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.
It seems you have posted the video with the intent of proving the general idea that the Talibans are equally repelled by the illiterate masses and the so called ‘elite’ or the ‘liberals’.
This is a very illusive statement.
First of all, I really fail to understand what is meant by Talibanization?? However, what it shows to be on its face is that it is a ”sort’ of Islam which is being tried to be enforced by a ‘ certain’ group of Muslims over other Muslims (as well as non-Muslims). Whether this is right or wrong is another question, the point is whether or not the Pakistanis want to upkeep their ‘national’ religion as Islam?? I think there is no difference of opinion about it in the general masses except the a minute element calling itself educated’ , intellectual’ , ‘elites’ or ‘educated’! This tiny bunch of dissidents is certainly wrong and appears to be suffering from the western influences insofar as religion is concerned. They are all out to blame Islam and progress in terms of lack of education, scientific and economic progress, denial of freedom (the western type of freedom sought, infact), terrorism and failure to perform in it existing shape. This is a misconception. Could the champions of such ‘misbelief’ could substantiate this by telling us why we failed despite the enforcement of Shariah in the past years?? Even today when the enforcement of Islam is just talked about there is hardly any measure adopted to promote education and progresses in other fields of life except that more and more chaos is being caused in the name of so-called freedom of speech and conduct and liberal thinking. Islam, ofcourse, cannot be blamed for that nor the so-called Talibanization.
As for some people purported to be theTalibans butchering men I would like to draw the attention of my naive citizens to the trauma that the citizens at several cities had to face at the hands of some non-religious political and ethnical parties and groups over the past 20 years . It was certainly not Talibanisation or Islam which was responsible for such brutalities and killings.
The bottom line is that the so called billowing against Talibbanization is not purely aimed against them but Islam itself. There are multifarious reasons for that but the patent one is diversity of sects among Muslims and why would minority sects like any bigger sect to rule over them?? This also goes to proving the difference between the statuses of Islamic states of, for example, Iran and Pakistan, the former being termed a shia state and the latter basically a stronghold of sunni faith of Islam.
Had we not Muslims was there any chance for Jinnah and others to gain a ”separate homeland for Muslims where they could live according to the tenets of their religion’?
The basic idea of repelling Islam under the cover of Talibanization is a hoax and a political stunt for the clever ‘haves’ to continue exploiting the ‘havenots’ for their vested interest.
Thank you for the insight Adil. One can only hope for the best from these uneducated inviduals. Education in is key.
Guys and Gals,
Come out of this la la land in which the silent majority determines the fate of a nation. Silent majority is nothing more than a herd of sheep that will turn in any direction the herder with a stick wants them to turn.
The silent majority of Pakistanis are against feudalism, but feudalism is a major part of our rural society. Silent majority is against corruption, yet we are one of the most corrupt nations in the world. Silent majority is against illiteracy and social injustice, yet we experience both everyday and just go on with our lives.
When the time comes, a few thugs with guns and a strong will to die or to kill for their cause end up calling the shots and the silent majority remains silent.
And I needed to mention in my comment that I was born and raised in NWFP and being a Pathan I donot support Talibans. Infact their is no point of using the word support, its either you think you support butchering humans or you think people who wants to butcher humans should be dealt with iron hand.
Those who made the comment that video only represent Punjabis, comon we Pathans never voted any Maulvis, maybe just once when Maulana Diesel with the help of Musharaf was able to fool some voters.
In Pushto I would say:
Talibans taroristan de,
De na zama de na da sta de
Translation:
Talibans are terrosits
They are not one of me or you
Wadood/Salman,
I pray and hope you guys are right but the realities on ground is grim. Bigotry in guise of piety and patriotism is eating away the social fabric.
Army (State force) can not solve this issue. Common Pakistanis have to wake up and hold themselves to the higher standards of conduct.
There is nothing more I like to see than to se myself proved wrong but sorry guys that is not happening Pakistanis are their own worst enemy and combine that with Muslim IQ, it is a recipe for disaster (just kidding).
What you and I need to do is to keep pushing those silent majority to speak up.