Peacekeeping force

Indeed, the best option for the West is to have a UN Peacekeeping Force in Afghanistan (‘Through the lens darkly’; Nous Indica). This has been necessitated by the changed geopolitical situation in Central Asia. Indian foreign policy requires to be circumspect in dealing with the US. It is worrisome to observe that it partners with India on vaccination and climate change and collaborates with Pakistan on Afghanistan and counter-terrorism. Pakistan has been using terror as an instrument of state policy and the newly installed government in Afghanistan may not be an exception. The power vacuum created by the US is being filled by Russia and China, with the latter announcing $31-million aid to the Taliban.

Gurpreet Singh, Mohali

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Pak in driver’s seat

Apropos of ‘Through the lens darkly’, the events prove US is offering Pakistan the driver’s seat. The US’s ‘Pak-first’ policy must make us take note of the precarious geopolitical ground reality. We must ensure that the Taliban do not allow the use of Afghan soil for terrorism by outfits like the LeT and JeM. The overall situation in Afghanistan is fragile and chaotic, forcing Russia not to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the Taliban-led government in Kabul. The demand for a UN Peacekeeping Force in Afghanistan is well placed. We must be watchful since terror groups may indulge in violence in J&K.

Raj Bahadur Yadav, Fatehabad

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Taliban must reinvent

This refers to ‘Afghan women repressed’; it is unfortunate that despite the promises made by the Taliban to respect the rights of women when they captured Kabul last month, they are going against their words. There are reports that women protesters were whipped by the Taliban for protesting against all male members in the cabinet. It is also reported that Afghan women are banned from sports. The Taliban need to reinvent themselves as an organisation that respects human rights and women's autonomy and lay more importance on economic renewal for the betterment of the country rather than following strict discipline of religious agenda in order to get recognition from the international community.

Gregory Fernandes, Mumbai

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Rise above politics

Apropos of ‘Morcha leaders call shots’, strength of votebank was visible at the meeting presided over by the ruled and attended by the rulers of the past, present and also by those dreaming to be prospective ones, although no party is in a position to get majority in the 2022 elections. Today, farmers are wise enough to understand the hidden agenda of political parties. It was for the first time that the well walked to the thirsty. Some of the party presidents were present in person and had to wait for hours. These are those people whom the people have to wait for days, weeks and months. Some of them might have felt the heat of the moment. But, for votes, they can go to any extent. The farmer class has proved that they stand united. Political parties attended the meeting under the fear of losing their votebank. Nobody talked about the solution to the problem and the agenda was confined to political and democratic rights to hold rallies at the expense of harmony and economy. Voters should also rise above party politics and elect only those individuals who can fight for them and not for those who invest crores of rupees in elections and then get it back with handsome premiums at the expense of the taxpayer and the state exchequer.

Vijay Syal, Sangrur

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Vaccination conundrum

I took the first dose of Covishield vaccine while on a visit to Gurugram. I went to the Civil Dispensary, Sector 20, Panchkula, for the second dose. I was refused the second dose on the plea that the app being used by the staff was not picking up my first dose, as perhaps it was from a different app. I showed them the certificate on my phone, but still I was refused and advised to go somewhere else. If one has to run from one health facility to another just because of different apps being used by the health facilities, it speaks volumes about the inefficacy of the vaccination programme. It is frustrating for a senior citizen on the wrong side of 75 years.

MK BAJAJ, Zirakpur

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Stubble burning

Every winter, the Delhi-NCR region is enveloped in thick toxic haze causing serious coronary and respiratory diseases (‘Check stubble burning’). It has drawn special attention in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Among industrial exhaust, vehicular emissions, construction activities and dust, paddy field fires in Punjab, Haryana and UP are a major factor. Due to financial constraints and shortage of labour, small and marginalised farmers resort to this practice. The governments also do not strictly penalise farmers eyeing their votebank. The authorities should enhance subsidies for the purchase of high-tech machinery or provide it on cheap rental basis for addressing the crucial issue.

Tajpreet S Kang, Hoshiarpur

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