THE major earthquake that has struck Pakistan, India and Kashmir is a cruel challenge to a region with problems enough requiring solutions at the moment. In the tragic way of these disasters, the initial estimate of the dead, no matter how many, may prove all too conservative. In addition, the destruction of homes and property as winter is about to come is going to pose a major task for the authorities in providing emergency accommodation — once they have completed their initial drive to rescue the trapped and care for the injured.
At this terrible moment, everyone’s thoughts and sympathy must be with the victims of the earthquake. In the coming hours, the full extent of the damage and the job of bringing help to all affected will become clearer. It can be expected that the international community will once again do its duty and offer whatever assistance the local authorities require.
The epicenter of the powerful quake was some 95 kilometers northeast of Islamabad but its force, 7.6 on the Richter scale, was felt as far away as Kabul and New Delhi. At first sight, because both India and Pakistan as well as both parts of disputed Kashmir have been seriously affected by the massive shocks, it may seem that the job of channeling outside aid to where it is most needed will be complicated. It does not however have to be so. Here is a very real opportunity for the Indian and Pakistani governments to put some flesh on the bones of their slowly emerging settlement of their disputes.
Just as the earthquake itself was no respecter of borders, whether disputed or not, so the humanitarian initiative to bring aid to the victims of its awesome power should not be affected by political rivalries. If the Indian and Pakistani governments can unite in dealing with this tragedy and work together to mitigate the consequences, then they will each be drawing on a valuable fund of good will and mutual trust which could prove hugely constructive in future negotiations.
No one should forget similar opportunities taken or lost in the wake of last December’s devastating tsunami. In Sri Lanka, the government and the Tamils did not draw together to aid the devastated communities. As a result of this failure, a decades-old conflict rumbles on, fueled by anger over apparently partial distribution of international aid. In Indonesia, on the other hand, the Jakarta government did seize the opportunity to work with the rebels in Aceh to tackle the horrific immediate consequences of the tsunami. That suspension cooperation between rebels and government led to peace talks and an agreement which would have been unimaginable before the tidal wave struck.
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has described the earthquake as “a test for the nation.” Hopefully it will be much more than that. It has to be a test for all the people of Pakistan, India and Kashmir to see if they can put their common humanity above their pride and their politics. It will be a true inspiration if they succeed in doing so.
