Shafqat Mahmood

The dilemma of legitimacy
Mar 22, 2002

There must be some kind of historical irony in this. It is General Ziaul Haq's son who tells us that General Musharraf is planning to hold a referendum in May. There is an old saying that history repeats itself, first as irony and then as a farce. So far we are at the irony stage and with Ijazul Haq at the forefront, certain poignancy is added to the whole thing. It is also a sign of the times that the other gentleman explaining General Musharraf's moves is none other than Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. 

Indian secularism in crisis
Mar 08, 2002

South Asia in trouble
Mar 01, 2002

Our part of the world is in a state of terrible disorder. In Pakistan, ten people are shot dead while praying in a mosque. Their killers have little reverence for a place of worship or for their victims' piety. In India, an entire train is attacked in which fifty or more are burnt to death. First reports indicate that this madness was driven by religious zeal. In Nepal, the death toll, by last count, is over 400. This is just one week of mayhem between the government forces and some people who call themselves Maoists. Mao is dead in China, both physically and metaphorically, but in Nepal he lives and thrives.

A successful visit?
Feb 15, 2002

There is a certain ritual that is followed after every foreign trip by a Pakistani leader. Their first words on landing home are that it was a successful visit. This is done without exception. What the success is no one really knows but one thing is clear. No leader can be seen coming home without it. After fifty-four years of these triumphal foreign tours, we the people of this country should be firmly ensconced on a pinnacle of success.

Real test lies ahead
Feb 08, 2002

We have been through this before. An Army Chief takes over the country in less than favourable circumstances. He is roundly condemned and chastised all over the world. Then, something happens to change the equation. The West suddenly discovers that the person they were reviling as a military dictator is very badly needed. Its tone and tenor begins to change. Aid and assistance is offered. 

Whither national security
Feb 01, 2002

The tension on the border still continues but it can be said with some certainty that a full-scale war is now unlikely. This does not mean that skirmishes on the Line of Control will not continue or that rhetoric will suddenly become friendly, but the spectre of a devastating conflict is no longer there. The Americans appear to have played a decisive role in keeping things cool, although one suspects that the Indian leadership was not overly keen on war either.

The continuing stalemate
Jan 25, 2002

This phoney war-no war, no peace-is not coming to an end. There is no sign yet of Indian forces withdrawing. Many of us thought that a huge window of opportunity had opened with General Musharraf's speech of January 12. The Indians do not seem to think so. While they grudgingly acknowledge it as a positive declaration of intent, they are not willing to settle for a mere statement. They want its reflection in the ground realities in Occupied Kashmir.  

Musharraf's bold moves
Jan 18, 2002

Events are moving at a dizzying speed. First, President Musharraf makes a landmark speech promising to change the direction of the country. This is followed by widespread arrests, the latest tally being over two thousand. Then, the Chairman of the National Reconstruction Bureau announces fundamental changes in electoral laws, reintroducing joint electorates and substantially adding to the number of National Assembly seats. These are historic decisions indeed and a journey of a thousand miles has been covered in one bold leap.

It is not over yet
Jan  11, 2002

Eyeballs must be getting pretty tired on the front line after being grimly locked for over two weeks now. This is not yet a hot war but it is not a cold war either. Apart from the occasional shelling that bored artillerymen get up to, the possibility of a real war is just a short order away. Theatrical handshakes in Kathmandu may be considered earth shattering by official publicists but histrionics are seldom a substitute for substance.

Will policy change avert war?
Jan  04, 2002

The tense stand off on the borders continues even though Pakistan is taking extraordinary measures to diffuse the crisis. The arrest of Jaish and Lashkar leaders and hundreds of their workers is not an ordinary event. Neither is the winding up of their offices, recruitment centres and training camps. Their funds have also been frozen and collection of new donations has been disallowed.

