The Chief Executive of Pakistan arrived like an empty vessel at the United Nations Millennium Summit in New York. His noise made little sense to the international community, who yawned at his offer for peace and a no-war pact to India.

A leader, who claims he has little control over militants in his country and "spiritually" supports the strategy of jihad, is not likely to be taken seriously, especially as he does not officially head the jihadis, who are central to the tensions between the two countries - India and Pakistan.

Our Chief Executive sounded more like a deposed Maharaja of Kashmir, rather than an interim military ruler of Pakistan, who had vowed to restore "pure and true" democracy to the country - a promise made bye very man on horseback.

The government's commitment to raise the issue of violations of human rights in Indian held Kashmir is laudable. They must continue to do so, but in a sincere and coherent manner. A Government which has banned political activities and refuses to hold general elections in its own country can hardly be expected to champion the cause of human rights of the people of Kashmir ...

Elections are regularly rigged in Azad Kashmir and the people denied basic rights. All this is glossed over in the name of security. Every decent person, Pakistani or otherwise, feels disturbed by consistent violations of human. rights in Kashmir. Similarly, they are equally concerned at the oppression in Afghanistan. If human rights are central to our foreign policy, then the government of Pakistan ought, at least, to cold-shoulder its Taliban friends.

The hypocrisy of our foreign policy is apparent to everyone, except our military leaders and their civilian sycophants. The Indian security forces should and must, at all costs, be brought to justice for rape and extra-judicial killings in Kashmir. At the same time, so should those in Pakistan who killed and raped their own citizens in East Pakistan. We cannot exonerate either.

Solving the Kashmir problem is not easy. It is complex and best left to political leaders. No interim government, without a public mandate, can hoe to do much about it. It may well complicate matters .... Pakistan's insistence on plebiscite is not supported by many Kashmiri groups. They want independence, rather than a choice between the devil and the deep sea. No one will buy plebiscite, perhaps not even the people of Azad Kashmir.

If independence is the next best choice, then  Pakistan's leadership has io be prepared to let go of AzadKashmir and perhaps the Northern Areas too. Many hope that an independent Kashmir will remain under our control. Perhaps so, but only if we are able to offer them prosperity and well-being ... More optimistic analysts insist that Pakistan is on the verge of, getting the Valley. Any such move in the presence of militants and Indian security forces will only end in bloodshed and a constant proxy war.

The only route to solving the Kashmir issue is through a series of negotiations - but they cannot start until violence decreases in Kashmir. The recent cease-fire was a positive development but short-lived. Whether it is a sustainable cease-fire or a series of talks, they can only be negotiated by. a civilian elected government. The military rulers, as we have witnessed, have lost credibility both at home and abroad. The message from the UN Summit was clear: "Get off your high horse and be relevant". Let us hope it has sunk somewhere. (Source: The Dawn)

Death Sentence for a Pseudo Prophet

A Pakistani court has sentenced a 60-year-old man Yousaf Ali to death for blasphemy after he claimed to be a prophet of God ... Lahore Sessions Judge Mian Mohammad Jehangi, also sentenced (him) to a total of 35 years' hard labour and a fine of Rs.2,00,000 ...

Pakistan's anti-blasphemy law regards any claim of prophethood after Mohammad as a blasphemy to be punished by death (Source: The Indian Express, 7 August, 2000)