India should help rebuild flood-ravaged Pakistan: Aziz Memon

[JI7]

As a large country “that is doing so well economically,” India should “look at the misery of Pakistan during the unprecedented floods, put aside our differences and help Pakistan,” says Aziz Memon, chairman of the $100-million Kings group of Pakistan, which deals in textiles, water and medical services. In Chennai to participate in a Rotary meet on ‘Initiatives towards promoting Peace in South Asia,' in an interview to The Hindu Group, he reiterated his plea to accelerate trade and business ties, cultural and sporting exchanges, and people's movement between the two countries.


<What do you think India should do to help?

Basically, at this time, any help would be welcome. Nothing like this has happened in the last 100 years. We've asked the world governments to give helicopters to drop food, tents are required as also medicines for water-borne diseases. Any help would be welcome.

In the second phase, huge reconstruction will be on; schools, hospitals, power stations and other buildings that have been destroyed will need to be rebuilt and that will run into millions of dollars and...

So are you saying that will be a business opportunity for India?

<A great business opportunity for India. One of the large refineries of Pakistan — the Pak Arab refinery in central Pakistan near Multan in Punjab — has stopped functioning because of the flooding, and gasoline supply will be eventually hit.

India has to understand that we ourselves are the victims of terrorism... Pakistan is victim No 1! But we are still trying to sort out old and contentious issues and going only back and back...Pakistan is getting hit by terrorism all the time. During these floods, in Peshawar, the chief of the rangers was killed by a suicide bomber. A few days ago, an attempt was made on the life of Dr. Gulalai, sister of (Awami National Party central president) Asfandyar Wali Khan, but she escaped. Now she is doctor, not a politician, but the Taliban targeted her because her brother is working against them.

My contention, even at this Rotary peace conference, was that our relationship can improve by allowing trade and commerce to flow. The relationship between India and China is not perfect or that cordial. They have problems, but they have a good trade relationship. The same between France and Germany; till today they haven't been able to sort out political issues but the business relationship is good, as also between Taiwan and the People's Republic of China.

Normally 60 per cent of trade is done with neighbouring countries. How long will India and Pakistan avoid dealing directly with each other and go through illegal channels or trade via Dubai and Singapore? It pushes up the cost for everybody.>

http://hindu.com/2010/08/15/stories/2010081556181400.htm

[aquart]

1. India seems to have decided on its policy regarding climate change.

They are building protections against letting fleeing Bangladeshi into India when their poor, coastal nation begins to drown. And they haven't lifted a finger to help Pakistan.

They are going to let their neighbors die.

[Odin2005]

2. That doesn;t suprise me, since Hindu Nationalists are in power, there.

They HATE Muslims and would be very happy seeing them all starve.

[applegrove]

3. Think of all the $$$$ India and Pakistan waste on hating each other. Pressure should

be put on India to do something..even something small. You have to start somewhere.

[aquart]

4. They have started. And so has climate change.

Tens of millions are going to die. They've decided it should be the other guy.

Practically, speaking, I'm thinking this only has a short term value. Having a large population when the disasters crest is not going to be fun for India. Getting depleted now, painful and tragic as it is, may make Pakistan stronger when they have fewer to feed. It is going to get that ugly.

[dipsydoodle]

5. India offered aid days ago

Pakistan is still considering the implications of accepting such help from India.

[JI7]

6. this is talking about the rebuilding effort , the aid was for immediate relief for victims

[dipsydoodle]

7. If they're dithering about accepting

what's already been offered why would they accept rebuilding help ?

[LooseWilly]

8. Not but 2 months ago Lashkar-e-Taiba agents bombed a bakery in Pune, India

In 2008 the group spectacularly attacked Mumbai.

The group, with the presumed aid of the ISI (Pakistani intelligence organization) has been carrying out terrorist attacks in the disputed Indian Kashmir region for years.

And, for most of the length of the American war in Afghanistan, the Pakistani's have done little more than pay lip-service to the war, instead using much of the military aid money from the US to bolster its forces facing the Indian border...

And now— Pakistan has the audacity to demand aid from India??

I was driving a taxi on 9/11 ... and all the Indians I worked with, unanimously, responded with fervent hopes that the US would now start bombing Afghanistan (where we all knew al-Qaeda was based), as well as Pakistan (since the Indians were all aware of the close ties between the Pakistani ISI and the Taliban and al-Qaeda)- "Those bastards deserve it for the shit they've done in Kashmir" I remember one driver saying to me.

And now the Pakistanis are going to ask for Indian assistance in the face of catastrophic flooding? That's like the Israelis expecting Palestinian aid in the case of a natural disaster (or... it would be, if both sides had any semblance of equality of resources with which to carry on their nationalistic blood feud).

If I were an Indian, and I wasn't a saint, I would let the US rebuild Pakistan (hey, it will help win "hearts and minds"... ) while at the same time trying to arrange more Indian government resources toward organizing more businesses capable of attracting "outsourcing work" from the US... in order to further develop employment of Indians and grow taxation revenue in order to continue with projects to build infrastructure within India... and I'd be telling Pakistan to apply to the funders of Lashkar-e-Taiba for resources for rebuilding... while flipping the entire country the fucking bird.

Just saying...