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| Latest survey in Pakistan may be misleading | | |
NIRBHAY JAMMUAL
A recent surevy carried out in Pakistan has indicated sharp opposition to the idea of combined media production.The survey was carried out soon after India and Pakistan agreed to go in for combined production of dramas and films.When coimpared to 2007 the survey has revealed that the current support for the combined production has declined to 26 per cent.In 2007 51 per cent people in Pakistan supported Pakistani artists working in India but at present,as per the latest survey,only 26 per cent people support it.
In 2007 55 per cent people had supported the idea of Indian artists working in Pakistan but at present not more than 27 per cent support it.However,the survey has revealed that people below the age group of 30 support the combined production.But the percentage in this category is not very high because the survey has revealed that 29 per cent people in this category support the joint production..When one goes through the survey one is bound to be dismayed over the attitude of men and women in Pakistan.They were expected to fully support the combined production plan as this exercise could further remove the veil of mistrust plaguing the two neighbouring countries.If not anything else people in Pakistan,particularly the artists and the film stars,could learn from the advanced technology the Bollywood has built over the years.People from the two sides could understand the ideas,working pattern,culture of the two sides.
However,reading the Gallup survey closely one finds that the survey need not cause any dismay to the lovers of combined production.It is so because the survey covers interview with 2687 men and women in Pakistan.Imagine if such a survey can ever reflect the true picture of the mind of people of Pakistan.Pakistan has over 20 crore people and 2687 men and women do not represent even one per cent of the population.Hence a group of people,covered by the survey,who do not represent even 0.5 per cent of the people of Pakistan should not be treated as an index of the true picture in Pakistan.
In order to make the survey believable and make it reflect the feelings of the people in Pakistan more tan 50 per cent men and women need to be interviewed.And a similar survey be also carried out in India so that one compares the support for the combined production from the two countries.Usually surveys cover not less than 10 per cent of the population.You may have gone through the exit polls.Here the surveyors interview a big chunk of voters in at least 40 per cent of the total number of Assembly or Lok Sabha constituencies.The survey that covers more voters usually gives exact figures on wins and losses.One thing is certain that combined production was bound to benefit Pakistan because the film trade is much small in Pakistan than in India.Whether in the combined production or in other activities vested interest try to raise hurdles whenever Islamabad and Delhi attempt at getting closer.
For the last 60 years India and Pakistan have lived as arch foes.Both have suffered losses.The conflict between India and Pakistan proves of great advantage to developed nations that get a chance to sell military hardwar to the two countries.Imagine the political and economic scenario once India and Pakistan vow to live as friends.The huge sums of money the two countries spend on defence could be utilised in other sectors like agriculre,industries,electricity generation,water supply and improvement in medicare.Over the years both the countries have been earmarking huge sums on defence which usually remains bigger than what they spend on other public utility sectors.The two nations need to make a beginning and stop selling Kashmir for winning votes.
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Needed world support
Will the establishment in Pakistan succeed in eliminating the menace of the Talibans ?Will the Pakistani troops liberate the country from the clutches of the terrorists and the Talibans ?This qustion has assumed significance after the Talibans continued to give a tough fight to the Pakistani troops in the Swat Valley and adjoining areas.That even after a month long military and Air Force operations the Talibans are still up and kicking indicates that the Talibans had been not only well entrenched in the Swat valley but their number had swelled over the years also.Rough estimates reveal that only in the Swat valley there are more than 4,000 Talibans who are equipped with latest weapons. The hope for Pakistan's success in tackling the menace of the Talibans has risen after the Pak troops were able to recapture Mingora,the largest town in the Swat valley.
The Taliban militants had constructed bunkers in Mingora town for giving a tough fight to the Pakistani troops.But when they saw that Pakistan had ordered aerial and ground strikes they decided to run for safety.This decision was taken after the Talibans realised that they had been encircled by the Pakistani troops.Senior Army functionaries in Islamabad have confirmed that Mingora town had been liberated from the Talibans though groups of the militants were fighting against the soldiers on the outskirts of the town.The authorities claimed that a large number of Taliban militants had fled Mingora town.What seems to worry Islamabad is that the Talibans were trying to regroup so that they are able to extend their control over the north-western region bordering Afghanistan.It is in this connection that the US Government, is lending all possible assistance and guidance to Pakistani troops in its campaign against the Talibans,has asked Kabul to remain vigilant against any attempt by the Talibans at sneaking into Afghanistan from Pakistan.There are apprehensions that the Talibans,fleeing from the Swat valley and adjoinibng areas,may infiltrate ino Afghanistan.Some of them may attempt at sneaking into Jammu and Kashmir to escape elimination in the hands of the Pak soldiers.
Initially Pakistan Government was unwilling to launch an operation against the Talibans.It was out of fear.Islamabad did not want to lift the lid from the Pandora's Box that could place Pakistan on a bed of thorns. Accordingly Islamabad opted for buying peace with the Talibans by accepting the Shariat law to be enforced in th Swat Valley.It is here that the US Government saw that Isamabad's decision to buy peace with the Talibans could endanger the world campaign against terrorists.It mounted pressure on the Government in Islamabad and explained to President,Asif Ali Zardari,the inherent dangers in the pace agreement with the Talibans.After Islamabad needed financial support from the US Government ti agreed to launch operations against the Talibans.And the US Government fulfilled its commitment by rasing several million dollars of aid to Pakistan.Even other allies in the world have announced their support to Islamabad in its fight against the terrorists.Let Islamabad give up its polcy of duplicity.There is no room for crying against terrorists on one hand and buying peace with them on the other.This used to be the ideology of Gen. Parvez Musharraf.He announced a campaign against terrorists.He conveyed to the US Government his readiness to fight against terrorists but opted for keeping the extremists and fundamentalists in good humour.Zardari must have learnt by now that the way the successive Governments in Islamabad patronised extremists had encouiraged reactionaries like the Talibans to pose a big challenge to Islamabad.
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