SOCHI SUMMIT ON TERROR & NARCOTICS

Whether internal or external, in an era of turbulence and turmoil a step in the right direction to calm the waters is indeed welcome by all peace-loving citizens.

                          

Not only India, almost all nations around the world are caught in the web of violence, instability, ethnic rivalries and clashes, xenophobia, regional chauvinism etc. Yes, it is a frightening web.

 

As we are all aware of, our nation almost on a daily basis is confronted with many headaches be it in Kashmir, North-East and the so-called red-corridor infested with Maoist revolutionaries, threat from across the border, infiltration of terror elements into our country not only from across the Kashmir border even across from the North-Eastern side ie. Myanmar and from across the Nepal border. Kashmir permanently on the boil, even during Independence day while Chief Minister Omar Abdullah while addressing a crowd after the traditional flag-hoisting, a suspended policeman reportedly ‘gifted’ him a shoe from a distance. His father Farooq Abdullah is reportedly happy that on a special day like Independence day a citizen by ‘gifting’ a shoe to his son Omar has joined the elite club of George W Bush, Asif Ali Sardari and P.Chidambaram – all honored like this in the past.

 

Frankly speaking, in this era of turbulence and turmoil each nation is undergoing nightmares, knows no peace and harmony but each craves for such an ambience to prevail across the world. Bitter experiences in the form of internal violence by terrorist outfits, bombings, suicide-bombings, killing hundreds and hundreds of civilians that too on a daily basis in Pakistan affecting the very existence of that nation – once a promoter of terror elements aided and abetted by its authorities to take on India, its neighbouring country, to upset the peaceful atmosphere in the Kashmir Valley as also the entire India now finds themselves in a piquant situation as the same terror-outfits have finally turned against its Creator. Now the ruling Pakistani leaders though with much reluctance have turned towards the nations across the world to help them in fighting terror prevalent in their country. Even its ‘all weather friend’ USA terms it ‘the epicentre of terrorism’ joining hands with other nations holding the same opinion.

 

In the backdrop of such a pathetic situation, now affecting other nations also, Russia has convened a summit of four nations, including Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is the initiator of the summit with Sergi Lavrov, Foreign Minister assisting him. Pakistan is represented by President Asif Ali Sardari, Afghanistan by Hamid Karzai and Tajikistan by Emomali Rakhmon.

 

All the four nations are victims of terrorism and drug menace hence unanimous in their views in fighting the menace and rooting it out from the respective nations. Chechniya is a thorn in the flesh of Russians and only less than a year has elapsed when two Chechniyan women suicide- bombers got exploded in a train in the busy hours killing hundreds of innocent citizens. Pakistan’s case already pointed out. The situation in Afghanistan in other words “Afghan imbroglio” is already known to everyone across the world. Taliban militants with ruthless precision target any spot they like and love to hit and these elements still hold on to ‘archaic’ rules and implement verdicts according to Shariat laws, such as hanging in public, stoning to death, beheading and point blank firing reminding medieval periods. Even US, British and NATO forces combinedly found it an ardous task to eliminate those elements from the soil of Afghanistan. Remember the war commenced in 2001 and ten years already elapsed terrorists still on prowl and committing maximum destruction. Still a positive step, though a small step, is a welcome one and hence the Sochi summit has its own significance.

While talking about Afghanistan joining the pact against narcotics it is worthwhile to note here that there the drug empire is reportedly run by Abdul Khali Karzai, the elder brother of President Hamid Karzai. On account of the same reason Hamid Karzai signing the pact is something worth watching in the days to come.

 

Tajikistan once a part of erstwhile Soviet Union like Russia too is a terror infested nation. About six months ago Tajikistan also came under a violent uprising and authorities had a tough time tackling it.

 

Apart from eliminating terrorism and drug menace, agreements on power generation, transport and overall infrastructure development, economic and trade co-operation and providing a safe route for transporting ammunition to Afghanistan to take on Taliban and Al-Quaeida elements – accords on the overall development of the region reached amicably in the framework of Shanghai Co-operation Organisation.

Next conference is reportedly to be held at Tajikistan.

 

Let the whole world wake up and plunge into a joint venture in the coming days, for the creation of a more peaceful world devoid of hatred animosities greed, selfishness and treachery to make the world a better place to live in before it is too late.