Professional Documents
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2020 April Nearpeer PDF
2020 April Nearpeer PDF
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Nearpeer CSS Monthly Press Pack April 2020
T his document was compiled by the CSS wing of Nearpeer to help CSS aspirants by
providing them with all the important articles of last month from local as well as
international newspapers.
This will serve as an important guide in preparation as well as revision of not only current
affairs but many other compulsory and optional subjects such as Islamic Studies, Pakistan
Affairs, Sociology, Gender Studies, International Relations and Political Science.
1- It will help you with catching up with all the happenings of the last month
2- It contains analyses of various issues of importance. Analyses is as important as knowing
the content of news
3- A diverse range of articles are selected from among local as well as international newspapers
and journals, so now you know you do not have to go through old archives of old newspapers
4- This will also serve as a quick revision guide for aspirants just before the exams
5- Candidates can use this issue in order to brush up their analytical as well as comprehension
skills
6- Additionally, they can also use it to improve their vocabulary and its usage
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Contents
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NEW WAYS TO LEARN above our digital challenges and deliver the
education that our children deserve and the
BY: NEDA MULJI (DAWN) standards that their parents expect. Whilst we
may not have the bandwidth and the outreach
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S
and step in where teachers are now absent; ome have forcefully attached a silver
schools have had to produce content digitally lining to the coronavirus epidemic.
very quickly, and having to jump the With human activity on a lockdown,
planning and synthesising process where the planet is healing, they say.
ideas culminate into action after some
deliberation and testing. There is no evidence to label the pressing
global crisis as ‘nature’s revenge’: the idea
The coronavirus has left us with no testing or that humans have brought Mother Earth to a
experimentation time, resulting in fights tipping point, and she is now fighting back.
between parents and staff on these digital Apart from knowing that the pandemic has
forums. We also demonstrate in times of its epicentre in China, we cannot really
crisis that we are resilient and impatient. assume whether or not it is part of nature’s
When we face glitches or come face to face ‘cleansing’ ritual.
with our inability to crack something new,
we like to first point fingers, kick and What we do have complete certainty on is
scream, before we eventually settle down that humans are primarily responsible for
and accept the new reality. global greenhouse gas emissions, and that
this in turn causes global warming. As
As Charles Dickens put it in a Tale of Two provinces, states and entire nations are
Cities, “It was the best of times, it was the forced into lockdown, greenhouse gas
worst of times”. Whilst we gear all our emissions have fallen because schools are
efforts to keep our children and ourselves closed, many distracting avenues such as
safe from the overarching virus threat, malls and restaurants are shut, factories have
been bolted, international and national sports
we discover so much about ourselves and our and entertainment events have been
ability to reflect, improvise, innovate and postponed, and travel has been curtailed.
survive. While there is obvious despair at
how we lag behind technologically, there is According to climate campaigners, global air
hope in our ability to rise above the traffic decreased by 4.3 per cent in February.
challenge. Controlling the spread of Covid-19 in China
forcefully reduced emissions by 15pc to
40pc across key industrial sectors. The
Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air
has said that the reduction in emissions is
equivalent to 200 million tons of carbon
dioxide, which is more than half of what the
UK emits in an entire year, or what
Argentina, Egypt and Vietnam emit in one
year.
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air days’ in Hubei province increased by framework is temporary and not sustainable.
21.5pc in February, compared to last year. The promised recovery stimulus packages
Temporarily improved air quality over two suggest that as soon as the epidemic is under
months in China can prevent between 50,000 control, an upsurge of carbon-intensive
to 75,000 premature deaths, as per Prof projects to boost economies will incite
Marshall Burke at Stanford University. So ‘retaliatory pollution’. With competing
far, Covid-19 has taken the lives of up to concerns such as debt, joblessness and
3,255 people in China. The aim here is not to recession, emission reduction will be
undermine human fatalities due to the virus, brushed to the curb.
but to highlight how deadly a killer air
pollution is. It is imperative that climate change be
considered a deadly threat to the human race,
Other environmentalists have reported that expected to kill millions of people as it acts
fine particulate matter has decreased by 40pc as a poverty multiplier, induces involuntary
in San Francisco, 28pc in New York, and migration, exacerbates extreme weather
32pc in Seattle, compared to last year. events, spreads diseases, and threatens food
Meanwhile, researchers at Columbia security. We need a strict and sustained
University say that carbon monoxide, transition to a carbon-neutral economy, not
another greenhouse gas mostly emitted from short-term reductions in emissions, if we
cars, has reduced by nearly 50pc in New wish to achieve the 1.5°C temperature goal
York as traffic is down by an estimated 35pc. under the Paris Agreement. Governments
should remember green measures they can
According to the European Space Agency’s take, such as tying emission reduction
Sentinel-5P satellite, which measures actions to the bailout of airlines, or even
concentrations of greenhouse gases and other encouraging large companies to let some of
pollutants, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels fell their employees work from home.
drastically in northern Italy in recent days. A
potent greenhouse gas that affects the It is unfortunate that it has taken a pandemic
respiratory system, NO2 is emitted primarily to make us realise that governments,
from vehicles, diesel-powered construction companies and societies can function
equipment, and power plants. High levels of differently, and what these lifestyle changes
NO2 can be extremely dangerous for those can mean for the planet and human health.
impacted by a virus which cripples the Once the epidemic is under control, we must
respiratory system. remember these clearer skies, and embrace
sustainable and eco-friendly practices.
All these changes are temporary, and in light
of the pandemic, cannot even be termed good HOW TO AVOID COMPLETE
news. They will most likely jump back as
countries race to recover once the immediate ECONOMIC DESTRUCTION
threat dissipates. As environmentalist Bill (THE NEW YORK TIMES
McKibben writes: “No environmentalist
should welcome a crisis, but they can learn EDITORIAL)
from it...”
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Employers, facing a revenue drought, are possible, the fabric of the economy as it
laying off workers at a record pace. existed before the crisis.
Preliminary data indicates that more people
filed for unemployment benefits last week Congressional Republicans on Friday
than in any previous week in the nation’s proposed a bailout program that contains
history, shattering a record set back in 1982. many of the necessary elements, but it lacks
the necessary scale. It would provide $300
The mass layoffs are depriving families of billion in funding for businesses with 500 or
income and, what is perhaps more important fewer employees. Each company could
in the middle of a pandemic, leaving many borrow up to $10 million, and any money
without health insurance, too. used to pay wages would not need to be
repaid, provided the company maintained
The necessary solution is a grand bargain: staffing and wages until the end of June. That
The federal government provides the money sum, however, is only sufficient to cover four
that companies are unable to earn, and months of wages, at the median wage, for 20
companies use the money to keep workers on million workers — or less than one third of
the payroll. the workers employed by small companies.
And businesses also need to pay for benefits,
Time is of the essence. A unique feature of not to mention other expenses, like rent.
the current recession is that the government Michael Strain of the American Enterprise
is determining the depth of the economic Institute estimates that the amount small
damage in real time, through its actions and businesses actually need is around $1.2
inaction. To stanch job losses, policymakers trillion.
need to announce that help is on the way, and
that it will be retroactive to the beginning of The Senate should embrace an alternative
March. Then they need to deliver that help as proposal by Senator Tammy Baldwin,
fast as possible. Democrat of Wisconsin, to forgive up to $10
million in borrowing no matter how the
Businesses already facing a steep drop in money is used, so long as a company doesn’t
revenue have been placed in an induced cut back on staff or wages. Better yet,
coma by federal, state and local restrictions. Congress should emulate the United
In a Goldman Sachs national survey of small Kingdom, which said Friday that it would
business owners, more than half said that provide companies with as much money as
under current conditions, they would be was necessary to meet their payrolls and
forced out of business in less than three preserve jobs. “There’s no limit on the
months. The only practical way to limit mass funding available for the scheme,” said Rishi
unemployment, and to preserve previously Sunak, chancellor of the Exchequer.
viable companies, is for the government to
pump money into the private sector. Under the Republican plan, the bailout
program would be managed by the Small
The purpose of saving businesses is both to Business Administration and the loans would
preserve the productive capacity of the be made by commercial banks. But the
economy and the welfare of workers. If all S.B.A. is itself small, and banks are not
the nation’s restaurants were to disappear, staffed to handle an emergency program. The
new restaurants eventually would emerge in federal government’s reliance on banks to
many of the same spaces. But there is no modify mortgage loans during the last
reason to incur the incalculable cost of financial crisis ended in disaster. In recent
destroying the old businesses and creating weeks, the banking industry’s struggles to
new ones. Far better to maintain, as much as handle a modest increase in mortgage
refinancing applications has offered a timely
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reminder of its limitations. The Federal provide for an additional $208 billion in loan
Reserve is better equipped to manage the guarantees — including $58 billion for
process than the S.B.A., but it’s unlikely to passenger and cargo airlines — for
be much faster. It has the legal authority to companies unable to tap capital markets even
create a lending program, and it could create with the Fed’s assistance.
the money, too. But it would also need to
create a new bureaucracy, or else rely on the Businesses would pay interest, and the
banks. legislation allows the Treasury to take an
equity stake in the companies it saves, so
Notwithstanding the urgency of action, it is taxpayers benefit from the recovery. It also
important to draw a distinction between imposes temporary limits on executive
small companies, which are inherently compensation. But that’s not good enough.
vulnerable to major disruptions, and larger Big companies, too, must maintain payrolls
businesses whose vulnerability is partly a and wages. And they must eschew stock
product of poor choices, notably the vast buybacks.
sums companies wasted in recent years
buying back shares of their own stock to Any bailout plan will come too late to avoid
enrich their shareholders. a large increase in unemployment. The
federal government’s failure to prepare for
Boeing, for example, is seeking a $60 billion the arrival of the coronavirus, particularly the
bailout — which, as it happens, is almost lack of large-scale testing, has forced
exactly the amount of money the company policymakers to shut down many kinds of
has distributed to its shareholders since 2013, commercial activity. California and New
in the form of $17.4 billion in dividend York have ordered most workers to stay
payments and $43.1 billion spent home.
repurchasing its own shares.
A proposal to send $2,000 to every American
The major airlines spent 96 percent of free would help, but the government needs to do
cash over the last decade buying back their more for those who lose jobs by expanding
own stock to drive up share prices, living in unemployment benefits. In most states, the
the moment with little regard to the future. benefits cover about 45 percent of lost wages
Among the beneficiaries? Airline executives, for low-income workers, and a lot of workers
who sold about $1.6 billion in shares during don’t qualify. Congress can get help to those
that period. who need it most by requiring states to raise
the minimum benefit and to expand
Executives in the air travel business, which eligibility, both at federal expense. The
includes Boeing, should have been ready for government also should offer partial
a rainy day even if they could not reasonably unemployment benefits: Companies could
have been expected to anticipate the shift some workers to part-time
particulars of the coronavirus crisis. This is, arrangements, and the government could
after all, the third time in 20 years that the supplement their salaries.
industry has faced a debilitating surprise.
Accordingly, the responsible course for the There is no need to choose among the various
government is not just to provide another kinds of aid that Congress is considering. The
bailout, but to require changes in behavior. abrupt plunge in the nation’s economic
fortunes has no obvious precedents; it
The Fed already is backstopping short-term requires a massive response. Send checks to
corporate borrowing, and it may need to every American. Lend money to every
provide similar backing for long-term business. Strengthen the social safety net.
corporate debt. The Republican plan would The risk of doing too much is greatly
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The correct answer right now is D) All of the The US, for example, has refused to ease
Above. sanctions on Iran despite the fact that the
Islamic Republic is amongst the
countries hardest hit by the virus.
C
OVID-19 is pushing the
healthcare systems of even some
Indeed, if the government had been more
of the world’s most developed
open about the situation it may have been
states to the edge, with governments and
easier to deal with it when Covid-19 first
medical professionals battling to prevent
emerged.
infections from rising every day.