On the brink again
Dec  21, 2001

The sounds emanating from India are of war. This is not the first terrorist attack on Indian soil, but the rhetoric coming out now is quite different. It is eerily reminiscent of post September 11 torrent of angry words flowing out of the United States. Without the capacity or the reach of the Americans, the Indians seem to be doing their best to sound like them. 

Eid musings
Dec  14, 2001

Lahore is maddening these days with traffic jams on every streetlight. It is the Eid rush we are told. There was a time when city people of rural origin - like me - would head back to their villages to spend the holidays with their extended family. Not anymore, not in Lahore, at least. 

Fighting extremism at home
Dec  07, 2001

To paraphrase Lincoln, the world will little note nor long remember the Taliban, but the impact of their fall on Pakistan has been quite profound. With their less than ceremonious ouster, all the bluster has gone out of our homegrown extremist elements. Remember how aggressive they were not too long ago? Preaching open revolt against the government, threatening a march on Islamabad, calling on the army to overthrow Musharraf.

The debris of war
Nov 30, 2001

This is a period of moral confusion. There is little sympathy in my heart for the Taliban, who were a sad lot with strange notions of Islam and governance. They were also stupid and had no clue about the consequences of facing up to the Americans. I do not buy the high sounding rhetoric of Jihad and fighting for martyrdom. Even a Jihad requires good sense and the Taliban were clearly devoid of it.

What next in Afghanistan
Nov 23, 2001

The campaign in Afghanistan is winding down with just a few pockets of resistance left. The Americans are being a bit bloody minded about giving a safe passage to non Afghan fighters in Kunduz. From their point of view it may make sense to kill their potential enemies, now that they are surrounded and gathered conveniently in one place. 

Afghanistan and our future
Nov 16, 2001

The Taliban are crumbling faster than cardboard shanties in the path of a storm. Promises of fierce ground battles, that churned the blood of many a chest thumper in Pakistan, are now drifting helplessly in the dust laden Afghan wind. It is not over yet, not by a long shot, but what remains is a mopping up operation. Scattered over rural Afghanistan, the Taliban residue and their foreign volunteers will be picked off slowly but surely.

Islamabad, the beautiful
Nov  09, 2001

Much has changed for Pakistan since September 11. From the periphery of world consciousness, we are now in the centre. From being a backwater ruled by the military, we are now the preferred destination of every Western leader worth his fifteen minutes in the global sun. 

The consequences of American bombing
Nov  02, 2001

The unrelenting American bombing in Afghanistan seems to be producing little more than horrific pictures of civilian causalities. The military results may be different but the image that haunts is the blood splattered face of a young child staring with dazed eyes into a camera or the terrifying wails of a woman who has lost her entire family.

Israel and anti-Americanism
Oct  25, 2001

The sights and sounds of the Afghan war are drowning out the terrible atrocity being perpetrated on the Palestinian people. Israeli tanks have ploughed into their territories killing and burning at will. About fifty people have been killed in this latest barbarity including women and children. Nothing is being spared. Churches, hospitals, mosques, schools, all are targets. This is Sharon's way of imposing a final solution in Palestine.

India's agony
Oct  19, 2001

The home front is beginning to quieten down. There are stray demonstrations every day but nothing that disrupts the flow of daily life. The same cannot be said for the line of control in Kashmir. The Indians are deliberately trying to up the ante there. Artillery duels are not unknown on the LoC but the timing of the current exchange is not without purpose. Like a jilted lover, the Indians are desperate to remind the world that they are still around.

On morality and realism
Oct  12, 2001

It is a strange feeling. There is a war going on not too far from here, yet life goes on at a fairly normal pace. Offices are open, restaurants busy, and cricket is still being played. The slogan chanting crowds and the occasional relapse into violence are more visible on TV than in the everyday life here in Lahore. We are sometimes told that the Mall is closed today for a demonstration, but this is not unusual in a country where coming on to the streets is the preferred mode of political expression. Is all this real or just another way of shoving our head into the sand? Should we be more concerned, more apprehensive, more afraid?

