Political negotiations

The President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, has reacted sensibly to the killing of his half brother Ahmed Wali Karzai (the editorial, “Killing in Kandahar”, July 15). President Karzai knows that this is the time to be cautious. With the US deciding to withdraw troops from Afghanistan and beginning negotiations with Taliban leaders, the whole political landscape in Afghanistan is heading for a change. If the President chooses to condemn the Talibans for their dastardly act, it might derail the efforts to negotiate for peace in the country.

The Americans have understood that there is no way they can defeat the Talibans. It is a war they are unlikely to win. Technology alone cannot win wars and the Americans have found it more than once.

In this backdrop, President Karzai knows that it will be foolish to expect anything from the US. The only way out is for him to ask leaders of various Taliban factions to come together and talk for some kind of agreement acceptable to all of them. This requires that one forgets one’s personal losses and looks ahead for establishing peace in the country.

As the editorial rightly points out that Ahmed Wali Karzai was an influential figure in that part of the country. His close proximity to the US made it easier for President Karzai to hold talks with the Americans and ask for assistance whenever needed. Moreover, Wali Karzai being a powerful figure had his own supporters. So the President would always seek his advice in crucial political matters.

President Karzai will do well to invite Taliban leaders for negotiations and not depend very heavily on the US and its Western allies. Some workable solution has to be found that will be acceptable to all stakeholders. Pakistan cannot be kept out of the negotiations. The President may have to make more sacrifices before peace gets a chance in Afghanistan.

SUDHIR YADAV, Mohali

Education policy

The editorial, “Govt schools in neglect”, (July 15), has rightly highlighted the utter neglect of primary and secondary schools in India. Though the editorial talks about the problems prevalent in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir, the situation is not much different in most of the other states.

It is unfortunate that we do not give the kind of importance to primary education as is required. While we talk so much about the Right to Education, it alone is not going to solve the problem. One can very well imagine the condition of those schools, which have only one teacher. It seems more of a mockery of education than any real intent.

The editorial points out that we have several unemployed teachers seeking jobs. We also have a situation where schools do not have even a single teacher. Education ministers prefer to ignore these issues. It is difficult to understand why nothing has been done to solve these problems.

Education does not get the priority it deserves. It will be more appropriate to say that primary and secondary schools are the most neglected in India. Private schools with the aim of making profits have increased the cost of primary education. One does not need to go anywhere else to find it out. One can find such schools in any city of India. One wonders if the government’s dream of ensuring the Right to Education for all children can ever be fulfilled.

The quality of education is another matter of concern. In schools with a single teacher, one can hardly conceive of any good quality teaching.

Then there are schools with inadequate infrastructure and unqualified teachers. One can solve these problems not by framing another education policy but by implementing the existing one effectively. This is mostly not done. The government will do well to implement the existing one in the right spirit.

NIKHIL GUPTA, Ambala