New mode of trade with India

AS trucks loaded with tomatoes crossed the border between Pakistan and India on October 1, it marked the revival of a forsaken mode after 60 years. A major breakthrough in confidence building measures as a prelude to much awaited comprehensive dialogue for the settlement of all outstanding disputes in the long drawn peace process launched way back in 2004, it has a significance of its own. For compared to other trade-related confidence measures thus far adopted, opening of this overland trade route was, indeed, a difficult nut to crack. Heavily militarised as Wagah/Attari border between the arch nuclear rivals happens to be, it required much more than merely a few rounds of talks between their political leaders alone. Needless to point out, the urge for reopening this trade route was inspired by the aspirations of businessmen on both sides of the border. Of course the will of the two governments was also very much there. Yet, understandably, the decision in the matter could not be rushed through because of the security concerns, on which there could not be any two opinions either. This was precisely why revival of the long abandoned trade route turned into a slow moving process. Some idea of its inevitability may, however, be had from the modalities chalked out at the technical level meeting held in August between the customs authorities of the two countries at Wagah, to allow cross-border movement of trucks up to the designated points from October 1, 2007.
The two sides agreed that trucks from one side would be allowed to go to designated points on the other side at the Wagah/Attari border for unloading cargo. They also agreed on the establishment of a hotline between the two customs authorities at the Wagah/Attari border. In the first stage, smaller trucks would be allowed to cross over to the other side. Reference, in this regard, may also be made to the decision to introduce a computerised single entry permit containing picture, ID of the driver, along with his name, address, licence number, and details of the vehicle to do away with the need for passport, visa and international driving licence. Evidently, to guard against all contingencies the technical officials also specified the colour of the jackets/vests the truck drivers would wear. It will thus be noted that going deep into minute details of security issues they put in their best efforts to make the route as safe as humanly possible. At the same they did not ignore the local problems, thereby prescribing also the manner to resolved them. All in all, revival of Wagah/Attari trade route should mean a happy augury for mutual trade between Pakistan and India to their increasing mutual advantage.

Burma — time for change

PRIMA facie, and by now, it looks unstoppable. By all accounts, the unfolding scenario in Myanmar is grim, but the ruling junta, alienated as it ever is from the people, fails to see the writing on the wall. The result is chaos, and more chaos; and, hopefully, from this chaos should emerge the final way forward for Myanmar: the path to freedom for its people, the restoration of the democratic process, and the installation of people’s governance. Clearly, the junta has lost its patience and is in no mood to wait and watch as there is added frenzy to the anti-military movement there. After the long lull, there apparently is the storm. When the people at the receiving end of the military mismanagement in Myanmar found the monks as a rallying point, the streets are suddenly live: live with demonstrations participated by thousands and thousands of people. Unfortunately for the junta, however, these demonstrations are peaceful; giving little scope for the trigger-happy soldiers to get into the firing mode. Yet, firing they did, as protests spilled onto the tenth consecutive day and the mass involvement snowballed into awesome proportions. The fact is, with every shot and every death, the junta is unwittingly adding fuel to the fire, and allowing the situation to get out of its control. This is the critical hour in which the Myanmarese are looking for support from around the world. This is time for China and India, in particular, to act. The two neighbours should have the sense to know that it will ultimately be the people’s power that will triumph in Burma — a land alienated from the rest of the world not simply by its bamboo curtains but also by the waywardness and muscle-flexing of the repressive military regime. Time now for the United Nations to show its relevance: above all, it has a solemn commitment to the memory of its former secretary general: U-Thant, the great son of Myanmar.
Clearly, sanctions have not had any effect on the junta so far. Implicit in it is the fact that softer options will not do. UN sending an envoy to monitor the situation is appreciable, but this should just be starting point for increased diplomatic pressure on the junta. Another round of statements by the US and other western powers, as are happening now, will alone not serve any purpose, either. The junta must know it cannot afford to carry on and on. The stage is set for a change. The regime should desist from holding out invitations to more deaths and more chaos. Fresh internationally-monitored elections leading to the installation of a popular government to lead Myanmar in the new century is the only workable way forward. An essential pre-requisite for this is the release of Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest.

—Arab News