However, for now this is an academic
Meanwhile, the threat to less-developed
discussion; Iran needs urgent measures to
states is even greater, as dilapidated
combat the virus.
health systems in these countries means
that unless stringent measures are taken,
a disaster is likely. There have been some 1,500 deaths in the
country, while the Iranian health ministry
has said 50 people are being infected
Considering the situation, all states
every hour.
should be expected to put aside petty
differences and combine forces against
Keeping this alarming situation in mind,
the coronavirus — a foe that knows no
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood
borders.
Qureshi has urged world leaders to “show
utmost compassion” and lift the sanctions
However, it is clear that some in the
against Iran.
international community are bent upon
enforcing measures that can only be
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Also China, where the outbreak started, The import bill would be nearly halved.
has called for Iran to be given sanctions In the first seven months of the fiscal year
relief for humanitarian reasons. (Jul-Jan), the oil and gas import bill
amounted to $7.1 billion. At the current
America’s differences with Iran are prices, it is projected at $9.5 billion
geopolitical and ideological and go back compared to $14.4 last year, giving
decades. savings of about $5.0 billion. This saving
would create liquidity in the inter-bank
However, at this time nations must move market which, unless absorbed by the
beyond such narrow considerations and central bank, would tend to appreciate the
think purely along humanitarian lines. rupee. The central bank should continue
to sweep such money as it did recently in
The dire situation in Iran demands that the face of a general reduction in the
the world community work together to demand for imports.
fight the contagion and let essential
supplies into the country to save lives. The lower oil prices would enable lower
prices for consumers. This is the greatest
Politics can wait for another day. stimulus that the government can help
unleash which would lead to improved
public welfare as their incomes would
rise and, consequently, spending too. The
SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITIES prices would decline in general in the
secondary reaction to lower oil prices and
BY: WAQAR MASOOD KHAN thus reduce inflation.
(THE NEWS)
Reduced inflation would allow a much-
needed cut in the policy rate which in turn
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the response to the coronavirus will have Understandably, the central bank would
an internal dampening effect as schools be concerned about the effect of a lower
and universities shut down, travel interest rate on exchange rate, foreign
restrictions come into effect, and short-term capital and level of reserves.
businesses scale back their operations to We believe the interest rate cut, in the
enable their employees to take the backdrop of global turmoil, would have a
mitigating measures to deal with the net positive effect on the economy after
virus. Finally, the dampened economy all these factors are taken into account.
will further slump the growth in FBR
revenues. This would pose a challenge to The exchange rate instability was a result
meet the fiscal targets under the IMF of stock market melt-down as those
programme. exiting the stock market found shelter in
the dollar. However, a well justified
We believe that, on balance, these intervention by the SBP in the
changes can work in our favour if we penultimate hours on Friday restored
carefully craft a policy that would take order in the market.
advantage of opportunities and ward-off
dangers. We give a road map. The exit of foreign capital could well
have basis in the global disruptions. The
First, and foremost, the government Bank should not be hostage to the so-
should make arrangements to pass on the called ‘hot-money’. As we noted earlier,
reduced prices to consumers as early as the import bill would be halved and
possible. To this effect, the government plenty of liquidity would be available in
should not wait until the next cycle of the market to make up any amount of exit
price setting on April 1. This a of hot-money. In fact, as soon as some
discretionary cycle that can be set for any sanity returns to the international capital
length of time. The new price can be market, the government should access
announced in a few days to trigger the the market and float Euro Bonds and
new scenario of increased consumer Sukuks to raise $3-5 billion so that the
spending. While setting the price, the vulnerability with the short-term money
government would be justified in can be removed.
ensuring revenue neutrality by adjusting
the rate of GST to off-set potential loss Third, the government has already taken
due to lower prices. some good measures to support exports
and more can be taken in response to the
Second, the SBP response of cutting the results from these measures.
rate by 75 bps has not inspired market
confidence. It would be imperative that Fourth, to ward-off the slow-down in
another MPC is called to reevaluate the economic activities, the government
ground realities and adopt an interest rate should make good use of the IMF new
policy that is consistent with market window as well as relief given on fiscal
expectations. Clearly, the possibility of targets by not counting expenditures on
an earlier meeting is mentioned in the fighting the coronavirus. The
monetary policy statement and government should use the Ehsaas
governor’s video message. The bigger programme to reach out to the poorest
rate cut is needed to punctuate the people and give them the requisite
message that would be conveyed by the support needed to survive this adversity.
passage of reduced petroleum prices,
which is also getting late. The prime minister’s speech did not
cover the economic agenda to fight the
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policies” and, contrary to popular belief, the people of Pakistan rather than be used
value their privacy and are willing to pay as a weapon against them.
a premium to preserve it.
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during the marriage is the default to tackle the Rs1.93 trillion black hole.
property regime. In Indonesia, women’s Asking Prime Minister Imran Khan to
non-financial contributions are take emergency measures to save the
recognised and the court has the sector from the never-ending vicious
discretion to split the matrimonial circle of the debt, the power regulatory
property upon divorce. department says the volume of the debt is
higher than previously reported by the
Ironically, while the concept of the power division. No matter what POL
family is usually touted as sacred, laws prices in the international market and no
regulating family relationships are the matter how much power rates are
last to be brought in line with the increased domestically, circular debt
changing global trends. In England, keeps rising. The power regulator has
divorce is still fault-based as the state is reached out the prime minister and in a
too worried to tread on a sensitive presentation said that circular debt rose
subject. In India, in 1985 the Congress by an average Rs42 billion a month in
government almost fell when the Muslim 2018-19, which means it went up by
community were up in arms over a Rs492 billion in the fiscal year 2018-
supreme court judgement granting a 62- 19.Figures are conflicting as the power
year-old divorced woman, Shah Bano, division has been reporting an average
maintenance of Rs179.20 per month Rs10 -12 billion per month increase. As
from her well-to-do husband who had per the power division figures, released
thrown her out of the house after 46 years in mid-February, overall circular debt as
of marriage. The Indian government well as fresh payables and old stock
quickly introduced a new law to override parked in the Power Holding Company
the judgement and keep its voters happy. Limited stood at Rs1.782 trillion as of
December 31, 2019. In January, total
Reforms empowering women within payables were Rs1.882 trillion. The
their homes become an emotive issue but conflict warrants a third party audit to
until a woman does not have some ascertain the correct figures. We have
semblance of security within her home, it seen that during the Pakistan People’s
is difficult for her to make any Party tenure from 2008-13, the
contribution to society or the economy. independent power producers claimed
Many women stay in abusive marriages Rs500 billion owed to them under
for fear of finding themselves on the circular debt but the government
street. Regulations regarding violence, withheld the sum and insisted on a third
harassment and polygamy are of course party audit, to which IPPs were reluctant.
beneficial, but a man will only appreciate Neither the government released the
the sanctity of marriage and the value of money, nor did IPPs stop production until
good behaviour at home when he has to the Pakistan Muslim League-N took
share his assets and income fairly. over, which released the amount without
any audit. Since then, circular debt has
POWER EMERGENCY become a permanent feature which keeps
swelling.
(DAILY TIMES EDITORIAL)
NEPRA states that of the Rs492 billion
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since illegally revoking its autonomy in Not too far from there, you could visit the
August last year. Mass incarcerations, beautifully appointed guesthouses and
torture and the longest digital siege ever hotels in which various species of
imposed in a democracy mean that daily Kashmiri politician have been kept as
life for most Kashmiris has now become grumpy guests of the state. They won’t
a dire struggle. talk freely, as it’s kind of illegal in
Kashmir, but, hey, those codes of modern
democracy and freedom of speech, as
practised in Berlin or Paris (and
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sometimes in Delhi), need not apply to an You must then visit the only psychiatric
indigenous people in a faraway hospital in Srinagar. Here you can find
mountainous region. your average distressed native anywhere
you look, as the incidence of deep trauma
If you like your medieval towns full of among us has risen because of the long
exotic charms, a quick detour into the siege of our earthly paradise. Previously,
Martyr’s Graveyard of Srinagar – where only one in two Kashmiris suffered from
a cross-section of those slain by India’s some form of post-traumatic stress
armed forces over the years are buried – disorder; now, you will have to politely
could get you face-to-face with lots of ask your hosts, who imposed the siege six
Arabesque gravestones. You must recite months ago, about the curve of that
Rumi here. statistic.
Just a few minutes from the Dal Lake, The envoys might deserve some credit
where you grudgingly had to take photos for their assiduous devotion to the great
as you reclined in the traditional Indian democracy roadshow. It’s not the
Kashmiri water taxi, you could go on a first time that European diplomatics in
historical walk in the labyrinths of the old India have made themselves useful on the
city. Here you could embark on a tour of Kashmir front. In 2013, the then German
the families who have lost their boys and ambassador, Michael Steiner, put on a
girls to Indian bullets over the years. But concert for the conductor Zubin Mehta in
if seeing memorial rooms of loss and a picturesque garden on the shores of Dal
death so soon after selfies at an idyllic Lake. We were told it was to bring peace
lake isn’t your cup of tea, you could and harmony to the people of Kashmir.
speak to living victims, those who have Attended mainly by spooks, bureaucrats,
dark holes in place of eyes. Please note officials, politicians and a few fawning
that it might be rude to ask your hosts journalists, the concert ended up
how and why these kids were blinded. resembling a dark skit straight out of a
war comedy: hours before the concert a
My son is one of Kashmir’s motorist was shot and wounded for
‘disappeared’. When will India tell the failing to obey orders to stop. Meanwhile
in south Kashmir, four Kashmiris were
truth about their fate? killed by Indian paramilitaries, as the
invitation-only guests listened to
In the photos posted by a news agency rhapsodic orchestral music in a walled
which is known for its alacrity in garden surrounded by soldiers with semi-
reporting lovely things for the state, one automatic weapons.
couldn’t see any common Kashmiris. But
worry not, the next time you go, you Tourist envoys have occasionally visited
could ask your local fixers to find a Kashmir to examine, ascertain and report
funeral and join in with prayers for the on we are told, what Kashmiris really
soul of the departed. To see ordinary want, despite Kashmiris having for years
Kashmiris, of all shapes, sizes, and ages, written in blood that they want azadi, to
you need not even visit Kashmir. Many self-determine their destiny. As one is
are scattered across north Indian prisons unable to compute how boatloads of
– most have not been charged, and do not foreign and Indian delegates are going to
have robust legal aid – providing a real help, one is compelled to conclude that it
chance to talk to people in their natural may just be a good old freebie, a fully
habitat. paid trip to one of the most beautiful
places on the planet.
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It doesn’t matter that Kashmiris have trailer. Outside, soldiers carrying AK-47s
been subject to conquistadorial silencing, are waiting. This is Gwadar, a remote
to surveillance that brings to mind the scratch of land on Pakistan’s southwest
Stasi, to torture and mass incarceration, coast. Its port is the last stop on a planned
suppression of assembly, a draconian $62 billion corridor connecting China’s
internet shutdown, the crushing of their landlocked westernmost province to the
free press, the devastation of their Arabian Sea, the crown jewel of
economy, the crippling of the education President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road
system, the criminalisation of speech Initiative, designed to build infrastructure
(those who’ve been set free have literally and influence around the world.
had to sign “bonds of silence”) and the
gagging of their civil society. Plans originally called for a seaport,
roads, railways, pipelines, dozens of
It doesn’t matter that the natives are factories and the largest airport in
being punished en masse. You can Pakistan. But, almost seven years after
always keep them out of the frame, as a the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
young Afghan counsel to India gleefully was established, there’s little evidence of
did during the latest PR expedition, when that vision being realized. The site of the
he told reporters: “Everything is normal new airport, which was supposed to have
and alright here. We saw children on the been completed with Chinese funding
way to their school, which is a sign of more than three years ago, is a fenced-off
normalcy.” This is a curious statement: area of scrub and dun-colored sand.
schools and colleges in Kashmir are Specks of mica in the dirt are the only
firmly shut during the long and harsh things that glitter. The factories have yet
winters. It doesn’t matter that everyone in to materialize on a stretch of beach along
Kashmir knows this is a state-crafted the bay south of the airport. And traffic at
sojourn. It clearly didn’t matter that the Gwadar’s tiny, three-berth port is sparse.
young Afghan diplomat ended up saying A Pakistan Navy frigate is the only ship
precisely what his hosts in Delhi wanted docked there during a recent visit, and
to be said. there’s no sign of the sole scheduled
weekly cargo run from Karachi.