The terror within
sep 28, 2001

Yesterday, a very small portion of the silent majority that opposes terrorism in all its forms, came out to observe the national solidarity day. I cannot think of any call given by a government in recent memory that had this kind of genuine support. Not everyone came out to march on the streets because this is not what most people do. Public expression of resentment, anger or even support is not their way. But, make no mistake. A line has been drawn between civility and terror in our Islamic Republic and most people have made their choice. They are ready to stand behind the government if it chooses to fight the good fight.

Pakistan comes first
sep 21, 2001

Placed in a difficult situation, there is little else that President Musharraf and his colleagues could have done. Only the naive or the foolish, or those that do not want Pakistan to survive, can question the logic informing their decision. We may have our reservations about the rush to judgement in the United States. We also question the moral basis or the military value of further destroying Afghanistan. But then, the luxury of making moral judgements, or choosing convenient targets, is only available to the powerful. The weak have to look after their interests.

The day the world changed
sep 14, 2001

The Americans are calling the catastrophic events in New York and Washington as another Pearl Harbour. The use of this symbolism is indicative of how deeply searing the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon has been on the American psyche. The Japanese assault on American ships and installations in Hawaii's Pearl Harbour was not just the start of the pacific war. It is seen to this day as an example of infamy, of treachery, of cold-blooded deceit.

Towards economic revival
sep 07, 2001

The news from Washington is anything but straight. A new series of sanctions were slapped on us just a few days ago. Now, Richard Armitage, the second ranking official in the State Department, is promising to ease some that were imposed after the nuclear tests in May 1998. This sounds pretty much like a good cop, bad cop routine. One part of the American Establishment hits us. Another part starts to make soothing noises. It is never love or hate. A delicate balance between open hostility and friendship is carefully maintained.

A few dollars more
August 31, 2001

The economic managers of our country have received another pat on the back from IMF. Or so we are told after a meeting between the President and Mr Abbas Mirakhor, an executive director of the fund. This means that the IMF dollars would continue to flow and the dreaded default will be kept at bay, at least for the moment. 

United States, India and deweaponisation
August 24, 2001

This has been a week of mixed fortunes for the government. General Musharraf has been busy launching the so-called mega projects. We are told that these will transform the future of our country. Great news except that somebody should tell us where the financing is going to come from. The Interior Minister is also claiming success on the deweaponisation front. Even the Jihadi organisations, he says, are ready to co-operate. This sound too good to be true, but let us not be cynical. This is a step in the right direction and should be welcomed.

Interesting times ahead
August 17, 2001

The plan of General Musharraf and his team unfolds, bit by bit. The good news is that general elections will be held next year in October. This appears to be a firm commitment and not another clever ploy to gain time a la Zia. The bad news is that there are going to be far reaching constitutional amendments. Once again, our consensus constitution of 1973 will be tampered with to create 'a better balance' between the establishment and civil society. Once again the basic law of the land would undergo a metamorphosis.

Doing right the wrong way
August 10, 2001

The last phase of the local elections is mercifully over. It was beginning to drag a bit - the empty slogans, the tall claims, and the victory signs. Since the ordinary voter was not involved, the theatrics seemed a little out of place. Anyway, we have our Nazims in position now. This is the new leadership that the NRB had promised us. Or is it? The last names are familiar even if some faces are new. It is not even old wine in new bottles; it is old wine in old bottles.

Rulers and the ruled
July 27, 2001

The rains are here with a vengeance. One moment we are suffering the ravages of draught and praying for rain. The next, we are mourning the death and destruction wrought by the opening up of the heavens. We are neither prepared for lack of water nor for a prolonged deluge. God tests us in more ways than one.

Paradise lost?
July 20, 2001

This summit was our regions day in the global sun. We seem to have muffed it a bit. There was no agreement, no declaration, not even a joint statement. Compared to Tashkent, Simla and Lahore, we were unable even to find appropriate words to gloss over our differences. Seen by the standards of the past, this summit was clearly the least productive.

