seeking stability in Asia

Talking about stability in south-Asia without mentioning Afghanistan is like staging Shakespear’s Hamlet without the prince of Denmark. 

Today Afghanistan has become a bone of contention in every international debate.

On one side, in different forums, there is a demand to end the assault on the innocent habitants and let the people find their discourse- themselves. And on the other side, people vow to take the war to another level before they start their retreat, next year.

History stands behind the Afghans. They have never undergone any foreign dominance and have always fought for their liberty. This needs to be kept in mind while forming a policy to tackle Talibans.

The war was started by the bush administration to avenge 9/11. But the perpetrators of 9/11 are still at large, may be hatching similar coup, and the US is running after the Kabulliwallas.

Almost nine years have passed to that fateful day, yet there’s no sign of Victory in the ‘war on terror’.

By the end of this year, the number of US forces present on the Afghan soil will be around 100,000.

In such a scenario, what should be the role of the South-Asian countries and India, vis-à-vis the stability in the region?

India has always, treated the Afghans as untouchables. Probably that’s the reason why it was not invited to the ‘London conference’ which the British PM held a few months back with 500$ trust fund and also in the Turkey conference.

It was a sheer foreign-policy failure for India.

Now, as is evident that the west has a change of heart towards the Talibans- they have divided them in Good and Bad, Talibans. There are chances of Good Talibans sharing the future government with Hamid Karzai. Thus, it’s imperative for the Indian government to re-engage itself with the whole of Afghans. Because, once the Talibans come to the power- which is not far, it may happen as soon as the US exits- it will find India more reliable than Pakistan’s duplicity.

Also, the geography of this nation is such that, it holds a special place in south-Asia. It shares a close proximity to all the power players in the region. Hence, commands a special position in the priority of each nation.

The earlier Indian approach was just investment in this deprived nation whose major occupation till now is opium trade. This approach is slightly flawed. India needs to engage the regional players and encourage them to become stakeholders in peace. This will enable them to seriously think of Afghanistan’s peace after the US leaves. Mere, investments will not yield results.

India must aggressively pursue its national interest.

Women Empowerment- an illusion- atleast the Bill is !!!!!!

"After a 14 year hiatus, finally women have got their due."

This I heard as soon as the women 'Empowerment' Bill got through the Rajya sabha. And then, a long session of debate presided the whole process .....
As if,  my collegues were unpleased over the passage of the Bill minus- debate in the Elder's House- as it is fondly called. Though, the scenes, on the day the bill was introduced, depicted some other story.

Let me not get into the ethics of proceedings of the Parliament- both the houses included. It's not worth teaching the Guardians of our democracy.
My collegues, kept themselves busy with their approach on the Bill.

The debate was still on..... and it was something we all missed by our Elders.

However, the debate on the Bill started with a misnomer" -Women Reservation Bill"... Had they said Empowerment, I'd have been more pleased, however.

First party's response was the bill should have been passed.

second party's idea was it shan't have been.

For any debate, two-party system is necessary- first supportive and the other dissident or the vice-versa.

The first and only requirement to start the debate was fulfilled. The other requirement to lead it to a meaningful conclusion was, however, absent.

For almost 2 hrs the debate continued- with each party pressing their point emphatically. And I kept on enjoying the ongoing 'battle of the warriors'.

During the whole debate the idea I found missing was the future of the Bill.

As the bill has been passed by the upper house, in due course it will also get through the lower- may be with some more high intensity performances.

What will happen next?

The bill is to provide a fair share to the 'under-priviledged'- as is talked about and being projected by the government.

But is it really so?

According to the Bill, 33% seats will be reserved for women.The first question struck to mind is, which seats? Not decided yet? But, It will be decided by a panel...

Fine........

Again the Bill says, the elected woman candidate will have to vacate the seat after 5 yrs
(the rotation formula provides) - for the government continues to complete its full tenure.... 

Here it can be asked,Will it not ENCOURAGE CORRUPTION AMONG THE POLITICIANS( both genders included). As the male candidate also fear losing their seat to the reserved category, in the next election.

The situation now is worse, what will happen if the leaders get to know about their fate earlier. Will they work to secure their position in the next election....

Most of them will seek to amass 'wealth' as much as they can.

Their thirst, however, is unquencheable.

These questions repeatedly came to my mind and I seek to clear the haze...

The Bill indeed is necessary and one whose time has arrived... But it needs certain changes...!

The most important work it will do is to reduce the spectre of the regional parties and once again bring the national parties in the fore front.. which is good in some way and in some ways it will increase the regional disparities and anchor the smooth sailing of the central parties.

What an innovative way to cater the increasing threat of the regional parties.