Because that was both the job description
and the objective. Less than one-third of announced CPEC
projects have been completed, totaling
ONE OF CHINA’S MOST about $19 billion, according to
government statements. Pakistan bears
AMBITIOUS PROJECTS much of the blame. It has repeatedly
BECOMES A CORRIDOR TO missed construction targets as it ran out
of money; it got a $6 billion bailout from
NOWHERE the International Monetary Fund last
(BLOOMBERG SPECIAL year, the country’s 13th since the late
1980s. Two successive prime ministers
REPORT) have been jailed on corruption charges.
And the Baloch Liberation Army’s desire
T he four-times-a-week propeller
plane from Karachi whips up a
cloud of dust as it lands on an arid
airstrip. Passengers cross the tarmac in
the scorching sun and enter an arrivals
for a separate homeland in Balochistan
province, where Gwadar is located, has
made life there uneasy. In May, militants
stormed the city’s only luxury hotel,
shooting up the white-marbled lobby and
terminal not much larger than a tractor- killing five people.
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But setbacks in Gwadar point to larger spending from the beginning of 2014,
problems along the Belt and Road. China shortly after President Xi announced the
is scaling back its ambitions, not just in initiative, through November 2019 is
Pakistan but around the world. Its $337 billion, government figures show,
economic growth has slowed to the far short of China’s ambitious goals.
lowest rate in three decades, inflation is
rising and the country has been feeling Pakistan may be a harbinger of bigger
the effects of a trade war with the U.S. problems, according to Hillman, who
The picture is getting even darker as a directs Reconnecting Asia, a project that
coronavirus epidemic that originated in tracks Belt and Road progress. “That is
central China threatens to cause further generally where the rest of the Belt and
delays and cutbacks. “The biggest Road seems to be going,” he says. “It’s
constraint for China now is its own not dead in the water, but I’m skeptical
economy,” says Jonathan Hillman, a whether China is going to be able to
senior fellow at the Center for Strategic achieve what it set out to do.”
and International Studies in Washington.
Gwadar is shaped like a barbell dangling
In a number of countries, projects have from Pakistan’s coastline. A strip of
been canceled, downsized or scrutinized. sandbar and rocks less than 1 kilometer
Malaysia renegotiated the terms of a rail wide at its narrowest connects to a rocky
link being built by China and scrapped $3 outcrop where the luxury Zaver Pearl-
billion of planned pipelines. In Kenya, a Continental hotel sits like fortress. The
court halted construction last year on a $2 city of 140,000 is closer to the Iranian
billion power plant financed by China. border than to Karachi, a 10-hour drive,
And in Sri Lanka, new leaders said they in an area so remote it was part of the
want to regain control of a port in Sultanate of Oman until 1958.
Hambantota that was leased to a Chinese
company for 99 years when the previous Just getting around is a challenge.
government couldn’t pay back a loan. Foreign visitors must be accompanied by
That takeover sparked concern in many an entourage of 10 Pakistani soldiers in
Belt and Road countries that China’s flatbed trucks. At the deep-water port on
largesse comes with the risk of ceding the eastern side of the barbell, there’s
critical infrastructure. And it has little sign of commerce on a hot October
increased wariness about the price of day. The only cargo ship that calls in
indebtedness to China, which the Gwadar, operated by China’s Cosco
Washington-based Center for Global Shipping Holdings Co., delivers
Development says puts at least eight construction materials and sometimes
nations, including Pakistan, at high risk departs with seafood. Occasionally, it
of debt distress. doesn’t arrive at all. A manager who
answers Cosco’s phone in Karachi,
All that could result in shaving hundreds where the weekly run originates, says the
of billions of dollars off an estimated $1 line is operational, but it’s up to the
trillion of planned Belt and Road captain whether he wants to stop in
spending, according to a September Gwadar or go directly to Oman. The
report by law firm Baker McKenzie. captain recently had a cold and didn’t
While the value of signed projects want to stop, the manager says.
increased last year, data from China’s
Ministry of Commerce show actual Yet Naseer Khan Kashani, chairman of
spending stalled at $75 billion in 2019 the Gwadar Port Authority, maintains
after falling 14% the previous year. Total that all is well. Cosco was frustrated by
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problems with a web-based customs about CPEC slowing down, but nothing
system, but it has been sorted out, he is slowing down.”
says, sitting in his office at the port. He
declines to give figures for cargo volume. The zones still need critical
“Everything is going to be fine,” Kashani infrastructure, including water and
says. “The volume of trade is going to power, according to CPEC’s website.
increase tremendously.” Construction began in November on a
300-megawatt, $542 million plant, which
That view is echoed by Zhang Baozhong, will run on imported coal and is expected
chairman of China Overseas Ports to reduce the frequency of power cuts. An
Holding Co., which operates Gwadar’s acute scarcity of water, with annual
port and free-trade zone. He dismisses rainfall less than 4 inches, was alleviated
the apparent inactivity with a wave of his by freak rains in 2018 that temporarily
hand, comparing it to four years earlier filled reservoirs, according to Shahzeb
when he first arrived. Then, there was Kakar, director general of the Gwadar
only one flight a week to Gwadar, with a Development Authority. He says the city
handful of people on it. “My impression will meet future needs by building
was that this place was completely desalination plants. A plan for a “safe
neglected by the whole world,” Zhang city” project with surveillance cameras
says. “I felt this was a mission may reduce the need for Gwadar to feel
impossible.” like it’s under military occupation. “We
have three basic issues—power, water
Now, he says, there’s progress—$250 and security,” Kakar says. “All three of
million in port renovations, including these issues have now been taken care of.
new cranes for unloading cargo, a Now things are moving in the right
business center, a desalination plant and direction.”
sewage disposal. “This port is now
becoming a node in international Not everyone is so upbeat. Mariyam
shipping,” he says. “Of course, the Suleman, the Gwadar-based editor of the
quantity is not big enough, but it takes Balochistan Review, says life for people
time. By 2030, we believe Gwadar will in the area hasn’t improved much after
be a new economic hub of Pakistan and five years of planned developments.
will be the highest GDP contributor to “Their neighborhoods are still without
Pakistan’s economy.” good infrastructure; there's a sewage
issue; there isn’t electricity for long
A free-trade zone was established in hours, especially in summer; and the
Gwadar in 2015, and officials say nine or water crisis has always been an issue,”
10 companies, including a Chinese she says.
steelmaker and a Pakistani producer of
edible oils, have signed up. But there are Even if Gwadar weren’t under threat of
no signs of any factories operating. An violence and had sufficient power and
additional 30 are targeted for the Free water to build and operate 40 factories, it
Zone’s Phase II, closer to the site of the doesn’t have enough people to work in
new airport, officials say, and $400 them. The city’s population, mostly
million has been invested so far. Zhang fishermen and their families, is about
says twice that number of companies one-fifth that of Washington’s. A
applied, including some from European proposal for a project called China-Pak
countries. “It’s going to be established in Hills envisages a gated community with
the near future,” says Kashani. “They talk a “Hong Kong financial district” and
luxury housing for 500,000 Chinese
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professionals who could move to Gwadar pressure from China. “The full-scale
and provide a labor force by 2022—an version is not really in the cards,” he says.
influx that wouldn’t sit well with either “It’s going to land in a far more modest
Baloch separatists or the Pakistani place than envisaged. It’s not going to be
government, according to Asad Sayeed, a game changer.”
an economist at the Collective for Social
Science Research in Karachi. The CPEC project was intended to reduce
oil and gas routes from the Middle East
It’s also hard to imagine how Gwadar by thousands of miles, a way to cut
would need Pakistan’s largest airport, overland into western China instead of
with capacity for Airbus A300 jets and going thousands of miles around South
30,000 tons of cargo annually. Yet that’s Asia and Southeast Asia by ship.
the plan for the 4,300-acre area Pakistan was supposed to get 2.3 million
demarcated by razor-wire fence on the jobs and a 2.5 percentage-point boost to
outskirts of town. Announced in 2014, its gross domestic product. The deal,
the new airport was supposed to have negotiated by former Prime Minister
been built by China Communications Nawaz Sharif and touted in a 2017
Construction Co., the largest builder of communique by his successor Shahid
projects along the Belt and Road, with a Khaqan Abbasi after Sharif was jailed on
$230 million loan from China and a grant corruption charges, called for the corridor
from Oman. But construction never to start taking shape by 2020. It was
started. The following year, the Chinese described as a pilot project, a model for
government said it would convert the Belt and Road countries around the
loan to a grant, and Pakistani officials world.
said the airport would be completed by
the end of 2016, then by October 2017. Pakistan, long allied with China to
Still nothing. counter the regional weight of India,
wanted help developing its mineral-rich
Last year, Prime Minister Imran Khan but poorest and most restive province. It
traveled to Gwadar and broke ground on also wanted to quell separatists in the
a new airport site. And a new contractor Baloch Liberation Army who not only
was announced to take over from CCCC: attacked the Pearl-Continental last year
a branch of state-owned China Railway but also killed four people at the Chinese
Engineering Corp. that would also build consulate in Karachi in 2018. The
schools and a hospital. Completion is militant group was seeking to halt plans
now scheduled for 2022. they believed would enable Pakistan’s
government to take more resources from
During a visit in October, a tractor started the area, rather than aid residents. Further
up and began driving around the empty, attacks in recent months have killed more
dusty stretch of land without evident than a dozen Pakistani soldiers and
purpose. “They are doing as much as they security personnel.
can at the moment to show it is still
happening,” says Andrew Small, author China may have objectives besides better
of the 2015 book “The China-Pakistan oil and gas routes. Western governments
Axis” and a senior fellow at the have long been concerned that Belt and
Washington-based German Marshall Road spending is helping China develop
Fund. Small says Khan’s government is what’s known as a “string of pearls”—
simply trying to complete about $20 ports that can be used by its navy, from
billion worth of CPEC projects already in the South China Sea across the Arabian
the works, mostly power plants, under Sea and on to Africa. Though China and
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Pakistan both deny any military culture, and tourism will help make Belt
intentions, Gwadar could be a stopping and Road projects “deeply rooted in the
point on the way from Sri Lanka through hearts of the people.”
the Maldives to Djibouti, where China
has built its first military base on the All this seeks to downplay the more
Horn of Africa. China’s plans for the strategic aspects of what China has
Pakistan corridor also include sought to achieve, says Nadege Rolland,
development in Xinjiang province, where senior fellow at the Washington-based
it has attempted to curb unrest. The National Bureau of Asian Research. “My
United Nations has estimated that 1 hunch is there won’t be big splashes of
million Uighur people were being held in money anymore,” she says. “The
camps there, which the Chinese investments were only an incentive.”
government has said was for reeducation China’s ultimate objective, she says, “is
and training. not to build connectivity but to increase
Beijing's political and strategic
If China’s interests were purely influence.”
