DAWN Editorials - 22nd April 2025
Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2025 11:51 am
Dar in Kabul
THE recent visit to Kabul by Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is a sign that Pak-Afghan relations may be moving in a more positive direction.
Mr Dar’s interactions with the Afghan Taliban leadership were quite cordial, with promises from both sides to improve ties and address the irritants standing in the way of better relations. Ishaq Dar met the acting Afghan PM and the foreign minister, among other top officials. The Kabul authorities assured Pakistan that Afghan soil would not be used against this country, while Mr Dar expressed similar sentiments.
The high-level exchange comes after a period of relative turmoil, with both sides at times trading fire at the border, and Pakistan expressing frustration with the Taliban authorities for failing to neutralise the Afghanistan-based TTP.
From here, the warm smiles and promises to prevent hostile actors from harming either country must be translated into concrete efforts. Pakistan has suffered immensely due to TTP terrorism, and the state rightly feels that the Afghan Taliban have not done enough to prevent the terrorist group from attacking this country. That is why Kabul — as well as the Taliban high command in Kandahar — must ensure that the TTP and other anti-Pakistan groups are put out of business, and not able to harm Pakistan.
A recent BBC report has highlighted a disturbing fact: the banned TTP and other terrorist groups in Afghanistan have managed to acquire many of the weapons left behind by the Americans during their chaotic retreat in 2021. Both the US and the Afghan Taliban have a responsibility to ensure that terrorist groups are not able to access and use such sophisticated weaponry against Pakistan.
Mr Dar also said that border management and security issues would be addressed. As these unresolved issues have led to armed skirmishes between both states and frequent closures of frontier crossings, it is imperative that border disputes are resolved justly and speedily.
Moreover, Kabul called upon Pakistan to end the “mistreatment” of Afghan refugees that are being returned to their home country. Mr Dar promised to handle the returning Afghans with respect. While the repatriation process continues, Pakistan should treat these individuals with dignity, while Western states must speed up the process of accepting those Afghans that once worked for them, as they may face dangers to their life if sent back to their homeland.
On Kabul’s part, ensuring that no group based on its soil is able to harm Pakistan would be the biggest CBM, and lead to a vast improvement in ties. Islamabad, meanwhile, can build bridges with the Afghan side by handling the repatriation process in a more humane manner and listening to Kabul’s concerns regarding trade. Concentrating on these key areas can lead to a more normal and productive bilateral relationship.
Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2025
Ready to talk
ADVISER to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah’s phone calls to Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon regarding the planned construction of a new canal on the Indus to irrigate the desert in Cholistan should have come much earlier. The political challenge this contentious issue has created for the PPP in its bastion of rural Sindh, due to the PML-N’s refusal — until now — to discuss the planned canal, means that the party has little room to step back from its demand for the complete cancellation of the scheme without incurring significant political losses. The statement from Mr Memon’s office following Mr Sanaullah’s first call reaffirms the PPP’s position. Nevertheless, the federal government’s offer to resolve the concerns of the people of Sindh through dialogue is a welcome development. Both coalition partners should utilise the opportunity to discuss and evaluate the sensitive issue on its technical merits and in accordance with the procedures laid out in the Constitution. Had the PML-N leadership taken this step a few months earlier, the planned irrigation project might not have turned into another contentious ‘Kalabagh dam’ moment.
It is hard to dismiss the concerns of the people of Sindh over the project as they fear the Green Pakistan Initiative’s plan to develop new canals for corporate farmers could leave their province without water. Being the lower riparian, Sindh has seen its delta shrink, dozens of villages disappear, and tens of thousands of people displaced due to increasing seawater intrusion. Punjab’s claim that the canal will be fed by either the floodwaters from the Indian-controlled Sutlej or its own share of the Indus system is not supported by data. Most hydrologists have either opposed the scheme or at least called for an extensive study of the proposal before its execution. But the Shehbaz Sharif government had ignored criticism of the canal, even refusing to convene the CCI, the highest constitutional forum to adjudicate interprovincial disputes, for a decision. The offer for a dialogue notwithstanding, the chances of the PML-N yielding to the PPP demand and scrapping the planned canal appear very slim, given the strong backing of the project by the powers that be. Nevertheless, that bridge may become easier to cross if the PML-N and PPP are able to take a joint stand backed by a scientific study on the technical feasibility of the canal.
Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2025
Grassroots governance
WHEN something as basic as a functioning union council is absent in over a quarter of Balochistan’s areas more than two years after elections, it sends a clear message: local government there is not a priority. This neglect — by both the provincial government and the centre — severely undermines democracy at the grassroots and reinforces the perception that Balochistan remains peripheral to national policymaking. And yet, the situation is hardly unique to that province. Despite Article 140-A of the Constitution mandating LGs, and repeated Supreme Court directives, no province has fully embraced devolution. Instead, LG elections have been repeatedly delayed, underfunded, or rendered toothless. This is no accident. Both federal and provincial lawmakers view empowered LGs as a threat to their control over development funds and patronage networks. Consequently, a system intended to bring governance closer to the people is treated as expendable.
This short-sighted approach has had severe consequences. From waste management to basic education and water supply, service delivery across the country suffers because decision-making remains centralised. The 18th Amendment may have devolved powers to the provinces, but the devolution has not reached the districts and union councils where it is most needed. Pakistan’s urban challenges and rural underdevelopment alike stem from this democratic gap. Local bodies can help manage rapid urbanisation, promote inclusivity, and build resilience against disasters. Countries like China and South Korea have shown how empowering LGs can boost both human development and economic growth. Fixing this will require constitutional amendments that clearly define LG powers, ensure regular elections, and mandate direct elections for mayors and chairpersons. Provinces must also be held accountable through mechanisms like a strengthened provincial finance commission and grants tied to service delivery. Until we shift power closer to the people, our crises — from sanitation to schooling — will remain unresolved. The time for centralised control is over; it is time to govern from the grassroots.
Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2025
THE recent visit to Kabul by Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is a sign that Pak-Afghan relations may be moving in a more positive direction.
Mr Dar’s interactions with the Afghan Taliban leadership were quite cordial, with promises from both sides to improve ties and address the irritants standing in the way of better relations. Ishaq Dar met the acting Afghan PM and the foreign minister, among other top officials. The Kabul authorities assured Pakistan that Afghan soil would not be used against this country, while Mr Dar expressed similar sentiments.
The high-level exchange comes after a period of relative turmoil, with both sides at times trading fire at the border, and Pakistan expressing frustration with the Taliban authorities for failing to neutralise the Afghanistan-based TTP.
From here, the warm smiles and promises to prevent hostile actors from harming either country must be translated into concrete efforts. Pakistan has suffered immensely due to TTP terrorism, and the state rightly feels that the Afghan Taliban have not done enough to prevent the terrorist group from attacking this country. That is why Kabul — as well as the Taliban high command in Kandahar — must ensure that the TTP and other anti-Pakistan groups are put out of business, and not able to harm Pakistan.
A recent BBC report has highlighted a disturbing fact: the banned TTP and other terrorist groups in Afghanistan have managed to acquire many of the weapons left behind by the Americans during their chaotic retreat in 2021. Both the US and the Afghan Taliban have a responsibility to ensure that terrorist groups are not able to access and use such sophisticated weaponry against Pakistan.
Mr Dar also said that border management and security issues would be addressed. As these unresolved issues have led to armed skirmishes between both states and frequent closures of frontier crossings, it is imperative that border disputes are resolved justly and speedily.
Moreover, Kabul called upon Pakistan to end the “mistreatment” of Afghan refugees that are being returned to their home country. Mr Dar promised to handle the returning Afghans with respect. While the repatriation process continues, Pakistan should treat these individuals with dignity, while Western states must speed up the process of accepting those Afghans that once worked for them, as they may face dangers to their life if sent back to their homeland.
