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Operation Zarb-e-Azb (Urdu : ) means "sharp and cutting strike" Azb also refersto the name of the sword belonging to the Islamic prophet Muhammad , which he used in the battlesof Badr and Uhud .It is a joint military offensive being conducted by Pakistani security forces againstvarious militant groups, including the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Lashkar-e-Jhangvi , Jundallah , al-Qaeda , the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), the Islamic Movement

of Uzbekistan (IMU) and the Haqqani network . The operation was launched by the Pakistan ArmedForces on 15 June 2014 in North Waziristan (part of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas alongthe Afghan border ) as a renewed effort against militancy in the wake of the 8 June attack on JinnahInternational Airport in Karachi, for which the TTP and the IMU claimed responsibility. Part of theongoing war in North-West Pakistan , up to 30,000 Pakistani soldiers are involved in Zarb-e-Azb,described as a "comprehensive operation" to flush out all foreign and local militants hiding in NorthWaziristan.

The operation has received widespread support from the Pakistani political parties, defence andcivilian sectors. The two largest Islamic clerical groups (the Pakistan Ulema Council and the Councilof Islamic Ideology) declared a fatwa endorsing the offensive, calling it a jihad against terrorism.

Background

Peace negotiations Peace negotiations with the Taliban were announced by Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif afterhis election, although previous attempts to engage the Taliban in dialogue had failed. The firstsession of talks, between committees appointed by the Government of Pakistan and the Taliban,was held on 26 March 2014 at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad .The Taliban did not namerepresentatives from their ranks, instead nominating pro-Taliban religious figures to present theirviews.The movement called for the implementation of Sharia in Pakistan; the Pakistani governmentinsisting that talks be held within the framework of the Constitution of Pakistan . A month-longceasefire was reached between the government and the Taliban on 1 March 2014.

In addition to the meetings at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House, negotiations involved helicopter travel bygovernment representatives to the area near the Afghan border. The government had indicated that

stronger military action would be implemented if the talks failed.

Fa i lu re

Negotiations collapsed after the execution of 23 Pakistani Frontier Corps soldiers by the Taliban on17 February 2014.The soldiers had been held by the insurgents since 2010, and on 17 April 2014the TTP formally ended the ceasefire. [ More than 90 militants have been killed by Taliban infightingsince March 2014. The strife, triggered by differences between the Mehsud group (led by SheheryarMehsud) and another TTP faction (led by Khan Said Sajna), impeded the peace talks.Thenegotiations were irreversibly damaged by a terrorist attack on Karachi Airport for which the Talibanclaimed responsibility and which killed 28 people (including security personnel).A Pakistani securityofficial said, "The army is ready for an operation. It now all depends on the government to make adecision.

Jinnah Airport attackThe operation began one week after a terrorist attack on Pakistan's busiest airport. On 8 June 2014,10 militants from the TTP and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan attacked Jinnah International

Airport in Karachi , killing 28 people (including the attackers) and wounding at least 18.

After the attack, the Pakistani military launched a series of aerial strikes on militant hideouts in thetribal areas along the Afghan border. At least 25 militants, including foreign fighters, were killed on10 June. Two drone attacks on 12 June killed Uzbek, Afghan and local militants.On 15 June thePakistani military intensified air strikes in North Waziristan and bombed eight foreign militant

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hideouts, killing as many as 140 militants (most Uzbek, including persons linked to the airport attackand airport attack commander and mastermind Abu Abdur Rehman Almani). The intensified aerialstrikes in the wake of the attack were an extension of operations against militants conducted overthe last few months.

Preparations The Pakistani military had prepared for the operation long before, and the government prepared fora three-front operation :[48] isolating targeted militant groups, obtaining support from the politicalparties and saving civilians from the backlash of the operation .[48]

Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the nation stood by its army: "The decision wastaken after the strategy of dialogue failed. The operation will continue until it reaches its logicalconclusion. Any group that challenges Pakistan's constitution, attacks civilians, soldiers, andgovernment installations and uses Pakistani territory to plan terrorist attacks will be targeted". Asifadded that internally displaced persons would be assisted by the federal and KhyberPakhtunkhwa governments: "We will try to ensure that the displaced do not have to stay away fromtheir homes for too long."

Army troops encircled militant bases in the towns of Mirali and Miramshah . Pakistani officials said

that the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) were requested to seal the border on their side sothat militants do not escape .[50] The operation involved the Pakistan AirForce , artillery, tanks and ground troops . According to a military statement, "On the directions of thegovernment, armed forces of Pakistan have launched a comprehensive operation against foreignand local terrorists who are hiding in sanctuaries in North Waziristan."An official with the military saidthat between 14,000 and 20,000 soldiers were normally stationed in North Waziristan before theoperation, and he expected the offensive to require no more than a total of 30,000 troops.

Internally Displaced Person (IDP ):

An internally displaced person (IDP ) is someone who is forced to flee his or her home but whoremains within his or her country's borders. They are often referred to as refugees , although they do

not fall within the current legal definition of a refugee. Currently 950,000 people have been displaced in KP province due to military operation.

Over 950,000 people have been displaced since the start of the militaryoffensive against militants in North Waziristan, according to the FATA DisasterManagement Authority (FDMA). The fighting first escalated in May, but after thismonths deadly attack on Karachi airport claimed by an Uzbek militant groupand the Pakistani Taliban the army officially launched Operation Zarb-e-Azb.As the military pounds Taliban hideouts in North Waziristan, internally displacedpeople (IDPs) are fleeing to safer areas, i.e. the towns of Bannu, Peshawar andKohat. Roughly 4,000 families are reported to have crossed into Afghanistan

and many more are being put up in refugee camps. The influx is likely toaccelerate. These people collateral damage in a war they are trapped inthrough no fault of their own are poor and earn a living through farming,family trades and petty jobs. When war hits, they pack up their belongings whatever they can fit into a bed sheet and carry on their backs and leavehome to go off into a rather uncertain future.IDP situations are dramaticallychallenging for any country; to have the resources to indefinitely sustain anexodus, and to create peace in the areas they left, so they can migrate back, is

