Adil Najam
The cowardly suicide attack on the Danish Embassy in Islamabad which has led at least eight people dead is not just an attack on a foreign embassy in Pakistan, it is an attack on Pakistan.
There is and there can be no excuse for this dastardly action, and to make excuses is to become part of the apparatus of validating the terror itself. There are those who will make misplaced claims about this being an act of ghairat (honor). Let us be very clear, this is a bay-ghairat (dishonorable) act, no matter what the concocted excuse or justification might be.
The Associated Press pictures above (and below) tell the story of hate and destruction; here are the details, from The News:
The death toll in a huge blast near Danish embassy in F-6 II area in the Red Zone of the federal capital Islamabad on Monday has reached to eight, while seven wounded said to be in a critical condition. The car blast near the Denmark embassy damaged a boundary wall of the building, while nearby UNDP office premises were also damaged in the blast. According to sources 10 to 15 kilogram explosives were used in the blast, which also shattered the vehicles parked in the area. Huge clouds of smoke were seen over the area. The blast created four feet deep crater sources said. Police have cordoned off the area to collect evidence about the incident. Relief operations were underway and the wounded being transferred to hospitals.
While leaders in Pakistan as well as Denmark have condemned the dastardly act, we the people of Pakistan also need to condemn and be outraged at this. These acts of venom and hate are being done in our name. And no matter what the cause we need to stand up and say that this cannot, must not, be allowed to happen in our name.
This is just the latest in a string of hate blasts across Pakistan, including in Islamabad. We at ATP have been worried and have been warning against this culture of violence that has been festering in Pakistan. ATP commentator Deeda-i-Beena has provided some thoughtful ideas of steps that can be taken to begin addressing this cancer. It is time we think of them seriously.
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Mazhar, I partially disagree with you that anyone would “love death and suicide”. Many depressed individuals want a way out and attempt suicide, only to find out that they are too cowardly to “press a button”. Even animals struggle when death approaches. Even worms respond to basic stimuli in order to survive, to not let go and be at ease. An amoeba or a bacterium struggles to steer away from a drop of acid or toxin, which could mean its death, to another part of a Petri dish. Life is an intrinsic choice of protoplasm.
But I do agree with you that in a sense these guys are cowards. And, even in nature, this is seen sometimes - the case of migrating lemmings is one of the strangest examples of voluntary collective suicide. It was believed (still by many) that lemmings deliberately fall off cliffs in large numbers and commit suicide to avoid population explosion. This has been doubted, and it is now believed by some that the urge to continue on along their migration path dominates the fear of death from the fall. Others now believe its a case of stampede, so they don’t really jump; they’re pushed. In any case, instead of the push, among our jawans, one can envision the “push” as peer pressure from other extremists and their mentor mullahs, with whom I certainly do not concur on most all points (so ppl don’t start calling *me* a mullah or mullah supporter). Similarly, systems sometimes use suicide as a way out - apoptosis, when cells of our bodies commit “suicide” during development; and our own cancer and virus-infected cells beg through interferons asking other cells for assisted suicide. So the epistemology is complex.
But my point wasn’t just whether they are cowards or not. My real emphasis was on the fact that these events should not happen, especially at a time where we’re trying to give exactly the opposite, and true, image of Islam. Even if we think these guys who perpetrate these crimes are total cowards and idiots, we should do something urgently to prevent the loss of other innocent lives that they take with them.
The solutions are many, but one of them that always works is catharsis, and the extremists are denied that completely due to our subservience to our masters abroad, which raises the level of frustration among extremists to a boiling point.
BTW: Could anyone post Danish products on the blog so those of us who haven’t yet done anything practically might? I saw this link but don’t know if it’s correct.
http://buydanish.home.comcast.net/~buydanish/produ cts.htm
Appeared in today’s Jang
So I ask questions like Phds like Adil, Aqil that why don’t they ever use their wisdom to figure out why such acts are taken place at 1st place? Why Liberals who are Western Mouthpieces are so mentally impotent that they can’t try to find reason behind such acts. As the other guy said, it even hurts if one tries to cut a finger then how one gets ready to cut his own soul.
How would you guys react if someone kill your kid or your any family member without any reason, you guys might start spending rest of your life in pub or commit suicide yourself when get no justice. What all you liberals want that you keep killing others and one doesn’t even shed a tear? So pathetic, Really “Baghairatness” at its peak!!
There is no disagreement with the premise that attacks against innocent civilians and non-combatants is deplorable – no matter who the perpetrators.
