ALI SUKHANVER, Associate Professor, Multan, Pakistan-
In an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times, after the horrifying Easter Sunday bombings, Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesingh said that his government would not hesitate to seek Islamabad’s help to trace the terrorists and eliminate them. He further reaffirmed Pakistan’s support to Sri Lanka in her war on terror. In the same interview he rubbished New Delhi’s veiled attempts to associate Pakistan with the brutal massacre of innocent people. He said referring to Pakistan, “I see this tragic event as further strengthening the trust that exists between our countries and increasing cooperation.” The horrible Easter Sunday bombings claimed the lives of 53 people including 45 were children; hundreds were severely injured. As per tradition, the Modi government simply started its efforts of searching Pakistan behind this brutal massacre just after the incident.
In response to the India’s blames against Pakistan, the Sri Lankan Army Chief Mahesh Senanayake said in an interview with the BBC that according to the information they have, few of the suicide bombers who carried out attacks on Easter Sunday had visited Kashmir, Kerala and Bengaluru in India to possibly be trained in carrying out terrorist activities. Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake said that it is suspected that the attackers had travelled to India to establish links with other terrorist organizations. The statements of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesingh and that of the Army Chief Mahesh Senanayake not only strengthened the relationship between Pakistan and Sri Lanka but also gave a shut-up call to the Indian conspirators who are always eager to frame Pakistan in every act of terrorism. They must try to realize that the ‘Pulwama Strategy’ could not be successful all the time. Unfortunately whenever our Indian friends find us in some temporary phase of trouble, political or financial, they simply expedite their anti-Pakistan campaign. Blaming Pakistan for Sri Lanka bombing incident is also a part of the same campaign. It is nothing but a foolish thought that by fixing Pakistan in Sri Lanka bombing type of incident, the conspirators would succeed in adding more to the problems of Pakistan. As far as Pakistan is concerned, this all is simply a routine matters. The present financial crisis in Pakistan is in no way more severe and intense than the blazing fire of the foreign supported terrorism which Pakistan has successfully extinguished. Pakistanis are a nation which has a lot of courage and determination for overcoming all such crisis.
It is true that at present Pakistan is sailing in somewhat troubled economic waters; a deep rooted economic crisis has compelled Pakistan to go to the IMF for a bail-out package worth 6 Billion US Dollar. Going to the IMF is neither a sin nor a crime. IMF is an international institution whose primary job is to assist member countries who are in an economic difficulty. According to IMF’s own website, “The IMF provides policy advice and financing to members in economic difficulties and also works with developing nations to help them achieve macroeconomic stability and reduce poverty”. Approaching the IMF for financial assistance is nothing new and nothing novel as so many countries had been doing so in the past. Getting financial assistance from the IMF doesn’t mean National Death; this assistance works as an oxygen tent in case of emergency. Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh said talking to media that the government could not have bridged the financing gap of $12 billion on its own. This gap is the result of financial mismanagements of the previous governments. To bring back the financial stability, the government was left with no other way but to seek assistance from the IMF. Things would stabilize with the passage of time, though the nation will have to bear some extra burden but for the time being. We cannot exclude imminence of hard days from our life as such days are also an integral part of life. We have ample examples of the countries which had to encounter sudden hardships and troubles during their smooth-way journey to the destination of peace and prosperity. From Nepal to Sri Lanka and from Iran, Kuwait, Iraq to Pakistan, the list of hardships-facing countries is no doubt very long. Terrorism has created a lot of hurdles in their way to success and progress but they all are determined that one day they would succeed in overcoming the menace of terrorism. It is simply a stupid thought if some thinks that terrorism is an incurable disease. Be it Sri Lanka or Pakistan, Nepal or Iraq, things could be made better with the help and support of strong will and determination. We all must keep in mind that after every dark night there is a shining bright day waiting for us.