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difficult. In fact, the number of people living as refugees from war orpersecution around the world has hit 51.2 million, exceeding the 50 millionmark for the first time since World War II. Conflicts are multiplying more andmore, and at the same time old conflicts seem never to die. The worry is thatPakistans fragile civilian government and its institutions, already fighting on so

many fronts, may lack the capacity and means to provide sufficient food,shelter, health and sanitation to those living in the camps, especially withRamadan round the corner. Currently, the provincial government has releasedRs 350 million for relief efforts, Senior Minister Sirajul Haq has announced aRamadan relief package and has also said IDPs will be provided with SIMs. Anemergency has been declared in all the hospitals of the area, and the IDPs arebeing provided free transport and schooling. At the same time, the governmenthas banned international aid organizations from entering the area. Althoughmost likely for security reasons, it is not the most practical decision to make.More importantly, city administrations and border check posts have begun apolio vaccination campaign as IDPs begin to arrive at transit points, making it

mandatory to be vaccinated and turning away those who refuse the drops. Thisis vital as Pakistan is one of the few countries in the world where polio remainsendemic, and 46 of the countrys 70 polio cases were reported this year t o befrom North Waziristan (mainly because of the vaccination ban imposed by theTaliban since 2012).Even though Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah has ruled out the possibility ofopening Sindhs borders to the IDPs this time round, tribal leaders estimate th atbetween 5,000 and 10,000 will make it to Karachi in search of safety andlivelihoods. In the Pakhtun culture, tribe matters and many IDPs travel torelatives homes for refuge. This raises questions about what these hundreds ofthousands of people will do for employment, and whether they will be able to go

back at all once the operation ends. Although the army has claimed to haveclosed off escape routes in North Waziristan and trapped the militants, it isvirtually impossible to seal the area off totally. The militants can scatter intoShawal valley or cross the infamously porous Afghan border, and bide their timetill deciding to return. That being said, the Swat IDP crisis was hailed as aninternational success story, and the hope is that this crisis will be handled thesame way. A population exhausted by conflict could become a soft target formilitants, making stability in the north west even more elusive. The IDP campscould become breeding grounds for the menace the army is trying to fight.DROUGHT IN DESERT (THARPARKER)

Every Pakistani is well aware of terrorism, unemployment, inflation, injustice, forced labour,disappearances, blasphemy against minorities, discrimination against women, custodial deaths,torture and so on as these are the challenges they are face on a daily basis in their lives. Now there isanother challenge for impoverished Pakistanis: famine; like the conditions faced in the desert area ofTharparker, in Sindh province. After killing the live stock, birds and animals (peacocks, cows, sheep,parrots, deer, camels and goats) of these people this ghost has turned its evil eye towards Tharipeople and has claimed the lives of 40 children within two months.

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Drought in the desert remote areas of Pakistan is natural but the death of people is not. It is due tolack of facilities and irresponsibility of people who are appointed to selected posts that have engulfedthe lives of 121 innocent people within the few months. The number can be even more than this asthese people are trying to hide the actual figures as the irresponsibility of the elected leaders hasmade the situation worst in Thar. They are now giving lame excuses and statements in order toescape responsibility from their criminal acts. According to a report to the media by the chief

minister who is a feudal lord of Sindh Province the ratio of higher deaths is common and it is due todisease, it is not only because of drought or malnutrition. However, it we examine the situation manyquestions will arise, if the deaths are not because of malnutrition then what to the weak bodies ofchildren reflect? If, indeed, the deaths are due to disease then why there were not enough facilitiesavailable for the victims to save their lives. On the other side the Commissioner of Mirpurkhas Sindhreported that they had not distributed 60,000 bags of wheat among the Thari people who are livingin remote areas because of lack of money for transport.

What a shameful statement to make! In a country where millions of rupees are spent on megafestivals arranged by the ruling party and the leaders go on official tours to other countries theyopenly admit that they have no money to transport vitally needed food rations. When the elections were approaching these leaders visited the poor people, begged for the votes andmade promises for their welfare but when they are elected they have nothing to do with the people,their problems or their welfare.

Thar is famous because of its beauty in the rainy season and reserves of coal. However, the peopleliving off the lack basic life facilities. They have broken roads, few reserves of clean water, shortage offood, schools and the hospitals in poor conditions, lacking in doctors, staff, nurses, medicines, beds,and machinery and so on.

Around 175,000 families have migrated from the remote areas of Thar to other areas of Sindh fortheir survival. But according to our leaders that migration to other areas of Sindh is also common. If,indeed, everything is 'common' for our leaders then why are they needed at their jobs?

The drought did not just happen suddenly. These people have been facing such difficulties formonths. According to the Thari people they are migrating from their parental homes to barrages inorder to save the lives of their poor families. They mostly depend on the live stock which is alreadytoo weak and unable to move with them to other places and cover the distance. The weak bodies oftheir wives are unable to feed their children because of which their children are dying due todifferent diseases.

Since independence these people have been living in difficulty. Regardless of the climate changes thegovernment has not taken enough measures to save their lives. It is only now when the situation has become so severe that the government announced aid for them.

It is our humble request to our political leaders to please create a solid strategy to save the lives ofthese poor people. Attention must be paid to saving their livelihoods on which their lives depend.These policies should be on a long term basis, not for temporary relief. Instead of spending huge budgets on cultural events and unnecessary official tours invest money on the basic needs of thesepeople in order to save their lives and solve their problems. If proper steps are not taken then thetime is not far off when other feudal lords or leaders will celebrate their festivals on the ruins of tharand too late they will remember the rich culture of Thari people.

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Polio Free Pakistan: Reality or Dream?

International donors have shown extreme resentment with concerns over the poliocampaign in Pakistan. In a meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in New York,World Health Organization representatives highlighted this point towards overcoming thesituation that has been crippled due to the recent terror attacks on polio health workersacross the country. They unanimously iterated on the appointment of important people allover the areas where polio vaccination is inevitable. According to the source, theimportant person is deemed an official, who takes t he international agencys matters andsupervises the campaign throughout the country. Pakistani Government has yet to appointan important individual even at the federal level, which has been delayed for years.International agencies have shown concerns that terror attacks seemed successful inundermining polio eradication in the country. In addition, agencies around the world arenow also facing difficulties towards running their polio cells.The World Health Organizations representatives have asked PM Na waz Sharif that polioeradication efforts should be made with complete provincial unity and understanding.Regional Director Dr. Ala Alawan, expressed reservations over the provincial efforts, hasasked to make polio eradication a priority agenda to all stakeholders in the country. PM

Nawaz Sharif stressed on the need of civil-military coordination mechanism to score out polio. Minister of State for National Health Services, Saira Afzal Tarar briefed themeeting about Pakistani strategy so far. She satisfied all international stakeholders by

presenting a fact sheet in which she told that only 28 polio cases have been reported forthe current year as compared to 1994 when there were 2600 cases.

Impact of dharnas on economy and foreignrelations The current political situation of Pakistan in the wake of dharna tactics is bringing in a badname for the country. Criticism pours in as the international community denounces suchunconstitutional political ploys to hijack the legally elected political regime in the country.The US ambassador in Pakistan has had official and informal meetings with differentpolitical and religious leaders and has expressed concern over the rising chances ofanarchy. Pakistan is being termed a mess , where the tactics of Imran Khan and Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri are considered nothing but part of a shameless power grab.

