salinity and for many years. Do you agree with provinces on KBD. Storage dams water logging that might affect the this policy? are made to cater to the needs of all surrounding land? Pakistan needs dams for not only riparians which must be understood, Dams are built to cater to rural and water storage but for power generation spelt out and agreed amongst all the urban population as well as agricultural too. We should focus single-mindedly stakeholders under the constitutional and industrial needs. This is a matter on exploiting our untapped hydel framework of IRSA and the Council of of detailed understanding of technical energy to cater to low-cost, clean Common Interests (CC&I). aspects of dams. The Indus River, being energy. We have increased power Do their suspicions hold any a lifeline of Pakistan, currently has generation capacity at Tarbela Dam truth? Tarbela Dam which was built under by adding Tunnel 4 and 5 which has We must not add to the already the 1960 Indus Basin Treaty while its about 2,470 MW generation capacity. muddled situation but, instead, identify existing live storage has been reduced The height of the Mangla Dam on the design, engineering, administrative, to 6.849 MAF due to sedimentation. River Jhelum has been raised by 30 constitutional, economic and The original estimated life of Tarbela feet to increase its storage capacity by environmental facts relating to KBD was 50 years but due to plans to build 2.88 Million Acre-feet (MAF). Neelam and its value to national security. structures upstream Tarbela, the useful Jhelum is the latest addition to our list Could the Dam be a lifeline for span of life of the Tarbela Dam is of large dams. Pakistan which is among the most expected to go up to 2060, before it I am glad, PCWR recommended water-stressed countries in the becomes run of the river. the Diamer-Basha Dam with live world? The country is working on a plan storage of 6.4 MAF and power The Pakistan Vision 2025 document termed as Indus Cascade, whereby generation of 4,500 MW. This is now recognizes the challenge of around 30 storage structures upstream Tarbela gaining momentum, although valuable days’ storage capacity and our ranking are being built. This will increase the time has been lost since 2005 when as 76th in 107 countries on the global life span of Tarbela by stopping the consensus was reached amongst food security index. Our per capita sediment coming down to Tarbela and, stakeholders. It's heartening to know it water availability is estimated at 1,066 on the other hand, structures will be is now a project linked with the China cubic meters which puts us in the list built to generate the much-needed Pakistan Economic Corridor under the of water-stressed countries. But the cheaper hydel clean energy. The key global Chinese initiative of ‘One Belt worrying factor is that by 2025, our per dam upstream Tarbela, in the medium One Road.’ capita water availability is estimated to term, is Dasu with an estimated decrease to 858 cubic meters which electricity generation capacity of Nisar A. Memon, former Minister of puts us on the water scarcity list. As 4,300 MW while in the long term, the Kashmir & Northern Areas, State & such, we need to build dams, increase Diamer-Basha project will generate Frontier Regions and Information, ground water capacity and manage 4,500 MW electricity and provide former Senator and Chair of Standing population increase. storage capacity of 6.4 MAF. Committee of Defence & Defence Do you agree with the view that It is said that the rivers in Sindh Production. He is currently focused on instead of building big dams, we will go dry if the Kalabagh Dam is water environment and is Chairman of should go for small dams? built. Do you agree? Water Environment Forum, Pakistan.

SOUTHASIA • July 2017 23 COVER STORY The Dam That Isn’t

The debate over the pros and cons of building the Kalabagh Dam continues while Pakistan suffers from a chronic shortage of water and power and there are not many other solutions in the offing.

By Mirza Aqeel Baig

akistan is a populous country with drop to less than 1000 cubic meters For many, the Kalabagh Dam is a dry and warm climate. Its water Almost 85% of the total fresh water plausible solution to the problem. Presources are already limited and is available during the four months of The issue of Kalabagh Dam has per capita fresh water availability is low. summer and the country is left with been at the center of chronic national Pakistan was a water-abundant country only 15% fresh water for the rest of controversies since decades. There has during the 1950s with per capita water the year. This acute shortage of water been an intense debate on this issue availability more than 5000 cubic causes a great deal of trouble and it without producing any consensus. By meters. According to the Faulkenmark gives a call for construction of dams design, the Kalabagh dam (KBD) would Indicator (the benchmark water scarcity and water reservoirs, small and large. be one of the largest mega projects in indicator), Pakistan would be a high Frustration is heightened as Pakistan Pakistan. The proposed dam would be water stressed country in 2020, as per has not constructed a sizable dam ever a multi-purpose mega project. It was to capita water availability is predicted to since the Tarbela dam in early 1970s. be built on the Indus River in Mianwali

24 SOUTHASIA • July 2017 district of the Punjab at a distance of about but also help in achieving the goals of The anti-KBD school of thought is 16 miles upstream of Jinnah Barrage food security. mainly led by Sindh and KPK. Experts and 92 miles downstream of Attock. It The benefit of KBD will not be and politicians from these provinces is at the confluence point of Kabul and limited only to the agricultural sector. perceive KBD as a tool to materialize Indus rivers near KPK. It will be 260 feet Another vital contribution is related to Punjab’s ambition to extend its irrigated high which will create a reservoir with the production of electricity. The energy land at the expense of Sindh and KPK. usable storage of 6.1 million acre feet crisis has become one of the most serious The latter claims that some 200,000 (MAF) for power generation. The dam problems in Pakistan and will be at the people living in Nowshera city will would be utilized for irrigation supplies heart of election campaigns during the be displaced, rejecting WAPDA’s and flood control. It will be a source general elections in 2018. The KBD will estimates of displacement of a few of 12.8 MAF water supply, generating ultimately generate 3600 MW of cheap thousand people in the province. There 3,600 megawatts (MW) electricity at the hydro-electricity or on average 11,750 are apprehensions that the drainage ultimate level. According to a WAPDA million kilowatt hours of electricity per system of a large part of KPK will be report, the dam will control one of the year. Once KBD becomes operational, adversely affected because its outfalls world's major catchment areas, spread it will significantly reduce the intensity will be lower than the high flood levels over approximately 110,000 square of energy deficit in Pakistan. in KBD reservoir. WAPDA asserts that miles, mainly in the areas of Mianwali, This Dam will also reduce the effects care about these objections has already Khushab, D.I. Khan, Bahawalnagar, of devastating floods, quite frequent in been taken in the modified design of Bahawalpur and Jhelum. Pakistan, by holding and storing peak KBD. Sindh fears that KBD will divert Despite these advantages KBD is flood flows. Furthermore, the federal the water of River Indus to the Punjab, still a matter of conflict between the government advocates the need and leaving little provisions for the lower riparian. Experts from Sindh do not agree with the federal government estimates of “surplus water” passing Pakistan needs to construct the through downstream Kotri. Sindh also emphasizes its priority through Kalabagh Dam and other big dams like international water distribution law as it is a lower riparian of River Indus. Basha and Dasu along with a series of Nevertheless, there is an unfortunate small dams. trust deficit between Sindh and the Punjab. Other serious issues such as environmental degradation and human resettlement as a result of construction have also been raised. federal and three small provincial room for a new and big dam on River It is clear that the decision-makers governments. Each has been unable to Indus. Siltation of previous reservoirs is are at odds which has led to a deadly satisfy the other even after numerous causing loss in the existing storage which stalemate. Pakistan needs to construct rounds of negotiations. Arguments for is another reason for the desperate need the Kalabagh Dam and other big dams and against the construction of KBD are for more dams. Moreover, it is important like Basha and Dasu along with a series both technical and political. to note that Pakistan satisfies more than of small dams which are necessary to Though the proponents of the 75% of its primary energy requirements cater to the acute water shortage. KBD Kalabagh Dam are found in all corners through oil and gas, a large size of which may be a solution to the three key of the country but its overwhelming is imported. By any standards, it is a problems chronically faced by Pakistan support exists in Punjab. Advocates of huge burden on the already vulnerable namely: water shortage, energy deficit KBD make numerous claims in support economy. In this scenario, a massive and flood control. However, it should of their case. Some of their important injection of cheap hydropower energy be constructed only after creating a claims are: is no less than a blessing in disguise. It consensus among all provinces and Pakistan has limited water will not only help in maintaining the factions of society by removing their availability. Even then, approximately cost of electric supply within the reach fair apprehensions. Ensuring equal 35 MAF water is being uselessly thrown of consumers but also help in reducing distribution of KBD rewards among into the sea every year. This calls for dependence on imported fuel resources. all provinces may be good step in this construction of water reservoirs as one The estimated overall benefit from KBD regard. Economically, KBD seems to be of the top priorities of government. is so huge that the total investment cost viable and some of the objections raised The total storage capacity of the KBD of project would be recovered within a over it are common, faced by every would be 7.9 MAF with usable storage decade. big dam in the world. Unfortunately capacity of 6.1 MAF. This is crucial as the According to estimates, as a result opposition to KBD has been a source quantity of water stored in the Tarbela of KBD construction, only 24500 of bread and butter for some people and Mangla Dam reservoirs is slowly acres of land, including 2900 acres in Pakistan. As a result, individuals decreasing due to sedimentation. The 6.1 of irrigated land, will be lost along with vested interests have become a MAF water in the KBD reservoir will not with displacement of 48,500 people major impediment in construction of only replace the shortage of storage but mainly, from the Punjab. WAPDA KBD or any other big water reservoir substantially increase the total quantity and federal government claim that in Pakistan. Policymakers have to find a of stored water, enabling additional and these conclusions are based on a way to tackle such elements. timely releases for irrigation purposes very extensive study, using the latest to increase food grain production. engineering techniques. It is also The writer is an Assistant Professor It is supposed to irrigate 2.4 million claimed that experts of International of Economics at the Institute of additional acres, which will not only be repute have verified and confirmed Business Management (IoBM) in a boost for Pakistan’s agriculture sector these conclusions. Karachi.

SOUTHASIA • July 2017 25 REGION INDIA

The Lal Batti Goes! In a bid to end VIP culture in India, the Modi government has prohibited the use of red beacon lights. It is a good move but it does not say much for the other atrocities that Narendra Modi and his party are wreaking against the minorities – or even against women at large.

By S. M. Hali

n a bid to eradicate the VIP culture of the ruling class immediately started beacons atop their vehicles from May 1. from India, Prime Minister Narendra the vulgar display of their authority and Although the opposition party, the Indian IModi took an unusual step and position by mounting red beacons on Congress, termed this as mere "symbolic banished the use of red beacons atop VIP top of their vehicles so that ordinary politics," the unusual decision has been vehicles. The order was implemented on citizens and public transport could yield hailed by the Indian public. In pursuance International Labour Day 2017 when the way to the VIPs. According to the Central to the decision, several ministers and Finance Minister informed the Indian Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, a new law chief ministers of states removed the red House of Parliament of the decision of was promulgated to authorize VIPs using beacons from their vehicles and tweeted the Prime Minister. red beacons. Rule 108 of the Indian the action along with pictures of their It is a bold step taken by a Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989 deals vehicles sans the red beacons. government, which is bent on taking with use of red, white and blue lights on As an exception, vehicles involved India to unprecedented heights. The vehicles. Rule 108-1 (III) says the centre in emergency and relief and rescue VIP culture has plagued the sub- and states can specify dignitaries who services, ambulances and fire services continent ever since the British departed, can use beacons on their vehicles. will, however, be allowed to use blue giving freedom to Pakistan and India. Modi informed his cabinet that beacons. Henceforth no dignitary at the Government ministers and members VIPs will not be allowed to flaunt red centre or in the states would use beacons

