Unfounded accusations

I take this opportunity to comment on article “Saudi Arabia can rescue Pakistan” (Jan. 11) written by my friend Jamal Khashoggi.
Surprisingly, the article gives an erroneous perception and has taken a mistaken view about Pakistan and its people; which I believe are based on a sense of despondency over certain challenges faced by Pakistan. Khashoggi has also erred in holding Pakistani public responsible while they themselves are the victims. I think he also failed to represent certain problems in their true perspective as he has based his views on outdated information and could not benefit from factual position.
The writer has identified iodine deficiency, polio and militancy as the challenges faced by Pakistan. While there is no doubt about the threat posed by militancy — and Pakistani government and leaders have never underestimated or downplayed the nature of this threat — the challenges posed by polio or iodine deficiency cannot be placed in the same category as militancy. Iodine deficiency is a relatively minor problem. Pakistan has high incidence of this not due to any “mindset” but simply because of its topographical make-up.
What the writer probably does not know is that Pakistan has made giant strides in the control of iodine deficiency in recent years. As a result of government programs, the consumption of iodized salt has increased from 17 percent of household in 2001 to 69 percent in 2012. Micronutrient Initiative (MI), an international NGO monitoring nutrition deficiency, recently reported that the percentage of iodine-deficient mothers in Pakistan had decreased from 76 percent in 2001 to 37 percent in 2011.
However, the most glaring mistake the author has made is by holding the Pakistani public responsible for these problems. Erroneously, and without any basis, the writer says that “the main problem lies in the mind of Pakistanis.” The writer seems to assume that it is Pakistani mindset that prevents them from using iodine or taking polio drops or drives them toward militancy.
This totally flies in the face of reality. In the vast length and breadth of the country, the Pakistani public has no issues with the use of iodized salt or polio drops.
To reply to the writer’s point about the spread of conspiracy theories in Pakistan, while few Pakistanis believe in them, their distrust of “foreign hands” is understandable given a few glaring facts. While Pakistanis have always been passionate about religion, there has been no culture of suicide bombings or sectarian target killing etc.
These incidents started spilling over into Pakistan after it started playing a frontline role in the international struggle against terrorism and militancy. The country deserves international acknowledgment, gratitude and assistance for its continued sacrifices in this struggle, not wild and unfounded accusations. — Sohail Ali Khan, Consul (Press) Consulate General of Pakistan, Jeddah