The Way Forward

This is with reference to the other cover story titled ‘Sixer by the Six,’ which appeared in SouthAsia in its May 2024 issue. Putting my two cents in, Pakistan has a complex history of military involvement in politics and administrative affairs. Since the country’s independence in August 1947, Pakistan has experienced multiple military coups, elongated periods of direct military rule, and a pervasive military influence in political affairs. This bittersweet history has created a delicate balance between civilian authority and military power. Against this backdrop, involving the military institution in governance within the constitutional framework has always been a matter of heated debate. Although this raises questions about the balance of power, civilian-military relations, and the consolidation of democratic principles within the Pakistani state, we do not have any other option left to get the country out of the existing socio-economic morass.

Rizwan Siddiqui,
Islamabad, Pakistan.

Bangladesh-Pakistan Friendship

Pakistan and Bangladesh are the primary beneficiaries of Chinese investments. However, India has been employing many nefarious tools to widen the chasm between Pakistan and Bangladesh, mainly to make the most of the political differences that haunt both countries still today. The anti-Pakistan agenda serves Indian interests well, but it does not benefit Bangladesh, a country that has a lot to share with Pakistan than with its eastern neighbour. This is not 1971, and the time has entirely changed now. Considering the prevailing reality, Bangladesh must recalibrate its diplomatic priorities to find a much-needed balance in its foreign policy towards Pakistan.

Azkar Alvi,
Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Addressing Census Concerns

The Pakistani government, by and large, has miserably failed to address the concerns of various demographic experts and political parties who point to a possible post-census rigging, which always comes into action to skew the numbers in favour of certain invisible elements on the basis of ethnicity. Internationally, the census is considered the most critical procedure that helps a country determine its current population data and demographic statistics, as without knowing the accurate count, the whole planning and development process is of no use. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure transparency in this regard.

Janib Ali Soomro,
Kandhkot, Pakistan.

Say No to ‘Rajbandi’

It is incumbent on Bhutan’s new government to uphold the economic and social rights of the country’s citizens. As things currently stand in Bhutan, many people are finding it difficult to make both ends meet, badly struggling to meet their basic needs on a day-to-day basis. I believe the time has come to release all political prisoners. As of today, according to Human Rights Watch, there are more than 35 people convicted of political offenses. Referred to ‘as Rajbandi’ (state or royal prisoners) in the Bhutanese language, these political prisoners face unfair trials and are subject to forced coercion under severe torture. In a severe violation of international human rights laws, to make things worse, a large number of them have been kept behind bars for decades, serving sentences of life without parole, and are even denied contact with their spouses and loved ones. The time has come for the Bhutanese government to release all the political prisoners who were arrested by the previous regime on numerous allegations, true or false.

Sabitri Karma,
Thimphu, Bhutan.

Onset of Mental Diseases

In Nepal, Bipolar Disorder (BD) is one of the most common mental diseases still considered taboo in Nepalese society. Though a large number of people are aware of a myriad of concerns associated with the disease, the rigid social structure of Nepalese society makes it difficult to accept such patients as part of the social group, which is a point of worry. Unfortunately, despite treatments available for bipolar patients, effortless access to medication is a daunting task both in terms of their efficacy and social approval. The Nepalese government needs to take concrete measures to address the issue immediately.

J. S. Kumari,
Pokhara, Nepal.

Foreign Policy of Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan government’s foreign policy regarding restoring the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) remains unclear. A democratic nation like Sri Lanka must act independently, especially when it comes to forming and maintaining diplomatic relations with other countries in the region. As it appears, Colombo has been over-reliant on India when it comes to deciding its crucial matters. Despite its tiny existence, Sri Lanka happens to be a self-governing state. It is not a landlocked country like Bhutan or Nepal and is in a much better geostrategic position to decide about its own destiny. Therefore, it needs to make its foreign policy clear about SAARC.

U.P.W. Jayaratne,
Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Record Exports

For the first time in Pakistan’s history, the export of onion has reached a record level. According to recent statistics released by the Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association, the export of onion from the country exceeded 210 million dollars from July to April 2024. Before that, only kino had seen more exports worth 210 million dollars. By the end of this year, the export of onion will reach 250 million dollars. Pakistan’s government must take steps to extend the life of onions because local traders can develop a new market for onions in the coming times.
Samad Ali,
Sialkot, Pakistan.