DAWN Editorials - 11th April 2025
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2025 12:54 pm
Balochistan outreach
THE problems of Balochistan are “political and must be resolved through political means”.
This view, espoused by PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif during a recent meeting with National Party chief and former Balochistan chief minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch in Lahore, is shared by many in Pakistan who wish to see a peaceful and just resolution to the troubled province’s crises. And coming from the leader of a party which currently heads the federal government, while also representing Pakistan’s politically most powerful province, makes the statement more relevant.
Some observe — and not without reason — that the civilian leadership has little actual say in the state’s Balochistan policy. That is why it is even more important for politicians to assert themselves and speak up at this critical time in favour of a political solution for Balochistan.
The elder Sharif also reportedly said that he would speak to the prime minister as well as “other relevant authorities” to help resolve the Balochistan imbroglio. The fact is that it is actually the ‘other authorities’, particularly those in Rawalpindi, that need to be convinced by the political elite that the troubled province’s issues cannot be resolved militarily alone, and that without meaningful political engagement the insurgency cannot be defeated.
The fact that Mr Nawaz Sharif has become involved is also relevant as he was on good political terms with former Balochistan chief minister Sardar Ataullah Mengal, whose son Akhtar Mengal is currently camped outside Quetta in protest, calling for the release of political prisoners. Though the establishment may have the upper hand in the current set-up, Mr Sharif can use his influence to persuade it to let the politicians take the lead in resolving Balochistan’s conundrum. In fact, all mainstream parties must unite over this existential matter and initiate a process of reconciliation and dialogue in the province.
Dr Malik Baloch’s efforts must also be encouraged: unless the administration engages with credible politicians such as the NP leader, Mr Mengal and other moderate nationalists, the last remaining link between those in the province that believe in the constitutional process and the state will eventually break. This would give extremist elements and separatists a fillip, spelling immense trouble for the federation.
The window for a peaceful settlement to the Balochistan problem may close soon. The state needs to show magnanimity and vision. It can start by releasing all political prisoners and removing obstacles in the way of political activity in the province. Terrorists must be dealt with firmly. But engaging in political activity cannot be equated with terrorism. These CBMs can pave the way for a dialogue on ensuring Balochistan’s constitutional and economic rights, and ushering in representative political rule. The clock is ticking.
Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2025
PSL season
THE build-up to the 10th season of the Pakistan Super League, cricket’s most lucrative product in the country, has hardly been ideal.
This season marks a decade since the inception of the league that had earlier been transformational for the sport in Pakistan. But it begins today amid concerns that cricket in the country has touched an all-time low, with the national team consistently underperforming and a war of words raging between franchise owners over the PSL’s standing.
Pakistan have been struggling internationally for several months now — be it at the Champions Trophy they hosted or the New Zealand series, which ended with skipper Mohammad Rizwan stating that the players would try to do better in the PSL.
However, the PSL — once Pakistan’s springboard to success at the international level, and a platform for budding players who would go on to become the national team’s stars — is no longer the same competition it was in its earlier iterations.
It also does not have international players of the same calibre as before, thanks largely to the fact that it runs at the same time as the Indian Premier League. It has meant that PSL sides will make do with international players not picked in the IPL draft, former Australian opener David Warner among them. The mood has also been dampened due to Pakistan’s own star names floundering at recent international matches.
Furthermore, there are doubts over the PSL’s overall standing. Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen questioned the claim of the Pakistan Cricket Board that the upcoming season of the PSL would be the biggest, stating it was more of the same. It prompted a strong rebuke from his Karachi Kings counterpart Salman Iqbal before Mr Tareen clarified he was worried about the league’s stagnation. He spoke about the need to make it an international brand, but it is evident with the PSL’s scheduling this season that it is not drawing global attention as it runs in the shadow of the IPL.
That should not, however, in any way diminish its status as Pakistan’s most entertaining sports product, one that paved the way for the return of international cricket to the country. The current season, though, should pave the way to make the PSL bigger and better.
Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2025
Student woes
BRIGHT young Pakistanis face an uncertain future in the US. The Trump administration, not content with merely terrorising foreign students with visa revocations and deportations for expressing criticism of Israel and its genocidal campaign in Palestine, has also taken an axe to academic exchange and scholarship programmes that had for ages made America an aspirational higher education destination for the Pakistani intelligentsia. According to recent reports, the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan has formally shut down the 15-year-old Global Undergraduate Exchange Programme for Pakistan. The future of its Fulbright Programme is also in doubt, owing to an extended funding freeze imposed by the new administration in February. Students already in America on Fulbright scholarships have not been receiving their stipends owing to the same funding ‘pause’, which has likely made it difficult, if not impossible, for many to continue living and studying in that country. They will find themselves in limbo if Washington decides to pull the plug.
It is, of course, up to the US government to spend its money however it sees fit. It would have been better, obviously, if it allowed foreign students already enrolled in American universities to complete their education without placing an unanticipated financial burden on them. But such decency seems to be in short supply in these troubled times. Exceptional Pakistani students hoping to study abroad should not lose heart, though. There are many excellent universities in other countries where students can still pursue their academic goals while contributing positively to their host countries and institutions. Many of them offer generous scholarships to Pakistani students. It is also hoped that other countries will fill the void being created by the Trump administration. Young Pakistanis have repeatedly proven that they possess some of the brightest minds in the world. Inviting them to study will nurture a lasting relationship with Pakistan’s future generations and shape their worldview in positive directions.
Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2025
THE problems of Balochistan are “political and must be resolved through political means”.
This view, espoused by PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif during a recent meeting with National Party chief and former Balochistan chief minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch in Lahore, is shared by many in Pakistan who wish to see a peaceful and just resolution to the troubled province’s crises. And coming from the leader of a party which currently heads the federal government, while also representing Pakistan’s politically most powerful province, makes the statement more relevant.
Some observe — and not without reason — that the civilian leadership has little actual say in the state’s Balochistan policy. That is why it is even more important for politicians to assert themselves and speak up at this critical time in favour of a political solution for Balochistan.
The elder Sharif also reportedly said that he would speak to the prime minister as well as “other relevant authorities” to help resolve the Balochistan imbroglio. The fact is that it is actually the ‘other authorities’, particularly those in Rawalpindi, that need to be convinced by the political elite that the troubled province’s issues cannot be resolved militarily alone, and that without meaningful political engagement the insurgency cannot be defeated.
The fact that Mr Nawaz Sharif has become involved is also relevant as he was on good political terms with former Balochistan chief minister Sardar Ataullah Mengal, whose son Akhtar Mengal is currently camped outside Quetta in protest, calling for the release of political prisoners. Though the establishment may have the upper hand in the current set-up, Mr Sharif can use his influence to persuade it to let the politicians take the lead in resolving Balochistan’s conundrum. In fact, all mainstream parties must unite over this existential matter and initiate a process of reconciliation and dialogue in the province.
Dr Malik Baloch’s efforts must also be encouraged: unless the administration engages with credible politicians such as the NP leader, Mr Mengal and other moderate nationalists, the last remaining link between those in the province that believe in the constitutional process and the state will eventually break. This would give extremist elements and separatists a fillip, spelling immense trouble for the federation.
The window for a peaceful settlement to the Balochistan problem may close soon. The state needs to show magnanimity and vision. It can start by releasing all political prisoners and removing obstacles in the way of political activity in the province. Terrorists must be dealt with firmly. But engaging in political activity cannot be equated with terrorism. These CBMs can pave the way for a dialogue on ensuring Balochistan’s constitutional and economic rights, and ushering in representative political rule. The clock is ticking.
Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2025
PSL season
THE build-up to the 10th season of the Pakistan Super League, cricket’s most lucrative product in the country, has hardly been ideal.
This season marks a decade since the inception of the league that had earlier been transformational for the sport in Pakistan. But it begins today amid concerns that cricket in the country has touched an all-time low, with the national team consistently underperforming and a war of words raging between franchise owners over the PSL’s standing.
Pakistan have been struggling internationally for several months now — be it at the Champions Trophy they hosted or the New Zealand series, which ended with skipper Mohammad Rizwan stating that the players would try to do better in the PSL.
However, the PSL — once Pakistan’s springboard to success at the international level, and a platform for budding players who would go on to become the national team’s stars — is no longer the same competition it was in its earlier iterations.
It also does not have international players of the same calibre as before, thanks largely to the fact that it runs at the same time as the Indian Premier League. It has meant that PSL sides will make do with international players not picked in the IPL draft, former Australian opener David Warner among them. The mood has also been dampened due to Pakistan’s own star names floundering at recent international matches.
Furthermore, there are doubts over the PSL’s overall standing. Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen questioned the claim of the Pakistan Cricket Board that the upcoming season of the PSL would be the biggest, stating it was more of the same. It prompted a strong rebuke from his Karachi Kings counterpart Salman Iqbal before Mr Tareen clarified he was worried about the league’s stagnation. He spoke about the need to make it an international brand, but it is evident with the PSL’s scheduling this season that it is not drawing global attention as it runs in the shadow of the IPL.
That should not, however, in any way diminish its status as Pakistan’s most entertaining sports product, one that paved the way for the return of international cricket to the country. The current season, though, should pave the way to make the PSL bigger and better.
Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2025
Student woes
BRIGHT young Pakistanis face an uncertain future in the US. The Trump administration, not content with merely terrorising foreign students with visa revocations and deportations for expressing criticism of Israel and its genocidal campaign in Palestine, has also taken an axe to academic exchange and scholarship programmes that had for ages made America an aspirational higher education destination for the Pakistani intelligentsia. According to recent reports, the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan has formally shut down the 15-year-old Global Undergraduate Exchange Programme for Pakistan. The future of its Fulbright Programme is also in doubt, owing to an extended funding freeze imposed by the new administration in February. Students already in America on Fulbright scholarships have not been receiving their stipends owing to the same funding ‘pause’, which has likely made it difficult, if not impossible, for many to continue living and studying in that country. They will find themselves in limbo if Washington decides to pull the plug.
It is, of course, up to the US government to spend its money however it sees fit. It would have been better, obviously, if it allowed foreign students already enrolled in American universities to complete their education without placing an unanticipated financial burden on them. But such decency seems to be in short supply in these troubled times. Exceptional Pakistani students hoping to study abroad should not lose heart, though. There are many excellent universities in other countries where students can still pursue their academic goals while contributing positively to their host countries and institutions. Many of them offer generous scholarships to Pakistani students. It is also hoped that other countries will fill the void being created by the Trump administration. Young Pakistanis have repeatedly proven that they possess some of the brightest minds in the world. Inviting them to study will nurture a lasting relationship with Pakistan’s future generations and shape their worldview in positive directions.
Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2025