Dear fellow Pakistanis. Intelligent replies from Mustafa, Ibrahim, Abid and Khalil.

Today news is Pakistan has indicted 7 terrorists in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. This certainly will help a long way in improving our negative image in the world and will stop India for telling Pakistan to bring the attackers to justice.

However it is also a sad day for our country, as by convicting these terrorists, we are acknowledging that the attackers and attacks came from Pakistan which unfortunately strengthens India’s case.

Their PM Singh has again pointed accusations at our country while in America and also Obama is supporting him and India.

A report in newspaper has said that David Headley arrested in America had links to 26/11 attackers and also to retired army general here. Again this projects a very bad image of us.

Our govt. should also respond and does a PR exercise. They should give proof of India’s activities in Balochistan. FM Qureshi, just words won’t do, you have to lay out in front.

There is no major bomb blasts today except one minor one. But I am sure Taliban will not sit quietly and are planning more attacks.

Pakistan has now said that external agency was involved in Mumbai attacks. However Hafiz Saeed has not been arrested. He still poses a danger not only to India but also the world.

Let us see what our govt. does.

Ahmed

My response to some interesting comments:

To Abid Ghufran

Abid, I guess you only know the meaning of the word “revolution” but you have absolutely no idea how to bring about a revolution. If you knew that, you will not be hitting key board in your comfortable home. You would be hiding in a cave and Pakistani Army will be searching you.

Let me tell you this. The days of revolution are gone. Pakistanis are much more educated than those who can become blind follower of another blind person who only knows how to shout the slogan of revolution and has no idea how to govern a country. Unless you know how to govern a country, you cannot bring about peace in a country.

Those people, who have the ability to govern a country, will not be wasting their time reading and responding to Blogs.

To Ibrahim:

Pakistan has good relations with America, but not dependent on America. Even the founder of Pakistan Mohammad Ali Jinnah supported treaties with America (SEATO, South East Asia Treaty Organization and Baghdad Pact) for mutual security but this did not mean selling out sovereignty of Pakistan. Today many countries have treaties with America for mutual security. It is good to have a Super power by your side to discourage your enemies from attacking your militarily.

At this moment the enemies of Pakistan are the militants and terrorists mingled in Pakistani population. There is no need in Pakistan to create Anti-India hysteria.

To Khalil:

Pakistani Army is fighting fierce battle to capture or kill all terror leaders to save Pakistan, not USA or India. The terrorists and militants are not only enemies of USA and India but Pakistan as well. Both America and India are aware about it.

Pakistan has its own existence at stake. Therefore worry about Pakistan, not America or India. They will take care of themselves. But it is in the best interest of Pakistan to have good relationship with international community including America, UK, Russia, China and India etc. The No. priority at this moment in Pakistan is to win the war on terror. Let there be no excuse that Pakistan is fighting American war on terror as this would mean let the militants and terrorists kill Pakistani men, women and children almost daily basis and Pakistani Army should hide in their barracks to allow the militants terrorists continue killings.

Hello All,

When I read through all that is being said and written over the NRO issue, I really wonder as to how indifferent one can be over issues regarding ones country and its nationals.

We being Pakistani have no rights in our won country. We either have to have some relative sitting at a high up position in the state run machinery, to seek any kind of justice or even in-justice against someone. I being an ordinary Pakistani (unfortunately) cannot even imagine going to a police station accepting to be heard and helped. I again being an ordinary Pakistani (again most unfortunate) cannot go to courts – as I have no confidence on them as well (along with the rest of the country’s corrupt institutions). Pakistani – a nation having its president on the top of the NRO unfortunately has ordinary Pakistani like me in majority – hence suffer from the same tormenting realities as stated above.

This all makes me wonder and think as for how long are we going to keep on sleeping as a nation and wait for someone from heavens to come down and sort this all for us. Have we become so brain dead that we cannot even see what is going on? In my view we should all now start thinking about taking things in our own hands (not the law!! – I have no relatives sitting any where high remember) but start thinking about the term “revolution”. Stop relying on others – whether it is faith, state, law, govt depts., or what ever – and come together as one nation one victim.

I know about the reasons why we still haven’t been able to do this, so please only say something if you think you can be positive in this regard.

Best of regards,

Abid Ghufran.

India and Pakistan got independence in the same year. But whereas India has grown in all spheres – economically and militarily, second only to China in Asia, our country is lagging far behind. That is the reason we are still dependent on America.
Wake up fellow citizens! Stop the blame India mentality!

Now UK is alleging that AL Qaeda has moved in Pakistan from Afghanistan and hence poses danger to them.

India really is damaging our status in the world.

Today so far is a good day, with no bomb blasts but beware of the Taliban.

Ibrahim

@ khalil
Your govt has to act and hand over the suspects to get a good image.

This is not our fight. Who play double policy with us? Didn’t we learn our lesson in past. Pakistan should have his own policy, not Us’s.

Very good discussion! Only peace is the answer. We have to learn to get along.

Fellow Pakistan brothers and sisters.
India is projecting a bad image of our country. Their PM Singh is blaming Pakistan for formenting terror. How far is this true, only our govt. and the free press can reply to them. The more the delay in the trial of 26/11 Mumbai attacks by our courts the more negative image will be enhanced. Our military is advancing against the Taliban in South Waziristan. But what about their occupancy of Northern Waziristan? we must fight them there too. Meanwhile the USA is accusing us of hiding Mullah Omar in Karachi just like India is alleging the hiding of Dawood Ibrahim.

May the govt. please respond.

Khalil

Salma said:

“Mustafa let me reply that our people, both civilians and military would not die if we don’t participate in America’s war against the Taliban and Al Qaeda.
While I agree that we too have to fight terrorism, America faces a greater threat after 9/11.”

Salma, you should know that the Talibans were cutting the heads of their Muslim brothers and hanging them on trees and killing girls who attended schools long before 9/11.

Allah says in Holy Quran “If any one killed a person, it would be as if he killed all mankind; and if any one saved the life of a person, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind.” (Quran V: 32).

Do you see how valuable is the life of a single innocent human being(whether a Muslim or Non-Muslim) in the eyes of Allah.

