Adil Najam
To view such a video and assume that all of Pakistan is against the Taliban would be as delusional as the proposition that all of Pakistan is for them is deceptive.
The point of this video is not that all Pakistanis are opposed to Talibanization. It is that not all Pakistanis are for them.
The distinction between the two is subtle, but vital. The video puts to a lie the notion that anti-Taliban sentiment are to be found only in the so-called “liberal” and “elite” classes. Indeed, the empirical fact is that the people who the Taliban and other religious extremist forces have been killing in Pakistan are (a) nearly all Pakistanis, (b) nearly all Muslims, and (c) none of them are either very “liberal” or very “elite.”
It should not be a surprise, then, that at least some, probably many, and possibly most, “non-liberal,” “non-elite,” Pakistani Muslims would be against the Taliban and the war they are waging on Pakistan, Pakistanis and on Pakistani Muslims. The tragedy is that too many Pakistanis remain agnostic on the Talibanization threat and even more who are afraid of or reluctant to raise their voices against them.
There is clearly a need to counter the propaganda of those who would have us believe that the Taliban are opposed only by a few “liberal elites.” But equally important – even more important – is the need to acknowledge and somehow deal with the deep fissures and divisions within Pakistani society. Indeed, if there is any one unambiguous truth about Pakistan today it is that we are a deeply divided society. Deeply divided on many of the most existential questions about the country’s past, present and future: Including on questions of what the Taliban represent and how they should be dealt with. It is this division that the Taliban are exploiting. Until these societal fissures are somehow addressed neither military action, nor political strategy, nor international intervention will make any difference whatsoever.
Very happy to see the Army operation in serious going on in these areas now. I hope the Army will not let go and that this is not just to shaw the Americans. We really need to clear this Taliban filth.
@Ibrahim
Nice analysis!
BTW, what is your conclusion? Did you mean to say that it is not the ‘Talibani Islam’ but ‘Islam’ itself is the problem?
@Ibrahim
This isn’t directly related to your point but at some point during the Zia regime, the question was asked (on the referendum) in a way similar to what you have suggested: It was asked whether they wanted Pakistan to be an Islamic State and the result was prolonged military rule. So if you ask me I think the ppl of Pakistan are very easy to mislead…sometimes in the name of Islam and sometimes ‘enlightened moderation’ (whatever that was).
You know what I think. I think the people simply want to ‘live’ (if you catch my drift). ppl seem to forget that subtle but importaant point when we start competing abt what they should ‘live under’.
Salam
jock
Amazing (read hypocritical) response to this video by the commentators here. Some time ago in one of my comments I had referred to a Gallup survey showing that at least 81% of Pakistanis wanted Shariah to be a source of legislation (60% wanted Shariah to be the only source of legislation), the survey was dismissed as answers of the illiterate people who didn’t know what secularism was all about even though Gallup mentioned the survey was taken from a wide cross section of the Pakistani society.
But, everybody is happy to lap up all the responses in the video while disregarding that most people in this video are not literate. Anyhow, for me, being literate or not is not an issue for your opinion to be counted. However, I thought I should point out this hypocrisy. By the way, by illiterate I do not mean poor.
This video shows that the “masses” don’t support Pakistani Taliban (although I should point out that big bearded, “Mullah” looking people were conveniently absent in this video…I guess they’re not the masses). Fair enough. But, please tell me how does this video support the idea that the masses don’t want Shariah or don’t want to live under an Islamic state or theocracy? This is the underlying argument that’s most often made here…that masses are against shariah; that secularism and democracy is what people want. This video only proves that some of the actions of the Pakistani Taliban aren’t approved by the masses. This video in no way proves that people are theologically (i.e. willing to live under/wanting Shariah) against Taliban. Closely hear the responses again. All the responses start with disapproving the actions of the Pakistani Taliban, but none of them end with disapproving imposition of Shariah or unwillingness to live under it. Almost all say “No, (Pakistani) Taliban are not good; killing and violence is not good, it’s against Islam”. Also, as a side note, do not rule out the fact that people know that they’re “on camera” and what types of answers will be appreciated. You can almost tell that a couple, not all, are playing for the camera.
Now, if these same exact people are asked the following question what do you think the responses would be: Should Pakistan be governed by man-made laws instead of laws revealed by Allah through Qur’an and the Sunnah?
Most people here will not like the answers to the above question. In other words, the way you ask the question has a lot to do with the types of responses you get. Of course, the question was conveniently not shown in this video. The other point is that these same exact people and thus the masses at large will not be as big an opponent of the Pakistani Taliban as you people make them out to be. Why? Because, theologically they aren’t that far apart (there is bound to be some differences, sure). Hence, any notion of the masses rising up against the Pakistani Taliban is a fantasy at best. It must be asked, if the Pakistanis were truly that disgusted for what Pakistani Taliban theologically stood for, then it should have been very easy for the Pakistani government to declare an all out war against the Pakistani Taliban fearing no backlash with or without outside help.
The fact of the matter is that the “people” (i.e. the majority in Pakistan) have no power academically, intellectually or politically to impose their say on the society, whether it be in support of or against the Pakistani Taliban. Hence, they will not rise up against the Pakistani Taliban or the JI or secularists or PPP on the basis of ideological differences.
Hence, it comes down to a section of the middle class where this battle will be waged. Whoever wins, will lead the masses to its cause and ideology. However, if the religious cause wins it has the potential to not only lead the masses but also rally the masses around its cause, unlike if the secularists win because the Pakistani masses are not set up to rally around or embrace secularism. They might silently live under it, even indulge in its fake “freedom”, but as a whole it will not embrace it. In other words, if religious cause follows secularist rule, there will be no hue or cry from the masses over the loss of secularism.
I mean, look at the politicians. One is a peer, the other is a makhdoom, another is a
These interviews should end the rhetorics of Taliban sympathisers who seem to be dwindling in numbers. These are the common Pakistani’s on the street, people who want peace and rozgaar. Not a religion that’s forcefully jammed down their throats because that’s what Islam and Shariah is to these butcher Taliban. Anybody who justifies the existence of Taliban who’s agenda has nothing to do with drone attacks is a Taliban sympathiser who justifies their murders, beheadings and terrorism they have unleashed on the people of Swat and such people need to be shunned wherever they are -on the street, on the web, in schools, at work, etc.