economic, says economist Sayeed, it
could have helped expand the port of This means that even if Belt and Road
Karachi, already connected to the spending ends up being a third of what
highway from China, instead of seeking was originally forecast, China may still
to build new roads through desolate, have gotten its money’s worth. It will
dusty and dangerous Balochistan. have broadened its influence in countries
that are potential providers of natural
Whatever their ambitions, China and resources, as well as future markets, and
Pakistan have had to scale them back. gained allies in international arenas such
Khan, the former cricketer who was as the United Nations at a time when the
elected in 2018 on an anti-corruption U.S. is pulling back.
platform and who had criticized
expensive infrastructure deals signed In Pakistan, an oil refinery in Gwadar and
with China by previous governments, a railway and oil pipeline to China are
inherited an economic disaster. To among projects that have yet to
address its current account deficit, his materialize. An expressway connecting
administration has cut imports, the new airport to Gwadar was supposed
depreciated the rupee, slashed spending to have been completed by CCCC in
and raised taxes. GDP growth fell to an 2018 for $168 million. It’s now
estimated 2.4% last year, from 5.8% in scheduled to open later this year. In
2018, as manufacturing experienced October, dump trucks with piles of rocks
double-digit declines and exports were parked on the edge of the existing
remained flat. roadway nearby, but no work was being
done. The Chinese site manager says he’s
As for China, which has become the too busy to speak. His assistant explains
world’s largest creditor, it is refocusing there’s no need for an interview, as all
on smaller projects crafted for the needs information about CCCC’s work can be
of recipient countries. Winning hearts found on the internet.
and minds has become more important
than announcements of gargantuan On a visit to Beijing in October, Khan
airports. Instead, according to guidelines assured Chinese officials that CPEC
issued by President Xi in late 2018, plans are proceeding. But with Pakistan’s
people-to-people exchanges in budget maxed out and austerity imposed
education, science and technology, by the International Monetary Fund, it is
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S
ometimes, foreign policy consists
Adding to Gwadar’s development of trying to make lemonade out of
challenges, other parts of Pakistan such lemons.
as Karachi have started their own special
economic zones. Even if the corridor to In the case of the recently signed U.S.-
Gwadar could be developed and security Taliban agreement on Afghanistan,
issues resolved, there’s only the President Trump provided the lemons,
Karakoram Highway, an inhospitable, and the lead U.S. negotiator, Zalmay
two-lane route through the treacherous Khalilzad, and his team did the
mountains separating China and squeezing. Mr. Trump made clear that he
Pakistan. It is prone to landslides intended to withdraw American forces
and threatened by attacks, and has yet to from Afghanistan — with or without a
be connected to roads leading to Gwadar, “deal.” Then NATO partners pressured
says Alyssa Ayres, Washington-based the United States not to reward the
senior fellow for India, Pakistan and Taliban by conceding their long-held
South Asia at the Council on Foreign objective of forcing an American
Relations. “It’s hard to imagine this as a withdrawal for free. So, the president
viable freight corridor,” she says. reportedly gave his negotiators a finite
window to explore whether some deal
Hillman has come to a similar was achievable.
conclusion, though one with wider
implications. “The Chinese are having Lacking the backing of a resolute
some regret about making Pakistan the American commander in chief, Mr.
flagship,” he says. “There’s a lot more Khalilzad got what he could — a deeply
caution on all sides.” flawed agreement that has the potential to
lead to peace but is very unlikely to
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achieve it. In short, the United States Afghanistan’s president, Ashraf Ghani,
gave away a lot and got relatively little in has already balked, because he knows
return. that releasing Taliban prisoners before
negotiations would amount to
To start, the United States dropped its relinquishing his minimal leverage in
longstanding, principled opposition to talks with the Taliban.
negotiating directly with the Taliban
(including the terrorist Haqqani network, In assessing the U.S.-Taliban agreement,
which has killed countless American it is important to first acknowledge the
service members) without our key positive results. Any end to the war in
partner, the Afghan government, at the Afghanistan can come only through a
table. Next, following a seven-day, settlement between the Afghan
roughly 80 percent “reduction in government and the Taliban. To the
violence,” the United States acceded to extent that the present document, barely
the Taliban’s primary demand — that four pages long, could become a first step
America fully withdraw all of its own and that culminates in talks to discuss such a
NATO forces as well as intelligence settlement, it is better than nothing.
personnel from Afghanistan. Moreover, if the reduction in violence by
80 percent is sustained and the Taliban
Mr. Trump agreed to draw down from curtail attacks not only against American
our current force level of approximately and coalition forces, but also against
12,000 U.S. troops to 8,600 (the level he Afghan government forces, it would
inherited from President Barack Obama) lessen the bloodshed and help create
within four and a half months. Within 14 conditions more conducive for
months, he will drop American and negotiations.
NATO troops to zero — leaving only an
embassy-based diplomatic presence. Unfortunately, there are troubling early
signs that the Taliban are already
Senior U.S. officials insist that the resuming attacks against civilians and
American withdrawal is “conditions- Afghan forces.
based,” but no political or military
requirements have been specified. And in the long run, the fundamental
Additionally, the United States weaknesses of the U.S.-Taliban
announced it intended to lift all American agreement will most likely endanger
and United Nations sanctions against the America’s national security and doom
Taliban by the end of August. prospects for a just and lasting peace in
Afghanistan.
In exchange, the Taliban pledged not to
cooperate with, and to prevent the use of Why is that? First, under President
its territory by, terrorists who threaten or Trump, the United States is widely seen
target the United States and our allies. to be committed to withdrawing from
The Taliban also agreed to enter intra- Afghanistan under almost any
Afghan talks, including with government circumstances. There are no indications
representatives, by March 10, to discuss of what “conditions” might slow or halt
a cease-fire and future political an American drawdown of troops short of
settlement. The start of talks seems a major attack by Al Qaeda launched
contingent on the Afghan government with clear Taliban support. Not sustained
releasing up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners, violence against Afghan forces, nor
and the Taliban responding by freeing up smaller-scale terrorist attacks, nor
to 1,000 government prisoners. However, continued Islamic State operations seem
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likely to prompt the United States to leader after calling its senior leader on
reverse course. The Taliban know this Tuesday. More shockingly, Mr. Trump
and so does the Afghan government, also revealed his own true feelings about
reducing nearly to nil America’s Afghanistan, stating: “We should never
influence over events in Afghanistan. have gotten in in the first place.”
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Europe, a more adventurous and better- Second, America and the other nuclear
armed Russia no longer shies away from powers need to resume serious
using military force, as its invasion of discussions on arms control. As a first
Ukraine and its support for the Assad step, Washington and Moscow need to
regime in Syria have underscored. In extend the New START treaty capping
Asia, China’s rapid rise has expanded its their long-range nuclear forces before it
military reach throughout the Asia- expires next year. Next, along with
Pacific, and North Korea has emerged as Britain, France and China, they should
a potent foe, armed with nuclear weapons start a serious dialogue on how to limit
and long-range missiles that threaten the their nuclear capabilities and work
entire region. together to prevent further proliferation.
And all of them should halt nuclear
Even as threats have multiplied, allied modernization efforts while those talks
doubts about the American commitment continue.
have grown perceptibly since Donald
Trump entered the White House For 50 years, the nonproliferation treaty
expressing deep distrust of alliances. His has largely succeeded in preventing more
early failure to reconfirm NATO’s countries from going nuclear. America’s
Article 5 mutual defense commitment, security alliances have played an
his threat to leave NATO if allies did not essential role in that success. Reaffirming
sharply increase military spending, his those alliances and committing to serious
insistence that Asian allies greatly arms control efforts can help ensure its
increase their financial contributions to continuation in the next 50 years.
maintain the U.S. military presence, his
musings about some allies acquiring their
own nuclear capabilities — all these have
increased uncertainty in allied capitals
about whether they can still count on the
United States.
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ARE DATA MORE LIKE OIL OR If oil is still the most-used metaphor, it is
because comparing data to the black stuff
SUNLIGHT? is easy. Like oil, data must be refined to
(SPECIAL REPORT BY THE be useful. In most cases they need to be
“cleansed” and “tagged”, meaning
ECONOMIST) stripped of inaccuracies and marked to
identify what can be seen, say, on a
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the best algorithms to predict a building’s the data of an individual if it can make
energy consumption or to detect quite accurate predictions about him by
“deepfake” videos, with prizes crunching data from other users?
sometimes exceeding $1m. That is also
Facebook’s and Google’s way to make Although data are unlikely ever to be
money. They hardly ever sell data, but traded as widely as oil, tech firms keep
they do sell insights about who is the best trying to make this easier. Amazon Web
target for advertising. Services (AWS), the cloud-computing
arm of the e-commerce giant recently
Yet data have failed to become “a new launched a marketplace that aims to make
asset class”, as the World Economic trading in data as easy as possible. It
Forum, a conference-organiser and think- works a bit like an online store for
tank, predicted in 2011. Most data never smartphone apps: buyers subscribe to
change hands, and attempts to make them feeds, agree to licensing conditions, and
more tradable have not taken off. To AWS processes the payment.
change this, especially in Europe,
manufacturers are pushing to secure As the oil metaphor is seen as
property rights for the data generated by increasingly problematic, the comparison
their products. Others want consumers to to sunlight or similar resources, such as
own the data they create, so they can sell air and water, has risen in favour. Many
them and get a bigger cut from their people who prefer this metaphor ask if
information. data do not really lend themselves to be
turned into a tradable good, then why
Again, economics gets in the way. even try? Would it not instead be better
Although data are often thought of as a to ensure that data are used as much as
commodity, corporate data sets, in possible? After all, this will maximise
particular, tend not to be fungible. Each social wealth. In other words, nobody
is different in the way it was collected, puts up curtains and tries to charge for
and in its purpose and reliability. This sunlight.
makes it difficult for buyers and sellers to
agree on a price: the value of each sort is This line of argument has already given
hard to compare and changes over time. birth to what is known as the “open-data”
A further barrier to trading is that the movement. Its champions push
value of a data set depends on who organisations and universities to give
controls it. What might simply be data away their data so they can be widely
exhaust to one firm could be digital gold used, for instance by startups. Today,
to another. “There is no true value of most governments, national or otherwise,
data,” says Diane Coyle of the University boast an open-data project, although the
of Cambridge. quality of the data made available varies
greatly.
