Web portal ‘Pakistan Reader’ launched

Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 21

It was Pakistan in both negative and positive frames at the launch of a web portal titled ‘Pakistan Reader’ at a function jointly organised by the Central University, Jammu, and the Indus Research Foundation here last evening.

Dr Suba Chandran, who conceived the idea of the Pakistan Reader portal, was candid in laying out the basic purpose of such a venture which had both the vastness and instant knowledge about the neighbouring country, which he said was “mostly viewed through the Indian prism”. The perspective was mostly negative about Pakistan, but rest of the neighbouring country’s profile was clouded under the Indian prejudices.

Suba, an authority on the regional studies, particularly Pakistan, has tried to understand Pakistan as a whole — a nation with its problems and also an asset to superpowers.

There were scholarly moments when the Head of the Department of National Security and strategic studies, Prof Mallika Joseph, dwelt on the civil-military relations and the troubled image of Pakistan as a state with terror tagged it from one angle to the other.

While highlighting the ambitious $46-bn China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Zafar Choudhary of the Indus Research Foundation, the co-host of the launch of the portal, said it was another game changer for Pakistan. This also is an opportunity, as was articulated by Pakistan army, Chinese media and foreign office that India, too, should play a role in it. Indian participation can remove the atmosphere of distrust and also shape new ties.

Prof Amit Gupta from the US underlined the dimensions of sports, particularly cricket in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Prof Lokesh Verma of the Central University, Jammu, who chaired the function, said there were different perspectives which needed to be learnt about Pakistan, rising above the single-minded thought that “Pakistan was an enemy nation”. Arun Joshi, Resident Editor of the J&K edition of The Tribune, was the chief guest on the occasion. Launching the portal, he suggested that the Indo-Pak relations can be improved if there is greater interaction among the commoners rather than the elite.