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Britain supports continuation of democracy in Pakistan and has pressed upon the fact thatthe ongoing political crisis should be resolved democratically. British Secretary of State forForeign and Commonwealth Affairs Phillipe Hammond further urged political parties toresolve their political differences using democratic institutions. That, in these circumstances,

is the best possible solution and as I see it, the only one that can actually achieve aconcrete outcome.

The European Union too has expressed deep concern over the current political situation inthe context of GSP Plus Status, saying, We are deeply concerned by the current situationin Pakistan and are monitoring events closely. We reiterate our conviction that the currentimpasse should be resolved peacefully through dialogue within the framework of theconstitution and we urge all parties to act responsibly and to refrain from using violence.Further, the Europea n Union s statement hinted that Pakistan has failed to reap the benefitsof Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) Plus Status yet, whereas the prevailingpolitical crisis may lead the country to wash its hands of the advantages in case of anypolitical setback. It is obvious that Pakistan will lose one of its biggest achievements of thedecade due to the non seriousness of political parties.

Britain supports continuation of democracy in Pakistan and has pressed upon the fact

that the ongoing political crisis should be resolved democratically

Through research, it has been observed that the monthly figures of August 2014 make foranother sorry reading given Eid holidays as well as political instability gripping the country.Also, prices of cotton have continued their nosedive, in tandem with international prices,along with textiles. This serves as a great blow to the agrarian economy of the country.

According to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), exports fell to $3.84billion in July-August 2014 against four billion dollars last year a decline of 5.8 per cent.This statistic should be a source of serious concern to those that are being held responsiblefor a decline in productivity and exports, namely the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and thePakistan Awami Tehreek, whose sit- ins in Islamabad compromised the exporters meetingswith foreign clients for new contracts as well as transport of goods to upcountry areas.Other manufacturers declined from $3.9 billion to $3.58 billion (nine per cent decline) with

gems and jewellery declining by 72 per cent and cement by 11.5 per cent.It must be noted here that textile exporters in particular have expressed serious concernslately. The dharnas compromised their capacity to meet with clients, who have begun tolook at competing countries to fill their orders. Once a client is lost it is extremely difficult toget him back. In this context, there is an urgent need to reach an agreement and end thePTI dharna as soon as possible also. It is being felt by most people that the sit-in has

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stretched too far and that life is being compromised. Most people are against theunconstitutional tactics of protest. This displays how a small number of people are hijackingnot only the capital, but the economy as well.

Through research, it has been observed that the monthly figures of August 2014 make

for another sorry reading given Eid holidays as well as political instability gripping the

country

According to Washington Post , an extensive new survey of public sentim ent in Pakistanreveals that the ongoing demonstrations are hardly reflective of the views of mostPakistanis. Further, the annual Pew Research Center survey of Pakistan finds that 64 percent of residents have a favorable view of Sharif, a solid rating that has essentiallyremained constant since Sharif s returned to power last year.About four in ten residents nowhave confidence in Pakistan s economy, compared to just 17 per cent who felt that way last

year. Moreover, Pew notes that 36 per cent of residents are optimistic that the economy willimprove over the next year, twice as many who felt that way compared to last year.

Sharif s government has made improving Pakistan s stagnant economy a top priority. Hehas authorised hundreds of millions of dollars in construction projects, sought internationalassistance to try to tackle the country s chronic energy shortages and is working to increasetrade with neighbouring countries.

We must agree that all political disputes should be settled politically. The trust that allpolitical parties have in the prime minister has to be taken into consideration and that

democracy should not be derailed at any cost. At this point in time it is demanded from us tobe sensible and believe that the politics of disobedience will earn us no respect.

Pak-China relationship has always been of great significance to Pakistan. Both countriesare working to take up huge economic projects, like the construction of the Lahore-Karachimotorway and two power plants at Port Qasim. Also, China terms Pakistan as its largestinvestment destination in South Asia and will remain so in the years to come. However,these relations were also on the verge of disaster as the postponement of the Chinesepresident s visit cost the nation in both economi c gains and time.

The Chinese president has expressed that we need to work together to foil those attemptswhich are aimed at harming our relationship. According to him, diplomatic channels andofficials of the two countries had done a lot of preparation for a positive and concreteoutcome to the visit. The Chinese hope that the expected fruits and outcome will beachieved in spite of the visit s postponement, however it may not be the same in case ofother countries. How far are we going to stretch our luck in issues of key significance?Surely this insanity must end to pave way for progress and peace.

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Pakistani economy and politics

Politician has been failed to sustain or develop the economy of Pakistan due to variousreason they dont have ability to maintain and sustain the economy of Pakistan.

Pakistan is facing the worst situation and the credit goes to all politics parties becausethey dont think about the Pakistani economy. Inflation is rising day by day.Unemployment is rising with the inflation. when we compare Pakistani economy withthe other economy like India Bangladesh so we find some disaster situation withPakistani economy and the responsible for this situation all politician because currentgovernment blame on past government they just make excuse we dint had enoughresources.Law and order situation is not satisfactory due to this reason all industries andswitching from Pakistan to Bangladesh and other countries and Pakistani economy isgoing downward. Few industries and operating in Pakistan they are facing many kind of

problems like bribe, heavy taxes and when they pay this kind of thing for security oftheir life and family so they get some kind some treating regarding to the money andthey have to pay millions of rupees just because government is not serious about thisproblem Pakistan is going to be finished may ALLAH Bless on Pakistan and Pakistani weshould not lost the hope because Allah will do better but thing Is that we should changeour self and take the responsibility

Pak -China Economic Corridora road toprosperity

Economic corridor is not only the road to economic prosperity of Pakistan, it can be termed asfuture of the world. It is estimated that about 3 billion people from China, South Asia and Central

Asia, would be benefited from the economic corridor. It has the potential to empower half of theworlds population living in Asia, by developing special trade routes between China andPakistan. Economic Corridor is the most important agreement signed between Pakistan andChina till now.Pakistans prosperity is no more a longer journey as the current leadership is working diligently

on such projects whose outcomes would be visible and bright in a shorter period of time.China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is a development programme to connect Gawadar Port insouthern Pakistan to Chinas northwestern region of Xinjiang via highways, railways andpipelines to transport oil and gas. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang was among the first advocates ofthe project. Chinese President Xi Jinping, former Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari andPakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have become strong supporters of the project.The corridor, after completion, will serve as a primary gateway to trade among China, MiddleEast and Africa through Pakistan. Particularly, the oil from the Middle East could be offloaded atGawadar, which is located just outside the mouth of the Persian Gulf. The oil would be

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transported to China through the Baluchistan province in Pakistan. Such a link would vastly cutthe 12,000-kilometres route that Mideast oil supplies must now take to reach Chinese ports.The government endeavors regarding Economic corridor should not be taken as Chauvinism.This is not the matter of any political party. It is the case of Pakistan s economic prosperity,which would get a double- triple boost if the Economic Corridor project is implemented in its truespirit. It is worth mentioning that, this year Federal government had announced six developmentschemes costing Rs130 billion under the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor, marking thebeginning of a process that will transform the country into a transit hub for the second largesteconomy of the world. The reason behind this vital importance is that 60 per cent of oil is beingimported from gulf countries that reaches China after covering the distance of 16,000 KMs, andafter the completion of Gawadar port project, the distance will reduce to 2500 KMs only whichis, from all aspects, more safe and feasible.

