WEEKENDE
The
R 19 Oct-25 Oct 2019
Traditions of merit
Brigadier S Shujah H Khurazmi (Retd)
assesses the inherent decency of
Pakistani youth
I
n Pakistan the general trend is to cas-
tigate the younger generation and to
portray it as alien to the lofty traditions
followed by earlier generations. It is not
out of ordinary for the senior generation to
underrate their following generation but any
assessment must be based on reality and in
its true perspective. Just following the laid
down trend is certainly a travesty of justice
and fairplay.
My alma mater Zamindar College in Gujrat
carried an exemplary reputation amongst the
places of learning in the country and deserv-
edly so as it produced outstanding citizens.
When I came back after completing my pro-
fessional career I was informed that Zamindar
College has lost its lustre and that most of its
Rescue efforts
Comment 14
students belonging to the new generation are
not serious about their studies and lack disci-
pline. They were reported to be loitering on
the roads and were reported to be engaged in
uncalled activities. Of course one feels sorry
about the decay in standards whether moral,
social or academic and it displeases the older
generation to no end.
Amidst the depressing reports of student
behaviour emerged a report of gutting of a
commercial centre in the city with its fire
raging far and wide. It was then reported that
when students of Zamindar College got to
know of the mishap they rushed towards the
scene of occurrence and in the absence of civ-
ic firefighting services plunged headlong res-
cuing the victims. They were totally oblivious
of the perilous dangers of getting into the rag-
ing fire, falling debris and billowing smoke.
When they were told to refrain from put-
ting their lives into danger they replied that
Zamindar College Gujrat
death is a reality that cannot be avoided and of my alma mater are certainly much more
that they want to die for a cause. The valour prominent than the rather mundane one
and sacrifice hidden in the spirit of these that should be ignored. Their goodness is far
youngsters revived my spirit that had earlier weightier than anything other exhibited by
sagged when I was informed about their way- them at times.
ward behaviour. My faith in the purposeful- I can say with confidence now that the
ness of the younger generation revived man- new generation is blessed with the equal
ifold. Their excellent action made me to think measure of merit that it has inherited. It is ac-
that the present generation has been an im- tually the falsity of the yardstick to measure
provement on us because we thought about the efficacy of their spirit that is primarily
the welfare of our country but they are willing the cause of wrong assessment. What is re-
to practically do so. quired therefore is the review of the norms
My faith was not only restored but rose of performance and behaviour that have also
high because it dawned on me that human evolved with time and though may be unusual
being is a combination of low and high and for earlier generation but must be relevant to
it is imperative to his positive aspects of his the current one. What is needed is change in
character and performance. It is now my firm outlook and that would certainly repose more
belief that the loftier aspects of the students trust in the viability of the younger genera-
tion.
It is probably the lack of appropriate re-
view of the difference of attitudes in succes-
sive generations that gives rise to generation-
al discrepancies whereas in actual fact our
youth is as worthy of our traditions as any
new generation could be. I personally feel
satisfied that the Pakistani youth is traversing
the right course and will surely prove benefi-
cial to his social milieu. I am also sure that the
country will remain safe in the hands of the
new generation as it is equally cognisant of its
responsibility and duty.
This is a very satisfying prospect that puts
to rest all anxieties one can have about one’s
system and country. I can now vouch with a
tremendous pleasure of trust and equanimi-
ty that the Pakistani youth is second to none
and given a chance it has the uncanny ability
to work wonders. It is however our duty as
the older generation to keep on guiding our
youngsters and give them everything that we
have inherited from our seniors. We should
inculcate in them the pride of the achieve-
ments of our elders and should also keep
them abreast with what is expected of them.
It is a good omen that we have a motivated
youth that fortunately constitutes a majority
of the population of Pakistan. TW
Brigadier S Shujah H Khurazmi (Retd) had
a distinguished career in law enforcement
and now is a social activist
Raging fire
WEEKENDE
The
R 19 Oct-25 Oct 2019
Current celebrations
around 31,000 innocent souls. Not only in-
tra-Afghan settlement is outstanding but also
the Durand line – the straggling, perplexing,
outrageous border more than 1,400 miles in
length which Sir Mortimer Durand drew in
1893 between British India now Pakistan
and Afghanistan. sThe line, like all colonial
frontiers, bisected people, tribes, families.
It divided the home of the Pashtun people –
Pashtunistan – and today’s Taliban are Pash-
tuns. Now that’s something to reflect upon. If
Pashtunistan ever exists as a state, it will take
part of Afghanistan and part of Pakistan to
create it.
Under the pressure of the military estab-
lishment US president Trump abandoned the
possible peace agreement between the US
and Taliban but the first US-Taliban meeting
after the collapse of the peace talks was held
in Islamabad last week when both US and
Taliban officials visited the Pakistani capital.
Diplomatic sources in Washington say that
Pakistan is also playing a key role in these
talks that aim to end the 18-year old Afghan
war. Early this month, Pakistan hosted US
Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban
leader Mullah Baradar.
ISIS in Afghanistan
Doha talks
Although both sides said they were in Is-
lamabad for separate talks with Pakistani of-
ficials, media reports claimed that Khalilzad
held separate talks with Mullah Baradar as
well and their senior aides also participated
in this meeting. The discontinuation of talk
drew criticism and Rick Olson, a former US
Special Representative for Afghanistan and
Pakistan, who has disagreed with US Presi-
dent Donald Trump’s claim last month that
talks with the Taliban were dead. He rated
Trump’s declaration that the talks were dead
was rhetorical overkill and stated that the
structural conditions — a deteriorating stale-
mate — have not changed, so both sides need
to talk.
Laurel Miller, who was the acting special
representative for Afghanistan from 2013 to
2017, believes that the United States needs to
take the lead in resuming the peace process.
He says that the US is going to have to find a
way to demonstrate, both to the parties in Af-
ghanistan but also to the important countries
in the region, that it is still serious about ne-
gotiating and that it is not simply fickle.
There is hardly any doubt though that
the peace in Afghanistan has remained elu-
sive despite several recent efforts to find a
negotiated settlement to this complex issue.
US officials told various media outlets that a
reduction in violence could be modeled on
the cease-fire that took place in June 2018,
to enable Afghans to celebrate Eidul Fitr. The
three-day cease-fire allowed Afghan rivals to
meet each other and rekindled their desire
for peace. To re-create that atmosphere both
sides have also suggested a prisoner swap.
Comment 19
The Durrand Line
This would include the US side releasing Anas entitled to verify.
Haqqani, a high-ranking member of the Tali- It all deals with the American “nation-
ban-affiliated Haqqani network. In exchange, al interest”: bring Trump’s boys back home
the Taliban would give up two professors, an and cross our fingers that the good old let-
American and an Australian, who were kid- bygones-be-bygones Taliban will crush
napped on their way home from teaching at the thousands of Isis fighters prowling the
the American University of Afghanistan in deserts and mountains of Afghanistan and
2016. thus prevent them striking at mainland US
Yet another suggestion, being discussed in a second version of 9/11. The problem is
in US-Taliban meetings, is to revive a deal what was discussed in Doha is wrapped in
that both said were ready for signing before suspense and Pakistan would want to know
President Trump cancelled the ceremony. what is contained in there. Even the Kabul
The proposed deal calls for the withdrawal of regime would want to know the details. Cur-
about 5,000 US troops within 135 days after rently there is nothing visible except the on-
it is signed. The remaining 10,000 US troops going violence. TW
would be pulled out within a year after the
deal is signed. In return, the Taliban would re- Schehram Siddiqi is an industrialist based
nounce all ties to Al Qaeda, a process the US is in Lahore
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