A Cursory, but Courageous, Self Examination of the Pakistani State’s Descent into the Abyss…
By Vaqas Asghar
http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/8572/rewriting-the-past-to-ruin-the-future/
Shabash Mr. Asghar… stay safe and keep using that pen. It is your generation that must tackle the two elephants in the room: the military junta and the mullahs with their violent/intolerant ilk. We know what happens when “Islamic” is added to any equation.
Only when people in Pakistan are unfettered to speak and read the truth without fear of retribution (from the “state”), will this violent trajectory towards civil war perhaps begin to be reversed.
Meddling in Afghanistan as the expiration of the Durand Line Agreement approached; playing the victim vis-à-vis India, while treating its citizens in East Pakistan and Baluchistan like trash, certainly did not make for cohesion. Now it’s the Pushtuns turn to play the role of sacrificial lamb in the eyes of this “state” and their foreign allies. But the Pushtun/Afghan are a different kettle of fish and outnumber (& outgun) the Baluch, in comparison. It may be too late for reconciliation. But what are the alternatives?
The minorities have been sacrificed at the altar of "Islam." Even the normally peaceful Barelvis are showing signs of rabies; which normally one could expect from the JI and their ilk. So Imran Khan is being disingenuous when he bashes the ‘US like a piñata. The truth is often quite painful…not to mention dangerous. But our forefathers fought and died for what they believed was the truth.
If the Pakistan Army hadn’t played games with us (America) and had shut off the exit routes for Al Qaeda and the Taliban leadership; if it hadn’t played double games starting in Kunduz with the brazen airlift, nor helped regroup their creation, the “Taliban,” nor cultivated "jihadis" like LeT, JeM, HuM etc; protected their Al Qaeda guests at the behest of their foreign paymasters, this day would never have come to pass.
The current instability and the obscene blame games, which ignore the real villains, only serve to temporarily deflect the frustration and anger of the average Pakistani. IK is right to talk about ending Pakistan’s foreign aid addiction but tell that to the politicians/generals with visions of a cushy retirement…
The US handling of foreign policy vis-a-vis the region certainly doesn’t help things but that is another topic altogether. There is hope when people like you (and some of the commentators here) seek the truth...however painful.
Only when people in Pakistan are unfettered to speak and read the truth without fear of retribution (from the “state”), will this violent trajectory towards civil war perhaps begin to be reversed.
Meddling in Afghanistan as the expiration of the Durand Line Agreement approached; playing the victim vis-à-vis India, while treating its citizens in East Pakistan and Baluchistan like trash, certainly did not make for cohesion. Now it’s the Pushtuns turn to play the role of sacrificial lamb in the eyes of this “state” and their foreign allies. But the Pushtun/Afghan are a different kettle of fish and outnumber (& outgun) the Baluch, in comparison. It may be too late for reconciliation. But what are the alternatives?
The minorities have been sacrificed at the altar of "Islam." Even the normally peaceful Barelvis are showing signs of rabies; which normally one could expect from the JI and their ilk. So Imran Khan is being disingenuous when he bashes the ‘US like a piñata. The truth is often quite painful…not to mention dangerous. But our forefathers fought and died for what they believed was the truth.
If the Pakistan Army hadn’t played games with us (America) and had shut off the exit routes for Al Qaeda and the Taliban leadership; if it hadn’t played double games starting in Kunduz with the brazen airlift, nor helped regroup their creation, the “Taliban,” nor cultivated "jihadis" like LeT, JeM, HuM etc; protected their Al Qaeda guests at the behest of their foreign paymasters, this day would never have come to pass.
The current instability and the obscene blame games, which ignore the real villains, only serve to temporarily deflect the frustration and anger of the average Pakistani. IK is right to talk about ending Pakistan’s foreign aid addiction but tell that to the politicians/generals with visions of a cushy retirement…
The US handling of foreign policy vis-a-vis the region certainly doesn’t help things but that is another topic altogether. There is hope when people like you (and some of the commentators here) seek the truth...however painful.
