Adil Najam
By now everyone has probably seen and commented already on U.S. President Barack Obama’s interview with Dawn’s Anwar Iqbal. But I thought this ‘uncut’ version of the interview is actually more interesting than the edited version (or clips) that we have seen.It tells us much more about how he personally feels about Pakistan – something that we had written about in depth here at ATP during his campaign.
I have known Anwar Iqbal ever since I was in high school (9th grade) in Islamabad and would sometimes write on sports (especially cricket statistics) and occasional ‘City Diaries’ for The Muslim and Anwar was a reporter on the city desk working with the legandary Ahmad Hassan saab (in many ways this blog’s design is an outgrowth of those City Diaries). He – and cartoonist Fieca, photographer B.K. Bangash, and later editors Mushahid Hussain and Maleeha Lodhi – were amongst the many at The Muslim who were immensely kind to me (then a schoolboy). I say all of this because Anwar is a dear friend and it was good to see him nab this interview.
Of course, most of us have also seen Jon Stewart’s funny take on the interview and of President Obama’s interst in Urdu and Pakistan. That, after all, is what Jon Stewart does and does better than anyone else, so one cannot fault the funny man for being funny.
There is much that I would have like President Obama to do (on Pakistan) that he has not done. I hope he eventually will. There is even more that I wish he would not do and stop doing (e.g., drone attacks). I hope he will soon stop. Frankly, I would much rather have someone in the White House who has a genuine affection for Pakistan, than someone who does not. I am not naieve enough to believe that personal affection will immediately translate to better policy. But it is much more likely to eventually do so thana lack of such affection!
This ‘Watan Aziz’ character seems to be having a crappy day, or maybe a crappy life ;-)
Bhai, what did you have for breakfast? Or are yo just suffering from the Pakistani “kerray nikalnay walli bemaari?”
So the interviewers English pronounciation is not up to the mark of Sahab Bahadur Watan Aziz. Sooooo sorry!
So, you can take a better interview: go take it! You can write a better blog: write it! Just spare us your pathetic cynicism.
P.S. Yes, I am “DAKTAR” and not “DOCTOR”!
He claims that he would not stop Pakistan Nuclear Program.Is that not ridiculous that Pakistan Nuclear Program is a Remote Switch with 1/0 button that someone sitting 5000 miles away decide about it or our 6000+ scientists in NDC , NESCOM and above all in SPD are dozzing .Even Army Chief and President of Pakistan have not complete access to multiple layered electronic secret codes for arming the payload and delivery guidance details.We have been guarding it from 1984 and some jocker now claims its turning off scenario !
Frustrations aside, a reminder of Hasan Nasir, no one should question Pakistaniat or Musalmaniat of anyone.
It was interesting to watch a
People get so enamored with Obama