CNN, BBC, DW, Al Jazeera, and other western linked media platforms all update the world on a minute-to-minute basis, describing Russian actions in Ukraine; as they share with us stories of pleading mothers, crying children, and tired old men walking to borders we all empathize and cry for them.
But it is also true that no such stories were shared with us over the deaths of Iraqis, Afghans, Syrians, Libyans, and Yemenis– did they not die, what were their names, were their children not crying? Poland and Hungary, who are being lauded for welcoming over 1.5m Ukrainian refugees – were putting up steel wire barriers when it came to letting in Syrians.
The EU sat down with the Turks and even offered them monetary compensation to keep these ‘brown’ or ‘different looking’ foreigners out of their country (stated differently, of course).
We have a number of articles on the crisis, including Lt Gen. Tariq Khan, who writes on Western hypocrisy over deaths in other countries and how the world is expected to excoriate Putin’s Russia actions and say these are different from those taken in the last two decades by Western governments.
Dr. Zafar Jaspal is worried about how the escalation in the war between Russia and Ukraine has ruptured the security architecture that has prevailed in Europe since the end of the Cold War, and this will have new consequences.
Dr. Ejaz Hussain, London-based security analyst, in a provocative piece, argues that Putin’s assertive actions have changed the global landscape, and it is time for ageing NATO to retire and allow the Organization of Security & Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to flex its muscles to deal with European security.
In the UNGA vote, India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Central Asian Republics all abstained, making it clear how this region does not share the West’s arguments on Russia.
While it was time for Pakistanis to carefully monitor and assess the Ukraine-Russia crisis that threatens the global balance of power, the country is riven apart under the specter of ‘No Confidence Vote’ against PM Imran Khan, and many suspect this too – like the Orange Revolution & Euro Maidan – is part of the West’s fight to contain China. Editor GVS Moeed Pirzada’s article on floor crossings is helpful to understand the nature of political dynamics – and how these can unleash dangerous instability.
March also brings awareness to Water day, and in light of this, we look at what private businesses can do to increase awareness of this scarce resource and promote conservation. We also celebrate the conclusion of HBL PSL Season 7 – which brightened our evenings and gave us all something to celebrate as a country!