26 SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 forward looking step towards having fair-minded Hindu intellectuals that a more people-friendly Government large number of them have returned their #EveryoneVIPinNewIndia." national awards to the governments in Minister of Textile Smriti Irani protest. Some of them are octogenarians tweeted her official car's picture after and had participated in the freedom removing the red beacon and said, struggle. They are so disgusted by "Removed 'Lal Batti' from my car. PM @ the harsh treatment meted out to the narendramodi ji's decision is a welcome minorities that they have demanded step towards reaffirming our belief in a crackdown on the orthodox Hindu #EveryoneVIPinNewIndia." Minister of Brahmins who attack and kill minorities State for Sports and Youth Affairs Vijay with religious fervour and also enjoy the Goel and Minister of State in Prime patronage of the state. Minister’s Office, posted videos of their International academics and cars without beacons. In Maharashtra, litterateurs like Noam Chomsky have Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said also taken cognizance of the rot that he has stopped using the red beacon has set in and an application signed with immediate effect. by over a thousand international These were some of the reactions writers, thinkers and teachers has been from the VIPs themselves but the submitted to Narendra Modi to take response of the Indian masses was concrete steps to stem the rot but it has equally positive, who welcomed the fallen on deaf ears. decision. While Modi is taking the Another malady afflicting the Indian step of eliminating VIP culture, there masses is the advent of rape. Young is much more he can do if he wants girls in New Delhi and elsewhere are to be remembered in posterity as one unsafe as they are attacked and raped of India’s most democratic leaders. He on a regular basis. Moral depravity needs to rein in the extremists in Indian has reached an extent that two society, who have made life miserable septuagenarian Christian nuns were on their vehicles. Even the President and for the minorities comprising the raped and killed. Prime Minister will not be exempted Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis and Ordinary Indians may rejoice at the from following the new rule. the low caste Hindus — the Dalit. Ever ban on the use of flashing red beacons, India, which claims to be the largest since Narendra Modi’s Bharatyia Janta an offensive symbol of the superiority democracy in the world, is at times Party (BJP) came to power, Hindutva of the ruling class, but in effect they taunted for not following democratic extremists have been given a free hand to should be demanding the eradication principles in letter and spirit. However, target the minorities. Muslims in Indian of religious extremism from India. A this decision intends to strengthen Occupied Kashmir (IOK) are being country which assassinated its own democratic values in the country. regularly targeted with oppression, founding father Mahatma Gandhi, only The masses of both India and Pakistan which includes killing, raping and because he wanted an end to the mass are irked by the VIP culture prevailing incarcerating the hapless Kashmiris. On massacre of Muslims departing from in their respective countries. Whenever July 8, 2016, popular Kashmiri youth India for the promised land of Pakistan, VIPs move, flaunting the red beacons leader Burhan Wani was targeted and ought to do better than that. Mahatma atop their vehicles the accompanying killed by Indian law enforcing agencies Gandhi was a champion of the down- entourage of security vehicles blocks in IOK. When unarmed youth came out trodden and preached equality for all traffic, sometimes for hours, disrupting to protest the wanton slaughter, they citizens; he shunned violence and the routine of ordinary citizens. There were deliberately targeted by Indian extremism, yet he met a violent end at have been instances where patients on police and army with pellet guns. The the hands of Nathuram Godse, an ardent the way to hospitals have expired because pellet guns have resulted in the death member of the Hindu extremist group of the delays caused by VIP movement. of hundred of youth and blinding of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Normal life comes to a halt as the state thousands of Kashmiri boys. Even It is equally deplorable that Narendra machinery, including the police and law international human rights organizations Modi continues to be an active member enforcing agencies, take to assisting the have taken notice of this reign of terror of the RSS and despite being elected as move of the VIP on the roads. prevailing in IOK but Modi’s government the Prime Minister of India, follows the Narendra Modi may be accused has shown no let up in its persecution diktat of the RSS chief. of many failures but he cannot be of the Kashmiris who only demand their The devil is in the details. During the questioned on trying to make Indian just right of a plebiscite to determine election campaign of 2014, Modi had society more democratic-minded. their fate as promised by the UN. reached out to his parent Sangh Parivar Although his political rival in the Delhi Minorities in the rest of India have for support in the general elections. After government, the Aam Aadmi Party, was not been safe either. Churches have Modi’s pyrrhic victory, the Sangh Parivar created to renew equality among the been burnt, mosques and gurduwaras demanded its pound of flesh: high masses, it is Modi who has taken the destroyed while minority Muslims, positions for members of the RSS and lead in establishing the power of the Christians, Sikh and Dalit have been a free hand to embrace extremism and masses. massacred. crack down on the Indian minorities. Within a few hours of the historic Cows are considered sacred in the Modi had no option but to relent. The decision, "#EveryoneVIPinNewIndia" Hindu religion but under the BJP rule, rest is history. Joy Hind! became the top trend on Twitter. this extremism has been overstretched. Welcoming the decision, the Chief Muslims slaughtering cows or even The writer is a practising journalist. Minister of Rajasthan Vasundhara selling them have been lynched and He contributes to the print media, Raje in a tweet said: "Curtailing the killed in the name of religion. The wave conducts a TV show and produces use of #RedBeacon is a welcome and of extremism has so disturbed even the documentaries.

SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 27 REGION INDIA Whither AAP? The Aam Aadmi Party has received a drubbing at the polls and is facing an implosion within the party, yet it would be too premature to write it off.

By S.G. Jilanee

rue, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) lost the recent Delhi municipal Telection to the BJP, which sealed its third successive victory, winning 181 of 270 wards. After failing to perform as expected in the Punjab and Goa assembly elections, AAP faced a humiliating drubbing in its own backyard, just over two years after winning a thumping majority in Delhi assembly elections. The defeats are significant. But, heavens have not fallen. Launched on 26 November 2012, AAP is just a five- year old political party. It has a long way to go. Upheavals within parties are also not unusual. The party needs serious introspection and corrective measures. Therefore, it would be illogical to write its obituary at this point. The very fact that it came second and not lower in the elections, is a clear indicator that it is down but not out. Party chief, Arvind Kejriwal attributed the electoral losses to the AAP’s own “mistakes,” vowing to introspect and do a course correction to revive the party’s fortunes. It was a rare admission of failure by the activist-turned-politician who had blamed “tampered EVMs” (electronic voting machines) for the poor show in the polls. It also came a day after one of his party leaders, Kumar Vishwas, challenged the party’s official line besides raising a host of other issues related to party functioning. “In the last two days, I spoke to many volunteers and voters. The reality is obvious. Yes, we made mistakes but we will introspect and course correct. Time to go back to drawing board. To not evolve will be silly,” Kejriwal said in a tweet. “We owe that to voters and volunteers. We owe that to ourselves.

28 SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 Need is action and not excuses. It’s time in a closed room. The AAP is not the Kejriwal have also brought together to go back to work. And even if we slip party of four to five persons and it is the warring factions of the party with MLAs from time to time, the key is to find the people's party and people will decide closing ranks in support of the party reserves to hold and pull ourselves up. who should remain in AAP." chief. The people deserve nothing less. The He is sore about the foreign trips Several MLAs “including Alka only thing constant is change.” undertaken by some AAP leaders. In Lamba, Adarsh Shastri, Somnath Bharti Some analysts attribute the loss one open letter to Kejriwal, he wrote and Rajesh Rishi, who had echoed the to Kejriwal’s style of confrontational that “Details of the foreign trips by position of Vishwas for the party's need politics, often taking on Prime Minister AAP leaders will reveal a lot about to introspect in the wake of poll defeats Narendra Modi and blaming the BJP-led their alleged corruption.” Under a tent have rallied behind the embattled CM,“ government at the centre for creating pitched near what served as his office when someone questioned his financial hurdles for the AAP government. But, before he was ousted, Mishra started probity for the first time.” the confrontation is not one-sided. It a hunger strike to demand that AAP Adarsh Shahstri said.”AK remains always needs two hands to clap. The reveal details of foreign trips made India's only hope for honest politics. Modi government, for its part, has by five of its top leaders. The former He is spotless and I have full faith in spared no pains to destabilize the AAP minister called his protest a satyagraha him. These allegations cannot scare us,” while a senior party leader, Ashish Khetan tweeted: “Arvind Kejriwal ko kharidne wala abhi tak is duniya me The implosion that has shaken the party to bana nahi ha.” (One who could buy Arvind Kejriwal has not been born in its core occurred when water minister, Kapil this world yet.) Mishra was sacked. In a related development, Kapil Mishra, who was on hunger strike at his residence, was attacked by a man named Ankit Bharadwaj. The attacker government in Delhi. or "peaceful agitation" and said he “walked up to Mishra and slapped him Meanwhile, Kejriwal’s admission would survive on water till Kejriwal several times before he was stopped by of mistakes is seen as an attempt to made the details public. the latter’s supporters. Bharadwaj was reconnect with the voters in a manner Mishra has in a public letter to arrested and later released on bail. he had successfully done after his Mr Kejriwal named the five leaders Kapil Mishra's followers claimed first stint in 2014. At that time he had - including a minister Satyendar Jain that Bharadwaj identified himself as apologized to the people for quitting and senior leaders Ashish Khetan and a supporter of Arvind Kejriwal's Aam over the Jan Lokpal Bill, a strategy Sanjay Singh - whose trips he wants Aadmi Party. But AAP alleged that which saw his party sweep back to investigated. "Some people say that all Bharadwaj was a member of a BJP youth power in 2015 with an overwhelming allegations about money laundering wing. "He is part of the Bharatiya Yuva majority. and donations will be settled if these Morcha. We don't support violence More serious, though, is the damning details are revealed...You have said of any kind," said AAP leader Sanjay allegation of corruption involving the the party doesn't have money to fight Singh. party chief Arvind Kejriwal, personally, elections... show where all the money For AAP’s rivals, the rebellion and because, the Aam Aadmi Party had for foreign trips comes from and prove mudslinging within the party was a swept to power in Delhi two years ago me wrong." moment of euphoria. Calling it an on an anti-corruption plank. Probity At a meeting at the Mahatma Gandhi "implosion," BJP spokesperson GVL and clean hands were the party’s forte. memorial in Rajghat, Kapil Mishra Narasimha Rao said while Kejriwal The implosion that has shaken the repeated the question: "Where did the came to power promising honest party to its core occurred when water money come from?" Also alleging that governance, "He is now the most minister, Kapil Mishra was sacked. He he had already met the chief minister corrupt politician in history.” had levelled allegations of corruption and informed him about the matter, The BJP called for police action against, not only Health Minister the latter’s response was not what he against Kejriwal, while the Congress Satyendra Jain, but also implicated had desired, Kapil Mishra went to the asked for a CBI probe and police had to Arvind Kejriwal and at one point, dared Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) use water cannons one day to disperse the party leadership to take action “with large yellow envelopes that he Youth Congress workers protesting against him. In consequence, he was said contained proof of his allegations outside Kejriwal's residence. suspended from the party's primary against AAP and Kejriwal.” But, nobody asksed the simple membership for an indefinite period. In another open letter, Mishra question as to why Kejriwal invited The decision was taken at a meeting of challenged the AAP chief to contest Kapil Mishra as a witness when he was the AAP's Political Affairs Committee elections against him from any accepting “Rs 2 crore cash from Jain.” (PAC) after Mishra had made the constituency. Two crore is a hefty amount that would stunning revelation that he had seen The Aam Aadmi Party, for its part, take some time to count under Mishra’s Kejriwal accepting Rs 2 crore cash from has rubbished what it calls Mishra's watchful gaze. Jain. "wild and baseless allegations.” Senior However, neither the election defeat Mishra said, "There are four to five AAP leader Kumar Vishwas expressed nor the “implosion” within seemed to persons in the AAP's Political Affairs support for the Chief Minister. Saying be fatal. The AAP may rise again after Committee (PAC), who are indulging "no one would believe Kejriwal took the ordeal, with new vigour to prove in corruption. I have got to know that bribe," Vishwas added, "I have known doomsayers wrong. PAC will throw me out of the party Kejriwal for 12 years. I can't think that in the evening. I will not accept the he will indulge in corruption.” The writer is a senior political analyst decision of PAC which takes the same Mishra’s allegations against Arvind and former editor of Southasia.

SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 29 REGION PAKISTAN

Quest for Transparency

The way things are going, it seems Pakistan has a long road to travel before it can have fair and transparent elections. The negative attitude of the Nawaz Sharif government in speeding up the electoral process is unfortunate.

By Dr. Syed Ali Madni

here there's a will, there's urged the government to expedite The commission has planned to train a way. It seems that there’s efforts and has decided to coordinate district returning officers, returning Wno will of the Pakistan with the parliament in early passage officers and other polling staff, government to introduce foolproof of the proposed election laws to numbering around 700,000, from this balloting in the forthcoming general avoid any hiccups in planning and July and any delay in passage of the bill elections. Had the ruling junta been scheduling of the forthcoming general would jeopardize the process which serious in ensuring fair, free and polls. would require at least six months. transparent elections in 2018, it would According to the ECP, the Bill has Meanwhile the commission noted have certainly passed the much-talked proposed amendments in election that a number of polling stations in about Electoral Reforms Bill well reforms 14, 15 and 16, as any delay all the provinces need some basic in time rather in delaying it just for in legislation would cause a delay in facilities. For instance, some do not nothing. The Election Commission printing of the training material. The have boundary walls, while others are of Pakistan (ECP) has warned that if proposed law also envisages a new without water supply and washrooms. the proposed electoral reforms are result management and transmission Therefore, the ECP has decided to not enforced in time, many actions system. Moreover, the training contact the four chief ministers to required to block rigging in elections manual and module would have to upgrade those polling stations to meet would not be possible. The ECP has be designed in line with the new law. the standard of model polling stations. The ECP has decided to write to the chief ministers, inviting their attention towards the issue, besides holding meetings with them to urge them to remove the deficiencies. There is no denying the fact that the ECP is doing whatever it can to overcome the shortcomings of 2013. But then, the lukewarm attitude of the parliament in enforcing the proposed electoral reforms bill is in a way casting doubts on the belief of the members for most of them probably are not sure of getting elected without the usual manipulation through patwaris and thanas. It is a known fact that the ECP’s ineffective control over the executive and judicial officials assisting the election process, enables the powerful candidates to influence the electoral process at various stages,

30 SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 thereby creating doubts about the fairness of the elections results. The commission is therefore, right as far as its acknowledgement of lack of authority is concerned, and its demand for immediate passage of the electoral reforms bill is understandable. These irregularities committed by the candidates are neither new, nor have they been raised for the first time. The lacunae in the election law always enabled individuals as well as institutions to influence the election method affecting the process of free, fair and transparent elections. But then the parties, especially PTI, who lost the 2013 elections, protested rather loudly and clearly against rigging which compelled the government to start initiatives for preparing the electoral reforms bill. Accordingly, the draft Election Law 2017 was tabled by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to the parliamentary committee, in an interim report on December 20 last year, before both houses of parliament. While presenting the report, the minister said that the committee had decided to seek feedback from all stakeholders, including Committee for Electoral Reforms. It favour. The government first lingered parliamentarians, adding that a final has also been approved by the federal on the formation of the committee, draft would be completed within 30 cabinet and now only has to be passed and then nominated a minister as days once all recommendations had by parliament. The parliamentary chairman who was already busy with been incorporated. Unfortunately, no committee was formed in 2014, giving the preparation of the budget. The progress has been made so far in the it sufficient time for debate. Any delays opposition also played a significant matter. now will only taint the upcoming role in the delays. Initially, meetings It is feared that keeping in view elections.” could not be held regularly due to the the importance and magnitude of There was much criticism from the PTI’s sit-in and its members boycotting the work involved in preparation, opposition on the way general elections the meetings. The report which was any further delay in enactment of the were conducted in 2013. Both the to be completed by October 2014 new election act by the parliament PTI and the PPP maintained that the reached the Parliament in December would pose a huge challenge for elections had been stolen. The PPP said 2016. Since it was an interim report, the ECP. The actions to be taken it was accepting the results only under feedback from the Parliament was include delimitation/re-description of protest in the wider interest of the required before translating the bill constituencies; revision of electoral system. Imran Khan opted to organize into a law. At present, the document rolls; appointment and training of protest rallies which concluded in the has been dumped in the Parliament’s DROs, ROs, AROs, polling staff; longest sit-in ever held in Islamabad. record section. preparation of list of polling stations Imran Khan even sought an enquiry The only general elections and list of polling personnel; enlistment by a judicial Commission appointed considered as being fair, free and of political parties; finalization of by the Supreme Court. In response to transparent was conducted under the codes of conduct for political parties, his demand, a judicial commission martial law of Gen, Yahya Khan in 1971. security/polling personnel, media etc; was formed which found that though According to reports, a high level of allocation of symbols; printing of ballot by and large elections were organised public participation and a voter turnout papers and engagement of printing and conduced fairly and in accordance of almost 63 per cent was recorded presses; establishment of the Result with law, there were a number of during this election. It is unfortunate Management System; arrangements shortcomings in the election process that a democratic government cannot for election observers; appointment of and incorrect compilation of results ensure fair elections, simply because appellate and election tribunals and was also detected. our political leaders are comfortable security measures. Finally the government agreed on with manipulating election results The ECP has warned the Speaker a multi-party parliamentary committee and do not seem to be serious about of the National Assembly in writing, in to recommend electoral reforms. What the much-needed electoral reforms. a letter, which says, “Time is already happened afterward clearly reveals the The way things are moving, a fair and running out to finalise the Election non-serious attitude of the government transparent election in Pakistan will Act of 2017. The continuing delay is as well as the opposition. It seems that remain a pipe dream. inexplicable. It has been nearly two powerful leaders wanted the status quo months since the Electoral Reforms to be maintained so that they could The writer follows political and social Bill was cleared by the Parliamentary manipulate election results in their developments in South Asia.

SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 31 REGION PAKISTAN Across the Line The Durand Line has been a point of contention for a long time between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Increased terrorist attacks by Afghan elements inside Pakistani territory have prompted the erection of a fence but the action has not received much favour in Afghanistan.

By Dr. Raza Khan

fter delay of many decades Afghanistan, killing at least 50 Afghan Afghanistan border, also known as the Pakistan initiated the fencing of troops. The killing of Afghan troops Durand Line, is being undertaken by the Aits long border with Afghanistan, by Pakistan in reaction to the attack paramilitary, in this case the Frontier raising hopes that this was the beginning on Pakistani civilians and security Corps (FC). In the first phase, the fence is of the end of reversing the ill-effects of officials could not be celebrated and being erected on 1,300 kilometers long an open or ‘no’ border that has deeply was rightly described by the Pakistani border in the Federally Administered affected the security and economy military spokesman as ‘unfortunate.’ Tribal Areas (FATA) and Khyber- of Pakistan. The attack in early May The spokesman also felt sorry for losses Pakhtunkhwa. The Pakistan-Afghanistan on Pakistani territory in Chaman on the Afghan side in Pakistani firing. border mostly passes through extremely (Balochistan) by Afghan security forces However, Pakistan was compelled to difficult mountainous terrain and that killed at least ten Pakistani civilians respond. therefore fencing it is quite an uphill and security personnel, speaks volumes The decision to fence the 1,300 task. Nevertheless, the Frontier Corps is of the need of managing the border kilometers part of the 2,640 kilometers using a variety of means to complete the between Pakistan and Afghanistan. long Durand Line in FATA and KPK was task. In reaction to the Afghan attack taken up by the Pakistan Army at the Pakistan has already completed in Chaman, Pakistan security forces Corps Commanders Conference held digging a 1,100 kilometers long trench attacked Afghan security posts inside on March 9, 2017. Fencing the Pakistan- on the Durand Line at the Chaman-

32 SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 Kandahar part of the border in but physical, financial and political to fence the border and Afghanistan’s Balochistan. The 11-feet deep and 14- constraints prevented it from happening. opposition to is Afghanistan’s claim on feet wide trench was completed in 2013 It was in 2007 that General Pervez Pakistani territory. The Afghanistan stand across the entire stretch of the border Musharraf vowed to fence the Durand has never recognized the Durand Line as and has been instrumental in effective Line. He even offered to mine the the permanent border. Kabul has always border management. This can be gauged border where effective fencing could argued that the terms of the Durand Line from the fact that since the completion not be carried out. However, the plan Agreement signed in 1893 between of the trench, there have been very few could not be implemented due to Afghan King, Amir Abdul Rahman and terrorist attacks in Balochistan that could political opposition. Nevertheless, British Secretary of Indian Affairs, Sir, be linked to Afghanistan-based terrorists threats to national security from across Mortimer Durand, were imposed by of Pakistani or Afghan origin. However, the border in Afghanistan have been so the Afghan king. This is indeed a very in FATA and the KP, where the border has serious that there should not have been weak legal position as Afghanistan remained porous, the number of attacks any political opposition to it. Even the subsequently ratified the Durand from Afghanistan-based terrorists and governments should not have brought Agreement in the Treaty of Gandamak militants, including those from Pakistani it into consideration and should have (1879) and Truce of Rawalpindi in 1919. militant-terrorist groups like the Tehreek- gone forward in making foolproof Therefore, foolproof border management e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Jamaat- arrangements to manage the Durand by Pakistan is really important from a ul-Ahrar, have increased manifold. Line. But successive governments could purely political and international point The effective management of the not demonstrate the required political of view of law. As long as Pakistan keeps border is directly linked to national will to go about fencing the border. its border unmanaged with Afghanistan, security and therefore it is the foremost The decision to erect a fence on the the stance that it is a disputed border responsibility of the government to Pak-Afghan border is the irreducible would remain. An open and porous completely focus on this aspect of minimum to protect Pakistan and its border between two independent states governance. The whole process of citizens from terrorist attacks. This always gives credence to the irredentist development and peace-building is could also be instrumental in diluting claims that one state is having on the dependent on national security. But the criticism from Afghanistan, NATO, territory of the other. Here the example the problem with the present political the US and the other western countries of Indian held Kashmir (IHK) is quite dispensation is that it has different of not doing enough to stop cross- relevant and interesting. As Pakistan and divergent priorities than what the border infiltration of Taliban insurgents has longstanding irredentist claims on national security requires. from Pakistani soil into Afghanistan. the IHK, India has done everything Estimates by Pakistani security The Afghan government in the past from fencing it to air surveillance to officials reveal that around 10,000 to outrightly rejected fencing and mining demonstrate that IHK is an integral part 28,000 individuals cross the Pakistan- of the Pakistan-Afghan border. While of India. This is despite of the fact that Afghanistan border at Torkham every there is also strict opposition from India has a very weak stance on Kashmir day and, surprisingly, 90 percent of political groups and stakeholders on while Pakistan has a very strong position them do not have any valid travel the Pakistan side of the Durand Line, on it as reflected in the United Nations documents, including passports and including the Pakhtoon ethno-linguistic decades-old resolutions on Kashmir visas. If this is the situation on a regular nationalist parties like the Awami calling for holding plebiscite in the border crossing, one can imagine the National Party (ANP) and PkMAP as region for determining which country situation on the rest of the border. As well as Jamaat-e-Islami. However, the the Kashmiris want to join. such, all the government efforts to wage ANP and the PkMAP anti-Pakistan and The argument by certain elements a decisive war against terrorism in the pro-Afghanistan stance is well-known, that foolproof security measures on country, most of whose perpetrators the Jamaat-e-Islami, following the the Durand Line would bifurcate the have traditionally been using the Afghan philosophy of Akhwan-ul-Muslimeen Pakhtun tribes is quite unsubstantiated soil to escape action and arrest, seem a (Muslim Brotherhood), consider borders and strange. It is a fact that on the futile exercise. For instance, according among Muslims states of no value. Pakistan-India and Pakistan-Iran borders, to Pakistani security officials, the launch These groups have not provided any many local Punjabi communities and and successful execution of Operation answer or justification that, irrespective Baloch tribes, even families, have been Zarb-e-Hazb in North Waziristan in of security threat to the state, how could divided for long. By fencing and walling, June 2014 forced most of the Pakistani Pakhtuns and Muslims in Pakistan be the argument of division of tribes by Taliban groups and their foreign affiliates protected from terrorist attacks and how securing a border has no grounds. to head to Afghanistan. Independent could millions of Afghans be repatriated Borders between countries cannot sources and the US drone attacks that successfully as they are living as refugees exactly delineate or separate ethnic killed many Pakistani Taliban leaders in Pakistan without fear and may sneak groups and tribes and the history of inside Afghanistan proved this beyond back into Pakistan. modern nation states is testimony to this doubt. So, if the same groups after their Management of the Durand fact. The very definition of a nation-state relocation to Afghanistan can plan Line, including fencing the border, is means that whosoever lives within the and execute attacks while sitting in important not only from the security but geographical boundaries of a territory Afghanistan by sending people, money also political point of view. Whether constitute one nation. Even in Europe, and arms across the border and the the Pakistan or Afghanistan government national borders have divided ethnic Pakistan border security officials are publicly admit to it or not, but the problem groups but there has hardly been any either unable or unwilling to check between Afghanistan and Pakistan is controversy. The fencing of the Pakistan- them, then what is the need of such a not limited to militants and terrorists Afghanistan border is fully justified and grand military offensive? Against this infiltration. Cross-border terrorism and has all the legal grounds. backdrop, border management and militancy may be an immediate cause fencing is quite important. of the strained relationship between the The writer is a political and security The idea to fence the Durand Line two countries but the roots of mistrust analyst. He holds a doctoral degree in came up in Pakistan much earlier lie in history. Behind Pakistan’s decision International Relations.

SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 33 REGION AFGHANISTAN The Misguided Bomb The US had all its priorities mixed up when it decided to drop the mother of all bombs in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province.

By Hafiz Inam

ince assuming the presidency in bomb in a battle. Given the fact that in the offing for US and government January 2017, Donald Trump has the US supports dialogue with the troops. Taliban defectors, Al-Qaeda Snot deliberated at length on how Afghan Taliban, the testing of the so- sympathizers and expelled Sunni he would deal with the chronic Afghan called Mother of All Bombs (MOAB) Arab fighters from Iraq and Syria, crisis he inherited from his predecessor. insinuates that the US has declared have established their foothold in Apparently the Trump administration the ISIS its real enemy in Afghanistan. eastern Afghanistan under the banner appears more obsessed with the This implies a major shift in US policy of the ISIS-Khurasan chapter. Their growing Islamic State (ISIS) threat vis-a-vis fighting the war on terror. emergence has given weight to the than a Taliban uprising in Afghanistan. The war in Afghanistan is the apprehension that prospects for peace The obsession was manifested on 13 longest the United States has ever in Afghanistan are bleak. April, 2017 when the US dropped its fought. Even after spending more than The ISIS which is known for its largest non-nuclear bomb on a tunnel $1 trillion over a period of 16 years, macabre suppression of its subjects has complex purportedly being used by the US has failed to consolidate its spread its tentacles into Afghanistan’s ISIS militants in Nangarhar province initial gains against the Taliban who lawless territories in a bid to establish in eastern Afghanistan. It was the are expanding their territory each its influence. This has complicated the first time the US unleashed such a year. However, there is another threat sixteen-year war which was fought

34 SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 with the long-standing mission of surprise when Islamic State fighters not the war on terror, but the inhuman fighting the Taliban. The emergence of are often pummeled by US airstrikes. and most brutal misuse of our country ISIS has brought old rivals, the US and First, the US eliminated ISIS chief and as a testing ground for new and Taliban, closer as both are aware of deputy chief in Afghanistan, Hafiz dangerous weapons.” The Taliban repercussions of the ISIS spreading in Saeed Khan and Abdul Rauf Aliza, also condemned the attack and said, Afghanistan. ISIS controls many small respectively, in airstrikes last year. “Using this massive bomb cannot towns and cities along the Afghanistan- Later Afghan forces with US support be justified and will leave a material Pakistan border. Surprisingly one launched major operations twice in and psychological impact on our hundred and eighty thousand Nangarhar to stamp out ISIS. Although people.” However, General Nicholson Afghan soldiers have not been able both operations helped Afghan forces commanding US troops in Afghanistan to vanquish the outfit which barely to drive ISIS out of Achin and Shinwar was of the view that “it was the right comprises a few thousand fighters, districts of Nangarhar, the militant time to use the bomb tactically against according to US officials. Around $80 billion have been spent on revamping and restructuring the Afghan National Army, yet it lacks competence in fighting and withstanding the incursion The use of the so-called mother of all of any enemy. A couple of years ago, no Afghan bombs in Achin district was against could believe that Daesh had reached Afghanistan. But it was in June 2015 the Law of Armed Conflict that bars when ISIS came to the fore after capturing the village of Manan Bagh indiscriminate killing in a battle. in Nangarhar province from its rival Afghan Taliban. As it is known for its brutal methods, ISIS forced innocent local people to sit on explosives outfit somehow managed to hold its the right target on the battlefield.” and hanged Taliban captives presence in the province. Despite the The US decision to drop a bomb has publicly. Since then it has claimed repeated rhetoric from Afghan officials exposed fault lines that exist between responsibility for many deadly attacks that there is no safe haven for ISIS in Kabul and Washington. Generally both inside Afghanistan. The Kabul suicide Afghanistan, the ground reality suggests have almost diametrically opposing bombing in July 2016 and the Sardar ISIS insurgents have withstood the views regarding the problem. US Daud Khan Hospital attack in 2017 brunt of military operations launched officials are of the view that the Islamic which cost more than hundred lives against them time and again. State and Al-Qaeda pose a real threat were carried out by ISIS. The use of the so-called mother to their interests in Afghanistan while At this juncture the Trump of all bombs in Achin district was the Ashraf Ghani-led government administration is not willing to against the Law of Armed Conflict perceives the Taliban as a major alienate the Taliban by turning a that bars indiscriminate killing in a challenger to its rule. The difference of blind eye to ISIS penetration in a war- battle. The very objective of dropping opinion prevents the developing of a torn Afghanistan. This comes as no the bomb was to induce a substantial coherent strategy. psychological effect on those who The military decision to use a witnessed it. It was an ominous message super bomb in Afghanistan has only given to rebels fighting government underscored the shallowness of US troops. Nevertheless the supposedly political and diplomatic strategy. The largest non-nuclear destructive bomb US needs to understand that using did not reap the desired results for heavy bombs and weapons will not the US as ISIS continues its spree of end an indigenous insurgency. This violence inside Afghanistan. will further exacerbate the already The war strategy devised by the deteriorating situation to an extent that Trump administration to combat the local population would start hating insurgents in Afghanistan is faulty and foreign troops for using Afghanistan devoid of rational planning. The new as a testing ground for outrageous war plan entails the use of intimidating weaponry. The dropping of the MOAB weapons and deployment of more also demonstrates a major shift in US troops in a bid to turn the tide in US policy in relation to insurgents favour of the Afghan government. But operating against the government. measures such as dropping the MOAB It shows that the US takes ISIS as its will not help the US heal its miseries biggest enemy in Afghanistan whereas in a long-standing Afghan war. Rather, the government-supported Afghan it will induce an antagonistic reaction militia thinks otherwise. “The biggest from highly xenophobic Afghans threat to the security and stability of towards foreign troops and the US- this country is Taliban insurgents, not backed Afghan government. The anger Daesh forces,” said Mirwais Yasini of the local Afghan people is obvious – an influential Afghan member of from the statement that came from parliament from Nangarhar. former president Hamid Karzai who deplored the attack and said, “This is The writer is a member of the staff.

SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 35 REGION NEPAL

The new constitution of Nepal has been resented by the Army which complains about a reduced role in the policy-making process vis-à-vis national security.

By Saleem Khan

olitics are a dodgy gambit in countries new constitution. Apprehensions towards where civil-military relations are often the new constitution need to be addressed Pdictated by the latter. This holds true for before misconceptions begin to disturb the most of the countries in South America, the equation of the Army with the government. Middle East, Africa, Central Asia and South On September 20, 2015, the new Asia. Bangladesh and Pakistan are striking constitution of Nepal came into effect, examples of military flirtation with politics replacing the Interim Constitution of 2007. in South Asia, especially Pakistan where the The new constitution was produced by military junta has ruled the country longer the second Constituent Assembly and was than democrats did. However, Pakistan’s endorsed by 90% of the lawmakers who South Asian neighbour Nepal offers a took almost eight years to draft the new different political history. Since its army has constitution after the abolition of the 240- kept itself at bay from politics, there have year old monarchy in 2008. The delay was been no military interventions in Nepal. But due to squabbles that led to a failure of the the promulgation of the new constitution first Constituent Assembly which was formed of Nepal has been resented by the Army after the 2008 Constituent Assembly was which makes no secret of its grievances. assigned to develop a new constitution.

Boon or Bane? This has cast doubts on the longevity of the In the erstwhile monarchy, the need for a

36 SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 The new constitution of Nepal has undermined the Nepalese Army by bringing it under the control of the people’s representatives.

policy on overall national interest, the past and its tribulations are still far security and defence of Nepal, and from over. The rebel movement led by for the mobilization and control of the the Maoists in 1996, which widened the Nepal Army.” Article 267 (5) says, “The ethnic fault lines, was the beginning of President shall, on recommendation of a long tale of separatist movements in the Council of Ministers, appoint the Nepal. The marginalized communities commander-in-chief and remove him or such as the Madhesis in Terai, Limbus her from office.” In the initial proposed of the Far East and the Tharus in the draft, the NSC was sans the army chief. southern foothills of the Himalayas, Later, on the protest of the Army, the demand partial or complete sovereignty. Chief of Army Staff was included as a In September 2015 thousands of the mere spectator in the NSC but deprived Tharus people attacked and brutally of any decisive power. His role was killed eight policemen in Tikapur, West limited to giving suggestions only. Thus, Nepal. Later in Surkhet, Rupendahi, the celebrated army of 95,000 strong Mahottari and Dhanusa districts, police Gurkhas was left at the discretion of shot dead many protestors who were men who had never been to a war demanding provincial autonomy. zone. The fears of another civil war are real Article 266 (2) of the constitution in Nepal. The Madhesis, who belong to sanctions the secretary of the Ministry southern Nepal, demand two provinces of Defence, who is not a security expert, in the southern belt. The Madhesis are to act as a member secretary of the lowland downtrodden people who live NSC. “The provision could have been mostly along the border areas with mentioned in the draft for two possible India. They demand equal treatment reasons — either to make the army loyal and accuse the highland people of to the government or to control it,” says economic and political domination. Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Balananda Sharma. This Likewise, the highland people, the Khas shows how desperately the assembly Aryas, suspect loyalty of the Madhesis wants to snatch power from the Army due to their proximity to India. The and concentrate it in their own hands, Madhesis, emboldened by the Maoists- even to the extent of compromising led rebellion, can stage an uprising. new constitution was felt after a decade- national security. The provision further Such threats are real and need to be old civil war between the Maoists and the jeopardizes the Army’s role, especially addressed realistically. Nepal Army had wrecked the country. in the absence of a National Security Traditionally, the Nepalese Army A ceasefire was brokered between Adviser who could lend his services to has remained apolitical. Contrary to the the opposing parties. This prompted the PM and help him out in formulating armies of other South Asian countries, the Maoists to abandon militancy and an effective security policy. it has never poked its nose into politics enter politics in 2006 on the promise of The constitution has empowered even at the time of civil war with the rolling up the monarchy. In 2008 when the Public Service Commission (PSC) to Maoists when the state authority was the first Constituent Assembly elections conduct recruitment of the Army staff. gravely receding. Politicians, on the were held, the Communist Party of The Army believes there is no need to other hand, seem stimulated about Nepal (Maoist) bagged a majority of bring the PSC in these decisions as all meddling in military affairs. The new seats in the assembly. It is believed the these recruitments are made through constitution of Nepal, which was presence of the Maoists in the assembly the Army Act of 2006. Similarly, produced by the second Constituent has delineated the constitutional cover the Army has reservations over the Assembly, has failed to safeguard provided to the Army in the previous provisions which have authorized the the interests of the armed forces. The constitutions. Commission for the Investigation of constitution has drawn aspersions from The new constitution of Nepal Abuse of Authority (CIAA) to carry out the military circles which believe their has undermined the Nepalese Army investigations against Army officers if role has been reduced to patrolling by bringing it under the control of the found guilty. Such officers are already the borders only. Even the NSC, which people’s representatives. Article 266 (1) liable to punishments according to the formulates a national security policy, of the constitution entitles the prime Army Act. Hence, giving authority to is mainly controlled by civil servants minister to head the National Security the CIAA in this regard is redundant. and people’s representatives. Analysts Council (NSC). The article reads, Weakening of the Army at the fear the promulgation of the new “There shall be a National Security hands of politicians in a country where constitution might lead to civil-military Council for making recommendation identity politics is dominant is risky. confrontation in Nepal. to the Government of Nepal, Council Nepal, which is a multiethnic country, of Ministers for the formulation of a has witnessed many turbulent times in The writer is a free-lance journalist.

SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 37 REGION NEPAL Walking the Talk Nepal and India now seem to be talking business since the latter feels the mountain country may be wooed away by other big powers.

By Samina Wahid

epalese President Bidya Devi anticipated visit was seen as a sign time in months after an increasingly Bhandari paid a five-day visit of somewhat more cordial relations hostile environment because of Nto India in April. The highly between the two countries for the first Nepal’s new constitution.

38 SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 This was Bhandari’s first state Nepal has attempted to import oil from changed. New Delhi is now seen visit abroad after she assumed office China among other things and this urging the United Democratic Madhes in October 2015. The delegation has been a cause for concern for New Front to participate in the second round comprised several ministers and MPs Delhi. Indian officials have finally of Nepalese elections so that they can and showed the importance that realized that in order to maintain actually work towards resolving their Nepal attaches to its ties with India, and strengthen bilateral ties with grievances with the constitutional given that both countries share a Nepal, New Delhi needs to pay close process. Not surprisingly, the Madhes cultural and historical heritage. attention to increasing connectivity leaders in India feel their government President Bhandari initially and investment in infrastructure has let them down. It’s possible that scheduled a visit to India in May in Nepal. While on paper, this has New Delhi has finally taken the 2016 but it was cancelled since always been the policy ever since criticism levied against it seriously the Nepalese cabinet was reluctant Narendra Modi became PM in 2014, and is slowly distancing itself from to give its approval. Bilateral ties the reality is very different. Very little Nepalese politics, a move that has between the two countries were effort has been made so far to develop been received positively by the badly affected in the wake of the 2015 friendly ties with Nepal. It’s only people. protest by the Madhesis and Tharus now that officials are trying to speed Still, India needs to do more than against the new Nepalese constitution which they felt discriminated against them. The two communities felt the constitution sidelined them in favour of the Nepalese hill tribes as per If India hopes to develop strong the provisions of the constitution. Meanwhile, the Indian government bilateral ties with Nepal, it needs remained in favour of the Madhesis and Tharus, thus resulting in tensions to pay attention to the needs of the between Kathmandu and New Delhi. country by improving connectivity and Protestors went so far as to block key supply routes from India to Nepal, economic growth. which Kathmandu felt received the patronage of the Indian government. New Delhi continued to deny any involvement in the blockade although up projects that have been pending just take mere cosmetic measures the media told a different story. Hence, for years. It’s worth mentioning here when it comes to its policy towards the president’s visit was cancelled by that over the years, India seems to Nepal. For starters, India needs to tell Nepalese PM K.P. Sharma Oli who have failed in its diplomacy due to its leaders that unless they involve the believed that India was instrumental the huge change in the psychological people in the making of key political in cobbling up an alliance of parties and geographic make-up of Nepal, agendas, political stability is hard to in Nepal to topple his government. especially since the latter remains no come by. The new Indian ambassador, According to reports, this longer dependent on India for political Manjeev Singh Puri, has often told diplomatic disaster was possibly a and economic support. Nepalis who have met him that reaction that the Oli government If India hopes to develop strong India’s vested interest lies in keeping perceived was a ‘cold reception’ bilateral ties with Nepal, it needs Nepal stable and prosperous. This, in New Delhi in February 2016. In to pay attention to the needs of the however, will require more substantial fact, under the leadership of PM Oli, country by improving connectivity effort. New Delhi needs to focus on relations between India and Nepal and economic growth. Furthermore, consistency to have a stable foreign hit an all-time low. For this reason, New Delhi must stop interfering in policy when it comes to Nepal. The Bhandari’s visit to India was significant Nepal’s internal affairs even though Indian government must also focus on because it indicated an improvement it is impossible for it to remain internal stability so that it can present in the relationship between the two completely detached given that the a united front and strengthen ties with countries. For the first time since two countries share borders. The Nepal. 2015, it appears there has been some Indian government must realize that President Bhandari’s visit has shift in India’s policy towards Nepal. coercion is not the way to get things definitely come at an interesting While the official stance was that done. All concerns must be brought to time. Even though she does not have the blockade was not supported by the table and discussed openly rather the authority to sign agreements on the government, Indian officials also than employing secretive tactics to her government’s behalf, she can acknowledged that the blockade did manipulate the country’s political certainly be an instrumental figure in not achieve any results; instead it led affairs. This approach will be much relaying political messages between to what is now a popular anti-Indian more effective and will allay negative both countries. More such visits are sentiment in Nepal. This could also be perceptions about India in Nepal. needed so that India and Nepal can the reason why India has been quiet India had been extending its move their relations on a more solid about local elections and the Madhesi support towards Madhes-centric footing so that there is more action demands to amend the constitution. parties in the past and expressed and not all talk. India has also been particularly solidarity with them when they concerned about Nepal’s growing were boycotting the new Nepalese The writer is a freelance journalist attachment with China; a direct result constitution as well as the local who contributes regularly to various of the blockade. In the past one year, elections. This has considerably leading publications.

SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 39 REGION BHUTAN Blessing for Women In Bhutan, the government’s refusal to introduce a minimum 20 per cent quota for women in elected offices can help them in the long run as they can contest elections on merit, using their abilities and leadership skills.

By Faizan Usmani

n February this year, the Royal and educational qualifications, instead electoral candidates and introduction Government of Bhutan rejected a of choosing a person because of his or of a quota for women in all elected Iproposal that seeks to introduce her gender. offices. a 20 per cent quota for women in Following the Cabinet’s rejection, According to Sonam Penjor, senior elected office. Quite an unusual move, the National Commission for Women programme officer, NCWC, part A of the rationale behind the government’s and Children (NCWC) is now going to NPAPGEEO identifies possible entry refusal was based on the assumption review part A of the National Plan of points in the current electoral system that offices or posts must be held on Action of Promotion of Gender Equality of Bhutan to ensure representation of merit basis and emphasis should always in Elected Offices (NPAPGEEO), which women at the nomination level, thus be placed on one’s capabilities, skills talks about the nomination of female increasing their chances to be elected.