Yet these militants and terrorists who call themselves Muslims and want to overthrow the government of Pakistan and become rulers, want to use the name of Islam to get the support of Muslims to achieve the goals of their dirty work.

Many Pakistanis, unfortunately, feel that you should not kill your Muslim brothers even if they blow up innocent Muslim men, women and children in mosques, schools, market places and buildings on almost daily basis. They do not want Pakistan Army to fight the militants and terrorists who are the greatest threat to Pakistan. These naive Pakistani are also a problem for the rest of Pakistanis.

I agree with you when you say America faces greater threat after 9/11 but let me say also, 10 attacks like 9/11 will still leave America intact. On the other hand if the Pakistan Army stops fighting the militants and terrorists, within no time Pakistan will no longer be Pakistan; it will be in control of only those who love to cut throats of those who oppose them and bomb and blow up mosques and girls schools.

Good posts by Jameela and Mustafa.

Mustafa let me reply that our people, both civilians and military would not die if we don’t participate in America’s war against the Taliban and Al Qaeda.
While I agree that we too have to fight terrorism, America faces a greater threat after 9/11.
Two bomb blasts yesterday have killed 22 people. INDIA is already pressurizing us for Mumbai 26/11 trial and justice. Its almost one year and our govt. is delaying. This harms our credibility in the world.
Moreover reports in New York Times today have established proof that David Headley and Rana arrested in USA have links with retired and currently serving Pakistani army cadres.
Our country already has bad image in the world. This further gives negative image to us.
The list goes on:
1.Nuclear Proliferation
2.Terrorist attacks on Mumbai, India
3.Afghanistan attacks
4.Iran attacks
5.Attacks on pirate ships with Somali nationals.
And now our own country is attacked daily.
It wont be long before our “all weather friend” CHINA on behest of America, will accuse us of formenting unrest in Eastern Ughyur Muslim populated region.

ISLAM is a religion of forgiveness and peace.
But some elements in our country are misguiding our youths for JIHAD and that’s how militancy and terrorism is spreading.
Meanwhile the attacks continue daily.

ALLAH please save our country!

Khuda Hafiz
Salma

Just to make correction to my previous post.

I believe that Pakistani Army is not fighting an American war. The fact is the Army is not sacrificing their lives to save Americans but to save Pakistan from almost daily blood shed where innocent Pakistani men, women and children are being blown up in pieces by militants and terrorists.

If anyone disagrees with what I said, then correct me please.

Dear Pakistani’s.
One more bomb blast in Peshawar. Ya ALLAH when will this violence and bloodshed stop? How many more of our people going to die on America’s war on terror? I once again say that if we become economically independent then we will not need American aid and can chose whether to participate in another country’s war.

Our nuclear scientist A.Q.Khan has said that ex-president had given secrets of our nuclear program to America. This seriously poses the question on him. May he please respond.

Our neighbor India is daily giving Pakistan a bad image. Mentioning the 26/11 Mumbai bomb blast and recent arrests of David Headley and Rana both Pakistanis by the FBI in USA.

Why doesn’t our govt. instead of boasting, give evidence of India’s involvement in Baluchistan? What is FM Qureshi waiting for? America and Hillary Clinton have said that Pakistan has not yet provided proof. Can somebody in the press and media ask our govt.?

Taliban are getting desperate and may resort to capturing our nuclear sites inspite of our govt.’s assurance that they are safe.

ONLY ALLAH CAN SAVE US!

Jameela

My Dear Akbar.

We need intelligent people like you in Pakistan then all Pakistan’s problems will be over.

You said:

“America on one hand is giving us financial aid and on the other hand putting pressure to fight against Taliban and Al-Qaeda. It is our soldiers and people who are dying daily for their “war on terror.”

You may be right when you say Pakistani soldiers are dying in west’s War.

Fellow Pakistani’s.
Today our FM Qureshi has said that our nation will only do what it wishes. How naive does he think our public is? We are educated enough to see that America on one hand is giving us financial aid and on the other hand putting pressure to fight against Taliban and Al-Qaeda. It is our soldiers and people who are dying daily for their “war on terror.” America had used us and Afghanistan during war against Soviets in 1990s.

Our neighbors are also successful in giving our nation a bad name and image after the Mumbai 26/11 blasts where most evidence points in our direction. FBI is also involved now.
More bad news is Rana and David Headley both of Pakistan origin arrested by FBI in USA. This further weakens our credibility.

I think this newspaper and the media are doing a good job of informing our people and making them aware of the facts daily.

Meanwhile the blasts continue in Peshawar everyday.

Oh Allah when will we learn from our past mistakes. Please change the “blame India” mindset. Let us do something constructive.

Khuda Hafiz
AKBAR

One more bomb blast today. Peshawar city is really unsafe now. I wonder how long before Taliban strikes Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad.
I have relatives in India and they are saying that USA,UK and the rest of the world believe our country to be the centre of world terrorism.
I cant disagree with them. You just have to see tv and media in Pakistan and BBC and CNN and AL Jazeera and you will know.
An American friend was asking me regarding the 26/11 Mumbai blasts and what our govt. was doing? I was unable to reply.
Perhaps your newspaper can ask our govt. the same.
Let us all improve our literacy, economy and stop blaming India for our problems. Let us follow the example of China.
I wonder how many more blasts will take place before peace returns.
There is also threat from AL-QAEDA for Pakistan.
Pray to ALLAH.

Asif Ali
Zindabad Pakistan

Aneesa said: “These attacks are the result of our military action in South Waziristan.”

Aneesa, you must realize that military offensive against militants and terrorists was to wipe out militancy and terrorism.

Naive Pakistanis will soon learn that those who shelter, hide and host militants and terrorists, are equally enemies of Pakistan and must be treated like enemies (Ghad-dar).

Aneesa also said: “How long will this fight continue? And more blood shed continue?”

Aneesa, only Allah knows how long it will take to wipe out militants and terrorists but it is up to Pakistanis to fight hard to save the country from militants and terrorists. Allah will not send Angels (Farishta) to help Pakistanis. Pakistanis have to help themselves or become lost tribe in history.