As for personal data, defining property
rights is tricky, because much More recently, companies have started to
information cannot be attributed to one publish their data, too. Several firms that
person. Who, for instance, owns the fact work on self-driving cars have shared
that a dating site has matched a couple? some of the information collected by
The couple themselves? Or the service? their vehicles. “For researchers to ask the
Complicating matters, data have plenty right questions, they need the right data,”
of externalities, both positive and according to Dragomir Anguelov,
negative, meaning that markets often fail. principal scientist at Waymo, a firm
Why should a social network, say, buy owned by Alphabet, Google’s parent,
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that is one of the companies that has done patterns. “Homomorphic encryption”
this. Others are working on technology to allows algorithms to crunch data without
make such data-sharing easier: Microsoft decrypting them. And blockchains,
and other software makers will soon start which are the special databases of the sort
to implement what it calls the “open-data that underlie many digital currencies,
initiative”. enable people and companies to manage
in minute detail who is allowed to access
Some see such efforts as the beginning of what data and to track who has done so.
an open-source movement for data, much
like the approach that now rules large Slowly these technologies are being
parts of the software industry. And deployed. DECODE, an initiative
Microsoft, in particular, is keen to see financed until last year by the European
this happen. “We need to democratise AI Union, has used a combination of them to
and the data on which it relies,” writes create tools that allow people to control
Brad Smith, the firm’s president and the data they generate and collect about
chief legal officer in his recently their environment, for instance, on noise
published book, “Tools and Weapons”. levels and air quality. They are being
Unsurprisingly, this position also smacks tested in Amsterdam and Barcelona.
of self-interest: Microsoft does not make Oasis Labs, another startup in San
much money from data directly, but does Francisco, has built something similar for
from tools and services that handle data. health data. Its first service, which will
launch soon, will let users donate genetic
Like the oil comparison, however, the information to research projects.
data-as-sunlight analogy breaks down:
open data, too, can go only so far. For Such data-dividing technologies are also
personal data, the main limitation is grist to the mill of those who liken data to
increasingly strict privacy laws, such as infrastructure. You have to travel many
the EU’s General Data Protection digital roads—and combine many data
Regulation (GDPR), as well as the sets and streams—to get to new insights,
California Consumer Privacy Act says Jeni Tennison, who heads the Open
(CCPA), which will start being enforced Data Institute, a research outfit based in
in July. For corporate data the checks are Britain. Some will be private toll roads,
economic in nature: generating good data others public multi-lane highways, but
is expensive and they can reveal too many need to be operated as shared
much about a firm’s products. digital resources managed in a “club” by
“Companies will make very strategic users.
decisions about what data sets they will
make public and which ones they will Yet technology alone will not be enough
keep to themselves,” explains Michael to create these “club goods”. They also
Chui of the McKinsey Global Institute, a need institutions that provide what Ms
consultancy think-tank. Tennison calls “data stewardship”. Data
trusts, data co-operatives, personal data
Separating what can be safely shared stores—all are different in detail, but the
from what should be closely guarded will idea is essentially the same: they provide
be tricky, but technology should, in time, a governance structure to organise access
make such decisions easier. Something to data in a way that takes into account
called “differential privacy”, for the interests of those producing and using
instance, replaces one data set with a particular sort of data.
another that includes different
information, but has the same statistical
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It is early days, but such data clubs have This sounds as if the EU is about to
started to pop up in many places. condemn itself to remaining a tech
MIDATA is a Swiss co-operative that laggard. But this need not be the case. A
collects and manages members’ health- “fair data-economy”—one that takes into
care data. In Taiwan Audrey Tang, the account the interests of citizens and
digital minister, has created an ongoing consumers, who will generate much of
“Presidential Hackathon” to set up “data the fuel of the future—may prove to be
collaboratives”, including several for quite competitive, says Luukas Ilves, the
environmental data. In Finland, Sitra, a co-author of a report for Sitra in Finland.
policy outfit, has launched a similar If people, as well as firms, can trust the
competition to help get “fair data continent’s data infrastructure, they will
exchanges” off the ground. be willing to share more and better data,
which means better services for
Most projects are still small and live on everyone. If such a “virtuous cycle” were
the public dime, which raises doubts to take off, it would be quite a reversal of
about whether they will ever be a big part the old world’s fortunes.
of the data economy. But whether they
are successful or not is a question of VIOLENCE IN INDIA
political will, says Francesca Bria, the
founder of the DECODE project. Cities THREATENS ITS GLOBAL
in particular, she argues, need to create AMBITIONS
alternatives to the big online platforms,
which treat data they collect as their own. (THE NEW YORK TIMES)
A former chief technology officer of
U
Barcelona, she turned the city into a ntil recently, Prime Minister
model of what is possible, which is now Narendra Modi’s campaign to
copied elsewhere in Europe. Not only can portray India as a rising power
Barcelona’s citizens control the data the seemed to be ticking along despite
city holds on them, but its suppliers must troubles at home.
add the information they gather while
delivering services to the municipal data Much of the world remained quiet, or
commons. cautious, in recent months as India began
locking up hundreds of opposition
Given their respective limitations, none politicians and activists without charge
of the three sorts of data economies will across the country. Business executives
dominate, but they are likely to have say they are too afraid to speak out about
strongholds. In America data are treated shortcomings in the government’s
like oil: whoever extracts them owns economic strategy. The press complains
them. China—although it, too, has data- of government intimidation.
hungry online platforms of its own,
including Alibaba and Tencent—is an Still, there was President Trump last
extreme example of a place where data week, embracing Mr. Modi in New
are public goods. They are ultimately Delhi, where streets were dotted with
controlled by the government, which is posters declaring the “world’s oldest
pushing firms to pool certain types, such democracy meets the world’s largest
as health data. In Europe, many democracy.”
regulators have come to see data as
infrastructure. The new European But as the leaders celebrated each other
Commission in Brussels has big plans to in India’s capital, Hindu mobs began
support the creation of data trusts. going after Muslim protesters in
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neighborhoods just a few miles away want to become a global power, well, that
while the police looked on or joined in. comes with certain responsibilities.”
And it was those images — the return of
sectarian violence on the streets, not the Though there has been no sign yet that
carefully crafted show of international big doors are closing internationally, the
partnership — that set the tone for India violence in New Delhi has clearly opened
on the world stage over the past week. a new chapter of international
questioning of Mr. Modi’s agenda, and,
On Wednesday, Freedom House, a perhaps, of the investment climate in a
nonpartisan democracy advocacy country hoping to turn its weakening
organization, flagged India as a major economy around. The current unrest
concern. threatens one of India’s biggest appeals
for investors or potential allies: that it is
“The Indian government has taken its the world’s largest secular democracy.
Hindu nationalist agenda to a new level
with a succession of policies,” the group In private conversations, diplomats are
said, “threatening the democratic future worried that the rhetoric coming from
of a country long seen as a potential Mr. Modi’s governing Bharatiya Janata
bulwark of freedom in Asia and the Party is creating an environment that
world.” could lead to more violence. They point
out that B.J.P. members have been
In a rare move, the United Nations High labeling protesters and opposition
Commissioner for Human Rights filed a supporters as terrorists who were
petition in India’s Supreme Court on supported by Pakistan. One minister led
Tuesday to challenge a citizenship law crowds in chants of “shoot the traitors!”
that critics say discriminates against
Muslims. Some of India’s closest One area where international officials
partners have begun criticizing its believe that India may be particularly
treatment of Muslims and migrants, with hurting itself is in its campaign to be
condemnations coming in from Iran, the granted a permanent seat at the United
United States, Bangladesh and Nations Security Council along with
elsewhere. other nuclear powers. Speaking on
condition of anonymity, several
“If India loses that secular, democratic diplomats, including some from
identity then it loses what makes it countries that have publicly pushed for an
different than other countries in Asia. We Indian seat on the Security Council, say
are all watching the riots in Delhi and that their governments are now reluctant
worry they are going down a dangerous to push the issue after India’s domestic
road that makes it harder for us to be a unrest has laid bare the effects of Hindu
strong advocate for India,” said nationalism there.
Representative Ami Bera, a California
Democrat who is the longest-serving During his first campaign for prime
Indian-American in Congress. minister in 2014, Mr. Modi downplayed
his Hindu agenda. His first term was
marked by an energetic foreign policy
and alliance building. Domestically, he
Mr. Bera, who has long lobbied for closer focused on development and economic
U.S. relations with India, added, “If they reforms. He promoted himself as a
globalizer and unifier, friends with
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A
N uncertain yet heartening peace
identities and languages in favour of process has started off in
“One Unit” type policies. Afghanistan after the US and
Afghan Taliban signed a deal last week
Pakistan is special because of the in Doha. On the other hand, as many had
diversity of its people, and any attempt to foreseen, Afghan stakeholders have stuck
impose an artificial homogeneity is not to their positions, showing little
only bound to fail but can prove to be flexibility to accommodate each other in
dangerous, alienating smaller the intra-Afghan reconciliation process.
nationalities by adding to their This is an ideal situation for the spoilers
grievances and sense of persecution. of peace, including state and non-state
actors who will try to create space for
Furthermore, to view students through themselves.
the lens of suspicion — as if they are
criminals in the making rather than the The US focus has largely remained on
leaders of the future — exposes a deep- extracting guarantees from the Afghan
seated paranoia state authorities harbour Taliban eg they will not allow foreign
towards their own people. militants to operate from their territory.
The Taliban face two major challenges:
These are not signs of a healthy society, first, to push the level of violence down
and what is perhaps most tragic is that to a point where they can initiate a
nothing about this attitude is new, but a dialogue with other Afghan stakeholders,
continuation of past lessons not learnt. and second, to fulfil their commitment to
not harbour Al Qaeda and other foreign
Earlier, Punjab University students militants.
affiliated with religious parties have
‘intervened’ in the cultural events of The first challenge has its own
Baloch and Pakhtun students, including complexities and is largely linked to
uprooting and setting their camps on fire. security and political stability inside
Afghanistan. But the second challenge is
Isn’t it sad that the days reserved for even more critical because it implies
celebrating Pakistan’s vibrant cultures direct consequences for global and
and languages can descend so quickly regional security. In particular, the
into violence — and that too at a Afghan Taliban’s approach will decide
university, which is supposed to be a hub the future of multiple militant groups,
of learning and exchange of ideas? Public
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mainly the Pakistani Taliban who have Afghan soil for recruiting, fundraising,
remained either associated with the training and launching attacks against the
former or under its ideological and US and its allies. But what would that
political influence. actually mean? Does that mean that the
Arab-origin leaders will be allowed to
Some media reports have indicated that stay in Afghanistan if they abandon
the Afghan Taliban have conveyed to Al violence? Can the Taliban provide the Al
Qaeda and the Tehreek-i-Taliban Qaeda leaders a passage to other lands
Pakistan (TTP) to stop their operations in especially after they agreed to put travel
Pakistan and against foreign forces in restrictions on foreign militants?
Afghanistan. The most interesting bit of
news is that the Afghan Taliban As far as the TTP or other, small
successfully convinced the Islamic State Pakistani groups are concerned, they are
(IS) leadership to stay calm at least for also jubilant over the deal. Their upbeat
the next few months. If true, these media mood is understandable because they
reports could be interpreted in several were under allegiance to Mullah
ways. Haibatullah, the Afghan Taliban supreme
leader. They may have gotten the
First, despite all their tactical and impression that they would get some
sectarian differences, the Afghan Taliban relief when the Afghan Taliban obtain
enjoy supremacy over all shades of legitimacy and power. So far, the TTP is
militants in Afghanistan and can use this suffering considerable losses in
leverage in both the intra-Afghan Afghanistan where many of its
dialogue and the larger reconciliation commanders have been killed in
process with the international mysterious ways. There was speculation
community. in the media that it was part of the pre-
deal understanding between the US and
Second, for IS and Al Qaeda, the US exit Pakistan that TTP and Baloch insurgents
and dialogue process will bring some would not be allowed to have sanctuaries
relief as both were major targets of the in Afghanistan.
US-led operations and drone strikes.
Both groups could use this interval to However, distancing themselves from
rethink their strategies and restructure TTP groups would be a challenge for the
their ranks. The IS, in particular, might Afghan Taliban. Though the latter
try to complete the task of relocating its hesitate to talk about the TTP in media
infrastructure along the borders of interactions, they have always
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. These border maintained a relationship with them. It is
areas have a large Salafi population that evident that they have been intervening in
suits IS because of the sectarian affinity. the TTP’s internal affairs whenever the
Also, apart from the Afghan and latter faced an internal crisis or disputes
Pakistani members, a number of IS over leadership. The TTP militants could
fighters come from Central Asia and also have a better working relationship
China’s Xinjiang region. If the group with the field commanders of the Afghan
succeeds in its relocation plan, it could hit Taliban, who are allowed to make
several targets. decisions according to local
requirements.