Analysts proclaim that, the propo sal, when implemented, will re -open the economic arteryblocked for years, realise the interconnection in transport, trade, investment and finance andbuild a new Euro-Asian economic roadmap benefitting countries along the Silk Road and evenmore. There is no dearth of energy and recourses in Central Asia which would be available toothers in the region, which is likely to become the biggest market in the world and wouldcontribute to regional stability and prosperity.Recently China has commissioned a preliminary research study to construct an international raillink connecting its province Xinjiangs border to Pakistan. According to Chinese officials, thisnew rail link, which runs through the Pamir Plateau and Karakorum mountains, will be one of thehardest to build.Pakistan is considering to provide shortest access and transit corridor for Kashghar goods.

Apart from Karachi and Port Qasim sea ports, Gawadar developed in cooperation with Chinawill provide an additional gateway and for this, China is developing in its west KashgharsSpecial Economic Zone , which would link China further on the western side with Central Asiaand on its south with South Asia.China has planned numerous mega projects to be started at Gawadar that would betremendously beneficial for both countries. In this regard China is planning to replicate themodel of Shanghai free Trade Zone at the sideways of Economic Corridor. Remarkably, Under

the Early Harvest Program, China had planned to pump $50billion up to 2017 into a hos t ofprojects in Gawadar including coal, solar and wind energy units enabling Gawadar to create anexus between Pakistan, Iran, China and Central Asian States that would ultimately generatebillions of dollars in revenues of Pakistans kitty besides creati ng endurable job opportunities.

Analysts believe that, Shanghai Free Trade Zone is a perfect model to be implemented atGawadar. Surprisingly the SHFTZ was also initially used as a testing ground for a number ofeconomic and social reforms in China that showed marvelous success regarding economicgrowth. SHFTZ incorporated numerous relaxations in different sectors. Under the FTZs newcapital registration system, foreign investors are no longer required to contribute I5 percentcapital within three months and full capital within two years of the establishment of a ForeignInvested Enterprise (FIE).The Free Trade Zone at Gawadar would also introduce the similar incentives to the foreign

investors as are offered in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, which will turn the Gawadar a hub offoreign investment. Both the Pakistani and Chinese governments are eager to invest in thisplan. It is expected that, the establishment of the special economic zone, free trade zone, andexport processing zone in the port city would create innumerable job opportunities for Pakistansskilled and unskilled manpower, which will ultimately raise the living standard of the people ofPakistan.

According to Chinese investment plans, Baluchistan has a share of 38pc, by generatingeconomic activities ensuing to the modern infrastructure facilities and ample employmentopportunities for the locals that will also end the anti-state activities in Baluchistan.

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The Chinese investors have evinced serious interest in acquiring land in the vicinity of GawadarPort Free Zone for developing the Industrial parks around. It would, therefore be advantageousfor the natural endowments of Baluchistan including Oil, Gas, Copper, Gemstones, Marble andGold reserves that would better be exploited by providing the professional training to the localmanpower in conjunction with the soft loan schemes to help create a network of micro and smallenterprises in the province.Pakistan and China have signed agreements for constructing an international airport atGawadar, for upgrading a section of the 1,300-kilometre Karakorum Highway connecting toIslamabad and of a fiber-optic cable to be laid from the Chinese border to the Pakistani city ofRawalpindi. According the Analysts with the development of the corridor, Central Asia,traditionally an economically closed region owing to its geography and lack of infrastructure willhave greater access to the sea and to the global trade network.Besides extending cooperation in the developmental projects in Pakistan, China is alsoproviding all out assistance to Pakistan in the field of civil nuclear technology. Prime MinisterNawaz Sharif inaugurated two Chinese sponsored nuclear power projects of 1100MW each inKarachi last year. Earlier, China helped Pakistan in establishing four civil nuclear power plants(including two under construction) at Chasma. China provided this assistance to Pakistandespite the concern of US and its allies on Pak-China civil nuclear cooperation.China has assured Pakistan that; it would consolidate its friendship with Pakistan no matterhow the international situation is changed. Pakistan too considers its friendship with China asthe cornerstone of its foreign policy. In the rapidly changing geo -strategic and securityenvironment, both countries are likely to face many regional and global challenges. The need ofthe hour is that, leadership of both countries should work in close collaboration for furthercementing the traditional Sino- Pak relationship. In the wordings of Chinese Premier Li, to b efriends forever is the cherished desire of both nations.

PM terms Pak-China economic corridor as future of worldISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said that the Pakistan-China economic corridorwill open up the underdeveloped areas of the country to a new era of economic development and prosperity byconnecting the maximum number of population through a network of highways and railways.

He expressed these views while taking a briefing from the officials of Ministries of Planning, Communications andRailways at the Pakistan Secretariat.

Terming the Pak-China economic corridor as the future of the world, the prime minister said that three billion people,which is almost half of the worlds population, from China, South As ia, Central Asia could benefit from this economiccorridor and added that it should be so designed that maximum number of people of the country could benefit from it.

The prime minister was briefed at length about the proposed alignments and lines from Khunjerab to Gwadar that areto be constructed as part of the Pakistan-China economic corridor.

Putting great emphasis on ensuring quality of work and transparency, he directed the concerned authorities toexplore more options keeping in view the factors of terrain, population and social cost of the project in the form ofpopulation dislocation while drawing the areas through which this corridor will be passing.

The prime minister said that the Lahore-Islamabad Motorway should be taken as a model and that its quality andstandard need to be kept in view while constructing the Pak-China economic corridor.

Taking a strong exception to the poor condition of motorways and roads in the country, he said that motorways,highways and road networks are national assets and their repair and maintenance must be given the top-mostpriority.

He further said that we should have constructed many more motorways till now but lamented the fact thatdevelopment of roads and motorways had been a low priority area in the country. He said that projects had neverbeen completed on time and not completing them on time had almost become a national character. Without setting

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our priorities right and without moving in the right direction, we cannot attain the goal that we have in our mind for thepeople of Pakistan, the prime minister added.

