New US Military Strategy

For the first time in seven years, the United States has announced a revised military strategy. In the new strategy, the United States has expressed determination to continue cooperation with Pakistan to eliminate Al-Qai'da and other militant forces. Under the new strategy, the United States has also assured cooperation to solve problems with Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam.

A statement issued by the Pentagon in this connection states that Al-Qai'da's senior leadership is present in Pakistan and planning to attack the United States and its allies. The statement also says that terrorism has now become an international threat and joint measures will have to be taken to deal with it.

The new strategy has been prepared by Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. It points out steps how US interests can be safeguarded all over the world. It may be added that the United States had earlier released national military strategy in 2004.

Encouraging Policy
The revised strategy is encouraging, as it expresses determination to continue cooperation with several countries, including Pakistan. The global cooperation is the best strategy to overcome the menace of terrorism. It is a fact that terrorism can be eliminated and a peaceful international society established only if concerted efforts are made against the monster. However, the US insistence that senior Al-Qai'da leadership is present in Pakistan is not correct. Pakistan has stated on several times that although terrorists are present in the country in shape of extremists and the Taliban, and Al-Qai'da supporters may also be hiding here; but Al-Qai'da leadership is not present on its soil. But, in spite of this, US insistence in this regard is regrettable.

What else can be a bigger proof of the presence of terrorists in Pakistan that acts of terrorism are frequently taking place in the country causing huge loss of life and property? It was just on 9 February that four bomb explosions took place in Gujranwala (a town in Punjab Province). However, only one person was injured in the explosions. A day later, a suicide attack in Mardan (a town in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa Province) killed 35 persons and injured several others. Therefore, how it is possible for Pakistan, which itself is a victim of terrorism, to provide shelter to Al-Qai'da on its soil? Hence, the US Administration should know all ground realities before hurling such allegations on Pakistan, so that such statements could not lead to creating differences between the two countries.

Interests of International Community
However, the fresh US strategy rightly states that terrorism has become a global threat now and concerted efforts will have to be made to deal with it. Therefore, the United States should, through its new strategy, mobilize the international community to deal with the menace. For this purpose, it is necessary that those countries, which are playing a role in the war on terror, should be fully supported, so that the financial losses they are suffering in this regard could be made up to some extent.

However, in the new strategy, it cannot be acceptable for the international community that US interests must be safeguarded across the world. This strategy can cause dissent among world nations; therefore, instead of protecting the interests of only the United States, the interests and protection of the entire international community should be ensured as a whole. And being the world superpower, the biggest responsibility in this regard lies on the United States.

Electoral Reforms

Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily has suggested that with a view to preventing black money, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) should get the accounts of all political parties audited. Speaking at a seminar on 'Regional Consultation for Electoral Reforms,' in Chandigarh, he made this proposal, which was supported even by Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Qureshi.

Taking Moily's proposal even further, Qureshi stressed that getting the accounts of all political parties audited by the CAG would reveal the sources from where the money came as also on what it was spent. He further opined that all transactions during the election campaign should be made through checks. He felt that all political parties should reveal their assets to the public. He also stressed the need of prevention of violence at polling booths.

Importance and Significance
It is well nigh impossible to conjecture how far political parties are serious and agreeable to the proposals made by Veerappa Moily and S.Y. Qureshi, and how much support would they extend to bring transparency to the election process and regulations. It is because it would amount to most political parties cutting the same branch of the tree they are sitting on.

All political parties and their candidates contesting election spent huge sums of money in different ways during electioneering. They spent money like throwing it down the drain, and by luring voters with dubious tactics, attempt to mislead them. In such a scenario, it is clearly difficult for any party to agree seriously and with good intention with the proposals put up by Moily and Qureshi. Yet, it no way reduces the importance and the significance of these proposals because, in the list of sections responsible for the increasing corruption, politicians and bureaucrats are on the top.

The causes of corruption among bureaucrats is another matter for debate but as far as corruption indulged in by politicians is concerned, one of the reason is the shortcoming in the electoral system. Among them is the issue of criminalization of politics and that of those who contest an election on the force of the wealth at their command. These politicians use the money earned through underhand means and illegally, without any hitch. Yet only a few politicians fall into the grip of law. It is because the rules and regulations pertaining to election are neither much effective nor strong.

Grip of Law
If any politician does fall into the grip of the law, they get acquitted honorably because of the weak laws and ineffective regulations. Thus, the game plan of using the ill-gotten money in elections continues unabated.

The Election Commission, on its part, has initiated some measures in recent past, but the problem remains that the Election Commission has to function under its own sphere of work and authority. It makes it clear that unless legislatures which comprise politicians who reach the House after winning an election, do not initiate measures to end the shortcomings, one cannot hope for any change.

Impartiality and Transparency
Under such circumstances, it is necessary that all political parties reach some kind of a consensus outside parliament and prepare such a draft for electoral reforms, which would be binding on parties to support inside the legislative body. Legal luminaries may also be got involved while drafting the proposed bill for electoral reforms so that there may not be any lacunae that would be utilized by those contesting election.

The judiciary and the Election Commission should also play a role within their bounds, in this regard. As for the proposal put up by Moily regarding accounts of political parties checked by the CAG, the impartiality and transparency of the CAG would have to be ensured, prior to giving this responsibility.

Omar Abdullah's Concept of Autonomy for Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been repeatedly saying that Kashmir is a political problem, and it could not be solve through economic measures. He says mere economic packages would not help.

Omar Abdullah's tone and tenor shows he is proud of efforts to find a political solution. Omar says he said this openly even before Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh that power supply in Kashmir cannot solve the issue. A political solution has to be found for a political problem.

Need For Political Solution
Some political observers feel Omar Abdullah has not said anything new, whereas others feel that by avoiding calling Kashmir an integral part of India, Omar Abdullah has been creating doubts in the mind of the federal government. Some leaders of Omar Abdullah's party consider his attitude as dangerous. This time, by talking of the need for a political solution recently the chief minister has shown that he did not mind openly expressing his views.

No one protests when Omar Abdullah talks of a political solution. One has to agree with him that power and water supply cannot resolve the Kashmir issue. However, there are doubts that his boldness may cost him dearly. The reason is that there are many people in New Delhi who consider Jammu and Kashmir to be an economic and not a political problem. They feel people have been agitating for basic economic necessities and not for right to self-determination or autonomy. Such elements can be angry with the chief minister.

Demand of Situation
As far as Omar Abdullah is concerned, he finds it in his favor that Home Minister P. Chidambaram has already said that Kashmir is a unique problem, which needs to be solved politically. The differences between the chief minister and separatists are no secret. Their stands are poles apart.

However, they must have been impressed by what Omar Abdullah has said. At the same time, communal leaders in India may dub Omar Abdullah as a separatist.It can well be asked from Omar Abdullah what is his concept of autonomy, on the basis of which he has been demanding a political solution.