In a recent report, The Guardian (‘Indian government ordered killings in Pakistan, intelligence officials claim’, April 4) claimed that India’s intelligence agency R&AW, at the behest of the Indian government, assassinated individuals in Pakistan “as part of a wider strategy to eliminate terrorists living on foreign soil”.
Citing examples from incidents in the US and Canada, The Nation (April 7) says, “Such acts are merely electoral stunts for India.” In the case of Pakistan however, the editorial warns India to “remain wary of the fact that Pakistan is not scared to exercise its right to self-defense.” It also implores the international community to “rise to the occasion and condemn India for its actions.”
Express Tribune (April 7), on the other hand, believes that “what is desired is a mechanism to talk it out at length and to address such grievances in a state-centric manner, and not to be left to shadow characters.”
PM Sharif’s Saudi visit
On his maiden foreign visit to Saudi Arabia from April 6-8, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to discuss, among other things, Saudi investment in Pakistan. Of the $25 billion pledged last year, the first installment of $5 billion will be released soon. Another point of interest was “the importance of dialogue between Pakistan and India”, which may signal “a possible Saudi role to facilitate de-escalation of tensions in South Asia” (Dawn, April 10).
Express Tribune (April 10) has responded positively to this development saying, “Pakistan desperately needs foreign investment to boost its economy, and Saudi investment in Pakistan can help create jobs and stimulate economic growth.” The editorial also speaks to the potential fear of the “strings attached” that seem to have been “allayed”, in part, “by the strong personal relationships that the Sharif family has developed with the Saudi royals over the past 30 years.”
Dawn (April 10) emphasises the need for “long-term thinking by all stakeholders” if Pakistan wants to “break the shackles of dependence, and realise its economic potential”. For now, however, to invite more investment, the country must aim for “political stability, security guarantees, and continuity of economic policies” regardless of its investment partner.
A worrying water crisis
The Indus River Authority (IRSA) has predicted up to a 30 per cent shortage of water in the first half of the kharif (summer) season. The monsoon will hopefully compensate for this loss in the latter half. However, the UN’s Global Water Security Assessment report last year placed Pakistan in the critically water-insecure category. The media, therefore, is calling for immediate action to protect those most vulnerable.
News International (April 8) urges the government to look inwards: “The country must realise that it has to look for home-grown solutions to these problems and that it cannot expect any developed nations to extend financial aid.” Another solution offered is technology-related. The editorial believes, “Agritech can help Pakistan deal with external pressures on its natural resources, like water, to avoid any losses in agricultural output… But all this requires public-private partnerships and the government’s firm resolve.”
Dawn (April 8) advocates for strategising beyond the immediate future saying, “This requires the formulation of a long-term holistic water management policy in line with our national economic growth and development priorities. Unfortunately, political instability, economic uncertainty, and interprovincial discord on water apportionment continue to impede water sector reforms.”
Rise in terror attacks
Following the recent attacks in Pakistan, the government has decided to bolster security. There have also been multiple intelligence-based operations to identify and nullify threats further. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has reportedly committed to personally overseeing security measures for China-related projects. While these swift measures are welcome, the media is raising questions about attacks on citizens that are occurring regularly, without much action.
Daily Times (April 8) says, “There are many who accuse nefarious, non-state actors for spearheading and fuelling this new wave of terror… [but] the fact that Taliban 2.0 continues to harbour those who repeatedly make inroads into Pakistan to wreak death and destruction stares our security policies in the face.”
The Nation (April 8) demands “a centralised, coordinated approach” because “isolated operations are very unlikely to solve the issue.” Moreover, for police and other security agencies to be adequately prepared, “better arms and armour such as modern weaponry, protective gear, and training are needed.”
adya.goyal@expressindia.com
