Pakistan supports SL in HR issue - Fahd Husain

by Dhaneshi YATAWARA

Several Pakistani members representing their country at the Chao Paray dialog, which is currently being held in Sri Lanka are of the view that the Government would be able to resolve the problems within the country. Sri Lanka is chosen as a neutral venue for the Chao Paray dialog between Pakistan and India which is organised by the Jinnah Institute in Islamabad and the Australian Institute based in Melbourne.

Commenting to the Sunday Observer during a brief interview in Colombo Syed Fahd Husain, Executive Director (Special Project) of the ARY Communications Limited based in Islamabad was of the view that Pakistan can better understand the position Sri Lanka is facing at the UN Human Rights Council and amidst the pressure from countries like USA.

"Pakistan is still supporting Sri Lanka," Husain said stating how the Pakistan Government stood by Sri Lanka during the war against terrorism. "For Sri Lanka at present the most important thing is what is happening in the United Nations meetings. I hear that Pakistan and China are supporting Sri Lanka I personally think they are doing the right thing," Husain said.

He further noted that the position of the Pakistan Government would probably be the same as wider public opinion. "If the resolution passes it is not only bad for Sri Lanka but for countries like Pakistan too. Specially considering the involvement of America. The involvement of America in Pakistan is at a sour point for us. So when we see them doing to other countries it gives us a serious concern that if this could happen here it could happen to Pakistan also," he added.

Comparing the Sri Lanka situation he said that something similar to what happened in Sri Lanka is happening in Balochistan area of Pakistan. "This is entirely an internal problem in Pakistan. What happened was that a US congressman has tabled a resolution saying that people of Balochistan has a right to independence. The US government has openly not supported it but clearly we all believe that he could have not done it alone. And this is a big issue in Pakistan. The US is interfering in this problem which is our own domestic problem," he said adding that it is creating a lot of hysteria and Anti American feeling among the people.

We in Pakistan have a serious terrorist problem. Thousands of people have died because of this. Sri Lanka has lived through this problem nearly thirty years. And this is mentioned very frequently in Pakistan now that what can be done from Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka tackled their problem for 30 years and in the end they won. They paid a heavy price for it , not just soldiers but ordinary people too. But they won. So our problem is only like 5 -6 years old. And a lot of people in Pakistan including myself we say that we need to learn what are some of the ingredients of success for Sri Lanka took to over come this and we need to initialize some of those. Probably we haven't done this yet," he said.

Dr. Yaqoob Khan Bangash, Assistant Professor of History of FC College, Pakistan and Academic Editor of the Oxford University Press says that Sri Lanka should proactively show that they are taking steps to look in to the alleged human rights violations that happened.

"Today every where in the world the human rights issues are considered internationally. So naturally any question in Sri Lanka on Human rights abuse has become an issue of international concern," he said. In any war there are human rights issues. I think Sri Lanka need to be proactive locally pretty fast but admitting to the fact that it was a war there were lots of complications and problems did arise. But complete rejection is counter productive.

Executive Director of the Jinnah Institute Ejaz Haider said that he hope he political process of negotiations would move forward and Sri Lanka will continue to to be the heaven that is. Haider, who is also has been a journalist for almost 21 years in the capacity of Executive Editor and Editor of much acclaimed Pakistan weekly newspapers has a close association with Sri Lanka situation since the hight of the terrorist threats. "I'm very happy to see the development I have seen and also the fact that the insurgency the worst is over," Haider added.

"But I'm told that there are still subterranian stands running through. Presumably it would depend on the political reconciliation and the political process of negotiations with in Sri Lanka. To try and move forward in a non-violent fashion. I think Sri Lanka had its lion share of violence," he said.

"And I'm also very happy that Pakistani and Sri Lanka relations are so strong I was one of the supporters of Pakistan's support for Sri Lanka there during the insurgency. And I believe Pakistan trained Sri Lanka Army and the Air Force. And It think traditionally we have been close to Sri Lanka - bilaterally and as a part of SARRC also. So it is my ardent wish that the political process of negotiations would move forward and Sri Lanka will continue to to be the heaven that is." he added.