SCO opens up new avenues

The SCO, an intergovernmental organisation, was founded in 2001. The six member countries are China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The SCO was founded to foster trade relations between member countries, but has gradually come to encompass a wider range of policy pursuits that have important political ramifications regionally and further abroad. For instance, the SCO’s most recent declaration pledges to support participation of its observer countries and dialogue partners in the SCO activities by “absorbing their huge potential, resources and markets”.

It was the first time in SCO’s history that a US representative attended the summit, pointing to the fact that the organisation’s importance is being felt across the globe. Apart from China and Russia, the two big power players in the world, the importance of the Central Asian Republics (CARs) cannot be overstated.

CARs are not just significant for only Central Asia or South Asia but the world as a whole. India’s rapidly growing economy is desperate for gas while Pakistan is facing a grave energy crisis. China too is in dire need of energy for its burgeoning economy. Thus, with the SCO’s pledge to open up markets and resources, CARs, with their enormous natural resources, in turn stand to benefit from these large, readily available markets like China, India and Pakistan, among others.

The SCO called for restoring stability in restive Kyrgyzstan through dialogue. Nearly 100 people have died after ethnic riots erupted in southern Kyrgyzstan. SCO’s member states pledged that they are willing to provide necessary support and assistance. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said, “We have a sincere interest in overcoming as quickly as possible this stage of interior disturbances in Kyrgyzstan. We also support the establishment of a modern government that is able to solve the country’s pressing social and economic problems.” Chinese President Hu Jintao stressed on the need for strengthening solidarity and collaboration to overcome the difficulties being faced worldwide.

India and Pakistan are said to get the SCO membership within a couple of years. From a Pakistani perspective, being a member of the SCO will go a long way, both economically and in countering terrorism. The SCO vowed to enhance anti-terrorism cooperation with its observers, and actively join regional anti-terrorism cooperation. This would benefit Pakistan as many of the Taliban members are from Central Asia. Terrorism is a menace that the world has to fight together. Al Qaeda and other terrorist networks no longer operate from one country alone and are not homogenous. By coming up with a better system of intelligence sharing, the SCO can help not only Pakistan but the region as a whole. This in turn will help Afghanistan, which can lead to overland trade in the region as well. In addition, SCO membership could also present Pakistan with the prospect of technology in the field of heavy industrial undertakings.

In a world where economic deprivation has led many people to be seduced by terrorist networks, the SCO can play an integral role by opening up new avenues for trade. All in all the SCO may just be the perfect prescription for the economic progress of the region, and additionally a strong factor to resolve the global balance of power equation. *

Of lapses and incompetence

According to reports in the media, the Anti- Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance 2010 has lapsed due to the government’s negligence. The said ordinance was re-promulgated by President Zardari in February but the government did not get it passed from parliament. It seems as if this government has made it a habit to let important bills/ordinances lapse. In the past we have seen that the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill had also lapsed because the government did not get the bill passed by the Senate within 90 days after its passage in the National Assembly, as is required under the Constitution. One fails to understand why such important pieces of legislation are being treated with utter disregard by a government that has vowed to eliminate terrorism and make Pakistan a progressive country.

The Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance 2010 was an important legislation given the grave threat terrorism poses to this country. The lapsed ordinance was extended to PATA as well. It had some very important clauses, such as 90 days detention for people arrested on terrorism charges and it also gave the courts the power to deny bail to people accused of terrorism. Not only did it prevent members of the banned terrorist outfits to obtain passports or travelling abroad, it also cancelled the arms licences that had been issued to such terror groups. FM stations spreading hate messages or inciting violence also came under the purview of this ordinance.

Pakistan is fighting a war against terrorism for its very survival. The government needs to get its act together if it wants to counter terrorism. Military operations alone will not serve the purpose. We need proper laws to counter this menace. Due to lack of evidence or insufficient evidence, many a time the courts have had to let known terrorists go scot-free. On May 28 we saw how the Ahmedi community was targeted. The general apathy towards them was due to the hate material easily available at every nook and corner of this country. The hydra of terrorism cannot be quashed so easily. If we want to win this war, the government must get serious and crush the terrorist networks operating from our soil. *

Source: Dailytimes.com.pk