Implications of Sharif’s warning

RECENTLY, addressing troops, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif renewed his offer for a meaningful dialogue with India to resolve the Kashmir problem, failing which, he warned, many new Kargil-like situations would arise (“Sharif renews offer of talks”, July 18).

Apparently, Mr Sharif has not learnt any lesson from the fate of Pakistan’s misadventure in Kargil. Besides receiving a sound drubbing at the hands of the Indian security forces, Pakistani troops have lost hundreds of officers and soldiers in the conflict. Pakistan’s isolation at the international level on the Kargil issue can be well explained in the verse: “Phirtey hain Meer khaar koi poochhta nahin/Is aashiqee mein izzat-e-saadaat bhee gayee.”

The humiliating withdrawal of Pakistani soldiers from Kargil reminds one of an Urdu saying: “Jaan bachi laakhon paaey/Khair sey budhoo ghar ko aaey (Fools returned home unscathed. Lives saved, millions saved).

Former Pakistani Generals and Air Chiefs recently described the Kargil operation as a disaster for their country, saying that there was no military solution to the Kashmir issue.

Despite Pakistan’s repeated belligerent gestures towards India, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee tried to strengthen friendly relations with it by his historic Delhi-Lahore bus ride in February last. But Pakistan gave a false appearance of reliability, inasmuch as on the one hand it gave him a rousing reception and on the other it pursued its nefarious agenda of armed intrusion in Kargil. Can Mr Sharif be relied upon for the proposed meaningful dialogue over the Kashmir issue?

Instead of threatening to create many Kargil-like situations, Pakistan should become a peace-loving neighbour. Battles always cause terrible loss and suffering. The wherewithal required to engage in a military conflict should be used for the welfare of the poor people. Pakistan is passing through a serious financial crisis.

If still Mr Sharif is bent upon creating mischief in Kashmir, our jawans are not wearing silken gloves. They have already displayed splendid gallantry in tackling the enemy. Suffice it to say: “Tum apni bijliyon kee nazaakat to dekh lo/Ham jaantey hain apna nasheman sambhaalna. “Nasheman” figuratively means residence.)

BHAGWAN SINGH
Qadian

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Consumers’ Forums

This refers to the news-item “Demand for higher pay” (July 16).

The pay and allowances of Central and state government employees have been enhanced as per the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission. In the case of the Consumers’ Forums’ staff no enhancement has been done. Their members still get the same pay/allowances as they were getting in 1986-87.

The Minister of Food and Civil Supplies assured the members in February, 1998, at a meeting in Chandigarh that a three-member committee would go in to the details of enhancement. He said the committee would be established immediately, but nothing has happened so far.

It will not be out of place to mention here that in 1986 while all class one officers were given Rs 2,200 as basic pay, the regular members of the Consumer Forums were given Rs 4000. Part-time members were given Rs 150 per day whereas class one officers of Punjab were getting Rs 73.30 per day.

From this it is clear that Consumer Forum members were getting almost double the pay of class one officers in Punjab. This was so because members were given no other benefit.

Now regular members get the same Rs 4000 per month and temporary members Rs 150 per day. I think a pay enhancement in keeping with the spirit of the Pay Commission is overdue.

Major MANMOHAN SINGH BATTU
Sangrur

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Dealing with enemy

I as an Indian feel gratified at the honourable treatment being given to the Pakistani soldiers killed in the Dras-Kargil-Batalik sector of Kashmir and, strangely enough, abandoned and disowned by the Pakistan government.

Our Army, in keeping with its noblest traditions of moral uprightness, compassion and magnanimity to the enemy, is performing the last rites of the Pakistani soldiers as per their religion and national custom in a manner befitting fallen heroes.

Compare this with the most barbaric and vicious treatment given to our six soldiers by Pakistan, which tortured and killed them and wantonly mutilated their bodies before handing them over to India.

I am glad I belong to a country that has genuine regard for humanistic ideals and ethical values in spite of all the conflicts, contradictions and shortcomings we come across in India today.

Wing Commander S.C. KAPOOR (retd)
Noida

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Time to remain vigilant

The Kargil crisis is almost over. Full credit goes to our armed forces who fought with determination to bring victory to the nation. They also got the needed support from the public.

But after this victory it should always be in our mind that we are having a very bad neighbour in Pakistan. We will have to be vigilant regarding its ill intentions so that the enemy is not able to produce another Kargil-like scenario. Our political leaders acted very intelligently during the crisis. Their conduct turned our permanent detractors into our supporters.

It should, however, be kept in mind that world opinion compelled the Pakistan government to withdraw its forces from Kargil, otherwise the battle would have been extended, resulting in more loss of human lives.

RASHI RAHEJA
Amloh

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Bus tragedies in Himachal

The Tribune report “16 die in HP bus mishap” (July 23) sends cold shivers down one’s spine. How tragic, indeed! A fatal bus accident in Sirmour district claimed 25 precious human lives just the other day.

Fatal bus accidents in the state, it appears, are fast becoming a matter of routine occurrence, thus considerably losing their shock potential. Perhaps that is why there is hardly any noticeable public outcry against the “brutal murders” on the treacherous roads/transport vehicles.

Of their own, the powers that be respond to the frequent tragic bus accidents quite characteristically — issuing Press statements expressing sympathy with the bereaved families, granting some financial assistance to the hapless victims’ kin, ordering a magisterial/judicial enquiry into the matter and finally shelving the report quietly to gather dust in official almirahs. The requisite remedial measures are seldom undertaken in an earnest bid to prevent the recurrence of fatal mishaps viz-a-viz the killer buses/roads.

The concerned minister quitting office on occasions of the type in question on moral grounds seems to have become a thing of the past, showing thereby that tragic mishaps no longer prick the conscience of the happy-go-lucky ministerial guys. How sad!

TARA CHAND
Ambota (Una)

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Justice at the doorstep

The opposition to the setting up of a permanent Bench of the State Administrative Tribunal at Dharamsala by Mr Chirag Bhanu Singh (July 18) seems to be borne out of a narrow and parochial outlook. In a welfare state justice should be available at the doorstep. Mr Singh, even though being a member of the legal cell of the HP Youth Congress, seems to be concerned with the fall of his clientage as a result of transfer of the cases about service matters of employees hailing from the lower areas of HP comprising Una, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Kulu, Lahaul-Spiti and Chamba districts to the Bench at Dharamsala. But he forgets that the inconvenience these clients face in covering long distances and staying at a very expensive place like Shimla for getting justice.

Regarding his suggestion to create a Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal at Shimla, the small number of Central government employees in the state do not justify its creation. Even otherwise, Chandigarh is very close to Shimla for the small number of employees.

We appreciate the measures being taken by the state government for the creation of a Bench of the tribunal at Dharamsala. The earlier the better. Rather it will be another progressive step if a Bench of the High Court is also created at Dharamsala for which there has been a long-standing demand.

R.L. SHARMA
Dharamsala