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WEEKLY
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Opinion Archive
The News International Pakistan
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| Security matters |
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By Chris Cork
As these words are read on Monday morning I am going to be at a meeting convened by the local Commissioner to discuss the security of foreigners in the area for which he is responsible. This is a welcome sign of the government reaching out in an effort to protect those of us who live here but come from other countries, and indicative of it exercising a ‘duty of care’ that is entirely commendable. Whilst I do not as yet know what the agenda for the meeting is, I would guess that it will take in a subjective and objective overview and attempt to make a qualitative/quantitative threat assessment - as well as seeking to reassure those few of us left in south Punjab that we may sleep easily in our beds at night.
For the most part, we determine the quality of our own security, us foreigners. However, it would be a mistake to assume that all foreigners are the same or share common concerns for their own security. There are almost as many ‘tribes’ of foreigners as there are clans in the Rohi. There are dozens of foreign language and ethnic groups that live here, there are – perhaps surprisingly – still hundreds of tourists, and there are diplomatic and economic missions and they all have their own ‘take’ on the security issue.
Formal missions issue advice to their in-country representatives, some of it very strict. Most nations severely limit the mobility of their diplomats these days, and most diplomats are heavily guarded round the clock. International NGOs all have codes of conduct for their foreign nationals, which are followed with varying degrees of compliance; with some of agencies being dangerously lax. Tourists are by their very nature difficult to regulate beyond a registration procedure in some, but not all, parts of the country. If they are travelling independently they will ‘sign in’ at the border, but beyond that may have no contact with the authorities. If they are travelling with a group they will almost certainly have group security procedures, and may seek local protection on the advice of their tour operator. Interestingly, despite all the ballyhoo about the dangers of visiting Pakistan it is still a relatively ‘safe’ tourist destination, and extremely rare for tourists to be targeted.
Then there is the ‘tribe’; small and getting smaller, of those of us who live here. Broadly speaking we fall into three groups. Those who are on a long-term contract and live in the community or company/agency compound; those who are here by vocation such as assorted volunteers and people who serve in religious communities – and those of us who have married into it and consider this to be their primary home.
As a member of the latter group for the last fourteen years, ‘security’ – or the lack of it - is something that rarely troubles me. However, it is true that I have an enhanced sense of threat perception these days, and it is equally true that I am more aware and alert than I was two or three years ago. My work sometimes takes me to places where security is marginal, and the level of threat palpable, but always after taking local advice and generally in company with a local representative of whatever organization I am visiting or monitoring. Notwithstanding, a few months back I had the misfortune to be in the wrong place at the wrong time in Karachi, and came close to being introduced to the afterlife; but I dived for cover, they missed me and we all went our separate ways. It could have happened in almost any large city anywhere in the world but it wasn’t ‘personal’ as they say.
Despite this and in strictly objective terms, I am probably no more insecure than I was five or ten years ago. I am not a member of a ‘target’ organization or a high-profile figure beyond these columns – of little or no interest to any passing terrorist. So I will be happy to attend the meeting with the Commissioner on Monday, and am grateful to the government for their concern. I will do my best to stay out of trouble and preserve a stiff upper lip. Promise.
The writer is a British social worker settled in Pakistan. Email:manticore73@gmail.com
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ISSN 1563-9479