The border between Sudan and South Sudan is again abuzz with artillery fire and aerial bombardment. Both sides are blaming each other for breaking the uneasy peace between the two nations that used to be one in the not so distant past. If leaders of these poverty stricken countries are sincere to the people they claim to represent, then they have very few role models to choose from — how bloody was the breakup of Yugoslavia (the conflict has still not subsided after two decades) and how peaceful was the division of Czechoslovakia into two independent states. For the last six decades, India and Pakistan are maintaining armies beyond their strategic needs, on the pretext of a border conflict since the 1947 partition — Kashmir — hence depriving millions of their people of education, healthcare, clean water and decent lives. It is time for the UN and the neighboring countries to come forward to help avoid an unnecessary conflict between the countries of Omar Bashir and Salva Kiir that may divide the region on ethnic and religious grounds. There are already signs of such a divide, as Uganda appears to be taking sides with South Sudan. Both Khartoum and Juba need to understand that war is no solution for the border conflict; they need to sit across the table to negotiate a win-win solution. Time is running out for both. War is the last misery this region needs, which is already engulfed by drought, poverty, civil and diamond wars, ethnic and tribal violence. Let us hope that sense will prevail.
MASOOD KHAN,
Saudi Arabia, April 22.