Hello.

Two more blasts yesterday at ISI regional office in Peshawar and at one more location at Police quarters.

Oh ALLAH! When will these Taliban militants stop killing people. However this time it is different. The same Taliban created and nurtured by the agencies and foreign country for their war against the Soviets are now targeting them. What an irony. These attacks are the result of our military action in South Waziristan.

How long will this fight continue? And more blood shed continue?

More bad news – FBI has captured David Headley and Rana both of them of Pakistani origin.

ALLAH SAVE US!
Khuda Hafeez

Aneesa Baig

Rukhsana, all what you said is absolutely right except this: “As far as the USA, our citizens and soldiers are dying for their “war on terror”.”

Pakistan Army is not dying to save American lives, but Pakistani lives.

It seems you are unaware militants and terrorists calling themselves Muslims are blowing up innocent Pakistani men, women and children in markets, mosques, schools almost on daily basis and you want Pakistan Army just to stand up and watch and do nothing for fear that the supporters and sympathizers of the militants and terrorists will accuse them as fighting American war of terror.

Do you realize that the militants and terrorists want to overthrow government of Pakistan and become rulers and make Pakistan a “Banana Republic”?

Fellow Pakistani’s.
One more bomb blast today in Peshawar – 8 people dead.
Oh ALLAH, when will the violence and blood shed stop?
More bad news – FBI has arrested US citizen of Pak origin David Headley (formerly Noor Gilani) and Rana also for plotting terror plans against India. This really is further giving our country a BAD IMAGE.
Our country’s image is tarnished not only in India but also USA, Europe and South Asia. Not to mention IRAN also now accusing us. The only friend we have is CHINA and Saudi Arabia. China will leave us once their aims are fulfilled.
As far as the USA, our citizens and soldiers are dying for their “war on terror”.
Already our govt. is facing international pressure for delaying the Mumbai terror trial. Its been almost one year now.
Only ALLAH can save us now. Nobody is safe in PAKISTAN at present.

Khuda Hafiz
Rukhsana

Well said Badar Imam when you said “The people of Pakistan and the rulers as well should realise that blaming game is not going to get them anywhere. Instead they should start genuine effort to put an end to terrorists activities sincerely”

Badar, you may not agree, this Pakistani Qaum (people) has reached the lowest level of intelligence because they blindly follow those people who are in favour of peace. May Allah give them wisdom.

The same fanatic people hanged Bhutto, assassinated Benazir Bhutto, and now want to hang X-President and some day seek hanging of others as well. Pakistan appears to be doomed.

Can you imagine, innocent men, women and children are being blown on almost daily basis and Pakistani soldiers are sacrificing their lives to protect Pakistani’s but we have some Pakistani leaders for whom the only thing which is important at this time for them is to prosecute Musharraf.

They do not realize Musharraf saved Pakistan by agreeing to join America in war on terror otherwise Pakistan would have been another Iraq and Afghanistan.

May Allah help Pakistan.

The people of Pakistan and the rulers as well should realise that blaming game is not going to get them anywhere. Instead they should start genuine effort to put an end to terrorists activities sincerely, if Pakistan really wants to prosper and develop with the pace what India have achieved so far. Up rooting the extremist activities from the Pakistan soil is a basic critieria for development. Our heads bent down in shame when we listen the extremist hurlded a bomb in mosque. At the Indian Muslim do not face such type of extremist where the mosque are not safe. Let’s pray Pakistan is free from these extremist.

Noshin, I read over and over your article but I failed to understand what you are trying to prove or disprove.

If you are trying to prove or disprove that perception and reality of Pakistan is same or not the same there is a serious flaw.

The reality of Pakistan is not the same as has been since birth of Pakistan until few years ago when militants and terrorists started suicide bombings and slaughter of men, women and children in mosques, schools, market places all over Pakistan.

This is a reality now. So the perception of Pakistan is that this is the most dangerous country in the world. But this will change very soon. The government and army of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the militants and terrorists. Once this has been achieved, Pakistan will re-gain its lost respect in the international community. May Allah help the people of Pakistan and save them from the enemies of Pakistan within Pakistan.

Nice article

i think nobody is perfect not even a country can be perfect. pakistan also have negative things but every country have so what? we should tell positive things also to everyone we should promote pakistan. we are giving tough times in some fields but where we cant give our best we show that only no body see our positive things because of us because we never let them to think good about us.
i just wana say please start promoting pakistan its yet not too late. promote positive things. show positive things.
as pakistan moved from 30 to 20 rank it will be in top 5 inhallah.

hiiiiii i m dattatray 22 year student from india. i like this newspaper coz its verry good reflector of south east asia.
i completly disagree withthe point made by shakir lakhani

when we are unable to win the race.is it right to blame other competitors or strech their legs . except our pm we common people never says or even think about the pakistani people .we have our own problems so we never concerntrate other thing’s.
so my suggestion is inspite of bleming each others try to solve the problem if we through garbage from our house to neighbours we cant through the smell of it thats what happen with pakistan

I dont see any point in this article. Does number of cafes determine the development of a counrty? The world really doesnt care about cafes and streets in Pakistan. There might be a lot of good hapenning in Pakistan, but the only thing that matters is: innocent civilians being murdered in the name of religion. If Pakistan can get rid of this religious extremism, it is a great country. I admire Pakistani hospitality, but again this is indiviual attribute, not specific to a country.

Im an Indian living in Germany for the past 4 years and have many Pakistani friends. We have many a time discussed the political situation and the problems in South Asia.

We all felt India as well as Pakistan have many issues to face. Poverty, Rich poor divide, Fundamentalism….. One point we all agreed on was that till religion plays a role in politics as well as education a country cannot move forward. It happens in India in Politics and in Pakistan in probably both. Politics is completely different from religion so is education. A religious head neither has the qualifications to lead masses politically nor does he/she have the skills to impart education. Influencing peoples views via religion is in itself a crime. I totally agree that religious institutions should exist but they should not be providing education as relgion in itself is a personal choice. To me this is the main reason for the negative impression of Pakistan as it is felt that a decent proportion of the population relies on religious schools for their education(These schools are felt to promote fanaticism and exploit the poor). I am sure their are many such good schools but they will not create individuals who will be driving the country forward.