On Kabul’s part, ensuring that no group based on its soil is able to harm Pakistan would be the biggest CBM, and lead to a vast improvement in ties. Islamabad, meanwhile, can build bridges with the Afghan side by handling the repatriation process in a more humane manner and listening to Kabul’s concerns regarding trade. Concentrating on these key areas can lead to a more normal and productive bilateral relationship.
Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2025
Ready to talk
ADVISER to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah’s phone calls to Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon regarding the planned construction of a new canal on the Indus to irrigate the desert in Cholistan should have come much earlier. The political challenge this contentious issue has created for the PPP in its bastion of rural Sindh, due to the PML-N’s refusal — until now — to discuss the planned canal, means that the party has little room to step back from its demand for the complete cancellation of the scheme without incurring significant political losses. The statement from Mr Memon’s office following Mr Sanaullah’s first call reaffirms the PPP’s position. Nevertheless, the federal government’s offer to resolve the concerns of the people of Sindh through dialogue is a welcome development. Both coalition partners should utilise the opportunity to discuss and evaluate the sensitive issue on its technical merits and in accordance with the procedures laid out in the Constitution. Had the PML-N leadership taken this step a few months earlier, the planned irrigation project might not have turned into another contentious ‘Kalabagh dam’ moment.
It is hard to dismiss the concerns of the people of Sindh over the project as they fear the Green Pakistan Initiative’s plan to develop new canals for corporate farmers could leave their province without water. Being the lower riparian, Sindh has seen its delta shrink, dozens of villages disappear, and tens of thousands of people displaced due to increasing seawater intrusion. Punjab’s claim that the canal will be fed by either the floodwaters from the Indian-controlled Sutlej or its own share of the Indus system is not supported by data. Most hydrologists have either opposed the scheme or at least called for an extensive study of the proposal before its execution. But the Shehbaz Sharif government had ignored criticism of the canal, even refusing to convene the CCI, the highest constitutional forum to adjudicate interprovincial disputes, for a decision. The offer for a dialogue notwithstanding, the chances of the PML-N yielding to the PPP demand and scrapping the planned canal appear very slim, given the strong backing of the project by the powers that be. Nevertheless, that bridge may become easier to cross if the PML-N and PPP are able to take a joint stand backed by a scientific study on the technical feasibility of the canal.
Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2025
Grassroots governance
WHEN something as basic as a functioning union council is absent in over a quarter of Balochistan’s areas more than two years after elections, it sends a clear message: local government there is not a priority. This neglect — by both the provincial government and the centre — severely undermines democracy at the grassroots and reinforces the perception that Balochistan remains peripheral to national policymaking. And yet, the situation is hardly unique to that province. Despite Article 140-A of the Constitution mandating LGs, and repeated Supreme Court directives, no province has fully embraced devolution. Instead, LG elections have been repeatedly delayed, underfunded, or rendered toothless. This is no accident. Both federal and provincial lawmakers view empowered LGs as a threat to their control over development funds and patronage networks. Consequently, a system intended to bring governance closer to the people is treated as expendable.
This short-sighted approach has had severe consequences. From waste management to basic education and water supply, service delivery across the country suffers because decision-making remains centralised. The 18th Amendment may have devolved powers to the provinces, but the devolution has not reached the districts and union councils where it is most needed. Pakistan’s urban challenges and rural underdevelopment alike stem from this democratic gap. Local bodies can help manage rapid urbanisation, promote inclusivity, and build resilience against disasters. Countries like China and South Korea have shown how empowering LGs can boost both human development and economic growth. Fixing this will require constitutional amendments that clearly define LG powers, ensure regular elections, and mandate direct elections for mayors and chairpersons. Provinces must also be held accountable through mechanisms like a strengthened provincial finance commission and grants tied to service delivery. Until we shift power closer to the people, our crises — from sanitation to schooling — will remain unresolved. The time for centralised control is over; it is time to govern from the grassroots.
Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2025