The
war-like situation between Pakistan and Afghanistan is a cause of great concern
for the conscious citizens of both brotherly countries. During the military
campaign of two major powers on Afghanistan over the past four decades,
Pakistan happily hosted millions of Afghan refugees. However, the banned
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, an ally of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan, which
successfully resisted foreign aggression, has made Pakistan the target of its
terrorist operations over the past two decades. In the past decade, the
terrorism of the banned TTP was completely eliminated through two major
military operations, but after the establishment of the Taliban government in
Afghanistan, the activities of the banned TTP in Pakistan gradually increased,
while safe havens for TTP terrorists were established on Afghan soil. Pakistan
has repeatedly held talks with the current Afghan government to eliminate these
hideouts, but no positive results have been achieved. In a press conference
held two days ago, the spokesperson of the Pakistan Army said that in the past
one year, more or less 450 officers and soldiers have been martyred in the
fight against terrorists, while 915 terrorists have been killed as a result of
the operations of the Pakistan Army.
The
Pakistan Army targeted TTP hideouts in the Paktika region with airstrikes last
Tuesday. In response, the banned TTP and the Afghan Taliban launched a joint
operation in the border area yesterday, which was retaliated by the Pakistan
Army. Regardless of the details of these operations, the main thing to think
about is whether the Pak-Afghan war can reduce the problems and difficulties of
both countries or will both have to face heavy losses as a result? As Pakistan
is struggling for economic recovery, will the increasing Pak-Afghan tension not
prove to be an insurmountable obstacle in the way of these efforts? No sensible
person can consider the continuation of this situation beneficial for Pakistan
or Afghanistan.
This is
why Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif explained in the federal cabinet meeting on
Friday that Afghanistan is our neighboring country and it is our sincere desire
that our relations improve and that we cooperate with each other in the economy
and other sectors, but the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan is still operating
from Afghanistan and innocent people are being martyred in Pakistan. This
policy cannot work. The Prime Minister said that we have sent this message to
the Afghan government more than once that we want very good relations with you,
but the banned TTP should be completely shut down. They cannot be allowed to
martyr innocent people of Pakistan in any way. This is a red line for us.
Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan's Special Representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad
Sadiq Khan, held separate meetings with Afghanistan's Acting Foreign Minister
Amir Khan Muttaqi and Interior Minister Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani in Kabul, in
which both sides expressed their determination to establish peaceful and
cordial bilateral relations.
This
clearly shows that the two countries can resolve their differences through
sincere negotiations, while armed conflict is not in anyone's interest.
Therefore, progress should be made in this direction without delay. At a time
when many countries of the world are establishing friendly relations with
Afghanistan, it is important to respect the differences of religion, history,
geography, race, color, language and culture.Pakistan and Afghanistan, which
are connected by strong ties, should also promote exemplary mutual relations.
Despite
the higher electricity prices in Pakistan compared to other Asian countries,
the sector has been facing a continuous increase in losses for the past several
decades. Bad governance, the most expensive sources of production,
miscellaneous taxes included in bills, line losses, revolving loans and the
monthly adjustment system have brought the continuously increasing electricity
prices to the peak this year, especially in the summer season. The public has
cried out over the situation. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, taking notice of
the situation, has formed a task force to look into all matters, including
IPPs, and to make electricity cheaper. The conclusion reached by the team in
this period of 6 months, was given detailed light by the head of the task
force, Federal Minister for Energy Sardar Owais Khan Leghari, in a press
conference on Saturday. The top of this is an indication of a decrease in
electricity prices. In the context of the coming days, renegotiation of IPP
agreements with China, reduction in electricity rates for industries by Rs.
11.33 per unit, and reduction in losses of discos.
The
reduction includes converting 27,000 tube wells in Balochistan to solar, a hint
of introducing special electricity rates for electric vehicles and measures to
modernize the transmission system. According to the Federal Energy Minister,
there has been a clear reduction in electricity prices in the last eight
months, according to which the average price for general consumers has
decreased from Rs 48.70 to Rs 44.04 per unit, while for industries it has
decreased from Rs 58.50 to Rs 47.17 per unit. The aforementioned government
measures indicate that electricity prices will gradually decrease to some
extent in the coming days. However, it would be better if the government
prepares IPPs to adopt cheaper and alternative sources of electricity
generation.
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