If we are able to educate every Indian and Pakistani the opportunities will create themselves. I also agree the Indian media hypes everything. Breaking news this and breaking news that. Often about some really silly story about some politician or Pakistan that has no relevance. The Pakistani media on the other hand is often in denial and I feel does not have the power to criticise the state as well as its policies. People are the same almost everywhere. But its easier to exploit the poor via religion and if they are educated that wont happen. People in India and Pakistan need to do a deep introspection and we who are the elite of society need to get off our imaginary pedestals. I know easier said than done.

There is really no point in comparing India and Pakistan since they are not much different. We have same set of problems (poverty,illteracy,crime,terrrorsim). At the same the growth rates in both the countries are not bad. In good time we in India think good about Pakistan and in bad times we think you are the devil and I believe same perception exists across the border.Instead of competing with each other let us get our house in order.

And yes western perception about India is not all that great either. But honestly we should care less about it. Rather we should strive for times when people all over the world are concerned what we in the sub-continent think about them. And for that we need to develop and develop very fast.

For God’s sake please stop blaming neighbors or other powers for our weaknesses.
Having said that, I have a blunt question: What is so great about Pakistan? Land of the Pure has been tarnished so much that I am ashamed of calling myself a Pakistani, it’s not that I will stop calling myself a Pakistani but please be fair and ask yourself what have you done to that country? Is Mullahs with long beards or short beards are your standard? Has any government ever felt the need of creating role models? Has any president or prime minister ever visited a school, college or a university and talked to the next generation? The founder of Pakistan had said that there would be no discrimination on the basis of religion, caste or creed in Pakistan, along the way somebody came and turned Pakistan into a Paradise of Mullahs and minorities were rendered second class citizens. The majority of the country was kicked out of the federation, how did that happen? Who was responsible? The culprits were never ascertained and the whole episode was swept under the carpet or the traditional “darri”. Nations learn through their history. Did we as a nation learn anything? I don’t think so. As a nation we are like the wild grass that grows around ponds of stagnant dirty water. Has the nation any specific direction? Each half-literate ruler tries to impose his whim. What kind of an existence is this? Yet, there are Pakistanis who feel they are a gift of God on earth. Is there anyone who would ask them, what are your achievements that you are strutting about?
The list of failures is long and I can go on and on.
A really very sad state of affairs.

This has always been the problem with the way things are described in Pakistan.

if the editor want to show how good Pakistan is show the aspect of goodness of Pakistan. Why show where India is bad…

Why cant ppl in Pakistan just mind their business rather than bashing and ridiculing others always ….

I am sure this comment will be termed unPakistani and will be edited to loose its meaning. but neverthless I am writing it here to check

I refer to the story

“Time to stem the rot
The protégés we groomed for others have returned to us as killing machines.”

Hats off to the writer. great story and well written.
No sane person in India will launch an unprovoked attack on Pakistan. Pakistan need not worry about India.
Both countries have their own internal problems which need to be dealt with most urgently.

I belong to neither country, and I wish the good people of both countries of the subcontinent well.

Go, make a good enlightened, happy life and enjoy it ’cause we live only once ladies & gentlemen.

Cheers!

I am an Indian living in USA, Let Me first say that Dawn news is one of the best online news papers and has some of the best journalists on board. I was born and raised in the South India and we South Indians are more concerned about our Tamil brothers in Sri Lanka than the news from Pakistan. I never cared to know much about Pakistan and my knowledge of Mr Jinnah was through the official Indian news agencies. I only knew Mr Jinnah as a person responsible for partion of British India.

How did my Perception change ?

A couple of years ago I started Reading Dawn news online Edition, It is one of the best news paper and the news are always unbiased Then I learned that Mr. Jinnah started this paper and started reading about him from different sources. Now I have High respect for Mr Jinnah. The same goes to true for Pakistan, as long as Pakistani news papers and media don’t project a good image of Pakistan, people in the outside world will only know Pakistan from what they see in the western media.

Your article hits the right cord of trying to justly portray the other side of Pakistan which people across the globe are incognizant of, but at the end it just diverges from the main theme on which you started off.

Never the less it made for a good reading. I being an Indian and also being acquainted with scores of Pakistani people I would say that the generalizations that you make here is pretty vague.

Just because of the action of one man you cannot brandish entire Islam on the same ground for the action of one man or a group of man you cannot praise or ridicule any nation. A particular group or an individual alone does not represent a nation.

A nation is built up with scores and scores of humans and humans themselves are not immune to mistakes they are prone to it so it is inevitable that a nation becomes a victim of all these imperfections of its citizens.

If there are fundamentalist then there is what is called as a civil society which does the balancing act perfectly! Its only when people belonging to this society fail to raise their voice against the various policies of the nation it’s then the entire gets famed as what today Pakistan is facing.

I being from Mumbai I love the place of Lahore because people there are really sweet and down to earth unlike the robotic and mechanical people here in Mumbai but I never found any difference between Mumbai and Karachi, people in both these cities run faster then time!

The fact of the matter is that the Western media has a strong anti-Muslim bias. This has become more overt since 9/11.

This does not deny the enormous problems faced by Pakistan, many of them of its own creation, but to deny Western media bias would be disingenuous.

India, on the other hand, benefits from the Western media political correctness, which is obsequiously nice towards non-white, non-Muslim people. The Western media always downplays crimes by non-whites and non-Muslims.

To give a few examples: India has one million child marriages per year, but the Western media always shows Arabs or Muslims when talking about child marriage problems.

China has widespread systematic abortion of female foetuses, but the fact is almost never mentioned in the Western media.

