[Reader-list] Afghan peace dependent on long-term political measures- 184

[Taha Mehmood]

Dear All,

Why does it appears to one, that if not the people, then surely the
leaders and the proponents of national identity cards are parroting
the same set of arguments in country after country?

Please have a look at what, Shabana Fayyaz, Assistant Professor at
Quaid-i-Azam University, had to say to about measures, to achieve
long-lasting peace in Afganistan. Shabana cites Pakistan's own case as
an example by suggesting, 'Pakistan took various measures to counter
terrorism including the introduction of anti-terror laws, detainment
of radical activists, high-level training for security personnel, and
launching of computerised national identity cards and digital
passports.'

Are we to applaud now that since these measures are in place there is
no terrorism in Pakistan OR terrorism is declining in Pakistan OR all
terrorists are identified in Pakistan OR all terrorists could be
identified in Pakistan OR the state of Pakistan knows who is who (as
the whole world saw the promptness with which officials of NADRA
identified Kasab)?

Can someone kindly explain to readers of this list, what exactly is
the relationship between terrorists and identity cards?

Maybe if we look back we could perhaps get a sense of where these
ideas are coming from. We don't have to look too far.

In India, during the colonial rule, when these paddy's and tan's were
trying to rule as the worthy officers of the Empire, they were moving
into an known territory. They had to rule. To rule they had to know
who is who. Who is good. Who is bad. How to handle bad people. Somehow
they were under an impression that few of India are born criminals.
Maybe they assumed that if India they have born shit-cleaners and born
learned men, so why not criminals?  Therefore they started a
procedure, that from birth till death, all these born criminals
belonging to the -criminal tribes- had to be registered with the local
police station. Every time a member to the -tribe- had to move to a
nearby village, he/she first has to go to the local thana and obtain a
written permission of the thanedar and upon subsequent arrival at the
next village he/she must show the permission to the thanedar of that
village. If one were to fail to follow this procedure then one was
liable to be flogged- fifty times. Jolly Good! Wasn't it!!!

All members of all criminal tribes had to have some sort of an
identification document on their person, if they were moving in and
about, any area which was outside their homes. More ever, the
enlightened officers of the empire also started a worthy practice
called -godna-, tatooing through a needle,  which involved branding on
the forehead, or on the back, with signs or texts, to prominently
identify the person belonging to the -criminal tribe-

Needless to say, this rule was illogical. Needless to say it is
inhuman to track all the people of a community from their cradle to
their grave, in such a manner or in any manner. Needless to say not a
single person on this earth is a born criminal. So this practice was
universally condemned and not allowed. If it made sense to people in
power fifty years ago, then is it not that with NIC, all the so called
legitimate citizens of this world could perhaps be made into
-criminals- of some sort. Because now you have to carry the card all
the time. Now you have to tell them who are you. And even if you tell
them you are you and not show the card then, they might believe you?
You will still be under suspicion, would you not be?

Is it not weird  to be asked to prove your innocence, when the law
says, you are innocent until proven guilty? Are the governments all
over not over-turning one of the basic tenants of natural law which
gives us a right to assume innocence and be above suspicion?

With the coming up of national identity cards-, is not the
entanglement of knowledge, power and the idea of modernity, with it's
desire to have a precise written record, a code-able and an enduring
history has again come to the fore? Could one not see that, in its
desire to number one and number all, the inherent  anxieties of the
leaders of modern nation states are being demonstrated in perhaps the
same amplitude as the nervousness which was perhaps expressed by the
benevolent, far-sighted, and kind leaders of the colonial project?

Please read the story below of the extremely insightful attributes of
NIC and other counter-terrorism measures.

Warm regards

Taha
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=190425

Afghan peace dependent on long-term political measures

Afghan peace dependent on long-term political measures
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Noor Aftab

Islamabad

There is a need for long-term political and strategic measures for
sustainable peace in Afghanistan, as even an outright military victory
over insurgents cannot ensure stability in the war-torn country.

This was stated by Governor NWFP Awais Ahmad Ghani while addressing an
international conference on �Strategic Stability in South-West Asia in
the Wake of New US Policy for the Region�, organised by Foundation for
Peace here Tuesday.

The governor said the Afghan government has been facing various
challenges that need concerted efforts on part of all stakeholders, as
this is the only way to overcome the increasing insurgency in that
part of the world.

Referring to the ongoing military operation in FATA, he said the
government has no other option but to restore its writ in all areas,
as the militants could not be allowed to maintain their own rule
anywhere in the country. �We have a young nation with great potential
that needs the right opportunity to utilise its talent,� he said.

Shabana Fayyaz, Assistant Professor at Quaid-i-Azam University, said
counter-terrorism is essentially a teamwork and requires long-term
multi-dimensional policies at national, regional and global level. �A
pro-active and preventive counter-terrorism policy on sustainable
grounds enlisting public support can be a way out of the terrorism
challenge that is posing an equal threat to Pakistan and the world at
large,� she said.

She said Pakistan took various measures to counter terrorism including
the introduction of anti-terror laws, detainment of radical activists,
high-level training for security personnel, and launching of
computerised national identity cards and digital passports.

Dr Ishtiaq Ahmad, Associate Professor at Quaid-i-Azam University, said
violent non-state actors are engaged in terrorist activities but
unfortunately, India has been doing nothing except levelling
allegations against Pakistan. He claimed that Prime Minister Yusuf
Raza Gilani handed over a dossier to his Indian counterpart in Sharm
el Shaikh, indicating alleged India�s involvement in terrorist
incidents in Pakistan.

�Neither India nor Pakistan can afford the luxury of pursuing such a
peace process that can only produce cosmetic results,� he said adding
that India is yet to provide any solid proof of the alleged
involvement of any Pakistani outfit in Mumbai terrorist attacks and
now it is a ripe time to make concerted efforts to contain non-state
actors.

Simbal Khan, a strategic analyst, said the US-NATO regional strategy
would focus on Pak-Afghan bilateral ties and launching of broad
multilateral initiatives for restoring peace in Afghanistan. She said
the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and Afghanistan Action
Plan have called for joint operation to combat terrorism, and curb
drug trafficking and organised crimes. Simbal said they also committed
to providing an expanded programme for training drug agencies,
combating drug money laundering and improving border control.

Gen (r) Ahsanul Haq, former chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee,
said NATO has been expanding its role beyond Europe, as they are under
an impression that it should have a larger role in the efforts to curb
terrorism.

Dr Rasul Bakhsh Raees, Professor at LUMS, said the international
community should make efforts for rebuilding Afghanistan, promoting
national reconciliation and ensuring stability in the war-torn
country.