Expressing his dissatisfaction over the briefing, the prime minister gave one week to the Ministry of Communicationsto complete its work and ordered to arrange a follow-up briefing after that.

He further directed the ministries of communications, railways and planning to keep their homework up-to-date totake the process of cooperation with China on the Pak-China economic corridor to next level of implementation. Healso gave his approval in principle for the restructuring of the Planning and Development Division. Under therestructuring plan, the Planning Division will get the status of a think tank for the highest policy input and the Ministryof Planning and Development will be renamed as Planning, Development and Reforms Division.

Minister for Finance Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Information Pervaiz Rashid, Minister for Planning andDevelopment Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Special Assistant to the PM Tariq Fatimi andsenior officials of the Ministries of Planning, Railways and Communications attended the briefing.

Can Pakistan Reset its Relations with Afghanistan?

The recent International Crisis Group (ICG) report on the Af-Pak region, following its excellent

previous reports on the same subject, now addresses a crucial question: Can Pakistans relations withAfghanistan be reset?

The report focuses on three issues towards a reset: political imperatives, economic opportunities andconstraints, and finally, Afghan refugees in Pakistan. This critique discusses the issues further.

What Shapes Pakistans Afghan Policy? According to the report, Pakistans Afghan policy is still shaped by the baggage of the past, namelythe propensity to interfere in Afghanistan. This has been the crux of Pakistans Kabul predicamentand the related problems within Afghanistan.

Despite multiple debates in the public and within policy circles, including the Parliament, withinPakistan, there has been no credible alternate narrative on Afghanistan that is visible and convincing.To an extent, there is a widespread understanding and acceptance within civil society that there has tobe a change in Islamabads approach towards Kabul but this change is yet to be enunciated f ormallyas a doctrine, and implemented at the ground level.

Until there is an alternate narrative and a new Afghan doctrine, the strategic community and civilsociety will be lulled by its own thinking of change, instead of actual change aimed at new rel ations.Else, as shall be subsequently explained, it will be back to the old actors pursuing the same policies,using the same old actors and trump cards (or the proxies, as the report refers to).

Who Shapes Pakistans Afghan Policy? This is an equally imp ortant question that the report discusses under civil -military relations. IfIslamabad has to really reset its relations with Afghanistan, then there has to be a reset withinPakistan in terms of who formulates its Afghan policy.

The Establishment - the military and the ISI - are bound to be conservative and averse to risks intaking bold new steps and completely changing the policy outlook towards Afghanistan (and India aswell). The ICG report hints about the inability of the Parliament to produce a coherentdocument/doctrine that would be seen as a viable alternative plan. If there are serious capacity

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problems within the Parliament along with delicate civil-military relations further complicating foreignpolicy decision-making by the elected leaders, there is little reset likely to happen in terms ofPakistans relations with Afghanistan.

The real and hard question is whether both the Sharifs (the Prime Minister and the Chief of Army

Staff) are in sync in terms of Pakistans rela tions with Afghanistan. Or, is the civilian Sharif under theshadow of the khakis and has only limited influence in shaping an independent policy towardsAfghanistan (and also vis vis India)?

In the absence of a credible alternative narrative, the media debate is likely to influence and shapethe civil societys thinking. If the media debates are well informed, without biases and not planted,then it is bound to create a new narrative. However, if the media debate is influenced by embeddedand partisan inputs supporting the primary arguments of select State and non-State actors, there islittle that the civil society can do in terms of advancing a new narrative.

Perhaps it is because of the above two factors, the failure of Parliament and the civil society toproduce a strong alternate narrative, despite an intention to change Pakistans policy towardsAfghanistan, that it has not transformed into a tangible doctrine. Or perhaps, those institutions thatactually formulate and implement Pakistans foreig n policy are stronger in resisting the change.

Unless the intention to change becomes evident in action, resetting Pakistans relations withAfghanistan will stay on paper and as an idea.

...And Through What Strategies? This should be the third related question along with what shapes and who shapes Pakistans Afghanrelations. The report talks about Pakistans proxies and its own version of a Monroe Doctrine vis -a-visAfghanistan; both will remain a crucial problem in resetting relations.

Of the four sets of non-State actors criss-crossing the Durand Line the Afghan Taliban, HuqqaniNetwork, TTP and other Pakistani groups (such as the Lashkar, Jaish, Punjabi Taliban) - any action byPakistan supporting one and opposing another is less likely to yield positive responses. If the PakistaniTaliban provides sanctuary for their Afghan counterparts within FATA and KP, it is only natural that thelatter extends the same to the former in Khost, Nuristan and other provinces across the Durand Line.

Fighting the TTP but supporting the Quetta Shura and the Haqqani Network is unlikely help Pakistan toreset its relations with Afghanistan. There seems to be an illusion within Pakistan that their securityforces are fighting the Taliban and hence the problem is being addressed. However, until there is arealisation that Pakistans counter -terrorism approach is selective and counter-productive to its ownlarger national interests, the possibility of resetting Pakistans relations with Afghanistan (and India)

will remain a far cry.

As the attack on the Wagah post in Pakistan would highlight, today the militants based in Pakistan areno more the proxies of the Establishment. The non-State actors in Pakistan are clear and know whatthey want. Do the State actors have the same clarity?

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Of Inquilab and the Inquilabis Now-a-days, revolutions, like popular reality shows, have begun to appear in all fonts and colors.

From the once classic connotation of Maos Long March, bloody revolutions such as the Bolshevik orIranian that left deep imprints on global politics to the modern soft-paddled revolutions, stage-managed by the US, supporting colorful names such as velvets or springs, the choices are unlimited.But is it fair to term every popular uprising or civic unrest as a revolution? Is a revolution possibleanywhere and everywhere?

The answer is no and this simplistic take of a very multifarious socio-political occurrence has made the revolution game all the more problematic and difficult to explain. When selling the con cept ofrevolution or inqilab to an eager audience, often omitted is the fact that revolution in its pure andclassic sense sought ultimate sacrifice and bloodshed. There never was a promise that a revolutionarychange would occur without claiming is fair share of collateral.

Pakistan after months of fascinating sneak peeks and good marketing strategy that really kept thepublic engaged and interested has been experiencing its own political reality show for nearly thethird marathon week. The plot was simple but convincing: two public figures with ample public supporthold onto a convincing agenda and march onto the capital city. If things were to tamper down, a bit ofreal-time entertainment with media going ballistic with 24/7 coverage and breaking-news tickers dodamage- control. But what makes such revolutionaries successful? First, a public that is more thanwilling to give chance to new people who empathise with the latter and/or understand their daily woesand are willing to offer an alternative. Second, the ruling party that after making tall promises whileelectioneering, very typically severs its connection with the same public that votes it to power.