I completely agree with Rehman Maqsood. The thoughts are biased and not factual. Dawn is doing a commendable service in terms of its blogs which show a fresh liberal face of Islamic thought among the people of Pakistan. Otherwise we in India because of historical reasons perceive Pakistani people as radical as terrorists. I am in UK now and have been floored by the graceful Urdu being spoken by Pakistanis brothers and their respect and trust towards Indians. Though I am a staunch Marwari Rajput i like Urdu a lot. (Also I like forts, so may be someday i would like to see the Lahore fort)My perceptions are changing. Its the corrupt political class and the military which is responsible for all the fundamentalist ills in the country. It is not representative of the general views of the common man who wants to live his life peacefully. I pray for peace and pray that the younger generation build a modern Pakistan which peacefully coexists with the neighbours.

Nosheen
I very agree about the way the journalist describes the difference in India and Pakistan. There is still that ‘Tehzeeb’ in pakistan which generally has been left on the bench particularly in cities like Delhi and Bangalore. It is only about money here .
About the other thing about perception of pakistan i think you have to come out of Pubs and bars in five star hotels and on the streets to know why world has a different perception. A lone journalist in a semi conscious state; what can you expect. The problem is not the people, the problem is the elite, the landlords, who rule Pakistan and dragged it to the brink. What can happen.

Nosheen,

I have to say your article starts out fine but gets tainted with “yellow journalism”.

For the most part, Dawn’s articles and reports are of high quality and unbiased
with some exception.

I agree with most of the comments here in the blog.

Changing “perception” is not going to help until we change “reality”.

The choice for your comparison with “the neighbor” is poor. Not factual either.

Let’s face the facts and work on our product
that can actually be “marketed”.

A progressive, civil, cultured society instead of working on putting up a
defensive facade.

Fantastic! I love everything about Pakistan! The open secular nature of the country where any body can practice any religion, build temples and churches with ease, smart women can walk around the day in nice jeans, and jobs are aplenty.

The madrassa culture and education is truly inspiring, and the world-class learning that little kids get there is awe-inspiring. Educational institutions in Pakistan are worldclass. The foreign aid that comes into Pakistan from various western countries is really being used for the benefit of its people. Barring the Afghani border, Pakistan has no terror problems. Pathans, Punjabis, Baluchs and Sindhis and all the rest live in peaceful harmony. Tourism is encouraged and we see the wonderful adoption of Arab culture in Pkaistan. Oh, drugs and guns are aplenty if you are looking to have a jolly time. And the Army is doing a fabulous job of serving the elected leaders. How can I migrate to Pakistan?

Pakistan needs money , resources , better education , a broader view of the world and life [ people individually] , less bribes , less corruption and making extremism non existent. And as always its easier said then done .

I think Pakistan’s biggest problem is that we Pakistanis don’t do a good job in promoting all that is right with Pakistan. We have a bit of a “victim” mentality, and lament the evils that have befallen Pakistan. And that then prevents many from looking outside their doors to “see” Pakistan. For instance, I don’t know many people in Karachi who have visited Mohatta Palace, or appreciate its history. If we don’t know what Pakistan has to start with, how will we market it effectively? And the comparison with India is somewhat pointless. Pakistan is Pakistan, India is India.

I don’t know whether you are right or not. I always hear negative stuff about Pakistan In the media. So i clicked this article on Purpose, just to see a bit of light in the tunnel. First of all, one of the main problem with Pakistan is that Pakistanis are a bit too reckless. It’s diverse, diverse ethnically and “financially”. Honestly, it seems like the rich keep getting richer. And the poor are either at halt, or unfortunately keep getting poorer. We are always pointing fingers at other countries. Most Pakistanis wouldn’t even acknowledge that we are at the wrong side of the picture. Unfortunately its always the low poor class that has to suffer. Instead of blaming our Politicians, and relying on our Politicians for change. We should mobilize ordinary cotizens. A change in individual Character is very very important. It’s just not worth it too look up to our Politicians all the time. I don’t want to draw Parallels with India or any other country for that matter. India has its short-comings. Its negative sides. The only difference is that Negative side of India never gets International Media hype. Along with that India has its Positive aspects as well, ofcourse. Just like Pakistan does. Getting back to what i was saying. We need maverick Leaders Like Ahmedinajad. A maverick Leader dosen’t has to be anti-west. He has to be Pro-Pakistan/Muslims/Islam. That’s it. It seems like more than anything else, our leaders have betrayed their Patriotism. Four Main Problems with Pakistan:
1, Illiteracy (Knowledge Enlghtens)
2, Population expolsion (We don’t have enough resources)
3, Corruption Top to Bottom.
4, Poverty.
I know it’s easy to talk the talk. But all we ultimately need is a bit of Optimism with Faith. And Human Potential. And also I want to thank you for the article. It would only take a bit more of this kind of stuff if you we really went to wipe out the negativity media is always depicting. And ofcourse this negative side of Pakistan that gets media hype, has realistic bases. We would have to replace those bases.

Nosheen,

I am an Indian and a Muslim. I certainly would want to visit Pakistan some day. But to say that Pakistan is a safe place where people can easily walk the streets is simply not an accurate description as things stand today. Be it Lahore, Karachi or Peshawar, there are stories of bombings and mayhem every single day. I am not even referring to Swat, Buner or Bajaur.

What is the root cause of these bombings that create a bad image of Pakistan? A weak educational infrastructure. It is far more easier to mislead and misguide illiterate people. When the education budget of the country is one tenth of the country’s defence budget, what will happen?

Look at Bangladesh – it was far more backward in the area of population control, infant mortality and literacy in 1971. But now it has moved ahead of Pakistan. Main reason is they are investing in their country’s people instead of the army.

The day Pakistani leadership focuses on benefitting the common Pakistani, Pakistan and India both will become heaven on earth because the money spent on defense (or should it be offense – in case of Pakistan) today will be spent on building schools and hospitals and roads.

By the way, some people on this board have referred to the bad conditions for Muslims in India. As a proud Indian and a Muslim, let me tell you that I disagree. In India with talent and hard work we can reach the top in any walk of life. Some examples:

Cricket: Pataudi, Azharuddin were cricket captains. Irfan Pathan and Yousuf Pathan are cricket heroes here.

Acting: Shah Rukh, Amir, Salman, Saif

Business: Azim Premji, Chairman of WIpro, one of the top 3 IT companies in India

Defence: Abdul Kalam was the father of India’s nuclear program and went onto become the President of India (by the way he was nominated for Presidency by BJP that is described as anti-Muslim party in Pakistan).

