Soft image
Madam,
The opening of the Kartarpur corridor showed how Pakistan’s government love and affection for the Sikh community across the world, especially from India. It also showed the world that how religious minorities are held in high esteem here.
In the historic opening ceremony, while addressing a large number of Sikh devotees who are here to commemorate the 550th anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Sahib, Prime Minister Imran Khan asked Narendra Modi to shun the politics of hatred to get votes and fight collectively against poverty for the betterment of the people of subcontinent.
While Pakistan welcomes the Sikh community with open arms, Indian has deputed 900,000 troops in India-occupied Kashmir. The Indian government has been committing unprecedented atrocities against innocent Kashmiris, who are demanding their right to self-determination and freedom.
The world’s so-called biggest democracy even denies Kashmiri Muslims their right to go for Friday prayer.
In the meantime, the Indian Supreme Court, under the Hindutva government pressure, gave a shocking verdict on the Babri Mosque case in which Hindus have been allowed to build their temple on a disputed land and a mosque on alternative land.
As the fascist Modi government will never show flexibility, it is UN and global powers’ responsibility to take stock of the developments in both the countries and play their due role in resolving all outstanding issues between Pakistan and India, including the Kashmir issue.
It is bizarre that the Indian Supreme Court allowed Hindus in India to build their temple in place of Babri Mosque, while in Pakistan opened the Kartarpur corridor, welcoming Sikh pilgrims from all over the world, including India.
Pakistan is successfully portraying its soft image, while the Indian Supreme Court has hurt Muslim sentiments.
This is not only a win for Pakistan but also for the Muslims. The government should continue such gestures and counter the fascist ideology of the Indian government.
Amjad Khan,
Multan.
EU visitors
Madam,
The Indian government’s decision to allow a delegation of EU MPs to visit Srinagar is an unwarranted move and one that belittles their own members of parliament, parliament and our democratic values. Other Indians are still deprived of information about their fellow citizens in Kashmir as communication channels are still not free. Is this the same central government that promised transparency to the people of the country? How long will the people of Jammu and Kashmir suffer without freedom?
Minahil Shah,
Lahore.
Fighting smog
Madam,
Although we are constantly told to protect ourselves from smog, we are never told how we can prevent it. Serious steps need to be taken to have some meaningful impact. Stop burning your garbage. If someone in your vicinity is doing it, please stop them. Garbage should be disposed in a proper waste bin. Avoid unnecessary bonfires this winter. Prevent BBQ parties at home and restaurants. Please don’t order it in any restaurant because low-quality coal is burnt which again adds up to the already polluted environment.
It would also help to place a lot of plants in your house which act as natural cleaners, especially aloe vera or hang it in your windows and terrace if you don’t have a garden.
Do not go out unnecessarily and driveless. Try to use a car that has a catalytic converter. Try to carpool with your friends or colleagues to schools, colleges and workplaces.
Zahra Haider,
Lahore.
Poor portrayal
Madam,
The portrayal of the Babri Mosque verdict in Indian press was not in good taste. Ayodhya was a contentious issue and required some out-of-the-box thinking to arrive at a fair decision. It was a unanimous verdict and welcomed by all political parties. Even the aggrieved parties reconciled to the situation and decided to move forward. But many newspapers were trying to pick holes in the decision and put the clock back. The Court may not have applied the rule of law in toto to arrive at its verdict. But it struck a good balance between the legal validity and faith. Let us not squander away the peaceful atmosphere that prevails by blowing up matters out of proportion and making a mountain of a molehill. India has plenty of other issues on hand. It is wise to leave the matter as it stands today and desist from provocative analysis. Life is to go ahead and not to run after some already settled issues.
Priya Akhter,
Via e-mail.
Bad taste
Madam,
U.S. President Donald Trump’s contemptuous remark that al-Baghdadi “died like a dog” will only give a new push to the Islamic State to refurbish its puritanical ideology. According to the survey by the Pew Research Center after 9/11, the number of Americans who believe that military force can reduce the risk of terrorism dropped sharply from 42 percent to 32 percent. The IS is a hydra-headed monster. It is unlikely that the death of a single leader will diminish the basic ideology of the terror organisation which is not dependent on any particular leader for survival. The U.S. should not commit the strategic blunder of withdrawing its forces from northern Syria as it will only weaken the anti-IS fight.
Nasim Zubair,
Karachi.
History writing
Madam,
Inspired by China, India is now attempting a large-scale history rewriting project. Many regimes, rulers and dynasties have left their records of what according to them is history. Each government in power hopes to pioneer its version of history and interpretation. Given the diversity of the nation and the huge geographical spread there is no one version. One wonders which narrative the Home Minister hopes to emphasise — Hindu, Islamic, British, Buddhist, South, East and North East, pre-Aryan to name few? Earlier attempts to rewrite history have often overlooked the contributions of the South. This will not be the first attempt nor will it be the last to rewrite our history. As George Orwell said, “The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.”
Ahmed Javed,
Islamabad.