Karachi calling
Karachi calling Print
Pakistan Blog
Friday, 16 July 2010 01:12
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By Anwar Akhtar

As part of my work for The Samosa I am currently in Karachi meeting writers, artists, citizen and cultural organisations, hosted by leading Pakistani newspaper Dawn.

I’ve had extraordinary access to the inner workings of many organisations and how they handle multiple obstacles that would astound those of us used to the working environments and structures in the UK.

For example, art tutors organising end of year degree shows have to manage – to put it delicately – unwanted active input from political and religious organisations.

Later, I sat in on a private meeting of members of the Ahmadi community. In the wake of the recent horrific attacks in Lahore, the experience was one of the most upsetting I have ever had. This is one of the great human rights issues in Pakistan, that of equal rights for all minorities, groups and traditions.

So what have I learned so far? There is a Pakistan we rarely see in our wall-to-wall blanket coverage of the country, a relentless negative narrative involving radicalised madrasas, conflict, corruption and political turmoil. This is true – but it is not the only Pakistan.

There is the Pakistan that is the Indus Valley art and architecture school, a flourishing institution producing work of the highest quality. I spent a morning there with Professor Adeela Suleman. The work and commitment of the staff and students is of the highest standard, galvanised and informed by its environment which is reflected in work of great depth and substance. Picasso would have loved working in Pakistan.

Then there are the journalists at Dawn and their peers at The Herald, The News and many other independent media, whose in-depth knowledge and high quality reportage of the region is brilliant, a crucial balance to the reductionist and intolerant voices of some in the West who see Pakistan through a myopic anti-Muslim agenda, and of course the right wing elements in Pakistan.

There are the welfare organisations of Pakistan, miracles of aptitude, perseverance and the decency of the human spirit and traditions of this region. Two of the finest and largest examples are the Edhi Foundation and the Citizens Foundation. There are countless localised welfare groups as well.

There is also real urgency in the work of the human rights and social activists here, openly challenging the political elites and establishments in this country, from the state within a state that is the Pakistani military, to the failure of power suppliers to keep the lights on and tackle corruption.

Then there is the big issue itself – India. In Pakistan there is hope that imminent peace talks could herald a thawing in the relentless cold war that has existed between the nations since 1947 and all the conflict and hurt that came with it.

Older, wiser heads counsel that we’ve been here before, with neither country reaching out to make the crucial first step.

One does not need to study Pakistan long or know it in any depth to realise that there is a huge need for reconciliation with India and a lot of unfinished business for both sides. Both sides must acknowledge the mutual hurt that still exists from the bloodshed of partition, and accept the shared culture, soil, peoples and history of the huge land mass and civilisations that make up India and Pakistan.

I spoke to a retired minister of defence who acknowledged that the majority in both establishments want this; it is how they get there that is fraught, given the above and of course the issue of Kashmir. This region needs as much attention as Israel and Palestine. The solution to Afghanistan is in large part also to be found here.

The more I speak to people here, the more I feel this issue is the one that needs focus and effort from all those who have a concern for Pakistan’s people and future as well as the current instability. Fix one and the other can also be resolved, inshallah.

Published on 16th July 2010

 
Comments (1)
Pakistan needs a new approach towards India
1 Friday, 16 July 2010 17:45
Mohammed Amin
In my view, Pakistan's national interest requires a complete re-evaluation of its relationship with India, taking into account what is achievable.

India will not consent to a plebiscite over Kashmir, not least because it faces secessionist movements elsewhere in the country. Accordingly, Pakistan should offer the people of Pakistani controlled Kashmir two, and only two, choices:

(1) Annexation by Pakistan combined with conversion of the current cease fire line into the final international border between Pakistan and India.

(2) Pakistani withdrawal from Kashmir combined with Indian annexation of the entire territory.

Either of the above should lead to Pakistan and India unfreezing their relations and developing cross border trade. Pakistan will also be able to drastically reduce its defence expenditures once there are no unresolved issues with India.