Daily Times

Feelings and words walk together, hand in hand; leaving behind a narrative of endless pain. No comfort; no gain. When will the narrative change; bringing new hope, taking away misery and shame? War and peace are instruments of development and change; the change we fear; the change we need. This is a dilemma, indeed.

After the end of Second World War, new hopes had emerged for peace, a more effective international law and the extended role of an independent UN; making good use of diplomacy and institutional safeguards, not a technology war. A rule-based system was essential for competing in the international market. The US President Donald Trump and his advisers don’t want to follow such a system. Their goal is to contain China’s technological rise. Their simultaneous attempt to neutralise the World Trade Organisation by disabling its dispute settlement system shows the same disdain for global rules, wrote Jeffery D Sachs in his recent column. If the Trump administration succeeds in dividing the World into separate technology camps, the risk of future conflicts will multiply. There is a need to stick to rationality, evidence and rules as the safest course of action. Needed are independent monitors to curtail the threat of any country using global networks for surveillance of cyber warfare on others. That way, the world can get on with the urgent task of harnessing breakthrough digital technologies for the global good.

Chinese equipment might make secret surveillance by the US government more difficult but unwarranted surveillance by any government should be ended.

The US is now using the Cheney Doctrine to attack ChineseResolving political crisis technology. The argument is that because the Americans can’t know with certainty that Chinese technologies are safe, they should act as if they are certainly dangerous. Americans should know the facts that Huawei’s 5G equipment is low-cost and high-quality. It is currently ahead of many competitors and already rolling out. Its high-performance results from years of huge spending on research and development, scale economies as well as learning by doing in the Chinese digital market place. Given the technological importance of their sustainable development, low-income economies around the world would be foolhardy to reject an early 5G rollout.

Earlier, Cheney Doctrine was about Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). In the run-up to the Iraq War, the then US Vice President, Dick Cheney, declared that even if the risk of weapons of mass destruction falling into terrorist hands was tiny, say one per cent, we should act as if it were certain by invading. The US is at it again; creating a panic over Chinese technology.

Based on ground reality or facts, the Cheney Doctrine resulted in destroying not only the Iraqi government but creating chaos all over the Middle East. The war in Afghanistan has not ended even after 17 years with serious consequences for neighbouring countries and their political dynamics; bringing new challenges. The crises continue.

Long marches and sit-ins are a waste of time and an attack on institutions

In the face of the ultimatum set, is the PTI and its leadership without any option? What should be the line of action of the PTI negotiation team and how shall its core committee tackle the issues raised by Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman? Could the two main option parties–PML(N) and PPP–play an effective role to help resolve the issues or will they stay in the grey area? With the ground reality in view, it seems the combined option will play it safe. They too want the government gone and support the marchers. But their intentions are not clear for they are in with Maulana but still not like the way it should have been.

Long marches and sit-ins are a waste of time and an attack on institutions; ultimately badly impacting the economy and society, already in crisis. Imran must have realised if he had time to think back about his protests and threats to institutions. Political and economic analysts pondering over the current scenario in Pakistan are of the view that Imran’s political alienation has been caused because of his strong urge to correct things in haste. Haste makes waste. Prime Minister went too far; defaming and degrading his political opponents. He downgraded the parliament his political bed-rock.

Fresh elections were not the answer to the current situation, because all the parties are bruised and battered. They need time to regain their vitality. This is possible if a couple of years are gained by establishing a national government for national integration and collective thoughts for a strong Pakistan; a country with a positive image.

Imran created a political vacuum, which is now filled by the Religions Right, led by shrewd Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman. He took the lead and gave the call to the opposition to join him. The events have pushed the Kashmir Issue to the backburner. The enemy must be happy over this situation, which is ripe for terrorist activity, resulting in causalities and dangerous law and order problems. Some kind of early reproachment is urgently needed.

The writer is the former director of the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA) Government of Pakistan; political analyst; public policy expert