It is not certain what exactly the Afghan
Taliban have in mind for Al Qaeda after Some in Pakistan’s security elite thought
their deal with the US. They have agreed that US talks with the Afghan Taliban
that they will not allow Al Qaeda to use would completely disassociate the latter
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similar products originating from its this are deeply entrenched societal norms
trade rivals including India, Turkey, (such as chardiwari) and gender
Vietnam and China. The importance of segregation. In a classical patriarchal
GSP-Plus for Pakistan’s exports can be setting, women are confined to the
gauged from the fact that the nation’s private sphere and their role is limited to
shipments to the EU have increased by a providing the unpaid care work that
hefty 65pc from 4.5bn euros in 2013 — enables men to work outside the home.
before GSP-Plus tariff concessions — to
7.5bn euros in 2019. In 2018, Pakistan Even if women work outside the home,
availed tariff concessions on exports most (for instance, those working in the
worth 5.9bn euros out of the total export fields) are not accounted for in the
earnings of 6.7bn euros to EU states. At documented economy. In urban centres,
a time when the country’s exports had the concept of purdah is a major factor
been declining or stagnating, it was preventing women’s participation in the
increasing its market share in Europe formal economy, which is especially true
thanks to the GSP-Plus scheme. Pakistan for migrant women on whom the burden
is currently at a fiscal crossroads, of her entire community’s sense of
struggling to break out of its worst ‘honour’ rests.
economic slowdown ever. The only way
out of its financial troubles is through a The system of patriarchy sustains itself
rapid boost in exports. The EU trade by hiding the economic and social
concession can go a long way in helping inequalities it creates. In a deeply
it achieve sustainable economic growth. patriarchal society like Pakistan, women
are seen as the cultural reproducers of the
nation, and any role for them outside the
home is considered irrelevant and
insignificant. It is due to this that many
women stop working as soon as they
marry. In Pakistan, around 60 per cent of
women MBBS graduates do not go on to
work as doctors because of the
expectation that they must now dedicate
their time to caring for their family.
Women who, whether by necessity or
choice, do step into the public realm and
seek employment are not considered
worthy of the same social standing as
those who observe purdah. Nonetheless,
for neither woman is her unpaid labour
acknowledged.
A
ccording to the World Bank, men. According to the ILO, on average,
women make up only one quarter men in Asia and the Pacific region spend
of the total workforce in only 28 minutes per day on unpaid
Pakistan. Among the primary reasons for
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labour, which is just 8pc of their total For women who do enter the formal
working time. workforce, this rarely results in a more
equitable division of labour at home.
Meanwhile, women and girls are made to Moreover, working women are mostly
assume the bulk of the responsibility for limited to ‘respectable’ and ‘acceptable’
unpaid care work — ie, child rearing and occupations that mimic care work;
education; caring for elderly, sick or undervalued, underpaid and further
disabled family members; cooking and reinforcing women’s primary gender role
cleaning; fetching water and fuel supplies as a caregiver, even in the public sphere.
— working on average anywhere
between 12 to 16 hours a day. This The lack of recognition of women’s
gender inequality in care work is directly unpaid labour also enables the state to
responsible for women’s low economic abdicate its responsibility to provide
participation. essential public services. For example, if
only a fraction of people with severe
Women, who assume most if not all care disabilities receive effective care from
responsibilities, are more likely to be the public sector, this means that women
engaged in informal economy — ie, as are filling the gap left by the state not
piece-rate, home-based or domestic providing basic universal healthcare. The
workers. Without the labour protections state thus performs a double disservice.
afforded by formal employment, On the one hand, it fails to provide public
women’s informal labour results in lower services; and on the other, it fails to
and more precarious incomes, as well as remunerate women for the endless hours
vulnerability to other forms of of labour they contribute towards the
exploitation. country’s economic and social well-
being.
Women from marginalised backgrounds,
particularly migrants, suffer the most There is no disputing that the care
within this informal economy. According economy is maintained and run solely by
to UNDP, Pakistan has one of the highest women. And it is time that this unpaid
rates of urbanisation in South Asia, labour is recognised through effective
which means that people from across the legislation. However, this alone cannot
country move towards the cities in search solve the issue of women’s low labour
of better livelihoods. Inequalities in land participation. For that, men must start
distribution and dispossession is one of assuming their fair share of nurture and
the key reasons for this migration — with care responsibilities at home and in
women owning less than 3pc land in society
Pakistan — which then reproduces the
same spatial inequalities in urban centres. DIPLOMATIC SUCCESS OF
These dispossessed women move to the PAKISTAN OVER INDIA
cities to work as domestic labour, with no BY: KINZA SHAHEEN (DAILY
social guarantees or benefits. Middle-
class women who can afford to pay for TIMES)
care work shift this burden onto them —
exposing them to abuse, occupational
hazards and horrible working conditions
— all the while perpetuating the
gendered division of labour.
B
Kashmir
y abrogating articles 37-A and
370 on August 5, 2019 India has
tried to occupy the disputed
territory of India-held Jammu and
without taking into
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consideration the public opinion of the offered mediation to resolve the issue of
Kashmiris. This forceful act of the Modi Kashmir. Trump arrived in India on
government ignited tensions across the February 24 on a two-day official visit.
valley. The people of India-held Jammu During the visit, he once again offered to
and Kashmir have raised their voice play the role of a mediator to resolve the
against the forceful legal occupation of dispute of Kashmir in a joint press
the disputed territory by India through the conference with Indian Prime Minister
nullification of the article 37-A and 370. Narendra Modi in Dehli. The mediating
In order to suppress the voice of people offer by Mr Trump negates the claim of
against the forceful occupation India put India over the disputed territory. It is a
eight million people of the held valley diplomatic success of Pakistan. The
under the curfew. Since then, occupied world is recognizing Kashmir as the
Jammu and Kashmir has been under disputed territory not the internal issue of
severe security and communication lock India. Although, India made the disputed
down. Children are out of schools and territory as part of the Indian territory,
politicians are held in prisons, while however, the international community is
business life is at its lowest ebb. By doing not accepting it. Moreover, it indicates
so, India is putting an end to uprising of that Kashmir is an international issue, not
the Kashmiris which started in 1947 as the internal issue of India. The mediation
India deployed troops in the valley to get offer of the world leaders to resolve this
control of it. India considers the disputed issue supports the stance of Pakistan over
territory as its internal part while Pakistan the disputed valley. Pakistan is taking the
denies the Indian claims over Jammu and issue of Kashmir and Indian Muslims at
Kashmir. Both states have fought all the international forums.
convention wars to resolve the issue of
Kashmir but still it remained unsettled. India has not only been occupying the
The Indo-Pak rivalry over the Jammu and disputed valley but also has been
Kashmir is a threat to the world peace as involved in the religious bigotry against
both states possess nuclear weapons. the Indian Muslims. Following the recent
Taking notice of the severity of the issue, visit of US President Donald Trump,
time and again, world leaders have raised approximately 40 peoples died in
this issue at the international forums such violence ignited by the extremist Hindus.
as the United Nations and offered to Many shops and petrol pumps were set
revolve this long-lasting issue between on fire. The streets of Dehli have become
the two states. The world’s community the battleground. This is evident that
raises its voice over the human rights Indian Muslims are not safe in India.
violation in India-held Kashmir. From time to time India blamed Pakistan
However, India brushes off the for the violation of the rights of the
international concerns of violation of minorities. India supported the Baloch
human rights in the disputed territory by insurgents and blamed Pakistan for
declaring it as the internal issue. suppressing the people of Baluchistan.
The capture of Indian spy Kulbushan
US Commission for International Yadav by the security forces indicates
Religious Freedom has urged the Modi that India is backing the people of
government to ensure the security of the Pakistan to take weapons against its own
minorities and take action against the government. However, India not only
Hindu extremist targeting the Muslims violates human rights in disputed valley
but also suppresses its own Muslim
US President Donald Trump is also citizens although it claims to be the
among those world leaders to have world’s largest democracy. Minister of
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Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari, while tweets Prime Minister Imran Khan
addressing the 43rd Session of the United stated: “I want to warn our people that
Nations Human Rights Council in anyone in Pakistan targeting our non-
Geneva, stated that India has put eight Muslim citizens or their places of
million Kashmiris under lock down for worship will be dealt with strictly. Our
six months. The international community minorities are equal citizens of this
is speaking against the anti-Muslims country.” Not only had this Pakistan
policies of the Indian government. The opened the Kartarpur corridor for the
US lawmakers have criticized the Modi Sikh community. The opening of
government for the recent violence Kartarpur corridor indicates that Pakistan
following the visit of President Trump. respects the minority’s right of worship.
US lawmaker Pramila Jayapal quantified The nullification of Article 37-A and 370
that religious intolerance in India is and recent Dehli riots against the
horrifying. Muslims exposed the India is carrying
out state terrorism against its own
The US Commission for International citizens and for this it is facing
Religious Freedom has urged the Modi humiliation. However, the positive image
government to ensure the security of the of Pakistan has developed in the
minorities and take action against the international community by opening
Hindu extremist targeting the Muslims. Kartarpur corridor and making the US-
Indian Muslims are protesting against the Taliban deal a reality is a big diplomatic
enactment of the Citizenship achievement for Pakistan. The US
Amendment Act passed by the appreciated the efforts of Pakistan to take
parliament in December last year. The act down the threat of terrorism and playing
gives the right of citizenship to the illegal a vital role for US-Taliban peace
minorities like Hindu, Sikh, Parsi, Jean, agreement. While diplomatically India is
Buddhist and Christians who fled from under the pressure of international
persecution from the states of Pakistan, community for nullifying article 37-A
Bangladesh and Afghanistan prior to and 370 and suppressing the Muslim
December 2014. The act provides the minority.
right of citizenship to the illegal migrants
within the time period of six years.
However, Muslim migrants from these
states are barred from becoming the
citizens of India. By doing so, India is
dividing its own population on religious
lines that ignited riots. The recent violent
riots are evident that India is not only
carrying state terrorism in Jammu and
Kashmir but also making the Indian
Muslims to suffer through policies such
as the CAA. Prime Minister Imran Khan
in a tweet warned the public to refrain
from taking any action against minorities
and their place of worship in reaction of
recent Deli riots against Muslims. The
Prime Minister reminded the nation that
minorities are also citizens of Pakistan
and any bigotry against the minorities
will be dealt with iron hand. In one of the
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T
he Taliban are happily talking
with Trump and standing down But perhaps nothing has deepened the
against U.S. troops, but they say cynicism of Afghans who support their
they are "still at war" with Afghan government—or made them feel so
national security forces. delegitimized—as much as the news of a
35-minute phone conversation between
There’s a grim new joke going around Baradar and Donald Trump on Tuesday,
parts of Afghanistan: If you want to be the first ever such contact between a U.S.
safe from attacks by the Taliban, move president and a Taliban leader. Afterward
next to a U.S. air base. “I have never seen Trump told reporters: “We had a good
a dead American soldier,” said Fatteh conversation. We’ve agreed there’s no
Sattar, a civil engineer from the northern violence, we don’t want violence; we’ll
province of Baghlan. “It’s Afghans see what happens.” According to Suhail
killing Afghans, and I guess this will not Shaheen, a Taliban spokesman in Doha,
stop so quickly.” during the call the U.S. president called
the Taliban “a tough people” and
The Taliban, for their part, are now described their cause as one of
saying more clearly than ever that the “defending their country.” The Taliban
peace deal signed Feb. 29 in Doha, Qatar, eagerly promoted news about the
after 18 months of negotiations applies conversation.
only to a truce with U.S. forces, not to the
Afghan National Defense and Security Some observers suggested that Trump—
Forces. “We signed an agreement with who has a demonstrated habit of forming
the Americans. But our jihad is not over,” warm relations with autocrats who
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid respond positively to him—might even
told Foreign Policy this week. “The be getting along better with the Taliban
stooges who supported the invaders than with the current democratically
during the last two decades are our elected government in Kabul. “If Trump
enemies. This might change after really had a 35 minute conversation on a
additional talks but at the moment, we are wide variety of issues with Mullah
still at war.” Baradar, after concluding a deal with
him, is it too provocative to assert that the
Even before the deal in Doha was signed, US government at this moment in time
skepticism among ordinary Afghans rose has better relations with the Taliban than
as they watched the elected government it does with President Ghani?” tweeted
of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani—who Michael Kugelman, the deputy director
is currently engaged in fight for of the Asia Program at the Wilson Center
legitimacy with his election rival, Chief in Washington.