If, as South Asians, we look around the neighborhood, we find similar symptoms. There is democracy,but used and abused at will by the democrats. The process of electioneering and the various attachedinstitutions have been abused and corrupted and this is just the tip of the iceberg. The Tahirul Qadri-Imran Khan double-march into Islamabad came with a lot of hype. Supporting complimentaryagendas, both the inqilabis had their loyal supporters. 20 days on, the siege stands strong, but sodoes the government. One demand put forth by Qadri regarding an FIR against the prime minister,the chief minister and many Punjab assembly influentials for the killing of 14 Minhaj workers wasfinally lodged after much delay exposing the biases and laxities of the justice system. Demands forelectoral and legislative reforms, though being given substantial lip-serv ice, havent yet been givenserious consideration by concerned quarters.

30 August-1 September proved to be the most happening, as not only were attempts made to clear

the constitution avenue off the inqilabis who were egged-on by their imaginative leadership to marchonto the parliament house with the prime ministers residence as the next stop which resulted intear-gas and rubber bullet shelling by an equally bored police force brought in great numbers from allover Punjab. Islamabad, which already sported a haunted look courtesy the umpteenth confiscatedcontainers strategically blocking one third of the citys main arteries (notwithstanding the otherquarter dug- up for a mega transport project) became a battleground. Speculations of a soft militar ytakeover facilitating an interim setup as well as alternate names for a new chief minister became

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rife. Adding spice to this political curry, alleged supporters of the two protesting parties staged a tokentakeover of the state television channel.

What happened next? Unfortunately for those seeking a repeat of distributing sweets when PervezMusharraf staged a takeover, the military firmly exercised restraint, though correcting the politicalgovernment, if ever it tried to entangle the former in the mess, or misquote it. For the government,with open support from its allies and opposition in the parliament, it stands strong and seems to haveregained the confidence it lacked before 30 August. As aptly stated by opposition leader Aitzaz Ahsanthat one good outcome of this crisis was that the prime minister finally made an appearance in thenational assembly. For Khan and Qadri, the longer the siege maintains, the lesser the chances forsalvaging their parties and political ideals unless the various interlocutors facilitate a win-winsituation for all parties concerned.

Does this mean the government won? A timely battle yes, but the Sharifs who were famously voted infor their better governance and financial prowess today stand severely criticised by their one-timeloyal constituents for not living up to their promises.

Investing in projects that have failed to bring short to long-term relief for the common man and theentire N-League maintaining an arrogant attitude towards everything only made them moreunpopular. The general public, although not fully supportive of Khan and Qadri, are unhappy with theruling class. Unfortunately, the siege has set a precedent for any political actor to garner sufficientsupport and camp in front of the parliament. The demands put forth by the protestors and theirleaders are not unjust; but the interlocutors must facilitate a passage for genuine reforms andchanges in the legislative and electoral process to check and prevent malpractices to ensure greatertransparency as a necessary first step towards genuine democratic rule.

Pakistan: Degraded Democracy At the time this comment is being penned, the Imran Khans Azadi March and Tahirul Qadris

Inquilab (revolution) March are besieging Islamabad. The former is demanding the resignation ofPrime Minister Nawaz Sharif; accountability of all people involved in rigging the 2013 election in favourof the current ruling dispensation; electoral reforms; and a government of non-political persons toconduct fresh elections. The latter wants a complete overhaul of the current political system hencerevolution, though in a legal and constitutional way without resorting to violence, which is in itself acontradiction.

Even though the turnout of these two marches is nowhere close to the million or more that was beingspoken about, Pakistans capital city is on the tenterhooks. The fear is that if the crowds go out ofcontrol and large-scale violence erupts, it could well lead to the collapse of the government. Needless

to say, such disturbances will bring neither Azadi nor Revolution. Quite to the contrary, it will stifle Azadi and usher in a counter -revolution by that most reactionary of all forces in Pakistan thePakistan Army.

Perhaps when the Pakistan Army put Khan and Qadri to the job of destabilising Nawaz Sharifsgovernment and bringing it under such immense pressure that it buckles and accepts its subservienceto the military establishment, they never thought things would reach a point where they might have tostep in and take over directly. But a series of administrative mishandlings and political miscalculations

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by the governments in Islamabad and Lahore, coupled with ever rising stridency in the positions ofKhan and Qadri, have brought the situation to a point where an honourable exit for any of the mainprotagonists seems next to impossible.

This means while all the protagonists are going for broke they believe they will either worst their

adversary or suffer grievous and maybe even irrecoverable damage to their politics none of them isgoing to emerge from this battle unscathed. The only winner will be the cat (read Pakistan Army)which made the monkeys (read Pakistan's political class) fight over the spoils of power. After all,Pakistan is a unique case where even the courts have upheld the legitimacy of military coups bycalling them a revolution!

Clearly, neither Imran Khan nor Tahirul Qadri have thought through the logic of what they aredemanding. This is hardly surprising considering that someone else has been doing the thinking forthem. The dialectics of their demands is that unless Nawaz Sharif is ready to roll over and play dead which is extremely unlikely the only way they can get what they want is through an extra-constitutional takeover. Bizarrely, even as they both emphatically stand against any militaryintervention, they are pushing things in a direction where the political logjam can only be broken bysuch an intervention.

For his part, Nawaz Sharif is showing remarkable and uncharacteristic composure, and even a spirit ofaccommodation towards Khans and Qadris clearly illegitimate, illogical and illegal demands. Butsooner or later, Sharif will dig in his heels. Already, some of his advisors are reported to be telling himthat any big compromise on the demands of the agitationists will irretrievably damage the governmentand render it a virtual lame-duck in practically all important aspects of national policy making. If thathappens, Sharif might continue to enjoy the title of prime minister but will wield as much power as thehead of a municipality. The trouble for the ruling party is that this is precisely what the army wants ifNawaz Sharif is to continue in office.

While the army has fixed Sharif nice and proper, and it is quite apparent by now that Sharif can onlysurvive if he accepts subservience to the military, it is still unclear if the military has a plan to de-escalate the political crisis. Will Khan accept the militarys diktat? What will be the quid pro quo whichhelps him keep his face among his supporters whom he has charged to an unsustainable level? Willthe sop offered to Imran Khan be acceptable to Sharif, especially if it involves anything beyondelectoral reforms? And if Khan refuses to back down, will the army force Sharif out of office? For thearmy, to cut Khan and Qadri down to size at this stage means losing a potent political tool to keepSharif under pressure something they would be averse to doing.

