Adil Najam
I open the ‘top stories’ page of The News today and two headlines scream out at me. The first tells me that twelve people, including three women and two children have died in a US drone attack in Orakzai. The second tells me that militants have killed five in an ambush on a police van in Dir. All this while the tears from the carnage at Lahore are not yet dry. For what? For whom? Why?
The Americans tell us that they must do what they are doing because they have to stamp out terror. The militants say that they too must do what they are doing because they are fighting the enemies of Islam.
All I know is that it is Pakistanis who continue to do the dying. For what? For whom? Why?
For the life of me I cannot understand how the US thinks it will root out terror by lobbing bombs at Pakistani women and children. Nor how these militants think they are helping Islam or fighting America by killing Muslims and Pakistani, bombing girls schools, or terrorizing civilian populations.
It is obvious that the Americans are not winning their “war on terror” through these tactics. Nor are the militants and extremists making any dent in America or its policies through their terror. Every minute of every day is a reminder of the face that terror has not been “defeated,” nor is Islam any more “safe.” All we know for sure is that innocent Pakistanis are dying. For what? For whom? Why?
The Obama Administration says it will give Pakistan $1.5 billion a year for development. Economists estimate that the war on terror cost Pakistan $6-8 billion last year. I don’t find either number relevant. All I know is that over a thousand Pakistanis died last year in this conflict. For what? For whom? Why?
The newspapers are full of statements and analysis. They offer little solace, and even less insight. They only add to a noise that is now no less deafening than all the bombs themselves. We must speak out and act up against the forces that spread terror in our country. But we cannot remain silent on the deaths of Pakistanis by those who claim to be our friends.
No one seems to care about the death of ordinary Pakistanis. They deaths don’t even merit a statement of condolence, of remorse. Everyone seems to have a ‘great cause’ to fight for. A cause greater than the life of a child, a mother, a father. The Americans have ‘Terror’ to fight. The religious extremists and militants have ‘Islam’ to save. The Pakistan government has no clue who or what they are fighting for, with or against. In the midst of all of this, ordinary Pakistanis become mere ‘collateral.’ For what? For whom? Why?
Today, my words are not the voice of analysis. Today, my voice is the voice of angst. I know that my words will make little difference. I know my voice has neither reach nor influence. But let me say to all and any who may be out there to listen: We are not collateral.
And so, today, once again, its was Pakistanis who died. Pakistanis who cried (1, 2, 3). For what? For whom? Why?
(Note: Pictures above are from funerals of those who died during the terrorist attacks in Lahore).
Very powerful writeup. Thank you.
Exactly right. Pock be on the talibans and extremists and pock be on the house of the Americans. Neither is a friend of Pakistan. But the real tragedy is that our own leaders and government is not our friend either.
It is hard to think dispassionately about our own people, our own county & our own children. When our own are dying , when we have no idea who is our friend and who is foe, when as a nation we face collective lack of understanding of who are we actually fighting against; one feels sadness, helplessness and despair. Our collective national impotence is forcing us to make strategic choices which are contradictory in nature and yet have to be made because of the lack of options.
Here are some of the contradictions Pakistan is faced with:
1. Pakistan does not like USA given all the history of abandonment and betrayal & mutual mistrust but Pakistan need USA to root out Al-Qaida in its border territory to stop Pakistan from becoming a launching pad for future terror attacks around the world
2. Pakistan want USA to stabilise Afghanistan before it leaves so that the country does not collapse into civil war once again and Pakistan is once gain inundated with refugees from that country but Pakistan want USA to leave Afghanistan as soon as possible so that Pashtun insurgency in its own tribal lands cools down
3. Pakistan does not want India
I’ll play Devil’s Advocate here. First, some additional information: the New York Times reported that the latest drone strike was targeted at one Hakimullah Mehsud, a prominent lieutenant of Baitullah Mehsud (see link below).
Now, did you say you want to prevent drone strikes? Excellent. You have several options. I’ll list some of the interesting ones below.
1) Make the Americans stop. This can be done through means varying from diplomacy to shooting down the drones to forcing the Americans to leave the neighborhood sooner than they want.
2) Tackle Hakimullah Mehsud (and others) yourself. The way I see it neither he nor his friends are doing you any favors.
Take your pick. But for your own sake, hurry.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/02/world/asia/02pstan.html?_r=1&ref=global-home
@safdar ali
WHY THEY ATTACK ONLY ON PAKISTAN?
Because WE harbor very sick people, thinking THEY are OUR BROTHERS.
While almost all of us feel the pain and anguish at the current state of affairs