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.
The PAKISTANI RIGHT WING and the US RIGHT WING are BOTH in the business of killing Muslims, the PAKISTANI RIGHT WING
Agreed but you didn’t mention that US right wingers are killing Muslims with the aid of Pakistani leftist. US right wingers involved desi liberals in lame stuff like Sufisim in Bhangra/Movies and what not. They order them to bring something “enlightened” which sends Pakistanis away fro Muslim while they themselves burry their head most of time in Gospel. They themselves keep wearin cross while order brainwashed psuedo literate Muslims to curse Mullah all the time.
Actually the Way Islam promised Muslims to give 72 hoors, US promised Left wingers for Green Card and other benefits so in order to earn “Heaven” on earth, they keep struggling badmouthing anything which is related to the religion
That’s the reality my friend. Bitter but true.
Ref: Amar and D-a-n
In last one year I have been writing extensively in various blogs on the subject of terrorism and American foreign policy vis avis muslim world in general and Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan in particulr. I have now come to realize that it is a very complex issue which needs to be resolved with great care and thought.
Your condemnation of suicide attacks may well be justified but I will like to draw your attention to the fact that target of these attacks has never been general public as such. They have only been targetting the symbols of state or symbols of foreign powers with whom they are at war for reasons which can’t be dismissed as ridiculous summarily.
By the way on a closely related issue you may find following extracts of an email of mine to about 36 English friends of some interest :
“Yesterday I happened to be with the wife of the Ambassador of Canada and a female judge friend of hers on a visit to Pakistan at a lunch. At the end of our brief discussion she asked me what will I do if the lawyers movement failed to restore the judiciary. I told her it was just not possible. She was a charming lady. She told me with a broad smile on her face: Suppose it happens then what will you do? I told her with not a trace of smile on my face: In that case I will join the extremists and start the struggle for the imposition of Shariah law. The broad smile disappeared from her face as soon as she heard this. Her female judge friend asked me if I will really do that and was I really serious. I told her that I have never been more serious in my life and added: I will prefer the rule of 1400 year old law over no rule of law. I reckon this reply gave these two ladies some food for thought. ”
Let it be food for thought for you also.
EXCELLENT POINT by “Liberal Elite”. Thank you.
You are right. Lets focus on who is systematically killing Pakistanis and Muslims in Pakistan.
Two groups – BOTH RIGHT WING CONSERVATIVES – are in the business of systematically killing Pakistanis and Pakistani Muslims. First, George Bush and his Neocons who send these drones and this senseless policy of war. Second, Pakistani religious fanatics who are also conservative and right wing who support suicide bombers and justify and defend them and actually the suicide bombers themselves are right wing nuts and conservative.
So the real axis of murder are the right wing conservatives of the world. I am also a Liberal. I condemn BOTH. The Right Wing Conservatives who sends the drones to kill Pakistanis and the Right Wing Conservatives who send the suicide bombers to kill Pakistanis.
Machil Kahn blabbers: “Obviously the acts of killing innocent civilians with bombs stamped
Kabir,
Obviously the acts of killing innocent civilians with bombs stamped “Made in the U.S. of A” are cowardly and dastardly, acts unfortunately the liberal elite of Pakistan doesn’t have the guts to condemn.
Suicide attacks in Pakistan are in general cowardly, (a) because most of the time the targets are innocent civilians and bystanders and (b) by nature killing others by way of committing suicide is cowardly. This is not the Jihad that Islamic History is rampant with. Battle field warfare was manly, it required skill, it required bravery and guts. Those who fought for Muslim causes fought with swords and guns. They fought the enemy neck to neck, they accepted defeat if it come otherwise they enjoyed victory and thanked the Creator for it. What we see today is individuals waving the banner of Jihad but they don’t have the guts or bravery to fight for their rights and lives in the proper respectable way rather they choose the easy way of blowing themselves up. This is probably why they are not respected by the proper religious Muslims and the irreligious.