But deposing Sharif will also not solve the problem because that would set in motion the destabilisingpolitics of the 1990s. Worse, even if Nawaz Sharif eats the humble pie and Khan backs down this time,the government will remain in crisis mode for the rest of its term, something that will seriouslydistract it from its ambitious economic agenda. Most importantly, if this round of the political slugfestends in a draw, it will only set the stage for the next round of an even worse civil-militaryconfrontation, which wont be long in coming. What this means i s that all those singing hosannas fordemocracy having finally stuck roots in Pakistan need to start singing dirges.

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India-Pakistan: Working Boundaries and Lines ofUncontrolled FireAfter a much-deliberated stalemate, Afghanistan finally had a new democratic government with apower-sharing arrangement. The signing of the controversial Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA)provides a false sense of security to many who felt that the US military must not pull out completelyas the perceived regional proxies would turn Afghanistan into a complete proxy battlefield.

Though Pakistan has time and again reiterated its policy of non-interference and non-intervention inAfghan internal affairs, the same cannot be said about other regional actors. That will add tocomplicating the bilateral equation further. Another moot point is the Durand line, which alwayscarries the potential to ignite fiery exchanges of passionate and politically loaded rhetorics and on rareinstances, exchange of firepower. However, the mor e volatile of the unofficial boundaries has beenthe Line of Control (LoC) and working boundary on the eastern border, which has over the years,successfully become a testing field of India-Pakistan relations. Like any and all bilateral arrangementsbetween the two neighbors, the 2003 ceasefire agreement regarding the LoC has also been blatantly

violated in the past several years.

With both elected governments in Pakistan and India being driven by economics, the generalperception was that even if there is no substantial progress on the bigger problem areas, at least bothadministrations will try and maintain congenial relations and move towards progressive engagement.However the first sign of trouble was the calling-off of the Augus 2014 foreign secretary level talksafter Pakistans high commissioner to India met with the Kashmiri leadership.

Interestingly, anyone familiar with the New Delhi diplomatic setup and the grand receptions heldwould actually find a much greater number and variety of Kashmiri leadership in attendance, brushingshoulders with all and sundry.

Sensitivities aside, if seriously committed to the process, a better approach could have beenregistering a well-worded protest and allowing the talks to proceed as per schedule. However, severaltimes in the past too, much investment has been made in holding a meeting than making itmeaningful. What if the meeting had proceeded as per schedule? There is little doubt that nothingsubstantial would have resulted from the parleys. Despite a much clearer vision regarding what IndianPrime Minister Narendra Modi wants regarding internal growth and development and a foreign policyto match with it, there was a somewhat vague gesturing vis--vis relations with Islamabad. Although,during his election campaigning Modi and his party had been vocally very anti-Pakistani, yet the verybrief period of positive overturing soon after elections, gave space for optimism that perhaps thingsmight be on the mend.

The recent round of cross-LoC fire resulting in substantial infrastructural damage as well as heavycivilian fatalities on either sides of the LoC and working boundary, has again brought out mediahistrionics seeking death to Pakistan and dealing the enemy (Islamabad) a crushing decisive blow.Where o n one hand it makes the Modi governments policy towards its neighbor clear, it also retardsthe process (whatever it may be) substantially.

A recent statement by the new-kid-on-the-block, Bilawal Bhutto, regarding wresting the entireKashmir from India got a knee-jerk reaction from across the border. Interestingly, one set of replies

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was hacking of the Pakistan Peoples Party web site by an Indian group which posted propaganda stuffwith inflammatory statements. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif too, much to New Delhisdispleasure highlighted the plight of Kashmiris at the recently concluded UNGA session in New York.Immediately, conspiracy theorists hinted at a silent pledge between Sharif and Modi regarding silenceover the K-word.

However, what has intentionally been forgotten in this entire conflict narrative is the plight of flood-affected Kashmiri population, which has suffered loss of lives and livelihood.

Cross-LoC fire has unfortunately become a barometer of India-Pakistan relations. Sooner or later theguns will fall silent, after claiming many lives both civilian and military, with unpleasant wordsexchanged and angry gesturing at the political level. In the worse-case scenario, it may require ahigher level of deployment, but that is highly unlikely. What it will claim in its wake is a chunk ofpeace, and a window of opportunity to act wisely by either side and discuss the problem, rather thanindulging in blind rage and provocative statements.

Although New Delhi does not accord the same status to UNMOGIP than Pakistan, the latters proposalof making this office more proactive may not be a bad idea. Apparently, sticking to bilateralism andseeking a third partys role behind the curtains which results in crisis stability has become a nor m forthe two neighbors. The current crossfire, while may apparently look like a good marketing strategy with Modi allegedly approving an all-out assault will further fracture the already fragile base onwhich conditional peace stands. If either side is genuinely interested in peace, there is a need forreviewing both policies and postures.

Zarb-e-Azb: The Decisive StrikeOperation Zarb-e-Azb, launched against militants in North Waziristan by the Pakistani military on 15June is now entering the second phase of clearing and reclaiming lost spaces. A few days ago,

Miranshah, an important city, was 80% reclaimed and for the first time since the launch of theoperation, the press corps was allowed a guided tour of the place. The Operation was on the cards fora very long time and a recent interview of the previous military spokesperson in which he hinted anintentional delay by the previous military chief, has added to the list of controversies as to why thisdecision took so long to be set into motion. The public sentiment was unanimously against themilitants and terrorists and heavily in favour of a Sri Lanka type operation that brought down theLiberation Tigers of the Tamil Eelam, without realising the pros and cons of the problem.Simultaneously, a faction comprising the clergy, their supporters and empathisers as well as politicalparties pitched dialogue with the angry and disgruntled brethren as a means to appease and bringthem back in the mainstream.

Though the collateral part couldnt more be accurate, since the 1980s Afghan war, Pakistan hasundergone a drastic transformation, which has affected the entire socio-political, economic andcultural fabric of the society. The decision-makers of the Cold War days, judging the geopolitical

developments, made critical but misinformed decisions which served well in short term but proveddisastrous in the long term. Resultantly, two generations have paid a heavy price for the militancy andterrorism that haunts their daily lives. Therefore, the argument that this is not our war is as far fromthe truth as the US initial claims of innocence over state failure in Afghanistan.

The elected leadership initially favoured and opted for an almost unconditional dialogue with theTehrik i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operating in the concerned area alone, against stiff public uproar andopposition from political parties and concerned quarters. In one sense, the offer and opening achannel for dialogue was a good tactical measure; but it had two severe consequences: the militarylost precious time and the militants gained advantage and crossed over to safer areas across border or

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any other place of choice, with their men and firepower. The militants, as they gained time, took theinaction and a general lack of consensus in the political ranks as a sign of weakness and inflictedheavy damages which included the mass killing of 26 captured security personnel, and mountedattacks on Karachi Airport.