Classical music: Ustad Bismillah Khan the Shehnai player who was given Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award in India. Begum Akhtar, Rashid Khan, Parveen Sultana are some others.

Film music: A R Rahman who recently won the Oscars for slumdog millionaire. Mohammed Rafi, Naushad are some others.

Politics: 3 out of 10 Presidents of India have been Muslim, Dr. Zakir Hussain, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, Dr. Abdul Kalaam

Thus in all the main areas i.e. cricket, bollywood, business, politics, defense, music Muslims have managed to reach the top.

Even Muslim artists from Pakistan have found success in India – which would not have been the case if Indians hated Pakistan e.g. Ghulam Ali, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Atif Aslam etc.

SO please I request the civil society of Pakistan, presurrise your leaders that you want peace so that we neighbours can progress and we don’t rely on false marketing for a good image. When reality is good, image will automatically improve.

I agree with the comments of Daniel Harris. As a Canadian from Toronto, I have friends from both India and Pakistan and know people from virtually all over the world that have immigrated to Canada. I am sorry to say that most Pakistanis I have met suffer from myopic Islamic vision. As a student of history and economics, I think this country has been drifting away from its shared heritage, culture and past with south-asia and forced to look at middle east and arabia just based on religion. I have met a few wonderful folks during my visit and I am sure there are many good people in Pakistan. I appreciate the author’s concern about the country’s image, however perception is sometimes based on reality. It is sad to see this country is falling into anarchy and walking backwards into the middle ages while the rest of the world moves forward.

when ever will the young men and girls in pakistan be seen in jeans and t shirts
playing sports, walking around togather.

when will we see clean shave men a girls ,
going togather to see a movie.

when will attacks, bombings stop

when will we see rock bands , sport functions,and a happy civil life.

after this pakistans image will improve.
not before this happens

I absolutely agree with you Daniel!!

The subtle negative references to India are in poor light by the author. As an American, who has traveled often to both Pakistan & India in the last 15 years or so, I have seen the gap between the 2 countries widen quite dramatically. I don’t need an account by another westerner to tell me the reality.
The truth is that while Indians have become literate, civilized & progressive, unfortunately Pakistanis have become radicalized, illiterate & regressive. India is solving it’s problems & is well on it’s way to becoming a global power, while Pakistan is sinking deeper in the abyss & is hanging on the precipice of failure & bankruptcy.
These are the facts & the unverifiable accounts of a couple of individuals, won’t change the truth. In case of Pakistan, perception is indeed the reality.

Read weekly write up of just two pakistanis in Dawn and daily times and you will understand what the reality of Pakistan is and why the world percieves you in negative light!

Perceptions have always some basis; they do not arise without some component slice of reality. Nousheen you have made a good start in so much as your blog recognises that there is negative perception about Pakistan. Problem is solved only if it is recognised that there exists a problem. That step you have taken. You recognise that there is a disturbing perceived reality; which is a great first step. Your solution may not be right….Market Pakistan differently!! Anyway you have done a wonderful job in starting a debate; something good will come out of it.

Nosheen,
The pathetic thing about pakistan is that the educated population denies the truths and lives in an illusions and sustains its religious bias.
I have seen numerous Pakistanis in Canada and USA who cannot come out of the islamic shell and mingle with outsiders.They have deep seated views and most of the views definitely do not do good for your nation.

In this environment, difficult to grasp arguments in these blogs that Pakistan is really a very civilized place, girls wear jeans or that tourists are welcome! No use wanting to show off our small good portions of Lahore while the country burns and crumbles into dust. Somehow Pakistanis never seem to learn anything about their army and its machinations.

why are Pakistanis so ashamed of their non-muslim heritage. Why are they so ashamed of their non-muslim ancestors. Why Pakistanis dont talk about Taxila where Sanskrit our mother language was brought together, or Sukur where Bulleh Shah wrote his best poetry or Nankana Sahib, or Gandhara or the Katasraj Mandir devoted to Lord Shiva in the Katas village in Chakwal home of the Panj Pandavas of Mahabharat. why dont they talk about our absolutely rich heritage in poetry, songs, folk tales, our boundless culture.
Bas yaar Bas, keep using religion to kill one another.

Areh beta Rab dil wich rendah hei, puch loh Bulleh Shah Nu.

I like this types of discussion and thanks for all for being matured

Just a quick thing though. There are few Indians who are asking why Pakistanis compare everything to India. Why is India the benchmark.

Well, if we read all the comments from Indians here, they are the ones talking about how things are in India. So you cant help yourself but compare.

Hi Nosheen,
You are not able to come out of the habit of India-bashing, even when you talk about the bad publicity/image of Pakistan. I believe that the ordinary people are generally good in every part of the world.
But there are some very obvious things that mark the differences between India and Pakistan.
India is a secular, multi-religious, multi-linguistic democratic country and we believe in it’s unity in diversity. That is the main thing that Pakistan is missing. Muhammad Ali Jinnah envisaged a secular Pakistan, but Pakistan moved in a totally opposite direction.
It was very unfortunate that Jinnah and Liaquat Ali died too soon after the birth of Pakistan. Those were the two leaders who had the vision and courage to take Pakistan in a secular way. Those who came after them were just ordinary opportunists.
Luckily for India, even though Gandhi was assassinated within a year of freedom, Jawaharlal Nehru and Patel and many other great leaders lived long enough to lay the foundations a secular and democratic country.
In Last 60 years, India had many Muslim Presidents. Can Pakistan dream of having a Hindu Prime Minister or a Sikh President?
India now has a Sikh Prime Minister, a woman President, A Muslim Vice President, a woman Speaker for Parliament. Chief Justice of Supreme Court is from a former ‘depressed cast’. President of the ruling party (and the chair person of the ruling alliance) is a Christian lady. Leader of opposition in Parliament is a lady.
Father of India’s nuclear program is a Muslim…and he became President of the country too. Take the Indian cricket team, take bollywood….you can see this mix in any phase of social life.
Now you know what you need to do to improve the image of Pakistan. When will Pakistan start moving in the direction that Jinnah Dreamed?