Executive Abdullah Abdullah—get left
out of the negotiations between U.S. This is a touchy issue, since the peace
Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and agreement calls for the formation of a
Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani new “post-settlement Afghan Islamic
Baradar. Skepticism changed to outright government” and Trump has no
relationship with Ghani, whose ascent to
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power came during the Obama the United States will begin a significant
administration. “I think that the drawdown of U.S. troops within the first
formation of a new government will be 135 days and a total withdrawal within 14
one of the main issues of upcoming intra- months.
Afghan talks,” said the Afghan American
writer and analyst Wahed Faqiri. The Taliban also have to participate in
upcoming intra-Afghan talks between
For ordinary Afghans, all this recalls an various political factions, but the new
old and bitter history dating to when the round of peace talks may have a hard
Americans abandoned their country the time getting underway in these
last time after funding the mujahideen conditions. “The deal between the
against the Soviet Union in the 1980s, Americans and the Taliban made us very
and the Taliban eventually emerged to optimistic. But it does not make sense if
seize power. “A friend of mine joined the such attacks continue,” said Shah
Taliban. I did not care about it, but he Mohammad Takal, a resident of the
considers me and his other friends as Nadir Shah Kot district of Khost, where
enemies. But now he is fine with the on Monday a bomb detonated near a
Americans? What kind of deal is that? It soccer field in the district and killed three
does not help us,” said Ali Hazara, a civilians.
driver and mechanic from Baghlan, one
of the most unstable provinces of the No group claimed responsibility for the
country. attack, and the Taliban declared they
were not linked to it. “The mujahideen
The Taliban began launching new attacks are not responsible for the attack in
after Ghani criticized the U.S.-Taliban Khost. We also don’t know who was
deal and announced that he would not behind it, but there are many other
release 5,000 prisoners, one of the major problems, like enmities among different
pillars of the agreement. After the deal tribes, and they have nothing to do with
was signed, Sher Mohammad Abbas us,” Taliban spokesman Mujahid said.
Stanikzai, who leads Taliban’s political But that explanation also raised the
office in Doha, claimed that there is no possibility that other groups such as
real government in Kabul and that the Islamic State are seeking to further
Taliban do not accept it anyway. undermine the peace deal by renewing
According to Faqiri, the new Taliban violence.
relationship with Washington could even
lead to a strengthened Taliban The United states says that for
movement. “When they meet, their withdrawal to go forward, the Taliban
mutual trust may grow,” he said. must observe the conditions of the
agreement. On Wednesday, after more
All this would be a strange historical than a week-long reduction in violence,
irony for the Americans, since it was a the U.S. military also conducted an
previous Taliban government that airstrike against Taliban fighters in
harbored the al Qaeda terrorists who southern Helmand province to “defend”
attacked the United States on Sept. 11, their partners within the Afghan military.
2001. Central to the new deal is a Taliban There were no reports of casualties.
guarantee that they will not do so again
and will cut all ties with al Qaeda as well That same day U.S. Defense Secretary
as prevent the nation from becoming a Mark Esper complained that the Taliban
safe haven for terrorist groups that might were making compliance with the deal
plot against the United States. In return, difficult. “The results so far have been
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mixed,” Esper told the Senate Armed the federal and provincial level SEZs as
Services Committee. “The Taliban are well as simple and priority SEZs-under
honoring their piece in terms of not CPEC, along with certain voices for
attacking U.S. and [Western] coalition specialized SEZs for SMEs).
forces but not in terms of sustaining the
reduction in violence.” The government is ready to accept all
available modes of financing including
And so confusion reigns. Ordinary public, public-private and solely private
Afghans, meanwhile, are starting to ask sector financed SEZs, though without
themselves what a new Afghan any economic assessment of what we
government joined by the Taliban would need and, more importantly, what we can
look like. Many plainly fear another reign offer.
of terror like that in the 1990s. “The
Taliban distanced themselves from their Business plans, commercial viability,
old regime and its practices. If they are human capital needs, our capacity to
serious about that and respect our timely deliver infrastructure and skills set
freedoms, it’s fine. But if they don’t, I – these all ask for evidence and rigorous
truly fear their return,” said Nazifa Niazi, analyses. Similarly, we need to learn
a retired army officer from Kabul. Like lessons from what we have done so far
many other Afghan women, she and assess whether the targets are
emphasized that going to work, school, or achieved as envisioned. In a free float, we
university must not be prohibited by the can either end up confirming the
Taliban, who have made no such “Pollution haven hypothesis” or add
promise. evidence to studies discussing “failed
SEZs around the world (including China,
Other women share Niazi’s opinion— Russia and India)”.
and her deepest fears. “I hope for peace.
But I don’t think that the Taliban will With this background, the question that is
respect us as women,” said Fahima, who most pressing is: Do we need real estate
works as a civil servant in Kabul and activities to attract investors? Or is
didn’t want her last name used. “They investment needed so as to foster
oppressed us in the past, and they might production, assemble, package via
continue to do so. They attack girls’ targeted technology transfer?
school and burn them. They also use our
young men as cannon fodder. I do not It is normal practice in Pakistan that
welcome their return if they don’t change Industrial Estates (IEs) announce sale of
their attitude and behavior.” plots meant for production purposes and
the plots are soon sold out. However, the
failure on the part of the IEs is that they
never let the piece of land deliver in time.
PRODUCTION OR REAL With compromised promises, plot-
owners are not asked to initiate
ESTATE? production at under-serviced plots, while
BY: IFTIKHAR AHMED (THE time passes bringing further value to
plots and leaving owners happy for the
NEWS) dividend ultimately earned. Thus, there is
a vicious circle at work where plots in the
O
ne is caught by surprise when IEs are all sold out but no production
looking at the government’s rush activity takes place.
for all kinds of SEZs (including
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The deserted Industrial and Export and other attached commercial activities
Processing Zones offer best evidence in can be auctioned or given on lease.
this context. Later on, when sufficient
facilities are made, those willing to start Thus, an initial endowment fund should
businesses cannot find affordable plots to be allocated and business spaces should
initiate business there. Even if they get be provided but only for clearly identified
plots, the prices (having accumulated and worked out sectors (where Pakistan
premium) are so high it leaves startups has comparative advantage or obvious
uncompetitive if they purchase such land. potential), thus improving the probability
Hence, the business prospects dry down of success. A special portion of the
without even starting for both the initial endowment fund can be kept for new IEs
and the later potential investors. to facilitate experimentation in emerging
fields. A well-researched, targeted and
In this context, the government needs to coordinated professional effort of
come up with ingenious ways to stop real industrialization is needed to bring
estate activities at IEs, SEZs and PSEZs. Pakistan on to the desired path of feasible
One possible way would be the provision industrialization.
of conditional allotment of fully serviced
industrial plots for production purposes
with a definite timeline to initiate
production, following which the
allotment shall stand cancelled. Such a
mechanism is already put in place by
KPEZDMC.
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been questioning the ‘absolute powers’ court has said is that while the corrupt
of the NAB chairman in multiple cases. should fear NAB the innocent should be
He raised similar queries in the cases of confident they would not be wronged or
former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal and be dealt with unfairly. It is hoped that this
former prime minister Shahid Khaqan strong court verdict will alter the
Abbasi. But the recent detailed ruling perception that NAB has acted
was issued while accepting the bail pleas vindictively in some cases so that the
of two officials of the Pakistan process of accountability can gain the
Telecommunication Authority (PTA). trust of people across the country.
The chief justice has also highlighted
loopholes in the investigations conducted
by ‘poorly trained’ NAB officers who
lack proper skills to probe white-collar NEW PROVINCE PLAN
crimes.
(DAWN EDITORIAL)
While asserting the primacy of
fundamental human rights, the single-
member bench comprising Chief Justice
Athar Minallah dilated upon this
important issue. Justice Minallah has
T he announcement of
government plan to create a new
province in south Punjab has been
overshadowed by widespread worries
a
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and not the severity of punishment that against militants, winning over ‘passive’
deters criminality. militants, and spreading counter-
narratives including through madressah
Thirdly, special military courts were reform. Unfortunately, we do not have a
established for speedy trial of terrorists. national security policy, and the internal
During their four-year duration, 344 security policy approved by the previous
accused were awarded capital government remains unimplemented.
punishment in 650 cases decided by 14
such courts; 56 were executed. In Our rookie prime minister needs to adopt
November 2018, the Peshawar High Ardern’s leadership traits and revisit the
Court acquitted several convicts CT NAP to come up with long-term
sentenced by military courts on grounds solutions to counter violent extremism.
of “malice in law and fact”. The
convictions awarded on callously
recorded routine “confessional
statements” were held to be in violation YUVAL NOAH HARARI: THE
of the right to a fair trial. The matter is
now before the Supreme Court. WORLD AFTER CORONAVIRUS
(FINANCIAL TIMES)
In view of a recent Supreme Court
verdict in which terrorism has been
redefined and its application restricted to
the nature of offences under certain Humankind is now
conditions, anti-terrorism courts can be facing a global crisis. Perhaps the biggest
more effective with the provision of a crisis of our generation. The decisions
day-to-day trial restricted to a week and people and governments take in the next
the right to be defended by a lawyer few weeks will probably shape the world
guaranteed. Even those suspected of - for years to come. They will shape not
terrorism deserve due process. just our healthcare systems but also our
economy, politics and culture. We must
Fourthly, CT NAP has the following act quickly and decisively. We should
provisions for a communication strategy: also take into account the long-term
countering hate speech and extremist consequences of our actions. When
material; ban on glorifying terrorism and choosing between alternatives, we should
terrorist groups through print/electronic ask ourselves not only how to overcome
media; and tangible measures against the the immediate threat, but also what kind
abuse of internet and social media for of world we will inhabit once the storm
terrorism. Task forces under the IT and passes. Yes, the storm will pass,
information ministers were to propose humankind will survive, most of us will
comprehensive strategies but after dilly- still be alive — but we will inhabit a
dallying for years, the government different world. Many short-term
recently came up with the Citizens emergency measures will become a
Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules fixture of life. That is the nature of
2020. Oddly, the cabinet approved these emergencies. They fast-forward
rules framed without consultation with historical processes. Decisions that in
concerned stakeholders. normal times could take years of
deliberation are passed in a matter of
In its manifesto, the PTI had an ambitious hours. Immature and even dangerous
plan for tackling terrorism by enforcing technologies are pressed into service,
NAP, continuing security operations
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because the risks of doing nothing are came into contact with. A range of
bigger. Entire countries serve as guinea- mobile apps warn citizens about their
pigs in large-scale social experiments. proximity to infected patients. About the
What happens when everybody works photography
from home and communicates only at a
distance? What happens when entire Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of
schools and universities go online? In Israel recently authorised the Israel
normal times, governments, businesses Security Agency to deploy surveillance
and educational boards would never technology normally reserved for
agree to conduct such experiments. But battling terrorists to track coronavirus
these aren’t normal times. In this time of patients. When the relevant
crisis, we face two particularly important parliamentary subcommittee refused to
choices. The first is between totalitarian authorise the measure, Netanyahu
surveillance and citizen empowerment. rammed it through with an “emergency
The second is between nationalist decree”. You might argue that there is
isolation and global solidarity. Under- nothing new about all this. In recent years
the-skin surveillance In order to stop the both governments and corporations have
epidemic, entire populations need to been using ever more sophisticated
comply with certain guidelines. There are technologies to track, monitor and
two main ways of achieving this. One manipulate people. Yet if we are not
method is for the government to monitor careful, the epidemic might nevertheless
people, and punish those who break the mark an important watershed in the
rules. Today, for the first time in human history of surveillance. Not only because
history, technology makes it possible to it might normalise the deployment of
monitor everyone all the time. Fifty years mass surveillance tools in countries that
ago, the KGB couldn’t follow 240m have so far rejected them, but even more
Soviet citizens 24 hours a day, nor could so because it signifies a dramatic
the KGB hope to effectively process all transition from “over the skin” to “under
the information gathered. The KGB the skin” surveillance. Hitherto, when
relied on human agents and analysts, and your finger touched the screen of your
it just couldn’t place a human agent to smartphone and clicked on a link, the
follow every citizen. But now government wanted to know what
governments can rely on ubiquitous exactly your finger was clicking on. But
sensors and powerful algorithms instead with coronavirus, the focus of interest
of flesh-and-blood spooks. shifts. Now the government wants to
know the temperature of your finger and
In their battle against the coronavirus the blood-pressure under its skin. The
epidemic several governments have emergency pudding One of the problems
already deployed the new surveillance we face in working out where we stand
tools. The most notable case is China. By on surveillance is that none of us know
closely monitoring people’s exactly how we are being surveilled, and
smartphones, making use of hundreds of what the coming years might bring.
