Turn plastic trash into treasure

Refer to ‘Don’t trash the Himalayas, manage waste wisely’; there is an urgent need for responsible waste management in ecologically fragile states such as Himachal Pradesh. One can draw a compelling parallel with the dairy industry, where byproducts like whey and casein, discarded as waste until the 1990s, are now billion-dollar protein essentials, thanks to the fitness revolution. Likewise, recycling plastic waste holds untapped potential. With the right entrepreneurial push, innovative recycling and product design, plastic waste can help turn garbage into goods — fuel, textiles, bricks or even art. But to start with, garbage collection from the hillsides should be the immediate concern of the government.

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Harsh Pawaria, Rohtak

Consensus against terror funding

Apropos of ‘Pak on FATF radar’; India’s appeal to the FATF and the UNSC to act against Pak-supported terrorist outfits like LeT and JeM is both justified and urgent. The FATF’s mechanisms, when applied rigorously, have proven effective. Putting Pakistan back on the grey list would enhance scrutiny and limit its capacity to channel funds to terror organisations. It is also imperative that institutions like the IMF and the World Bank ensure that financial aid does not fuel extremism. India must persist in its diplomatic efforts to mobilise consensus against terror financing and ensure that geopolitical considerations do not undermine collective security interests.

Vandana, Chandigarh

FATF must act against Pakistan

With reference to ‘Pak on FATF radar’; while condemning the Pahalgam terror attack, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global watchdog for checking money laundering and terror financing activities, has declared that “state-sponsored terrorism” will be part of its upcoming report on terror financing cases. However, if some exemplary sanctions are announced against this rogue state, it would give out the message that the FATF really means business. Mere tokenism will not serve any purpose. In today’s volatile atmosphere, the FATF’s actions are all the more relevant.

SK Gupta, by mail

Resolve Iran-Israel conflict soon

Refer to ‘Treaty under strain’; Iran’s threat to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) can be fatal for the whole world. On the one hand, Iran wishes to complete its nuclear weapon programme, and on the other, Israel is not a part of the NPT, so it can go to any extent unchecked. The US and Israel want to disable Iran from going ahead with amassing its nuke arsenal. The onus now lies on the UN Security Council and its intermediaries to intervene diplomatically. All stakeholders must act fast before it is too late.

Subhash C Taneja, Gurugram

Sticking to principles of war

Refer to ‘How Operation Sindoor revalidated principles of war’; one of the war fundamentals is “offence is the best defence”, which India followed to the hilt during Operation Sindoor. Two weeks after the Pahalgam terror attack, India struck nine terrorist camps deep inside Pakistan and PoK. To follow the second principle of pre-empting enemy plans, the armed forces hit at least 11 Pak airbases, rendering them unusable. Another important war essential is to agree to a ceasefire from a dominant position. We made Pakistan virtually beg for a ceasefire on our terms. Both our strategic and tactical plans as well as actions in Operation Sindoor validate the principles of war.

WG CDR CL SEHGAL (RETD), JALANDHAR

Safeguard Agniveers’ future

The affirmative action of the Central Government to amend the rules to facilitate the career progression of 75 per cent of the Agniveers, who will be relieved from the defence forces after the completion of four years of service, is commendable. The first batch of these boys and girls would be eased from service in 2026. It would have been appropriate if the MHA had also been tasked with making a list of suitable vacancies in Central and state government departments to give employment to the Agniveers as per merit and norms. The young soldiers should not be subjected to the ordeal of finding a job.

Krishan Kant Sood, Nangal