DAWN Editorials - 17th March 2025
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2025 7:47 am
NAP revival
IT is clear that in the midst of a fresh wave of terrorism, particularly after the Jaffar Express hijacking, the state cannot respond to the crisis using conventional approaches. Both the Baloch separatist insurgency and the TTP campaign of terror are posing existential threats to the nation, and if not handled with alacrity and foresight these violent anti-state movements can do much damage to the country’s integrity. While discussing the details of the Jaffar Express episode last week, the DG ISPR mentioned that if the 14 points of the revised National Action Plan were focused on, “terrorism can be eradicated”. The federal minister of state for interior made similar remarks in the National Assembly.
While the original NAP was formulated in 2014 after the APS Peshawar atrocity, the plan was revised in 2021, highlighting kinetic and non-kinetic domains of the counterterrorism blueprint. Where the Baloch insurgency and the TTP campaign are concerned, the kinetic aspects of NAP are essential, as a state of insecurity is untenable, and all armed groups that threaten peace must be neutralised. Yet successive governments, including the current set-up, have not done enough to implement NAP’s non-kinetic measures. These include supporting the reconciliation process in Balochistan, as well as overseeing reforms in KP’s merged areas, which are hardest hit by the TTP insurgency. Unless action in the field is complemented with social, economic and political efforts in the militancy-hit parts of Balochistan and KP, led by the civilian administration, this bloody cycle of violence will continue.
While addressing the briefing along with the DG ISPR, the Balochistan chief minister, referring to the Jaffar Express ambush, said it was an act of terrorism, while dismissing the economic and political grievances behind the violent action. He is only partially right. There is no doubt that the train hijacking was a terrorist act, as innocent people were targeted. The state must therefore go after all those involved in this crime. But the fact is that Balochistan’s socioeconomic misery is undeniable. Parts of the province live in mediaeval poverty, especially compared to urban centres in other parts of the country. This is despite the fact that the province sits on a treasure of mineral wealth. It is this deprivation, and the lack of political freedom for genuine Baloch leaders, that the terrorists exploit. Therefore, the non-kinetic aspects of NAP cannot be ignored in order to establish a lasting peace. The reconciliation process, involving those ready to give up their arms should be given a renewed push by political elements from across Pakistan. Certain red lines are in order — for instance, there can be no compromise on Pakistan’s territorial solidarity and the supremacy of the Constitution. Within these parameters, an organic political process can bring Balochistan back from the abyss.
Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2025
New reality
THE US retreat from global climate finance commitments could not have come at a worse time. Pakistan faces an imminent water crisis threatening our wheat harvest. Irsa’s warning that Punjab and Sindh — our primary breadbaskets — may face up to 35pc water shortages as the Tarbela and Mangla dams approach dead levels illustrates the immediate challenges we face. These reservoirs, critical to our agricultural infrastructure, are depleting rapidly just when the wheat crop requires its final watering before harvest. With lower-than-targeted wheat sowing already a concern due to shifting policies, Pakistan now confronts a perfect storm of food security threats exacerbated by climate instability. Against this backdrop, the international climate finance landscape is crumbling. The pledge made at COP29 to boost climate finance to $300bn annually by 2035 was already deemed inadequate. Now, with the US — responsible for about 10pc of the $116bn provided in 2022, according to OECD figures — stepping back, our options for adaptation funding narrow considerably. Our recent history tells a grim story: devastating floods that submerged a third of our country in 2022, unprecedented heatwaves, glacial melt threatening our water security, and now agricultural disruptions jeopardising our food security. The burden is shifting primarily to the EU, but the bloc faces its own challenges: budget constraints, US tariffs, increased military spending, and the rise of right-wing populism hostile to climate policies. With major donors like the UK, France, and Germany announcing aid cuts, Pakistan must reckon with a harsh new reality.