40 SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 He believes the best way forward is to for the rest of the candidates. a low number of female representatives ensure the nomination of a minimum “The same shall apply in the event to the upper house. On the contrary, 33 per cent female candidature by of nomination of two or more female the country’s leading political parties each political party for both primary candidates and one male candidate,” are to be blamed for not having women and general elections of the National says Sonam Penjor. in three fourths of the constituencies. Assembly. On the occasion of the International “The data available from the Election He points out that 33 per cent tends Women’s Day on March 8, the National Commission of Bhutan for the 2013 to be a standardised and globally- Conference on ‘Women in Governance, elections states that the number of votes accepted representation of women in Leadership and Politics in Bhutan’ was cast for male and female candidates the legislature to ensure responsive held in Thimphu. were almost the same, which strongly discourse and resolutions. It was organised by the Bhutan indicates that when female candidates “The political parties could actually Network for Empowering Women are there, the voters support them do this voluntarily. But then, we might (BNEW) and the National Commission as much as they support men,” says not meet the set target. Our intention for Women and Children (NCWC) Dahlerup. is not to reserve seats for women, but in collaboration with the Election In 2008, some 13.88 per cent to diversify the choice for voters by Commission of Bhutan (ECB), women contested national assembly ensuring that there is a female and a Department of Local Governance elections. To increase their participation male candidate,” says Sonam Penjor. (DLG), Women, Children and Youth ratio, the then government of Bhutan Part A of the National Plan of Committee of the National Assembly formulated the National Plan of Action Action of Promotion of Gender Equality (WCYCNA), and Bhutan Democracy for Gender (NPAG), which set a target in Elected Offices (NPAPGEEO) Dialogue, a national think-tank on of 20 per cent representation of women makes it necessary to provide all the democracy and political development. in parliament. However, in the 2013 necessary government support to Speaking to the conference, General Elections, only 8.33 per cent female candidates contesting in the Professor Drude Dahlerup, a European female candidates ran for the elections, general elections, but such support is scholar, said that the political parties in which marked a big setback. conditional to the incorporation of the Bhutan need to be more inclusive in For the third national parliamentary 33 percent criteria in the Election Act. terms of gender because the political elections to be held in 2018, Bhutan’s “Part A of the NPAPGEEO proposes parties happen to be the gatekeepers government had previously planned creating a demand for women's to the nomination of the election to increase the number of women participation at the nomination level candidates. parliamentarians from 20 to 50 per cent by requiring the nomination of one She said, “The National Commission through reserved seats, which seems male and one female for every slot at for Women and Children (NCWC) unlikely given the recent stand taken by the Local Government and National affirms the fact that the onerous process the government not to allocate a 20 per Council elections. For National of making legislative amendments takes cent quota for women. Assembly elections, it is proposed time. However, the political parties The move is highly debatable as lots that parties should have 33 per cent of can play a crucial role in voluntarily of arguments can be given both in favour women candidates. However, the ECB ensuring at least 33 per cent of their and against women’s representation says this can be incorporated in the candidates are women, but the set in the legislative assemblies through ECB Act only if it is an approved policy target may not be met. Therefore, as a a quota or reservation of seats. of the Government,” says Aum Kunzang last resort, they need to incorporate 33 Nevertheless, most of the problems Lhamu, Director, NCWC. per cent criteria in the Election Act.” raised by those in favour of quota for Part B of the National Plan of Action She believes no country without female legislators can still be solved lays emphasis on creating an enabling universal suffrage can ever be declared without a quota in place, says Kuensel legislative environment to increase as a democratic state, and a male- Online, a Bhutanese newspaper. participation of women as both voters dominated parliament is bound to As rightly said by the Swedish and candidates in the electrical lose its democratic legitimacy owing scholar Professor Drude Dahlerup, process. This section underlines the to the lack or total absence of female Bhutan’s nascent democracy has the need to promote women’s awareness legislators in the assembly. potential to go back to square one of political, economic, social and In the last general elections held in and it can bring reforms in its electoral gender equity and it also recommends Bhutan in 2013, only eight per cent of system to make it all-inclusive in conducting advocacy and capacity women were elected to the National terms of gender, unlike in the world’s building programmes along with Assembly. Of the 47 constituencies oldest democracies where the political many other initiatives for women’s in the country, three-fourths had only institutions were established centuries empowerment and inclusion in the male candidates. This means only nine before women were given the right to process of national development. constituencies had both male and vote. For the elections of the National female candidates, while in the rest of Particularly in the modern era that Council (NC), the upper house of the 38 constituencies there was not a is ruled by egalitarianism and equal Bhutan's bicameral Parliament, each single female candidate running for opportunity, women in Bhutan need to gewog, a block of some thirteen the elections, says Drude Dahlerup, a think beyond receiving any preferential villages, can nominate one male political science scholar from Sweden. treatment given to them in the form and one female candidate to contest Many people believe the main of reserved seats in the parliament. elections that are held at dzongkhags reason for low female representation in Instead, they should utilise all available (a district comprising 205 gewogs) parliament or the legislative assemblies opportunities to the fullest and nurture level. If a gewog nominates one female in Bhutan is that a majority of women their leadership skills to make their candidate and two or more male voters in the country don’t vote for way into the parliament solely on merit candidates, then only one male will be female candidates, but there is no data basis. eligible to contest the final phase of the to back this theory. She says women electoral exercise, thus making it unfair voters should not be blamed for sending The writer is a member of the staff.

SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 41 REGION THE MALDIVES

Power Moves The expulsion of Maumoon Gayoom shows there is no room for a ceasefire between the former and current presidents of the Maldives. The political realignment on the island portends tough times ahead for the current President.

By Hafiz Inam

n what seems to be an anticipated expelled the party founder, former ruling PPM believes the expulsion was move following the year-long president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. in line with the party constitution and Icontention between former and The expulsion came after a no- will not aggravate the political crisis. current presidents of the Maldives, the confidence motion against the Speaker However it appears the authoritative ethics committee of the Progressive was quelled brutally in the Majlis politics of President Yameen have Party of the Maldives (PPM) has (parliament) by President Yameen. The compelled the party to take such a

42 SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 drastic measure. Apprehensions are Bill” which allowed the government up for voting on March 27, 2017 in rife in the country that the expulsion to award islands for sale without a mercurial atmosphere in the House. will have implications on the overall the required bidding process. This The motion was defeated forcefully as political scenario. expulsion was followed by the 13 MPs from the opposition benches Maumoon Abdul Gayoom expulsions of Dhunya Maumoon were dragged out of the parliament remained an uncontested president and Yumna Maumoon (daughters of by men in plain clothes allegedly of the Maldives for 30 years from Gayoom), Mahamed Nadeem (son- brought from the Army. Apart from a 1978 to 2008. In 2008 he lost in-law of Gayoom) and the former scuffle, the House also witnessed that the presidential election against president’s loyalist Aminath Athifa. the support to Yameen, who routinely Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldivian Just before ousting Gayoom from the enjoyed loyalty of 60 MPs out of 85 Democratic Party (MDP). Later in party, the disciplinary committee also members, shrank to 48. This shows Yameen is clinging to the throne by the skin of his teeth as he is losing his coalition partners. The Maldives has been embroiled The Maldives has been embroiled in a in a political crisis since Yameen assumed the presidency in 2013. His authoritative rule and despotic political crisis since Yameen assumed nature have corroded the situation so much so that all political parties, the presidency in 2013. including his former allies, now stand united against him. He put Nasheed behind bars on concocted charges of terrorism in 2015 before latter 2011 after his resignation from the expelled Mohamed Waheed Ibrahim was allowed to travel to London in Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party he founded – another loyalist of the former early 2016 on medical grounds. His the Progressive Party of the Maldives president. He was among the ruling crackdown on political opponents (PPM). The PPM became the ruling party lawmakers who stood firm was further intensified when he sent party in 2013 when its presidential with Gayoom in the PPM leadership his Deputy President Ahmed Adeeb to candidate Abdullah Yameen bagged a dispute. jail on a charge of treason. To thwart victory in the runoff against Nasheed. The rift in the party encouraged a no-confidence motion he used the Analysts say that the victory was an Gayoom to join hands with his former state machinery to intimidate his outcome of the alliance the PPM made rivals, including the MDP and the political opponents. Qasim Ibrahim with the Jamhooree Party of Qasim Jamhooree Party (JP). In October 2016 and Abdulla Riyaz, leader and deputy Ibrahim just days before the election. he met with the president of the JP, leader of the JP, were summoned to the The relationship between Abdul Qasim Ibrahim. Then in September Police Headquarters many times on a Gayoom and his half-brother Yameen 2016 Gayoom met with the exiled charge of ‘spreading false rumours.’ remained convivial in the beginning. leader and former president Nasheed Colonel Nazim, who was a former But once Gayoom refused to endorse in Sri Lanka to discuss national defence minister and a vocal critic of President Yameen as the uncontested politics. Some years ago it would have President Yameen, was arrested by the presidential candidate of the PPM been impossible to think Nasheed police. Yameen even tried to muzzle for the next election their relations making an alliance with Gayoom the press when it started investigating turned sour. According to the rules, if who sent him to jail many times but the heist that involved embezzlement President Yameen had completed his things has changed now. After the of $205 million. Allegedly, Yameen five-year tenure, he would become meeting, Nasheed said, “Yameen’s and his family members were involved eligible to contest the election. But days are numbered, regime change is in the embezzlement. Faris Maumoon, the godfather of the party thought imminent.” This political realignment an opposition MP, reproved the otherwise. Gayoom even snubbed an triggered a strong disapproval from crackdown and said, “Maldivians invitation from the party campaign Yameen’s faction and Maumoon must see this renewed crackdown for office to attend a meeting regarding Gayoom was dislodged from the party what it is: a test for democracy.” the training of campaign leaders for subsequently. The expulsion of Maumoon Yameen’s 2018 re-election bid. This In a historic move on March 24, Gayoom has receded hopes for escalated frictions within the party. 2017 an unlikely combination of reconciliation in the political arena. Consequently, the party was split leaders came together and forged The ruling party has now officially into two groups. Although the court an opposition alliance called the distanced itself from a bellicose has handed over party control from Maldives United Opposition (MUO). Gayoom who has embarked on Gayoom to Yameen, both factions The coalition includes Maumoon dismantling President Yameen’s claim they represent the real PPM. Gayoom, the largest opposition rule. After he was expelled Gayoom Since the PPM has been divided party in the House – the MDP, the tweeted: “Yameen’s faction has no into two, “expulsion” politics have Jamhooree Party and the Adhaalath legal standing and cannot dismiss become contemporary politics. First, Party. The coalition partners vowed to members from PPM. With the Grace the ethics committee of the party work together to safeguard civil and of Allah, I continue to be a member expelled a few loyalists of Gayoom. political rights abrogated from citizens of PPM and its sole elected leader.” In a knee-jerk reaction, Gayoom and find a resolution to the political This indicates he is adamant and dismissed the ethics committee. Then discord afflicting the country. will continue to destabilize Yameen’s his son Faris Gayoom was expelled The MUO moved a motion of regime. by the disciplinary committee in July no-confidence against the Speaker 2016 for voting against the “Tourism Abdulla Maseeh, which was taken The writer is a member of the staff.

SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 43 INTERNATIONAL US-ARAB TIES A Changed Stance There is a wide gulf between the promises Donald Trump made before his election and the way he is behaving now. The situation has all the makings of the US losing its superpower status.

By Taha Kehar

fter he won a divisive election During the initial months after Trump the new president slapped a ban on by adopting an inward-looking, assumed office, a diverse menu of people travelling from six Muslim Aisolationist posture, US President discriminatory policies crept insidiously countries. Such policy initiatives Donald Trump was touted as the into the public domain under the pretext drew the ire of his detractors -- both formidable force who had his finger on of making the country great again. in the US and abroad. But the Trump the pulse of America’s working class. Through a revised executive order, administration had categorically

44 SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 conveyed its message about the Muslim In addition, the growing Bashar al-Assad regime. Saudi Arabia, immigrants who had plucked themselves preoccupation with gaining access to on the other hand, has provided out of their home countries and had the Gulf oil propelled the US to become financial assistance and weapons to the audacity to pursue the American dream. the key security patron of the region. anti-Assad militants and is propagating The new regime did not want them in After 9/11, America decided to look the need for a change of regime in a an America that would be free from the beyond its economic interests and war-torn country. In this backdrop, spectre of ‘Islamic terrorism.’ allowed counterterrorism to colour escalating tensions between Iran and However, after the new diplomatic perceptions about the US Saudi Arabia could fuel further chaos administration hit its 100-day engagement with the Middle East. and uncertainty. presidential milestone in April, it However, it would be naive to assume Trump’s decision to break away decided to shift gears and reinforce that the country’s economic interests from his electoral promise and fire the leadership role of the US in the were placed on the backburner. The US cruise missiles on a Syrian airbase in global theatre. Donald Trump decided stance on its relations with the region response to a chemical weapons attack to embark on his first foreign trip as is repeatedly informed by these narrow orchestrated by the Assad regime shows president in May. interests. that the US is unwilling to deviate from Overall, it was Trump’s unexpected In light of the historical roots of Obama’s unsuccessful tactic to defeat itinerary that triggered the wave of America’s engagement with the Middle ISIS and restore peace in Syria. While curiosity about the new president’s East, it becomes crystal clear that the pitting Saudi Arabia against Iran might overseas visit. In a radical departure former has to periodically intervene in offer a novel technique to stoke –if not from tradition and his fiercely isolationist the political milieu of the region and resolve -- the conflict, it is unlikely to electoral promises, Trump’s maiden trip cannot completely distance itself from it have the desired impact. began with a visit to two countries in as easily as Trump had initially hoped. On the other extreme, Trump’s trip the Middle East - Saudi Arabia and However, the Trump administration to Israel provided an indication of a Israel. The choice of countries appeared cannot be viewed as a passive player gradual -- if not an altogether radical -- disparate and added to the aura of who has no choice but to silently shift in the president’s strategy. During unpredictability that surrounds the new endure circumstances which it cannot the visit, the US president did not make US president. control. To the contrary, the new US any concrete reference to the two-state Much has been written about president appears to have capitalised solution. Instead, he asked Israel to Trump’s maiden trip to the Middle on its isolationist agenda to establish curtail the construction of settlements East. Many analysts have struggled to firm and irreconcilable differences in along the West Bank. This appears to reconcile the competing interests of the Muslim world. be nothing entirely ground-breaking as the Trump administration regarding the In Riyadh, Trump took advantage of previous presidents have used similar Muslim world. Others have questioned the long-standing rifts between Saudi refrains to arbitrate the matter in the whether the electoral promises were Arabia and Iran and set the groundwork past. simply a carefully weaved facade to for further conflict. On Saudi turf, Trump In his campaign, the new president garner public support for an unlikely billed Iran as a terrorist nation that has had vowed to move the US Embassy from candidate. fuelled sectarian strife and terror. Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. However, in early Trump’s decision to visit the Middle The ultimate agenda was to stir June, Trump signed an order to keep East reveals a deep understanding of hostilities against Iran. But the intention the embassy in Tel Aviv. The decision the cracks that are emerging within the was not to simply gain support about was taken to maximize the chances of US administration and the dreadfully the Islamic republic. Instead, it was a negotiating a peace settlement between narrow ambit of its policies. While the deliberate attempt to stoke tensions Palestine and Israel. It has been billed risk of impeachment may seem to be between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The as a postponement rather than a little more than a rumour, if the threat irony is that Trump himself has done cancellation of the original plan. is carried out, it could tarnish Trump’s little to quell Iran’s influence. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin reputation and weaken the confidence 2015 nuclear deal remains intact and Netanyahu remains optimistic about of the electorate. As a result, the no direct attempts have been made to the move. However, a similar approach itinerary was skillfully planned to shape do away with the agreement. Trump’s was adopted by previous presidents. public perceptions in favour of the US tirade against Iran can be construed as This shows that however well-meaning administration. an attempt to encourage Saudi Arabia Trump’s overtures to Israel may be, it is Moreover, the decision to include to indirectly suppress Iran. Through a unlikely that they will bear fruit in the the Middle East in Trump’s itinerary hefty arms commitment to the Saudis, short term. pointed to the teething problems being the US has progressively ensured that Overall, Trump’s image appears faced by the US in extricating itself from the divisions it creates will inevitably to have watered down in the face of the Middle East. take a violent turn and pull the region reality. As far as other Middle Eastern In the past, the US has maintained into the grips of war. Incidentally, the countries are concerned, Trump has a substantial presence in the region new administration has overlooked succeeded in giving the illusion of to secure its own sectional interests. the fact that its decision to seek Saudi a change in strategy to serve his own The degree and rules of engagement support might fuel more extremism interests. However, he appears to be in the Middle East have evolved over as private money from the kingdom is somewhat circumspect as far as Israel the course of time. During the Cold often used to fund radical elements. is concerned. The US administration War, the US was insecure about the At this critical juncture, Iran and is taking tentative steps to deal with burgeoning Soviet influence in the Saudi Arabia have been embroiled in political sensitivities so as to ensure region. As a consequence, it supported an indirect confrontation. The latter’s that the situation does not spiral out anti-communist regimes in the Middle involvement in the civil war in Yemen of control and, consequently, affect its East and sought Israel’s assistance in to crush the Iran-backed Houthi rebels own interests. reducing the clout of Soviet-backed reflects the enormity of this conflict. In Arab countries. a similar vein, Iran is supporting Syria’s The writer is a journalist and author.

SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 45 NEIGHBOURSLUG BILATERALISM A Paradigm Shift The warming of ties between Russia and Pakistan could bring some stability to the region if both countries play their cards right and are not caught in big power rivalry.

By Dr. Moonis Ahmar

ussia is down but not out.” December 1991 and the emergence of UN Security Council; a recognized This is what was rightly the Russian Federation as a successor military power and a country rich “R perceived by analysts state of the USSR. Still considered in mineral resources, the Russian on international affairs following as the largest country in terms of Federation, under its current President the collapse of the Soviet Union in territory; a permanent member of the Vladimir Putin, is a major player in

46 SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 global affairs. steel mill in Karachi. Unfortunately, first, Russia’s disillusionment with Pakistan-Russia relations, going the Soviet military intervention in India over New Delhi’s deepening ties through several ups and downs from Afghanistan and Pakistan’s support to with the United States, particularly in the times of the USSR till today, are the U.S sponsored Jihad against the terms of political, military and nuclear termed as strategically significant and Soviet forces further vitiated relations cooperation. Since the 1950s, Moscow politically, economically and militarily between Moscow and Islamabad. It had been a major supplier of weapons cordial. The holding of the joint was only after the collapse of the Soviet to India and it also assisted the country Pakistan-Russia military exercises, the Union, emergence of the Russian to build a heavy machinery industry. purchase of Russian military hardware Federation as a successor state of the Now, growing Indo-U.S relations are and Russia’s support, along with USSR, the normalization of Beijing- causing concern and suspicions in China, to Pakistan’s membership in the Moscow relations and transformation Moscow which has ultimately led to Shanghai Cooperation Organization of the threat perception in Pakistan- Russia’s new policy vis-à-vis Pakistan. (SCO), seem to have raised several Russia relations that things began to According to Dmitriy Frolovskiy, questions like: why and how is there take a positive turn. “Russian-Indian relations might seem a positive transformation in Pakistan- According to Dmitriy Frolovskiy, flourishing on the outside; inside, Russia relations despite their past a Moscow-based political analyst and however, they have experienced a animosity and hostility? What are writer, in his article on May 14, 2016 downward trend. The Kremlin has India’s concerns over the strengthening in The Diplomat magazine, used an grown cautious lately about India’s augmenting defence cooperation with the United States and other Western nations. Selling weapons remains a tenet of Russia’s foreign policy strategy A paradigm shift in Pakistan-Russia and its soft power outreach; however, the country’s market share in India has relations was also noticeable when been on a gradual decline for the past several years. In contrast, the U.S- Pakistan’s Prime Minister paid a visit to India arms deals have topped a record amount of $9 billion.” Moscow in March this year. Yet, Russian officials have made it clear that their revitalized relations with Pakistan are not at the expense of their age-old ties with India. Second, of Pakistan-Russia security, strategic interesting term “Russian-Pakistani the Sino-Russian equation and strong and military ties? What are the areas Renaissance” which meant the revival cooperation since the end of the cold of cooperation in Pakistan-Russian of ties between the two countries. war changed the dynamics of Asia ties and how can the two countries He wrote, “A Russian-Pakistani because, for decades, Moscow and deal with the menace of extremism, renaissance started in 2014 when the Beijing had hostile relations. The intolerance, militancy, radicalization, Kremlin removed its arms embargo impact of the Sino-Russian cordial violence and terrorism? against Islamabad. In 2015, Moscow relations on Pakistan is understandable Since 1950, when the then Prime agreed to sell four Mi 35 helicopters because of Islamabad’s age-old ties Minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan to Pakistan and welcomed Islamabad with Beijing. Russia has expressed preferred to visit the United States to join the Shanghai Cooperation its interest in benefiting from CPEC instead of reciprocating to the Soviet Organization (SCO). This year already, and, along with China, has supported invitation to visit Moscow till the the Russian Army Commander-in- Pakistan’s membership of the SCO. collapse of the USSR, Pakistan-Soviet Chief Oleg Salyukov announced A paradigm shift in Pakistan- relations for most of the time remained the first ever mutual special drills in Russia relations was also noticeable devoid of warmth and cordiality. mountainous terrain. Both nations when Pakistan’s Prime Minister paid Pakistan’s joining the US-backed additionally agreed on a construction a visit to Moscow in March this year. alliances of CENTO and SEATO in project to transfer liquefied natural Convergence of interests between the early 1950s was directed against gas (LNG) from Karachi to Lahore. Pakistan and Russia, however, suffered the Soviet bloc. With Moscow’s overt The pipeline could potentially supply a setback when last year the Russian support to India on Kashmir and 30 percent of the Pakistani population President Vladimir Putin postponed Afghanistan on Pakhtunistan, relations and assist in resolving the country’s a bilateral visit to Pakistan but stated between Pakistan and Russia remained ravaging energy crisis, as well as that he would soon visit Pakistan. hostile albeit a semblance of normalcy extol Russia’s influence. The current This means, the paradigm shift in following the Soviet mediation in the rapprochement has taken many by Pak-Russian ties is still in a transitory India-Pakistan conflict following the surprise, as it might impinge upon phase. Earlier, Moscow had alleged 1965 war in Tashkent. However, the Moscow and New Delhi’s cooperation that Jihadi groups operating in Pakistan India-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and in the long-term.” were also involved in the Chechen Cooperation of July 1971 and Moscow’s On June 6, Pakistan’s Chief of civil war and in conducting terrorist overt tilt in favour of India during the Army Staff had an important meeting acts in the Russian Federation. It December 1971 India-Pakistan war, with the Russian Ambassador in seems, China may have played a vital highly damaged Pakistan-Soviet ties. which wide areas of military to role in neutralizing Russian concerns Z.A. Bhutto’s government tried to military cooperation between the two about Pakistan and lately Moscow normalize Pakistan-Soviet relations countries were discussed. has refused to support New Delhi to by visiting Moscow in January 1972 Two major changes which took condemn Islamabad on its alleged and reaching an agreement with place compelled Moscow to express involvement in acts of terror. The the Soviet government to build a its positive approach vis-à-vis Pakistan: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 47

NEIGHBOUR BILATERALISM

visited Moscow in June this year and called his meeting with the Russian leaders very fruitful but on Modi’s visit, Russia refused to subscribe to India’s perception about Pakistan’s alleged involvement in acts of terror. The Modi regime is trying to take damage control measures in India’s ties with the Russian Federation but much depends on how India-U.S relations are perceived in Moscow and to what extent will India is in a position to revert to its “allied” type relations with Russia. In international relations and foreign policy, there are no permanent enemies and no permanent allies but only interests which shape a country’s policy on vital issues. The same is true in the case of Pakistan-Russia relations where a paradigm shift in these ties should not be a matter of surprise and concern. Russia is a major player in global affairs and has its interests in Central and South Asia. Afghanistan is one country where Russia carries a historical baggage because of its have been replaced with anti- be maintained in the days to come so one decade of military intervention American and anti-Western rhetoric, that unlike the past, the two countries and the accusation raised from many thus providing space to Moscow to do not plunge into another phase of circles that Moscow ruined that adjust its priorities in the country hostility. country in its decade-long military and to play a role for peace-building occupation. But, now Russia in the in coordination with Pakistan. The The writer is Meritorious Professor post-Soviet period knows that anti- thaw in Pakistan-Russia relations is of International Relations at the Russian sentiments in Afghanistan a positive development and needs to University of Karachi.

SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 49 FEATURE DEVELOPMENT

Train to Nowhere The Orange Line project looks good on paper but in the presence of other burgeoning problems, it could be a recipe for disaster if it continues to receive priority over many other deserving causes.

By K. A. Naqshbandi

or a Third World country like improvement in the quality of life, as a mere luxury which a country like Pakistan --- mainly dependent on specially of those living in the rural Pakistan cannot afford. The colossal Floans and grants from the World areas. Any sensible budget planner fund could have been better utilized Bank, ADB and other donor agencies would agree that projects like the on more immediate requirements like for development projects --- should Orange Line are meant for countries the construction of dams, schools and set its priorities keeping in mind the that are efficiently providing all other hospitals to cater to a larger section of immediate needs of the people instead amenities to the public. the population. The other miserable of going for cosmetic development The Orange Line project has a price factor of the project is the fact that programmes. The main emphasis of the tag of Rs250 billion – a major portion revenue collection will be in rupees country’s development plan should be of which is foreign exchange – and will while the Chinese loan will have to on better education, higher standards serve a small segment of the country’s be repaid in dollars, thereby upsetting of health and nutrition, poverty population. Keeping in view the the already poor balance of payments alleviation, clean drinking water, more expenditure involved and the benefits position. employment opportunities and overall expected, the project can be termed There is no denying the fact

50 SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 that financial constraints compel governments to make difficult choices and honest and dedicated budget planners see to it that available resources are spent on balanced development, with a stress on transparency in the system. It is time to invest on education, health and energy if Pakistan wants to compete with other developing countries. There is not a single Pakistani university in the list of top 500 universities of the world, according to a report. Despite significant improvements over the past two decades, Pakistan still ranks near the bottom among when it comes to infant and neonatal mortality and 84 per cent of the population does not have access to safe drinking water. How can then the country afford to go for a not-so-important project like the Orange Line? With 22.6 million Pakistani children still out of school, there should be no higher priority than investing in classrooms and their future. The km stretch inhabited by over 100,000 will ultimately turn out to be a white indifference of the budget planners people. Most of the city’s historic sites, elephant. It has also been reported that to health is reflected in the fact that including World Heritage Sites such as funds set aside for the construction Pakistan spends a mere 0.9 per cent of Shalimar Gardens, are located along of a 400-bed surgical tower at Mayo its GDP on health. Based on these facts this stretch.” Hospital have been diverted to the it is evident that the budget is not at all Quoting an Indian example he says. Orange Line. comprehensive, transparent, realistic “In a similar scenario, Indian engineers Leader of the opposition in the and policy-oriented and does not of the metro train project in the historic national assembly Khurshid Shah said, allow clear accountability in planning, city of Delhi (called the Heritage Line) “There weren’t adequate arrangements scheduling and execution. Members had chosen to go deep underground to save water which mandated the of civil society have therefore, been through TBM to save their heritage, construction of new reservoirs. rightly protesting against the Orange including Red Fort or Lal Qila. Sadly, Unfortunately, instead of thinking and Line as it represents the wrong Pakistani engineers from NESPAK focusing on future planning in the priorities of the Punjab government. designed the Orange Line largely agriculture sector, large amount of The government must understand over the ground to save the project’s funds was being injected into projects that smart investments aimed at the finances at the cost of mass human of publicity such as metro buses and well-being of the people are in favour displacement as well as an irreparable the Orange Line Train.” of the leadership. The investment in loss to national heritage. The apathy of The project was initiated with the project does not qualify as being society, including the fashionable elite, the signing of a memorandum logical and has harmed the standing of public intellectuals and artists towards of understanding between the the government. the drama of death and destruction governments of Pakistan and China in According to Dr Nadeem Omar unfolding right before our eyes is May 2014. Financing for the project Tarar, an anthropologist based in overwhelming. A self-serving regime of was secured in December 2015 when Islamabad, “Rather than using the urban planners, architects, engineers, China's Exim Bank agreed to provide latest technology of deep tunnel economists, and lawyers colludes with a soft loan of $1.55 billion for the boring, employed in every single large corporations and the political project. Construction works began in underground transport system in the elite, and turns the human and cultural October 2015. The project is expected world today, without much care for cost of urban development into a small to be completed by October 2019. The the massive human displacement and variable of compensation, in token system is designed to handle 30,000 threat to the built heritage of Lahore return for a complete annihilation of passengers per hour. The Orange Line city, the Orange Line project has used our human and cultural landscape. will initially carry 250,000 passengers the most primitive form of underground This is what lies at the heart of the per day, with use by 500,000 construction methods — the cut-and- ephemeral urban disaster caused by passengers per day three years after cover method that involves digging a the Orange Line project in Lahore.” commencement of service.The system semi-underground tunnel by cutting On the other hand independent is designed to operate with a minimum the ground at a street-level. This economists have termed the headway of two minutes. It is expected method was abandoned by London proposed cost outlay as exorbitant that the stations will serve 24,520 Underground systems in 1825, given when compared to similar projects passengers per hour in the Orange the large-scale demolition of buildings undertaken in other countries. They Line's first year of operations - a figure and human cost of displacement. also fear that the project is not feasible which is expected to rise to 49,550 by Tragically, the cut-and-cover method and will incur huge losses each year 2025. used by the project is the prime cause which will have to be subsidized by of the ongoing demolition in a 1.7 the taxpayer’s money. The project The writer is a free-lance journalist.

SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 51 FEATURE HEALTH The Suicide Enigma

In India’s higher educational institutions, social discrimination is one area that the Mental Health Bill, 2016, has addressed.

By Sanghmitra S Acharya

ental disorder has invoked from his/her lawful rights to ownership or memory which impairs a person’s stigma, shame and humiliation. of assets. The much awaited Mental behaviour, judgement, capacity to MIndividuals suffering from such Health Care Bill, 2013 was passed by recognise reality or ability to meet disorders are often disowned and left to the Rajya Sabha in August 2016. The ordinary demands of life. This definition the mercy of others and the vagaries Bill seeks to replace the Mental Health also includes mental conditions of nature. Some who are lucky get Act, 1987. India ratified the United associated with substance abuse, and the care needed at home and in the Nations Convention on the Rights of does not include mental retardation. health facilities. Sometimes, prolonged Persons with Disabilities in 2007. All Along with the right to specify how illness also metamorphoses into their signatory countries are required to the ill person would like to be treated abandonment. However, things seem change their laws to give effect to the for mental illness and access to public to be improving now due to efforts rights of persons with mental illness. health services, the Bill decriminalises from various quarters including The 1987 Act did not adequately protect suicide. While the Bill, in adherence state and non-state individuals and these rights, and there was a need to to the United Nations Convention, organizations, to generate awareness; provide them with better treatment and 2007, modifies legal safeguards, it also the individuals’ desire to project improved access to health services. The remains silent on the preventive aspect the compassionate correctness. Mental Bill passed by the Rajya Sabha defines of mental illness. Decriminalisation illness requires special attention. It can mental illness to mean a disorder of of suicide will necessarily require this be used as a shield to bequeath anyone thinking, mood, perception, orientation support, especially in light of increased

52 SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 incidence of suicide being reported worth amidst biases. They have to be addition, small activity groups should among young people. There are many twice as good to prove ‘same as’ or be encouraged for interaction between reasons which have been attributed ‘closer to’ the others. There is actually campus communities. This needs to be to the drastic decision of suicide. the need to walk that extra mile to done both at the institutional as well as Therefore, the penultimate regime exchange and share amongst each personal level. of care and counselling is extremely other that pool of energy which the The Long Road ahead… important. It is acknowledged that if youth epitomizes and channelizes in Social mobility of under-privileged this phase of depression and the causes the right direction. scholars is restricted by insistent leading to it are addressed, suicide can The affirmative policies which are discrimination, which chooses to be prevented. applicable only for education and ignore their educational attainment. From stress to distress employment in the public sector are The main reason for discrimination Very few studies have been often projected as ‘divisive’ by different has been not material but attitudinal. done to examine and understand forums due to vested interests. However, In 1936, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar remarked psychological stress. Some suicide had this been so, even partially, the "men are undoubtedly unequal. inducing factors identified include rural areas, where absolutely minimum But the question is, shall we treat fear of failure, failure itself, very opportunities of education and them as unequal because they are differential treatment, stigmatisation, employment through affirmative action unequal?" He pointed out that social hatred, hurt, humiliation, and isolation. exist, the caste system would have equality cannot function as per the Students who enter the seat of higher died its own death. But, unfortunately, administrative whim. It is determined education through reservations, are it is more than evident in rural areas. by attitude and the mindset which considered ‘lesser’ than others by their The logic of merit being affected by ultimately determines the success or peers, administration and teachers. affirmative action is again something failure of policy towards (any) equality. Consequently, in the absence of a safety not really agued with an open mind. Therefore it is imperative, on the one net, they develop an inferior self-image How does one justify the ‘payment hand, to address discrimination for and become introverted. This leads seats’ in all the private institutions? Or changing legislation, administration to academic failure and there is often is it that riches bring along merit too? and resource allocation, and on the no support system available, creating a conducive situation for a negative outcome like suicide. The social environment prevalent in the university system appears to be biased, much unlike the institutional claims of equality. The mechanisms introduced to bring parity among students, for instance, Remedial Classes, are often not taken in the right spirit for a variety of reasons ranging from additional burden on teachers and administration; usefulness of the course to posers, like ‘why extra help after giving reservation?’ Some of these could be genuine concerns. Designing the module to fit the needs of different courses for differently equipped students and fitting the additional class schedule in the regular timetable is often difficult to reorganise. What remains important Safeguard measures other, more importantly, attitudinal to understand and accept is that we It is recommended to ensure change. The international human lack the sensitivity towards those of implementation of existing policies rights framework is very strong on us who need additional support due which enhance opportunities and non-discrimination. Being born into a to various disadvantages like gender, access to resources and services poor household significantly raises the ethnic, regional, religious minority, to scholars from marginalized risk of deprivation. Marginalization in particularly caste identity. Instead of backgrounds. It is equally essential access to resources is aggravated by extending support, we discriminate, that there are safeguards against the structural disadvantages, bad policies isolate and exclude them. The state, social identity-based discriminatory and neglect by political leaders. through the implementing agencies and practice experienced on campuses. Therefore, improving accessibility personnel ensures a certain quantum In the same vein as gender identity- and affordability; and expanding of reservation as part of affirmative based discrimination, the stipulated entitlements and opportunities need action in education. What, however, guidelines need to be prepared and to remain and continue if the aim is continues to be missing, is the process implemented. Sensitisation sessions to address the root cause of suicide of assimilation due to the choice we for not only the students from the among young minds of the country. consciously make to discriminate. marginalised groups but also students, Instead of believing that students who teachers, administrative and support The writer is a professor at the Centre come through reservations need not staff who are from a non-marginalised of Social Medicine and Community work hard because they will clear the background, are recommended to be Health, Jawaharlal Nehru University, exam and get jobs even with lesser held periodically. Remedial classes need New Delhi. At present, she serves as scores, have to accept that they actually to be made mandatory and additional director at the Indian Institute of Dalit have to work doubly hard to prove their infrastructure should be provided. In Studies, New Delhi.

SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 53 FEATURE ECOnomIC DISASTER Happy Cows The crackdown on slaughterhouses across India suggests an imminent economic breakdown as well as a humanitarian disaster, affecting millions in the country.

By Faizan Usmani

fter Christianity and Islam, supposed to be harmed in anyway, let source of terror. They tear, break, steal Hinduism is the third largest alone be killed. and snatch stuff from passersby, damage Areligion in the world by The holy treatment given to both of crops and contaminate drinking water, percentage of population. As opposed to these sacred animals across a Hindu writes Ashwani Sharma, an Indian 31.5% Christians and 23.2% Muslims, majority land is quite different. In the columnist associated with the Indian currently there are some 1.1 billion Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, Express. Hindus, comprising about 15 per cent wherein over 95 per cent of the total The problem had gone to the extent of the world population. Interestingly, population belongs to the Hindu faith, that in 2010-11, the government had more than 97 per cent of the Hindu desperate attempts are being made to allow the Himachal Pradesh Forest population lives in India. to cut down the increasing monkey Department to issue gun licences to In Hinduism, cow and monkey population through culling, sterilisation, farmers to kill monkeys in order to are referred to as holy animals and are contraception measures, etc. prevent crop damage worth billions. highly revered and worshipped because This is mainly because, despite Caused by wild animal attacks, including of their religious significance. As per enjoying the revered status, the monkey monkeys, the annual crop loss is higher Hindu mythology, the cow represents has been a source of nuisance. In India, than what the government of Himachal Lord Shiva, whereas the monkey over 1,000 cases of monkey bites are Pradesh spends on agriculture every represents Lord Hanuman, a major god reported every day on an average, year, says the National Institute of figure in Hinduism. Both the cow and according to the Primate Research Disaster Management in New Delhi. monkey can be mere animals for the rest Centre in Jodhpur. In 2015-16, for The shoot-on-sight order stands of the religion’s followers in the world, instance, over 2,200 cases of monkey out against the old-cherished religious but to more than a billion Hindus, it is attacks/bites were reported in the belief, but sometimes things become a matter of their faith as both animals Himachal Pradesh state only. so severe and go beyond limits that represent deities and thus are not Monkeys have become a major even the most devout believers tend to

54 SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 revolt against the religion of their birth. Being made by the very believers of Lord Hanuman, the consistent efforts to decrease monkey populations through contraception, sterilisation, culling and now shoot-on-sight measures are not taken as a matter of sheer blasphemy of Hindu gods and that too in the land of Hindus. However, when it comes to the protection of the Holy Cow, the representative of mother Bhumi or the Hindu goddess of the earth, the situation is quite the opposite. The government of Gujarat has recently enacted a law that imposed a life sentence for those found guilty of cow slaughter. The ongoing Gau Raksha (cow protection) drive has now entered a new phase, as the central government is going to introduce an automatic per kilogram on an average. It means economic breakdown as well as a cow-tracking system by giving a unique a cow will eat Rs. 60 worth every day humanitarian disaster in the making, identity number to each cow and its at a minimum. According to him, if the affecting millions of households in the progeny, based on its age, sex, breed, mission of the gau rakshaks succeeds, country. colour, height, tail switch and horn type, then there would be over five crore Thanks to Gau Rakhsa, the as well as special identifying marks. cows out on the streets of India with uncontrolled overpopulation of cattle is A nationwide ‘Project Cow’ is also no purpose other than eating. For the now resulting in many other concerns being launched in India, under which five crore well-fed and happy cows, the too. For instance, there are an estimated cow sanctuaries will be established in lowest cost of Rs. 30 per day takes us 40,000 stray cows in Delhi only, causing each state of the country. According to Rs. 54,750 crore or US$8 billion a traffic snarls and accidents on a regular to the Indian Express, an obstacle- year. basis. “What is the greatest traffic detection-alert-system has been To be very honest, Rs. 54,750 crore hazard in Delhi today? Cows,” claims developed to help vehicles avoid is not an ordinary amount for a poor Bibek Debroy, an Indian columnist. running over cows. In Haryana state, a country like India. This makes 2.7 per In Punjab, some 1,06,000 lakh cows 24-hour cow helpline was established cent of its entire national budget and is are roaming on the roads and streets. last year to help people report any over 35 per cent of the country’s health Unfortunately, more than 300 people incident of cow slaughter and cow budget, which stood at Rs. 37,000 have died in the state in road accidents trafficking, says the newspaper. crores in fiscal year 2015-16. due to cows in the last two-and-a-half- The obsession with cow protection In addition to that, the average years. In other words, every third day goes hand in hand with the losses it has annual cost of cow feeding tends to be a person dies in road accidents owing been inflicting on the country, wherein more than 2/3rds of India’s education to stray cows roaming on roads in the more than 23.5 per cent of its population budget, it is over 35 per cent higher state, according to the Punjab Gau lives below the poverty line. According than the total budget allocated for Sewa Commission (PGSC). to the 19th Livestock Census of 2012, the National Rural Employment While the criminalisation of the total population of bulls and cows Guarantee Scheme and is also five possession and consumption of beef has in India is over 18.2 crores and the total times more than the budget spent on produced a rash of vigilante violence number of cows stands at 12 crores, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, a nationwide across the country, it is also a matter writes Shivam Shankar Singh, an Indian campaign initiated by the Indian of missing priorities of the state, giving political analyst. On an average, a cow government to clean the streets, roads more emphasis to cow protection than gives milk from the age of 1.6 years to and infrastructure of the country's serving its junta. Without doubt, it about seven years and it lives upto 20 4,041 statutory cities and towns. would be inappropriate to challenge years. In India, the meat sector provides the sanctity of a cow on a scientific or However, those cows raised for dairy employment to around 40 million logical basis, as the religious beliefs of rarely live that long and they have to be people, who are directly and indirectly over 1.1 billion Hindus of the world removed from the dairy herd around engaged in the trade of live animals, must be respected at all times. age four and are marketed for beef (in bones, hides, casings, hooves, horns, However, the ongoing cow countries other than India), according etc. The country is the largest buffalo protectionism has resulted in a clash to the Animal Diversity Web, an online meat exporter in the world, whereas between the sacred and the suffering. database run by the University of the buffalo meat industry contributes Rs Therefore, this is high time for India, a Michigan in the United States. During 33,000 crore to the Indian economy. Hindu majority country, to reconsider the milking period, a cow consumes Rs. Out of 40 million people associated its priorities and find a middle way. For 150-200 worth of dry and green fodder with the meat sector, over 15 million this purpose, it can learn from Islam, each day. It needs some 20 kilograms people live in Uttar Pradesh (UP) only, where the concept of ijtihad helps of fodder daily, even if it has stopped which accounts for nearly 50 per cent Muslims to interpret their beliefs and producing milk or is able to give little of India’s total meat exports worth Rs address emerging issues according to to no milk whatsoever, says Shivam 26,685 crore annually. However, the the time and place they live in. Shankar Singh. recent crackdown on slaughterhouses In India, fodder costs Rs. 3 to 4 across the UP state suggests an imminent The writer is a member of the staff.

SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 55 FEATURE youth Social Catharsis One way to free Afghan society from continuing violence is to create conditions for the country’s youth to keep them away from aggression and hostility.

By Hujjatullah Zia

he strong tendency towards the stricken by violence and bloodshed matches. They also follow the martial martial arts in Afghanistan will but is still inclined to cheer martial arts arts with keen interest. Afghanistan has Tlead to widespread violence. leagues and sports shows. This leads been beset by violence for some three The martial arts have has changed into to violence among Afghan youth. decades which means violent practices a constructive pastime for a Afghan Afghans are also engrossed in through sports, and films have an ill youth who are unaware of the adverse football. A large number of youth burn effect on the young generation. effects of this activity. The nation is the midnight oil to watch football Perhaps this is some kind of

56 SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 catharsis for the Afghans. Losing loved by violence. Acts of violence and ones is a common occurrence in the aggression are spread in one way or country. The martial arts bring ‘pity‘ another and horror movies and the and ‘fear‘ and release their emotions. martial art play a great role in this The question is that does Afghan mainly women and children targeted society need such catharsis? by mental, verbal and physical The warring factions, such as the violence. Taliban and the so-called ISIS spill Children who are affected by the blood all around. Their cruel and violence of a horror film or the martial inhuman practices regarding women arts tend to be violent because they and children trigger pity and fear in copy the same attitudes. Since some the people. Violence lies in the nature militant fighters are believed to be of the martial arts. Participants hit adventurous figures, the horrible each other hard out of anger and the consequence of violent shows and more violent they are the higher score sports is beyond doubt. they get. Our society is supposed to do its Physical power has always been best to prevent violence in public deemed a matter superiority. Man life. Films sports and TV shows are hunted for prey to make his ends meet. not supposed to depict violent acts. It The lifestyle was tribal and involved will therefore be constructive to divert physical superiorority. Barbarity and its attention from the martial art and bloodshed was a daily practice both instead watch football, volleyball, in individual and collective life which cricket, etc. Harsh sports belong to was devoid of moral values and social history when man lived in a tribal norms. structure and logic and reason did not Now democracy and civilization have much room and villains were have come to the fore. The human heroes. right to life, liberty and property and Cheering in martial arts leagues democratic discourse is debated hotly encourage the competitors to act more in society. According to the Universal violently. Human societies, especially Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), war-torn countries like Afghanistan, No one is born a slave and no one will have to free themselves of is supposed to be the casualty of all forms of violence. To mitigate discrimination on grounds of a racial, violence, people must create an religious or sexual background. In civil environment for children ito grow in a society, violence has no room although violence-free environment. The youth it is practiced widely. Volence and need to channel their time and energy physical aggressiveness are supposed to more constructive activities rather to have no legal or moral basis. Hence, than gladiator-like games. Society can cathartic or tragic practices in daily then be made free of violence. life reveal one’s adventurous nature or tendency towards violence. The writer is a journalist based in Despite altruistic mindsets and Afghanistan. His areas of interest are unique principles in national and national as well as socio-economic international laws, life is still cursed issues.

SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 57 FEATURE infrastructure Empowering a City Urban planning in Sri Lanka could enter a new era if the Kandy improvement project could move without any hindrance.

By Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq

andy is the second largest city world, Ceylon Tea Museum, National Kandy boasts a mild climate that is very in Sri Lanka, located about 465 Museum, Kandy Lake, Devales and congenial for residential purposes. Kmeters (1,526 ft) above sea level Kandy Monasteries are among the most For any country aspiring to in a hilly area and is the capital of the visited places. Peradeniya University, improve its economic conditions, the Central Province. Not only is Kandy a Sri Lanka’s oldest and one of the most importance of lifting up certain areas sacred Buddhist town, it is also a very prestigious universities is located here. cannot be denied. On taking oath as popular tourist destination, attracting For nature lovers, one of the great Prime Minister in January 2015, Ranil throngs of people from all over the world, botanical gardens of the tropical world Wickremesinghe is adamant about who crowd the city streets the whole is also found in the same area as is the taking the best advantage of the geo- year round. Temple of the Sacred Tooth exotic cuisine of the island for those strategic location of Sri Lanka, making called Dalada Maligawa, one of the with culinary tastes. The population it a potent country for which he has most venerated shrines in the Buddhist is multi ethnic and multi religious. launched a policy document entitled

58 SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 "Powerful Sri Lanka" ("Balagathu Sri Lanka"). It is described as a Sustainable Development Economic Program to establish an economy providing opportunities to one and all, including members of rival parties in conjunction with the global community. He fully understands and appreciates that in order to expand in terms of economic growth, it is vital to enter free trade agreements with Europe and with other countries, in particular large global markets like China and India, while also making Sri Lanka a transit point for shipping and communication, thereby increasing its significance in the Indian Ocean. He also has ambitious plans to develop the country’s infrastructure in order to make different regions accessible to all as this could be instrumental in more economic growth as well as promoting the tourism industry. In a bid to promote ties with China, a Colombo-Kandy-Hambantota corridor idea has been proposed in the wake of the under-construction Sri Lanka-China industrial zone. This is a giant step towards magnetizing Chinese rickshaws). Consequently, a short Greater Kandy Development Project investments in the country, providing distance of 117 km takes up more than is indeed a large-scale and ambitious the local population with employment three hours of driving time. Obviously, venture and its success is dependent by developing vocational and technical this is very disadvantageous in terms of on a number of things, including co- skills through training programmes in transportation of both passengers and operation from the public which is collaboration with the investors. In his cargo. going to be most inconvenienced by the second year in office, Wikremesinghe For an ambitious development plan, on-going works although they would be appears confident about his govern- two factors are of prime importance: eventually the main beneficiaries. The ment’s stability in the light of these Firstly, expansion of geographic and pleasant climate is sure to attract a large measures. He had always expressed municipal limits to almost eight times. number of people who would willingly his desire to develop the Greater Kandy The present area covers approximately make it their permanent abode even if region for which, way back in 2003, 27 square kilometers and needs to be it means travelling a good distance to as then prime minister, he asked the expanded to 210 sq. km. This would their workplaces on a dual carriageway Ministry for Central Development to entail increase in the population of in a much shorter time. come up with proposals to expand the the Kandy Municipality as more towns There is immense hope that municipal limits of Kandy. Now that he are linked to it. According to a rough under the present able premiership of has embarked on another 45 billion estimate, the population would rise Wikremesinghe this long-conceived dollars 5-year mega project centered from 125,000 to 500,000, which is one- project will ultimately get underway around Colombo, the aspirations of third of the Kandy district population of and the expectations of the people the people of Kandy have been revived around 1.4 million. Since the expansion of Sri Lanka in general and Kandy in as they now look forward to a similar envisages towns having the potential particular would be met. Of course, it venture for their area as well. to grow economically, it is hoped that would require a lot of dedication on The Kandians are fully cognizant greater employment opportunities the part of the planners as well as the of the fact that their beloved city has would raise the income-earning executors along with uninterrupted flow been included in the list of World capacity of the people. of money. Unfortunately, as in most of Heritage Cities, being an important Secondly, execution of the proposed the countries of the Third World, there centre of religious, cultural and historic Colombo-Kandy (Central) Expressway are apprehensions in certain circles with magnitude but the present state of that is intended to reduce travelling respect to inefficiency and corruption. affairs do not seem so conducive for the time to a mere 34 minutes. If somehow or the other, these factors urbanites. The municipal limits need to So far, reliance is being placed are checked, controlled and proper be increased to accommodate satellite on the proposals based on reports supervision is conducted, keeping in towns that can become supportive generated prior to 2004 and that too view issues related to the environment conduits for the main Kandy city. Other at the behest of Wikremesinghe. These and cultural heritage, the project could than this, traffic congestion is a major were presented to the parliamentarians prove to be a successful venture for Sri problem because of the absence of of the Kandy region, the majority Lanka’s economy and for its sustainable an efficient public transport system. of whom agreed to the proposals. development. The main highway that links Kandy However, stakeholders from the public to Colombo is a narrow two way lane have not been taken into confidence. The writers, lawyers and partners that is insufficient to cater to both Their input could be of vital importance in HUZAIMA IKRAM & IJAZ, are heavy and light vehicles including the before attempting to launch the project. Adjunct Faculty at Lahore University of infamous tuk-tuks (Indian made motor There is no denying the fact that the Management Sciences (LUMS).

SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 59 FEATURE Society Celebrating Prayer

Most people in Bhutan engage in prayer to express gratitude for their many blessings and move closer to tranquility.

By Mahrukh Farooq

or as far as the eye can prayer walls and sacred flags see, there sit row upon are put on display as a way Frow of devotees, young of reminding people of the and old, men and women, importance of religion in dressed in traditional their lives. Bhutanese garb, loudly Amongst the numerous reciting prayer passages aspects of religion in written on old parchment Bhutan, prayer stands out paper. The atmosphere is as its primary pillar and is serious yet mystical with thus seen being practiced in every participant of the various parts of the country. ceremony fully engrossed To many Bhutanese, prayer is in the rhythm of prayer, viewed as the establishment unaware of his or her of a meaningful connection surroundings or of those with the spiritual world sitting beside. and, in most cases, a way It’s a fascinating sight, of cleansing the soul. In yet one that is considered an article for Bhutan’s not too uncommon in newspaper, Kuensel, Dr. Bhutanese society. For a Karma Phuntsho who is country that measures the the President of the Loden prosperity of its people in Foundation, Director of the terms of happiness rather Shejun Agency for Bhutan’s than economic progress, it Cultural Documentation as is evident that the Bhutanese well as the author of the ‘The take their spirituality very History of Bhutan’, describes seriously. in detail the symbolism As the last independent behind such religious country to declare offerings. “Bhutanese belie- Buddhism as the state ve that chanting the khathun religion, the government of regularly helps them avoid Bhutan has ensured that the harm and misfortunes, religion’s principal values achieve their wishes, live permeate every facet of longer and healthier lives, daily life. For this reason, it accumulate merit for a has been decreed that one better rebirth, and also help son from each family should them reach enlightenment attend a monastic school. swiftly.” Throughout the region, The prayer or khathun religious monuments, (which literally means oral

60 SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 sessions) constitutes the daily prayers not merely a historical person but an B. Carpenter and Blyth C. Carpenter in of traditional Bhutanese elders. Verses enlightened energy or state of being. their book, ‘The Blessings of Bhutan,’ are recited from a book of prayers The historical figure of Padmasambhava the reason for this is “because death called thunpe; in Bhutan, the most only symbolically represents the divine is the point at which the process of common thunpe adheres to the Kagyu and enlightened being which transcends reincarnation begins. [It is therefore] or Nyingma branch of Vajrayana the vicissitudes of life and death and fundamentally important to the people Buddhism. The definition of Vajrayana the notions of time and space. In the of Bhutan. For 49 days after this life Buddhism, according to Encyclopedia ultimate reality, he is the primordial ends, family members, monks and Britannica, “is a form of Tantric Buddha, the enlightened nature in all lamas engage in complex and expensive Buddhism that marks the transition phenomena and beyond individuality.” rituals to help the decedent achieve a from Mahayana speculative thought The thunpe consists of numerous beneficial reincarnation.” They further to the enactment of Buddhist ideas in praises of several Buddhas and explain, “This is not a time for local individual life. The term vajra (which is Bodhisattvas and even sutras such as dieties or any of the other elements of Sanskrit for ‘thunderbolt’ or ‘diamond’) The Heart Sutra as well as The Sutra for folk religion. Instead, the services of is used to signify what is absolutely real Longevity. The Heart Sutra is perhaps the monks and lamas are essential. The and indestructible in a human being as the most popular sutra used in prayer by professionals of formal Buddhism go opposed to the fictions an individual the Bhutanese. According to research, it to work with an unmatched intensity.” entertains about himself and his nature; was taught by the Buddha himself as a For many Bhutanese, prayer yana is the spiritual pursuit of the response on how a son or a daughter of is an integral part of their lives. It ultimately valuable and indestructible.” a noble family should view everything is not uncommon to come across The thunpe begins with rituals that including form, sensation, feelings, traditional Bhutanese elder who may involve a supplication to one’s guru, a volitions, consciousness, the six otherwise be illiterate but who has still practice which is known as ‘calling the senses, the twelve links of dependent managed to memorise all the prayers lama from afar’. This is followed by the origination and the four nobles. in the thunpe. The reason behind such oration of several literary compositions Bhutanese recite these prayers devotion is inculcation of the concept written in praise of the Buddha as well regularly, sometimes as a precursor that happiness is the ultimate goal of as Guru Rinpoche, more commonly before routine activities. The collection all worldly and spiritual endeavours. known as Padmasambhava, the second of khathun contain small prayers or If anything, it is this intense Buddha in Bhutan. According to John rituals to perform before, for example, association with prayer that has made Berthold in his book ‘Bhutan: Land of preceding tea, having a meal, them the envy of many Western societies the Thunder Dragon’, Padmasambhava before making a serkem or alcohol who see Bhutan as a country that is as has been said to miraculously emerge offering and even before making sang yet untouched by the adverse effects of as an eight-year-old from a blue lotus (incense). globalization. In fact, Bhutan is viewed early in the eighth century. He further However, most of the time, as one of the very few societies that highlights Padmasambhava as a figure Bhutanese citizens rely on serious have managed to adopt the constructive that “is celebrated for cementing and sustained prayers to be performed elements of technology for the benefit of Buddhist ideology in Bhutan and for by professionals because only they the people, while simultaneously retain heroic mediations in remote caves.” are aware of the requisite language and preserve traditional culture and the In ‘The History of Bhutan’, Karma and rituals. This practice is known as relationship with spirituality to bring a Phuntsho writes, “In the theological surrogate praying. Interestingly, one of bit of tranquility in their lives. formulation of Padmasambhava as the the events surrogate praying is used the focus of prayer and meditation, he is most for is death. According to Russell The writer is a member of the staff.

SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017 61 Southasia 15 Years Ago SLUG

Southasia, 2002 62 SOUTHASIA • JULY 2017