Onwards to the summit
July 13, 2001

All roads lead to Delhi and Agra right now. General Musharraf and his party leave tomorrow. A number of journalists, writers, columnists, and 'intellectuals' have already left. Many more, including armchair pontificators like myself, would have loved to be there. And why not? There is an outside chance that something special may happen at this summit. If it does, it would indeed be a moment to savour.

The people's day
July 06, 2001

The din of democracy was briefly heard before the final round of the local government elections. This has been a strangely muted campaign. The usual crash and bang was missing until the last few days. Perhaps the military's presence cast a shadow that dampened the rowdyism inherent in us. I say this because elections in our part of the world are boisterous affairs. It is one big party in which normally sane people start to behave like delinquents and the marginally unbalanced go totally bananas.

A new ball game
June 29, 2001

General Musharraf's transformation into the president of our Islamic Republic has not been received with kindness either at home or abroad. An event that should have come as no surprise to anyone, has unleashed an astonishing torrent of vitriol and condemnation. The major political parties of the country have reacted with venom and are refusing to talk to him. The international community has not been charitable either. Tough words are pouring in from the United States and Europe and from our peers, the Commonwealth. It seems that a line in the sand has been crossed and no one is willing to forgive him.

Legitimising power
June 22, 2001

The script has finally begun to unfold. General Musharraf has taken over as President in a simple but impressive ceremony. Or, so says the clichÈ ridden official handout. There is nothing simple about the house on the hill, with its silk lined walls, ornate marble floors and glittering chandeliers. It was built as a palace to pay homage to the power of the President. In an impoverished land it symbolises everything that has gone wrong for us in the last fifty four years.

The threat of water discord
June 15, 2001

Too busy in other 'larger' matters of the state, the government is consistently ignoring the problem in Sindh. Sending the police to occasionally beat up demonstrators does not mean paying attention. It only means that the government is treating the JSQM and MQM led agitation as a nettlesome but local law and order problem. This could be a serious mistake.

Education and democracy
June 08, 2001

General Musharraf does not speak very often, but when he does he is fairly blunt and forthright. He rightly ticked off the conquerors of Delhi in his address to the National Seerat Conference. In a similar vein he has been quite straight in his views on democracy. He believes that it is unsuitable for a nation with low levels of literacy. The education factor comes into the equation because there is a presumption that only the literate can make the right choices. The illiterate cannot and this is a fatal flaw in the system.

An opportunity for peace
June 01, 2001

Indian Prime Minister's invitation to General Musharraf has broken the Kargil logjam. The air has been heavy with mistrust since that brutal summer when thousands died in a short but sharp clash.

Summer blues
May 11, 2001

As the early summer heat strikes, we, the denizens of this hot and humid land slide into a familiar mode. Work time ends early, movements become slow, and lethargy invades body and mind. Those that can hide, find the nearest dark shade to crawl under.

Political stability and economic growth
May 04, 2001

The wily leaders of the ARD have again managed to create something out of not very much. Heavy handed tactics by the government have ensured excellent press coverage, both at home and abroad. This, as one is getting tired of saying, is the entire purpose of the exercise.

The decision and accountability
April 27, 2001

Another Supreme Court decision is making waves this week. The NAB law as it stands today is a harsh document, described as draconian by its own Chief Prosecutor. There was clearly a need to tone it down and bring it in conformity with the principles of natural justice.

Strategic political partnerships
April 20, 2001

The surface calm in the country has been shattered by widespread troubles in Sindh. In particular, Karachi has erupted violently after remaining calm for a long period of time. In an interesting policy shift, the MQM has decided to align itself with rural Sindhi agitational forces.

On national cohesion
April 13, 2001

In the backdrop of a wave of protest in Sindh against water shortages, comes the Supreme Court decision on Benazir and Asif's appeal. The link between these two separate happenings may not be obvious but its impact on inter-provincial relations may be critical.