Any harboured illusions have since been laid to rest and since mid-June, the Pakistani armed forcesare engaged in the military operation. With 30,000 troops committed to clear militant sanctuaries,strongholds and hideouts from the two main areas of Miranshah and Mirali, the task at hand has beenenormous. The timing was bad, given that summer could not be more unsuitable for the troops,compounded by the beginning of the Islamic month of Ramzan within a fortnight of the operation.

The herculean task of evacuation and safe passage to the local population, whose numbers accordingto the available data was around 500,000 but by now the authorities have a registered a figure around833, 274 people. Furthermore, Pakistani authorities, after repeated requests, managed to secure theHamid Karzai government in Kabuls cooperation in se aling the border especially in Nuristan andKunar provinces, and also disallow sanctuaries to fleeing militants on Afghan soil; but thisarrangement now appears in jeopardy after a fatal strike from the Afghan side on a Pakistani militarypatrol, claiming several lives.

The resolve with which the military is dealing this decisive blow is evident to all, but not withoutskeptics and criticism. The prime criticism is that the military strike occurred too late in the day,allowing an easy and timely escape to the main culprits. Yet, the zero tolerance policy towards the TTPand its local or foreign affiliates is what was long needed. In the absence of an embedded media, theonly narrative available is the militarys. In response, the military provided a guid ed tour of the 80%cleared town of Miranshah to the media. Will the military operation be sufficient in flushing out themilitants and the larger issue of terrorism? Definitely not. This is just one aspect of the largernationwide effort, which needs to tackle militant strongholds and nurseries in other parts of thecountry; check the inflow of money and support these actors receive from all quarters; maintain azero tolerance approach, and strengthen governance, law and order as well as judicial protocols inhandling such issues. This wont be easy, given how despite a public demand for stiffer securitymeasures, the Protection of Pakistan ordinance (POPO) has met with enormous criticism. To date, theauthorities remain indecisive over the placement of the National Counter-terrorism Authority.

At the moment, the greater challenge is the assistance and finally rehabilitation and resettlement ofthe Internally Displaced Persons, supplemented by developing infrastructure and self-sustaininginstitutional mechanisms for the affected population. It is high time the government breaks old greatgame buffer myths, abolish the British made FCR, and accord full provincial status to the sevenagencies. The success of the Operation will carry positive dividends for both Pakistan and Afghanistan.There is a need to stand united for a sustained, stable and peaceful future that can help assureprosperity and better regional relations.

Economic impact of street politics

Factories are humming, raw materials are moving freely on the roads, people are

commuting to and from work, cellular communications remain uninterrupted.The rupee has seen some declines, more likely due to developments intrinsic to themarkets themselves rather than the crisis.

Forex reserves are broadly stable, the stock market has seen good days and badthroughout this affair, and there have been only marginal declines.

Also Read: Stocks fall as political strife continues

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Even the collection of taxes and recovery of bills in the power sector are normal, despitecalls for civil disobedience.

Attempts to spread the rallies to Lahore and Karachi and other cities have flounderedand there has been little disruption in day-to-day life anywhere else in Pakistan, with nogeneral strikes, no closures of roads and petrol pumps, schools or offices, no halt inpublic transport.

Beyond this, however, the damage is huge, difficult to quantify, and of a lasting nature.

Those looking in from the outside are asking how sturdy the political system in Pakistanreally is.

Talks with the IMF are at a standstill, and it is likely that the next tranche will be delayed.The World Bank is worried about the future of its massive Country Partnership Strategy,worth $11bn and announced just this April.

Meanwhile, government work has ground to a halt, and although the machinerycontinues to function in the rest of the country, the ministries and secretariats andcommittees are all on standby.

In short, whereas daily life is largely untouched, the strategic outlook for the country hassuffered a considerable blow.

This is the exact opposite of what street politics is meant to do.

Crippling everyday life yields maximum political dividends and leaves no lastingdamage, but harming the strategic outlook brings no political rewards and causeslasting damage to the economy.

This is why street politics usually targets the operation of daily life in the cities ratherthan fighting in the streets of the capital. In this case, however, the reverse hashappened we saw fighting in the streets of the capital while it was business as usualeverywhere else.

It is disheartening to note that this confrontational strategy was used by the PTI, a partythat drew ample support from professional and corporate circles precisely those whoare heavily invested in the strategic outlook and a party that prided itself for its focuson the economy.

They should have reconsidered the decision to resort to street politics if they lacked thecapacity to credibly wage the fight. Once the passions wane and the rallies disperse,perhaps the party leadership should reflect on the consequences of their actions.

There are some amongst them who were hailed as exemplars of professionalexcellence, and those people will now need to explain the merits of their decisions to avery sceptical audience.

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Polio emergency WHEN the world embarked on its fight against polio decades ago, amongst themost iconic images coming from Pakistan was that of the then prime minister,Benazir Bhutto, administering the drops to her child.

Since then, millions upon millions have been poured into the initiative and in much ofthe world, the dreaded virus has been eradicated altogether. In Pakistan, though, thingshave gone far from as planned.

Also read: Ecnec approves Rs33bn polio plan

This now remains one of the worlds three polio -endemic countries the others being Afghanistan and Nigeria and, much more frighteningly, the only one where thecrippling disease seems to be on the resurgence.

For years now, Pakistan has received aid in cash and kind from all sorts of donors, andhas been materially helped by international polio eradication initiatives, because it wasrecognised that a polio-free world cannot be envisaged unless all countries are takenalong; this states abysmal rate of success even though matters reached such a pass

that the WHO was forced to issue a travel advisory for unvaccinated travellers in May would suggest that it has all been money and effort down the drain.

Since the fight is too important to be abandoned, though, helping hands continue toreach out. On Friday, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Councilapproved a Rs33bn emergency plan to battle the virus.

The plan is made possible through loans running into millions of dollars from sourcesincluding the Islamic Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation

Agency, with the tab for interest on these loans being picked up by the Bill and MelindaGates Foundation.

Under an agreement with the lending agencies, the loans will be converted into grants ifPakistan succeeds in eradicating polio. It can thus be argued that for an alreadyindebted country such as this, there is an economic reason to urgently ramp up itsefforts. That said, however, Pakistan needs to wake up to the fact that its interests standcompromised in all sorts of ways by the increasing incidence of polio.

Over 20 cases have been detected this month alone, and the count for this year so faris soaring near the 150 mark. Punjab and Balochistan, which had earlier been thought

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to be polio-free, have also seen the myth shattered. The new emergency plan simplyhas to be made to work; the lackadaisical approach of the authorities must not lead usinto quarantine.