However, the conclusions given here by some is nothing more than to exhibit their polemical skills – by throwing in Imam Hussain or the Mullahs and what nots into the fray.
Some say that since the Prophet forgive his worst enemies and never took revenge for himself – again the premise is true but the conclusion given herein by some is false.
The point made by some that the massacre of innocent women, children and men by the NATO forces on our Northern territories is NOT highlighted or deplored with the same zeal is not unfounded. Similarly, the suggestion of boycott of Danish goods and services is the avenue not yet seriously employed.
P.S: The stereotype views expressed by some also do not jive with the conclusions from the studies and Gallup survey: More American public thinks attacks in which civilians are targets are “completely justified” than their counterparts in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Iran. (6% of Americans v/s 4% Saudis and 2% Lebanese and Iranians).
Rasheed, first of all, those who love death and suicides have nothing to do with God. This is what Satan wants, for people to yearn for death. Secondly, it is much more easy to press a button and commit suicide in the face of adversity as compared to choosing to fight like a man, living the life of pain and overcoming the challenges to emerge a winner.
Many humans in the past faced oppression and adversities. History only remembers those fondly who were men enough to stand, live, face and win. And by God, history is replete with examples of such great humans embibed with the undying human spirit. Those which pressed a button in panic and committed suicides are cowards and deserve no glorification. Worse of all, because they take away many innocents who, in congnizance with God’s will, want to live, there is no doubt that these suicide bombers have a degenerate cowardly soul and are serving Satan.
FATA is the kingdom of terrorists, with multiple warlords sitting in multiple agencies, and with the support of the tribals. These folks launch bomb attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan, so they should expect a missile strike from across the border or a Pakistani military operation as well. Its only fair.
These religious right wingers can justify anything of theirs.
I think all Pakistanis are appalled by this and what we are seeing is that these acts are making the militants and the extremists distant from real Muslims and real Muslims and Paksitanis are now speaking out against them, just like you are. This will be the real defeat of these extremists.
Yeh log jinhon nay khud kushi kee hai, hain to baywaqoof. Laikin baywaqoof kehna aasaan hai, jaan daynee aasaan naheen, khuwah kisee bhee raah men dee gaee ho.
Agar kisee ko shak hai to apnee aik unglee kaat kar dikha-ay. Yeh mu’aamalah buhut paycheedah hai. Yeh kehna aasaan hai keh is hamlay kee muzammat karo. Karnee bhee chaahiyay. Laykin jinhon nay apnee jaan daytay huway aur logon kee jan bhee zaaya kee, unhain koee rastah nazar naheen aya. Maayoosee kee intihaa huwee ho gee. Unn keh zehn kee kaifiyyat par bhee ghaur karna chahiyay. Wuh bhee hamaray bhaee thay, jiss tarah jin kee jaanain lee gaeen, hamaaray bhaee thay.
Iss saanihah ko madde nazar rakhtay huway yeh zaroori hai keh koi rahnuma samnay aaen aur naujawaanon ko seedhee rah dikhain aur onhain kucsh ummeed dila-ayn. Wagarnah mazeed jawaan zaa-eh hotay rahain gain. Baahir kay baRay mumaalik nay to baaz naheen aana. Wuh to teelee laga kar tamasha daykhna pasand kartay hain. Wuh to sharartain kartay rahain gay, jiss tarah ba’z likhnay waalon nay iss blog par bila-pailat jahaz kay hamlon kaa zikr kiya tha. Hamain khud kuCH karna hoga agar hamain apnay watan, mazhab aur Anbiyaa Alaihimussalaam kee hifazat kaa khiyaal hai. Saath yeh bhee yaad rakhna chahiyay keh hamain saains aur teknalogy par zore daina hoga agar hamain apna defaa’ mazboot karna hai. Agar hamara defaa’ mazboot hota to dushman kee majaal na hotee keh munh uthaa kar baar baar bila wajah bila-pailat jazaaz kaa rukh iss taraf kartaa, yaa hamaray Nabee (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) kee bay hurmatee karta.
So, the discussion is really about….what is worst;
1. Pakistanis being killed by US , or
2. Pakistanis being killed by Mullahs.
In the meanwhile Times of India has bought Virgin Radio for £52Million, not something believers will give a hoot for but non-believes like to take care of their bread and butter (or Atta and Ghee if you may). Also Nissan Micra will now be built in India… again something we believers need not envy India for. Our reward is sometime in the future as long we can keep blowing people up.