So, what options do we have? First, we must implement immediate water conservation measures across all sectors, particularly agriculture, which consumes over 90pc of our water resources. Drip irrigation, laser land levelling, and water-efficient crop varieties must be prioritised and subsidised. Second, we must strengthen regional climate alliances. Cooperation with other South Asian nations could amplify our collective voice at global fora, leading to shared technological solutions for climate adaptation. Third, Pakistan must accelerate domestic resource mobilisation specifically for climate-resilient infrastructure. This includes exploring green bonds, carbon taxation on heavy emitters, and climate adaptation financing mechanisms that do not rely exclusively on foreign assistance. The path ahead is undeniably challenging. Yet, our survival and the food security of our population depends on confronting this new reality.
Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2025
Killer traffic
MYSTERIOUS and unstoppable. It is these words that perhaps best describe the recent surge in traffic-related accidents in Karachi, which has also caught the attention of the chairman of the ruling party in the province. With citizens of the port city perishing at the hands of reckless drivers seemingly on a daily basis, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has reportedly instructed the Sindh government to go “all out” to curb further incidents. But what does “all out” mean? The Karachi police have so far appeared helpless when it comes to containing the menace. They also have no plausible explanation to offer for the sudden and inexplicable rise in the incidence of deadly accidents. While the city police have set up an official body to analyse road accidents, perhaps they should be looking inward as well.
It does not seem unreasonable to assume that the roots of the problem may lie in routine policing and regulatory failures metastasizing over the years into a major public safety issue. The enforcement of traffic regulations has, after all, been traditionally lax in the city, while the standard for issuing driver’s licences has also never been strict enough. The result is that there now seems to be a worryingly large number of people behind the wheel who lack adequate road sense or the capacity to responsibly operate their vehicles. Those on the road also often seem to lack respect for traffic police. The rampant ‘chai paani’ culture has allowed people to view traffic rules and regulations as ‘optional’ since there are very rarely any serious consequences for breaking them. Therefore, while the police are free to explore other reasons for the recent rise in traffic fatalities, they must also acknowledge these systemic failings and address them. Public anger has been brewing at the unchecked death toll. The police must respond with immediate and visible action. Otherwise, this situation could turn ugly.
Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2025
IT is clear that in the midst of a fresh wave of terrorism, particularly after the Jaffar Express hijacking, the state cannot respond to the crisis using conventional approaches. Both the Baloch separatist insurgency and the TTP campaign of terror are posing existential threats to the nation, and if not handled with alacrity and foresight these violent anti-state movements can do much damage to the country’s integrity. While discussing the details of the Jaffar Express episode last week, the DG ISPR mentioned that if the 14 points of the revised National Action Plan were focused on, “terrorism can be eradicated”. The federal minister of state for interior made similar remarks in the National Assembly.
While the original NAP was formulated in 2014 after the APS Peshawar atrocity, the plan was revised in 2021, highlighting kinetic and non-kinetic domains of the counterterrorism blueprint. Where the Baloch insurgency and the TTP campaign are concerned, the kinetic aspects of NAP are essential, as a state of insecurity is untenable, and all armed groups that threaten peace must be neutralised. Yet successive governments, including the current set-up, have not done enough to implement NAP’s non-kinetic measures. These include supporting the reconciliation process in Balochistan, as well as overseeing reforms in KP’s merged areas, which are hardest hit by the TTP insurgency. Unless action in the field is complemented with social, economic and political efforts in the militancy-hit parts of Balochistan and KP, led by the civilian administration, this bloody cycle of violence will continue.
While addressing the briefing along with the DG ISPR, the Balochistan chief minister, referring to the Jaffar Express ambush, said it was an act of terrorism, while dismissing the economic and political grievances behind the violent action. He is only partially right. There is no doubt that the train hijacking was a terrorist act, as innocent people were targeted. The state must therefore go after all those involved in this crime. But the fact is that Balochistan’s socioeconomic misery is undeniable. Parts of the province live in mediaeval poverty, especially compared to urban centres in other parts of the country. This is despite the fact that the province sits on a treasure of mineral wealth. It is this deprivation, and the lack of political freedom for genuine Baloch leaders, that the terrorists exploit. Therefore, the non-kinetic aspects of NAP cannot be ignored in order to establish a lasting peace. The reconciliation process, involving those ready to give up their arms should be given a renewed push by political elements from across Pakistan. Certain red lines are in order — for instance, there can be no compromise on Pakistan’s territorial solidarity and the supremacy of the Constitution. Within these parameters, an organic political process can bring Balochistan back from the abyss.
Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2025
New reality
THE US retreat from global climate finance commitments could not have come at a worse time. Pakistan faces an imminent water crisis threatening our wheat harvest. Irsa’s warning that Punjab and Sindh — our primary breadbaskets — may face up to 35pc water shortages as the Tarbela and Mangla dams approach dead levels illustrates the immediate challenges we face. These reservoirs, critical to our agricultural infrastructure, are depleting rapidly just when the wheat crop requires its final watering before harvest. With lower-than-targeted wheat sowing already a concern due to shifting policies, Pakistan now confronts a perfect storm of food security threats exacerbated by climate instability. Against this backdrop, the international climate finance landscape is crumbling. The pledge made at COP29 to boost climate finance to $300bn annually by 2035 was already deemed inadequate. Now, with the US — responsible for about 10pc of the $116bn provided in 2022, according to OECD figures — stepping back, our options for adaptation funding narrow considerably. Our recent history tells a grim story: devastating floods that submerged a third of our country in 2022, unprecedented heatwaves, glacial melt threatening our water security, and now agricultural disruptions jeopardising our food security. The burden is shifting primarily to the EU, but the bloc faces its own challenges: budget constraints, US tariffs, increased military spending, and the rise of right-wing populism hostile to climate policies. With major donors like the UK, France, and Germany announcing aid cuts, Pakistan must reckon with a harsh new reality.
So, what options do we have? First, we must implement immediate water conservation measures across all sectors, particularly agriculture, which consumes over 90pc of our water resources. Drip irrigation, laser land levelling, and water-efficient crop varieties must be prioritised and subsidised. Second, we must strengthen regional climate alliances. Cooperation with other South Asian nations could amplify our collective voice at global fora, leading to shared technological solutions for climate adaptation. Third, Pakistan must accelerate domestic resource mobilisation specifically for climate-resilient infrastructure. This includes exploring green bonds, carbon taxation on heavy emitters, and climate adaptation financing mechanisms that do not rely exclusively on foreign assistance. The path ahead is undeniably challenging. Yet, our survival and the food security of our population depends on confronting this new reality.
Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2025
Killer traffic
MYSTERIOUS and unstoppable. It is these words that perhaps best describe the recent surge in traffic-related accidents in Karachi, which has also caught the attention of the chairman of the ruling party in the province. With citizens of the port city perishing at the hands of reckless drivers seemingly on a daily basis, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has reportedly instructed the Sindh government to go “all out” to curb further incidents. But what does “all out” mean? The Karachi police have so far appeared helpless when it comes to containing the menace. They also have no plausible explanation to offer for the sudden and inexplicable rise in the incidence of deadly accidents. While the city police have set up an official body to analyse road accidents, perhaps they should be looking inward as well.
It does not seem unreasonable to assume that the roots of the problem may lie in routine policing and regulatory failures metastasizing over the years into a major public safety issue. The enforcement of traffic regulations has, after all, been traditionally lax in the city, while the standard for issuing driver’s licences has also never been strict enough. The result is that there now seems to be a worryingly large number of people behind the wheel who lack adequate road sense or the capacity to responsibly operate their vehicles. Those on the road also often seem to lack respect for traffic police. The rampant ‘chai paani’ culture has allowed people to view traffic rules and regulations as ‘optional’ since there are very rarely any serious consequences for breaking them. Therefore, while the police are free to explore other reasons for the recent rise in traffic fatalities, they must also acknowledge these systemic failings and address them. Public anger has been brewing at the unchecked death toll. The police must respond with immediate and visible action. Otherwise, this situation could turn ugly.
Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2025