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.
Adil,
First, let me congratulate you for posting this video and your introduction to the subject. I admire your ongoing efforts to keep alive a dialogue on the subject.
The one major limitation of this discussion is that it does not fully involve (a) those people who are directly impacted the most by
I am not sure if this really captures the views of Pakistanis. This media propaganda. Not going to help. Just face it. Pakistanis support Talibans otherwise, there wouldn’t be existental threat to Pakistan.
The silent majority is with Talibans. If this silent majority does ot speak out against talibans after so much carnage then they are not silent majority, they are deaf, dumb or blind and they do not have any conscience.
One must honestly say that Talibans have support of Silent Majority and there is no doubt about it.
Putting these vedios will not change the reality.
@ Zecchetti: Sure there are (few) people who support taliban but only a kafir & enemy of the great Pakistan or a total idiot will make (produce) such a video that shows support for taliban.
PRODUCER OF THIS VIDEO IS UNKNOWINGLY FURTHER DIVIDING PAKISTAN:
The video in this blog is “DANGEROUS” because it is showing 99.9% punjabi people. Which is reflecting (or can reflect) the fact that ONLY punjabies are against Talibans (or even Pakhtoons) – The video would have been correct if all ethnic groups specially pakhtoons were shown with same reactions.
Please use common sense while producing future videos.
Just one more point > MQM must not lose a golden chance to embrace pakhtoon brothers coming in karachi. Thanks
I guess every Pakistani who have a sense of talibanaization, is opposing talibanization. Lets just come up to the fact that this Taliban which would be not more than 1000 or 2000 maximum, can just come up and capture Islamabad on a instant. And I don