Delusory Hopes
This is with reference to the cover story titled ‘Defeating Victory,’ which appeared in the July 2024 edition of SouthAsia Magazine. It is true that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi could not win the 2024 Lok Sabha elections with a convincing majority, but assuming that he will now move ahead to improve India’s diplomatic relations with its neighbouring countries, particularly Pakistan, is nothing more than false expectations. Modi stands firm in his anti-Pakistan agenda, and he will leave no stone unturned as far as inflicting more misery on an economically struggling country like Pakistan is concerned. The people in Pakistan must desist from having delusory hopes with India as the Indian government has gone too far in its ongoing drive against Pakistan on all political, economic, sports, and diplomatic levels, regionally and internationally. In a word, Modi 3.0 is going to be another nightmare for the Muslims of India in general and Pakistan in particular.
Ahmed Ali Jehanzeb,
Muzaffarbad, Pakistan.
Diplomatic Defeat
In the complicated realm of geopolitics, it is tricky to maintain a balancing act for economically backward nations, e.g., Bangladesh, a country sandwiched between India and China on diplomatic and political grounds. Of late, the main reason behind Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid’s lacklustre visit to China was her tilt towards New Delhi, as Beijing was expecting a much more receptive approach from Dhaka. However, Hasina Wajid’s blind faith in Indian state machinery for Bangladesh’s progress in critical areas is evident. At the same time, China’s leadership wants independent decision-making from their Bangladeshi counterparts, a necessary diplomatic attribute missing in today’s Bangladeshi government. Since it is compulsory for countries to maintain geopolitical balance, it requires foresightedness along with a rational mindset to forge a win-win relationship with the world’s leading economies. One hopes Bangladeshi leadership will realise this aspect soon.
Najam Uddin,
Sylhet, Bangladesh.
Modi Means Meanness
When it comes to shrewd diplomacy and astute statesmanship, nobody can beat Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For instance, his latest visit to Russia proved Modi’s dual approach towards pleasing the most powerful nations and unmasked his real side, severely tainted with ingrained sycophancy, profound opportunism, and political brinkmanship. On the one hand, the Indian Prime Minister giving a bear hug to the Russian President, while on the other hand, he seems more than ready to welcome the rise of Donald Trump to America’s presidency, even before the holding of the forthcoming U.S. presidential elections in November this year. If truth be told, Narendra Modi symbolises meanness and malice, and he has a proven track record of treading the same path in his decades-long political career dotted with nepotism, religious segregation, partisanship, and hatred towards religious minorities.
K. S. P. De Silva,
Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Political Instability in Nepal
Nepal, the tiny Himalayan republic, is known worldwide for its perpetual political instability and administrative chaos. Yet again, the country has just appointed its 14th prime minister in a period of 15 years, speaking volumes of the country’s never-ending political instability and volatility and exposing its inherited culture of virtuously transactional public affairs since a large swath of unemployed workers and jobless people leave the country for greener pastures. Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, commonly known as KP Sharma Oli, is the new Prime Minister of Nepal. He also happens to be the 14th head of government since 2008, as well as the 30th prime minister in a row since the restoration of parliamentary democracy in Nepal in 1990. It suggests that Nepal has a new prime minister every year, which is, indeed, an outstanding achievement for Nepal, a small South Asian republic with merely 30 million inhabitants.
Pushpa Kumari,
Meerut, India.
Plight of Political Prisoners
TThe state of political prisoners in a country like Bhutan has never been ideal. However, it has gone from bad to worse in the last two decades. Many global human rights groups and organisations are calling on the Bhutanese government to set free the remaining political prisoners and convicts, who are currently living in terrible conditions and are serving drawn-out sentences following discriminating judicial trials and torture. Propounding the most innovative idea of ‘Gross National Happiness,’ in marked contrast, the Bhutanese government cultivates an enlightened global image. However, on the other side, the current regime’s unmannerly treatment of its political prisoners and under-trial inmates depicts an opposite picture. It is time for the international community, along with global aid agencies, multinational organisations, and foreign governments, to further put a squeeze on Bhutan’s government to immediately release its political prisoners without any delay.
V.S. Dema,
Thimphu, Bhutan.
No More Power Crisis
While the people in Pakistan are bearing the brunt of the world’s most expensive power supply for domestic, commercial, and industrial consumers, the Sri Lanka government has recently cut power prices by 22.5 per cent. Such a sizeable decrease in electricity prices has been made possible thanks to Sri Lanka’s exemplary political leadership, which has led the small Indian Ocean nation with commitment and determination. The recent move by the Sri Lankan government has primarily been taken to ease the increasing cost of living for the country’s people who are hit by the crisis in the midst of its worst financial and socio-economic situation in decades. It bears mention that following the 2022 financial crisis that shrank the Sri Lankan economy by 7.8 per cent, the Sri Lankan government increased electricity prices by 75 per cent that September, and by another 66 per cent in February 2023. Such a significant hike in power prices was primarily made to meet the terms of a $2.9-billion bailout package for Sri Lanka from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The good news is that other than the domestic users, commercial and industrial consumers would also see a price cut of up to 33 per cent in power tariffs, while poorer consumers will be entitled to a reduction of about 2,000 rupees in their monthly electricity bills. One wonders whether the Pakistani nation will ever be able to have such outstanding leadership or not.
Farid Uddin,
Karachi, Pakistan.
Well Done, Afghanistan!
The Afghanistan cricket team must be given full credit for its outstanding performance in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, held in the United States and West Indies in June. A team that was once confined to refugee camps has now emerged as the world’s leading side, thanks to Pakistan’s consistent support and heaps of opportunities provided to Afghan talent. One hopes for a very bright future for the Afghanistan cricket team. Well done, Afghanistan!
Noor Wali Akhund,
Kabul, Afghanistan.