To my Indian friends;

Look the article does not compare India to Pakistan…it just shows…how the two countries are portrayed in the media..I am sure India has its own set of problems…but those problems are not publicized like the one’s in Pakistan….if an Indian leader mocks Muslims in a public rally, he is forgotten before the 9 o’clock news, but if a Pakistani leader makes any remark he’s labeled as a militant…it will be all over CNN and BBC…and for a week mind you!!!

the article sounds like an emotional outbusrst in a teenager’s diary.

@ ScaredPerson

What is wrong with providing political, moral and diplomatic support to those innocent Kashmiris who are fighting for their rights for decades?

Can you please explain me? You are so scared that you dont even reveal your identity !!!!!

I am so surprised so many indians are leaving their comments. I didn’t know so many indians read dawn news and that too in such a detail. Its very encouraging. I think its nice since dawn news is very impartial and very balanced news as compared to any Indian newspaper or news channel. Anyways the point being that is Pakistan worth the visit or not? I think people in Pakistan are always warm and hospitable. The idea that you can move freely everywhere, I don’t agree with, me being Pakistani and lived there for 20 years. But then again u can’t move freely in New York or United States as a whole for that reason, everywhere either. So there is always good and bad everywhere. But I have to agree that the way Pakistan is painted throughout the world is just not fair. There is good and bad everywhere so why treat Pakistan like this. Part of the blame comes on us Pakistanis as well, we have a duty to raise our voice against ill of people against our country and also to preject in a nice manner as well. But the call for Indian friends is that we would like to be your good neighbours so lets break the norm of being enemy of one another and lets resolve all the issues and be flexible on all the issues. Don’t be afraid to discuss any of the matters as we are open to everything too. It will benefit both the countries and our people. Lets go with “LIVE and LET LIVE” policy.
Peace

I’ve been to Pakistan twice on Cricket visa twice in 2004 & 2006 . The first visit was all like a sweet dream , taxi drivers , tea stall owners refusing to take money . Saying ” Sardarji tussi saade mehman ho rehan dio ji ” . So overwhelmed were all three of us that on next visit I decided to take my family along in 2006 . I alongwith my son aged 13 & daughter aged 5 , my sister in law aged 30 & my wife , took to that journey . Crossing Wagah very early nearly 10.30 Am we reached Lahore at around 11 . My friend Mohd. Qasim had come to take us at wagah ( we met on earlier visit ) . He had arranged booking at Pearl Conitinental , Lahore . To cut it short , this visit was nothing short of big nightmare for me . I had to face everything leering males , taunting lines in Punjabi , radicalised general public . We went to food street opp. Anarkali , males passing obscene comments at females accompanying me .I could not take it any more , we went to MM Alam Road to have dinner . In the match , I felt clear radicalisation of all masses except elites . My story can take at least three pages but I can conveniently state that my visit to Lahore were the worst three days of my life . I had to seek forgivess from my brother in law for taking my sis in law to Lahore , supposedly one of the most advanced cities of Pakistan . Ms Nosheen Abbas still has to experience what a visitor experiences ( especially someone accompanied by females ) while walking on the streets of Pakistan’s most progressive city ie. Lahore .

Bravo.. Nosheen Abbass. This is some thing very important We have to work on It. Today the media is so strong specially the Internet & the propaganda Producers (every body Knows who they are) against Pakistan are working very hard…A Media War against Pakistan. we have to work on it very Hard & fast to protect our Values & our home land. In this war I request to all Pakistanis to work on internet to show a Real PAKISTAN in front of the World. We have a lot to show except Taliban & War.
LONG LIVE PAKISTAN. PAKISTAN ZINDABAD

For Pakistan to ‘win’, India does not have to ‘lose’; for Pakistan to ‘win’, Pakistan must do a damn good job.

Stop blaming the world; take responsibility, and set your affairs right.

Who will change the perception of “Poor” Pakistanis itself – who were not allowed to enter similar night club (that was also in the basement), only because no XX chromosome was with them.

May be if they are allowed access to the same places where writer deliberates in her free time- this may change their perception and they also start thinking that all is well and good is in this land of pure.

Where to start…Where to start!?
There is so much to say but every feeling can’t be expressed in words I guess… Firstly, someone here wrote “There was not a single man who was not wearing a shalwar kameez and a skull cap. Only the few army men a a lone photographer were wearing trousures.”
What are you trying to say?? Shalwar kameez is our culture not a sign that we are backward!
Are u that self-opinionated that you cant see that clothes don’t make a person! Wearing shalwar kameez means dat person likes to express his culture through his clothes…nothing else!

Secondly, Pakistan’s bad image is mostly propagated through its media….no doubt about that!
Why is it that every other drama serial of Pak is about a backward family or a girl who has been refused her love?? I m sure each one of you has seen Indian dramas….Its always full of sari-clad lovely ladies and buissness men in fine suits….These dramas set a image of a prospering India….a very good strategy no doubt…!

All I m saying is that the media should take part in every aspect of a country….not just the bomb blasts ant ever increasing terrorism but also the rising music industry, the hilarious comics, the talented artists, the elite and the not-so-narrow minded people of Pakistan! 

From,
A concerned teen

It’s not Pakistan or Pakistanis that’s the problem. It’s the leadership, over the last 60 years has failed in every aspect, the poor image of Pakistan (some of it is real, let’s not kid ourselves) is due to leadership failures. But then Pakistanis are an easy going lot, why do YOU (I’m British born) never complain or throw them all out. What have they done for you.

This is known to every one that good and bad peoples are in every country…. do you think no crime in England, Sweden or any European country. Do you think no kidnapping, gangster or criminals exist in India… do you think no prostitution exist in USA… do you think in developed countries all people are above poverty line…. the answer is NO it means you expect Pakistan to be a utopia land… this is again no. it has normal people rich and poor, good and bad, law abiding as well as criminals. DO NOT JUDGE THE BOOK BY ITS COVER PAGE.

Plot: At Rumours ISLD, talking to an expat…Its better than drawing room chi-chat between uncle’s and aunties.. Asking Gora Sb: How do you find Pakistan?

