The photo to the left shows stormy clouds gathering over Islamabad on December 16, 2008.
Today, which is just six days later from when this photo was taken, I believe there is another storm brewing in Islamabad on its political and foreign relations front. Not withstanding the conspiracy theories still circling around in Pakistan, there is growing consensus in the rest of the world that Pak-based elements were behind Mumbai attacks. Gordon Brown served a notice to Pakistan during his visit and it seems that the U.S. agrees. Moreover the steps Pakistan has taken so far haven’t been very convincing. India has called a meeting of its envoys throughout the world to discuss next steps. The last time such a meeting was called was before the 1971 war. This has led the U.S to send Adm. Mullen back to Pakistan for a second time in as many weeks. Meanwhile Pakistan high commission in India has confirmed that it has received a letter from Ajmal Kasab.
Here is an article from Dawn and the Washington Post Editorial on this very issue:
(i) The daily Dawn
(ii) The Washington Post
The last time Pakistan was so isolated diplomatically against India was during the aftermath of Kargil.
In another development Pakistan Airforce suspended commercial flights in major Pakistani cities today and did a low altitude fly-by as part of their increased vigil.
One can only hope that our leaders especially the security establishment can comprehend the gravity of the situation and take steps in the right direction.
Photo Credits: Title photo is courtesy of Abid Zia at Associated Press of Pakistan.
@Eidee Man
You are as funny in your analysis about India disintegrating as Zaid Hamid is in his so called strategic analysis of security situations. I always liked Pakistani comedians, whom we see many a times these days on indian channels. It seems there are many of them in Pakistan.
Please , now , do not moderate my this comment!
Personally, I think the Pakistani government “must do more,” in the area of getting our story out into the media. Muslim countries in general, and we in particular, have failed miserably in fighting the hateful propaganda.
I still fail to understand how people have the audacity to suggest that Pakistan, whose people and military have suffered the most losses by far at the hands of terrorism, actually supports terrorism. I am no fan of the ISI (or of any of the other ‘intelligence’ agencies, for that matter), but to think that one wing of the military would actively support groups who are continuing to kill hundreds of people from the military is downright absurd.
The irony in this new spate of events in India is that were it not for Pakistan, India would have disintegrated along ethnic and linguistic lines a long time ago. India has always successfully used animosity against Pakistan to keep its internal troubles from getting out of control.
I think now is a good time for Pakistan to take a break from geo-politics and look inward. We need to spend more time on building independent institutions, an open and honest political system, and a vibrant middle-class, and focus less on appeasing big powers, and maintaining ‘friendships’ with worthless ‘allies’ like Saudi Arabia and Iran.
If you’re reading Roy’s article in the Guardian, you ought to read the response to it which is the opinion held by many Indians: http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20081 219&fname=abhinav&sid=1
“I think before this debate loses perspective with the normal anti-Pakistan and anti-India comments, it is worth pointing to Arundhati Roy
I think before this debate loses perspective with the normal anti-Pakistan and anti-India comments, it is worth pointing to Arundhati Roy’s brilliant piece in the Guardain. It can be read via the link below:
http://blog.otherpakistan.org/2008/12/20/indian-ho me-truths/
Feimanallah Pakistan
Wasim
@Aamir Ali You need to read a bit about what a Nation state is supposed to be. A nation state which can not control its internal rough elements and let them lose on neighbors ,cease all rights to be a an independent nation state. Every country has rough elements but Pakistani Jihadis are striking others using Pakistani soil. How long will anybody tolerate this?
If your son goes wayward and start troubling your neighbors, how long will neighbours not blame you for not controlling or disowning or reprimanding him?? The reason that US is conducting drone attacks on you and the reason that India might be forced to do same is for simple reason that your government is not able to control these so called non-state actors. So question you need to ask is …what is the purpose of having a state and a government if some lunatics can just run amok and launch attacks on others.
As for as Concrete proof of Kasab being a Pakistani, Well, What concrete proof do you have that Zardari is a Pakistani! I mean what really forms a Concrete proof?? Pakistanis claims that kasab’s name is not in their national database…funny…does Pakistan has any such database at all!! come on guys now. I know there are more intelligent Pakistanis out their than Zaid Hamid and his ilk….