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).
Let me politically incorrect. As long people die in NWFP and Baluchistan; our media and our politicians will not care.
When people will start dying in Lahore and Islamabad then Elites of Pakistan will find a way out!
If people of Lahore have to live under Taliban for one day then our establishment (media + polticians + judges +army) will wake-up and will do something about it.
Well on other notes I do agree with socialist that Taliban is symptoms of a failed state. The State which don’t provide justice, clean water and opportunities to its citizens. Our elites should start thinking about it otherwise these lunatics Taliban will eat the whole country.
Janab Adil Sahab
This is a cry of the heart and one can feel your pain. When friends and foes both are killing you what can you do.
But you should stop writing these since most of your commenters are not even reading what you say and just ranting on the same drivel they always write on every post no matter what.
What a bizarre mixture of comments and who are these people making it about religions, minorities, or crap load of casts. Whatever. How can you be just pakistanis if you keep talking about sindi balochi punjabi all the time.
Lets not talk about that. Lets talk about qadianis or god knows what. Just understand the gravity of the situation. I think there should be a minute of silence in our country to mourn the death of these young people. We need to let everybody know that we are hurt by it. There is no greater threat to these terrorist organization that to let them know that we stand united against them. Anyway. With a mofu leader like Zaradari, we have really touched the bottom of the pit. Whats really next?
Some people talked about getting 65 year old people from original freedom movement. Those are the very people that never really laid the right foundation after pakistan came into being. They looted, they signed illegal papers, they took jobs that they were not truely trained for, 100 years of freedom fighter wanted to sit in a big office and enjoy the bureaucracy, the very thing that they were fighting against.
Isn’t this what the biggest tragedy of our nation is. We claim to fight against things that we very much want in the first place. We all blame america for everything but then we would not hesitate to come here….. I dont really even know how this can be solved anymore or what we should do. My heart is too sad to see all those dead ones and their families to point fingers or find reasons.
East Pakistanis died. East Pakistanis cried. For what? For whom? Why? Every 12-15 years Baluchis die. Baluchis cry. For what? For whom? Why? Since 2004 Pashtuns have been dying. Pashtuns have been crying. For what? For whom? Why? From 1982 to 84 Sindhis died. Sindhis cried. For what? For whom? Why? In 1949-50, 1953 and 1976 Qadianis died. Qadianis cried. For what? For whom? Why? Every 10 years or so the constitution dies. Democracy cries. For what? For whom? Why? Jinnah died. Jinnah tried (even cried, at least once, according to his sister). For what? For whom? Why?
Did we ever cry for any of our own above? Did we ever repent? If we can begin to answer these questions, we can begin to find the strength to stand together and find a way to stop Pakistanis dying. Pakistanis crying. We can begin to learn to live for Pakistan. Die for our children, if need be, fighting the murdering Taliban and Al-Qaeda and their supporters and appeasers in our midst. Whatever it takes. America would neither need nor dare to interfere (with or without regard for our lives).
Half a million girls, class 4 and above, will not be allowed by the Taliban, even under Nizam-e-Adal, to return to school and have an education. Is this peace or surrender? Can we please honestly answer that first? Before accepting the current ‘solution’ or even beginning to look for others. Over a period of two years, 200 schools were blown up in Swat. One Police Training Centre attacked in Lahore. Do you see any difference in our reaction to either? How do you compare the media time given to each? If yes, why? Let alone all the deaths in Swat. In FATA. All over NWFP. Why is Nizam-e-Adal and a peace deal with the Taliban good or the best solution for Swat but cannot be contemplated for Lahore? Why is using guns against those who use guns, and refuse to lay them down, not an essential part of the solution? How is it a ‘peace deal’ and not surrender if the Pak Army has to withdraw but the Taliban have not required themselves to lay down a single weapon? Why can’t and hasn’t the Pak Army engaged the enemy at close quarters, man-to-man? Isn’t that how every other army fights guerillas and insurgents? How do you get ‘unacceptably’ high civilian casualities when you engage man-to-man? Or do the Taliban possess heavy artillery and air power so cannot be approached? Or do we not have an Army of 587,000?
We might capitulate to our murderers and call it peace. Sacrifice one set of Pakistanis to save another. Other countries won’t treat the lives of their citizens like we do ours. If we don’t sort out those who threatent to murder them, they will come in and sort out themsleves our citizens who issue open threats to them from our soil (that we have ceded to them).
The decades old fire that the majority started against the minorities has now engulfed every one. As you sow, so shall you reap. How true!
A house with its foundations based on tolerance, unity, inclusion, and enlightenment is impregnable. Not so for Pakistan, which unfortunately, has been hollowed away at its foundations by juhl and nafsa-nafsi.
Every Pakistani has a long criminal charge sheet . It is time to look within and acknowledge your participation in self preservation, corruption, intolerance, bigotry, and ignorance. Blood of the minorities murdered in the name of Islam, blood of the poor who are ‘destined’ into servitude, and blood of the very core of Islam itself.
Now that long march is in vogue, why not do long marches against the God-like mullahs who issue verdicts about wajib-ul-qatal. Instead of watching indifferently when minorities are killed in the name of Islam, do some self reflection and embark on a jihad against your own nafs. Remember that divine help is promised only to those who help themselves.