millions of face-recognising cameras, Surveillance technology is developing at
and obliging people to check and report breakneck speed, and what seemed
their body temperature and medical science-fiction 10 years ago is today old
condition, the Chinese authorities can not news. As a thought experiment, consider
only quickly identify suspected a hypothetical government that demands
coronavirus carriers, but also track their that every citizen wears a biometric
movements and identify anyone they bracelet that monitors body temperature
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punishments aren’t the only way to make trust and amity, and you rush to help one
people comply with beneficial another. Instead of building a
guidelines. When people are told the surveillance regime, it is not too late to
scientific facts, and when people trust rebuild people’s trust in science, in public
public authorities to tell them these facts, authorities and in the media. We should
citizens can do the right thing even definitely make use of new technologies
without a Big Brother watching over their too, but these technologies should
shoulders. A self-motivated and well- empower citizens. I am all in favour of
informed population is usually far more monitoring my body temperature and
powerful and effective than a policed, blood pressure, but that data should not
ignorant population. Consider, for be used to create an all-powerful
example, washing your hands with soap. government. Rather, that data should
This has been one of the greatest enable me to make more informed
advances ever in human hygiene. This personal choices, and also to hold
simple action saves millions of lives government accountable for its decisions.
every year. While we take it for granted, If I could track my own medical
it was only in the 19th century that condition 24 hours a day, I would learn
scientists discovered the importance of not only whether I have become a health
washing hands with soap. Previously, hazard to other people, but also which
even doctors and nurses proceeded from habits contribute to my health. And if I
one surgical operation to the next without could access and analyse reliable
washing their hands. Today billions of statistics on the spread of coronavirus, I
people daily wash their hands, not would be able to judge whether the
because they are afraid of the soap police, government is telling me the truth and
but rather because they understand the whether it is adopting the right policies to
facts. I wash my hands with soap because combat the epidemic. Whenever people
I have heard of viruses and bacteria, I talk about surveillance, remember that
understand that these tiny organisms the same surveillance technology can
cause diseases, and I know that soap can usually be used not only by governments
remove them. But to achieve such a level to monitor individuals — but also by
of compliance and co-operation, you individuals to monitor governments. The
need trust. People need to trust science, coronavirus epidemic is thus a major test
to trust public authorities, and to trust the of citizenship. In the days ahead, each
media. Over the past few years, one of us should choose to trust scientific
irresponsible politicians have data and healthcare experts over
deliberately undermined trust in science, unfounded conspiracy theories and self-
in public authorities and in the media. serving politicians. If we fail to make the
Now these same irresponsible politicians right choice, we might find ourselves
might be tempted to take the high road to signing away our most precious
authoritarianism, arguing that you just freedoms, thinking that this is the only
cannot trust the public to do the right way to safeguard our health. We need a
thing. Normally, trust that has been global plan The second important choice
eroded for years cannot be rebuilt we confront is between nationalist
overnight. But these are not normal isolation and global solidarity. Both the
times. In a moment of crisis, minds too epidemic itself and the resulting
can change quickly. You can have bitter economic crisis are global problems.
arguments with your siblings for years, They can be solved effectively only by
but when some emergency occurs, you global co-operation. First and foremost,
suddenly discover a hidden reservoir of in order to defeat the virus we need to
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share information globally. That’s the big shifts, help could start flowing in the
advantage of humans over viruses. A opposite direction. Global co-operation is
coronavirus in China and a coronavirus in vitally needed on the economic front too.
the US cannot swap tips about how to Given the global nature of the economy
infect humans. But China can teach the and of supply chains, if each government
US many valuable lessons about does its own thing in complete disregard
coronavirus and how to deal with it. What of the others, the result will be chaos and
an Italian doctor discovers in Milan in the a deepening crisis. We need a global plan
early morning might well save lives in of action, and we need it fast. Another
Tehran by evening. When the UK requirement is reaching a global
government hesitates between several agreement on travel. Suspending all
policies, it can get advice from the international travel for months will cause
Koreans who have already faced a similar tremendous hardships, and hamper the
dilemma a month ago. But for this to war against coronavirus. Countries need
happen, we need a spirit of global co- to co-operate in order to allow at least a
operation and trust. In the days ahead, trickle of essential travellers to continue
each one of us should choose to trust crossing borders: scientists, doctors,
scientific data and healthcare experts journalists, politicians, businesspeople.
over unfounded conspiracy theories and This can be done by reaching a global
self-serving politicians Countries should agreement on the pre-screening of
be willing to share information openly travellers by their home country. If you
and humbly seek advice, and should be know that only carefully screened
able to trust the data and the insights they travellers were allowed on a plane, you
receive. We also need a global effort to would be more willing to accept them
produce and distribute medical into your country.
equipment, most notably testing kits and
respiratory machines. Instead of every Unfortunately, at present countries
country trying to do it locally and hardly do any of these things. A
hoarding whatever equipment it can get, collective paralysis has gripped the
a co-ordinated global effort could greatly international community. There seem to
accelerate production and make sure life- be no adults in the room. One would have
saving equipment is distributed more expected to see already weeks ago an
fairly. Just as countries nationalise key emergency meeting of global leaders to
industries during a war, the human war come up with a common plan of action.
against coronavirus may require us to The G7 leaders managed to organise a
“humanise” the crucial production lines. videoconference only this week, and it
A rich country with few coronavirus did not result in any such plan. In
cases should be willing to send precious previous global crises — such as the
equipment to a poorer country with many 2008 financial crisis and the 2014 Ebola
cases, trusting that if and when it epidemic — the US assumed the role of
subsequently needs help, other countries global leader. But the current US
will come to its assistance. We might administration has abdicated the job of
consider a similar global effort to pool leader. It has made it very clear that it
medical personnel. Countries currently cares about the greatness of America far
less affected could send medical staff to more than about the future of humanity.
the worst-hit regions of the world, both in This administration has abandoned even
order to help them in their hour of need, its closest allies. When it banned all
and in order to gain valuable experience. travel from the EU, it didn’t bother to
If later on the focus of the epidemic give the EU so much as an advance notice
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C
HILD abuse and neglect include
administration eventually changes tack both commission of physical,
and comes up with a global plan of sexual and psychological abuse
action, few would follow a leader who and omission in failing to provide
never takes responsibility, who never emotional, educational needs and
admits mistakes, and who routinely takes protection from harm. Too often,
all the credit for himself while leaving all incidents of child abuse surface, leading
the blame to others. If the void left by the to public outcry and arrests of
US isn’t filled by other countries, not perpetrators, and then everybody retreats
only will it be much harder to stop the to their corner.
current epidemic, but its legacy will
continue to poison international relations The recently passed Zainab Alert,
for years to come. Yet every crisis is also Response and Recovery Act (ZARRA) is
an opportunity. We must hope that the perhaps the first instance by the state of
current epidemic will help humankind truly recognising the severity and
realise the acute danger posed by global urgency of this issue. All the same, three
disunity. Humanity needs to make a nagging questions remain: (i) what are
choice. Will we travel down the route of the main causes of such incidents
disunity, or will we adopt the path of recurring; (ii) can ZARRA adequately
global solidarity? If we choose disunity, prevent such incidents; (iii) what
this will not only prolong the crisis, but simultaneous steps can state and society
will probably result in even worse take to create a safe, stable and nurturing
catastrophes in the future. If we choose environment for children?
global solidarity, it will be a victory not
only against the coronavirus, but against First, it must be understood that child
all future epidemics and crises that might abuse cases are significantly unreported,
assail humankind in the 21st century. especially those of minor girls, owing to
the social stigma attached to being a
victim. Despite being a flashpoint for
child abuse in the news, in Kasur district,
for example, only 79 cases of child abuse
(including rape and sodomy of minors)
involving 94 accused persons were
lodged in 2019. Fifty-nine cases of
attempted rape and sodomy cases
involving 62 accused persons were also
lodged.
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When a child is abused at such an early killed in Texas in 1996. The alert system
age, it can leave indelible marks on their has yielded a significant number of
psyche. recoveries of lost children in the US.
However, replicating the same model in
Third, in almost all these cases, predators Pakistan doesn’t necessarily guarantee
find easy targets among poor victims; the the same results. In fact, the dynamics of
more in need, the easier it is to entice our society are different.
them with paltry sums of money or other
gifts. Even Zainab was lured away in The alert system works well in urban
such a manner. societies with an extensively integrated
service structure. If ZARRA is
And fourth, barring the occasional media instantaneously circulated to the general
frenzy, our society is generally apathetic public as outlined in Article 5(a) of the
and desensitised towards the issue of act, it will create more panic and
child abuse. Perpetrators are viewed insecurity, and in the bargain be of little
simply as psychopathic or monstrous help, if at all. Information concerning the
outliers instead of people hidden in plain descriptions of missing children should
sight. be shared among concerned quarters only
— related government departments,
The recently passed ZARRA is an intelligence agencies and the population
encouraging step. The act is a much- of a specific area.
needed attempt to chalk out an
institutional response. It is holistic and In order to forestall incidents of child
integrated in the sense that it involves abuse, state and society should
more than one department in the recovery collectively step up efforts. At a societal
of missing and abducted children. On the level, it starts primarily with positive
response level, it constitutes a dedicated parenting in a family where children are
agency with an early warning system — provided care and nurtured at home.
helpline 1099 — to report cases. They are taught the difference between
Convicted offenders will now be appropriate and inappropriate exposure
sentenced to at least 10 years behind bars, and contact. They are closely monitored
up to a maximum of life imprisonment. in the company of non-immediate
But still its approach is reactionary and relatives, family friends and in
severe. There are few areas that need seminaries.
further improvement.
At a state level, a more aggressive and
First, ZARRA altogether fails to address thoughtful response is needed; local
child abuse prevention. Incarceration police must devise a surveillance
alone cannot act as an effective deterrent mechanism to check the activities of
in the absence of an overarching and desperate, unemployed, notorious
efficient preventive mechanism, which elements in society, especially those
has been ignored. Second, rehabilitation involved in child abuse incidents in the
of victims after their release from hostile past, as well as places like internet cafés,
custody is an area that also needs snooker clubs, mechanic workshops and
attention. ill-reputed seminaries.
Then, the law envisages an alert system To protect its citizens from any assault is
along the lines of the US Amber Alert, the fundamental duty of the state. A state
which was named after a nine-year-old cannot afford ignorance, nor can it allow
girl who was abducted and subsequently
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