Maybe, better way to understand this place and also to decide its future is asking the citizens of this country i.e. poor chap on the streets next to Rumours. This includes the un-happy lots in NWFP and Baluchistan…

hospitable…?? really..?? to white skins or for every one..??? The person who found Pakistanis hospitable is a white.

Pakistanis are not hospitable for IDPs from swat.. Karachi people didn’t welcome IDPs.. remember this..

I have been visiting Pakistan for last 20 years. I am apalled at the progressive religiosity visible everywhere: scull caps, scraggly beards, over ankle salwars, et al. But poverty is less visible than in your neihbouring country. In fact there are more people living under the poverty line in India than the total population of Pakistan. The day your govts. do away with the madrassas and replace them with modern govt./private schools you will be on the road to progress. There is no need to be pessimistic. The potential of your youth needs to be unleashed

it is good to see that the write up has generated a debate. I take it as a very positive development. it demonstrates the urge to change. we all know that events in past,including the division of India in 1947 was the culmination of a process that in turn created a situation of hate,mistrust and jealousy. But, i honestly believe that things have reached a stage where WE;both Indians and Pakistanis, can’t afford it anymore. That pressure from below is building and will force the change for good.
since these are earth movements they are very slow and un- noticeable. but they ultimately prevail.
let us for a moment forget the names, can we have different solutions to the problems of the people inhabiting a land mass whose natural resources, like water, rains, mountains and the sea are common. we have tried to undo the natures contribution to our common exitence for too long. it can’y be sustained any longer.
i must congratulate the Dawn editors for allowing the discussion to go on.
i also feel that some credit for this welcome change must go to Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee for his daring and out of box thinking and an unusually brave visit to Minar-e- Pakistan.
no amtter how strong the forces of disruption of this process may look,they are on decline and are loosing .
Peace,co-existance, and well being of largepopulation will be the guiding factors of future generations.
Congrtas Nosheen for the write up

I am from Kolkata, India.

Nice Article.

I started my life from Jammu & Kashmir and I still partially remember those mountains, green valleys full of colourful flowers, my first day school when i got lost, neverending airport runway and Srinagar Markets, Cold Kulfi, Dal Lake, Snow and lots of sweet stories of my childhood. I will give anything to live that life again. But then in 1989 my dad got posted to another state. By 1990 Terrorism started in Jammu & Kashmir and then Kashmir never remained Kashmir ever after.

About this article I can say that Indian Media has done great in development of India. When i say development then it doesn’t mean only publishing good image of country outside India but keeping India on right track also. Indian media has done brilliantly in checking/exposing the corruption and crime in the society. In the past Indian media have demolished many powerful corrupt figures in India by its sting operations and fearless coverage. Morever it listens to public and pubic participation have increased very much now a days. We see news channel reporters and OB Van like everyday on roads and streets around us. Media is like 4th pillar of democracy.

Pakistan media should also do fearless journalism. Now also there is no transparency in Pakistan’s offensive in SWAT valley because Media has been banned to cover those. You should protest and cover these operation. Truth must come out. Pak Govt says more than 1000 militants have been killed in such a short time which is still hard to believe coz even American Army on the ground is biting dust since last 8 years.

I haven’t seen any Pakistani movie ever? Why are they not marketed in India. We don’t see them in pirated markets or on net also.

Instead of spreading wrong propaganda against India, your media should attack your own govt and its policies like Indian media do regularly. This will keep your govt on right track.

This is in response to the comments of Bob, who claims to be from US. In his comments the gentleman has tried to remind the readers that roots of terrorism are in Pakistan because as per his “research” the perpetrators of 711 and Mumbai attack and scotland airport bombing are from Pakistan. He completely ignored the fact that accept for one person, Ajmal Kasab, rest of the people caught in UK were British Citizens. He conveniently fogot to remind the readers about the biggest terrorist activity of the modern times – 911 as he also knew that none of the persons involved have ever been to Pakistan and were living in US with valid documents. He has blamed Pakistan for providing safe haven to Dr. Abdul Qadeer. He perhaps wanted him to be taken on a secret plane to Guantonamo where he could be kept and abused for years without any judicial process.

To Normalise relationship with India Pakistan Should take some vigrous steps and Pakistan economy is slumping as it spends most of it’s budget in arms like India and let people die poor , hungry , & take up terror acts . Why not India & Pakistan think of Developments . Insha Allah if Allah wishes Americans will come and work for India & Pakistan . I hope the two countries develop so, much every person in world should like to come our countries INDIA & PAKISTAN

Dear Bob from USA do a little bit of research and read history before passing comment on my beloved Pakistan mate. When USSR attacks on Afghanistan your country USA ask Pakistan to help them in the war against USSR . You guys supported Osama bin laden and left us with the rememants to sort it out. Ruined our country it was a peaceful country and I pray for it, we will turn around.

A sample of two foreigners opinion does really capture what Pakistan is. I am sure people around the world are not stupid to assume that all the people in a country are similar. I am sure there are extremists and at the same time rationlists.
What is important is the tilt of the society as such. Is society tilting forwards (which doesnt mean more cafes) or backwards. The tilt is affected by critical mass and political will. In India to a very large extent the tilt is driven by the people. And I hope in Pakistan the people who are forward looking will be able to make it happen as well.

While the topic can make an interesting discussion – the premise/argument are amateurish.

1. Most foreigners are too polite and are comfortable only talking the about the positives and presenting the pleasantries so don’t just go by what you may have heard at a restaurant, a hotel or on an aero plane…
2. This ‘Benchmarking everything with India’ mentality only defeats the purpose (at least at this juncture in history)
3. Marketing and positioning to project a perception works in the short run, ultimately reality has a much stronger influence on perception
4. Don’t always wear your own goggles; try see from a vantage point of a European, a middle easterner, a south American… or a Christian, a Buddhist, an atheist…or a person from a developed nation or a developing nation or an emerging national

At the cost of being too simplistic, here in summary:

Good product + Good marketing = good revenue (or good GDP)
Bad product + Any kind of marketing = dependence on goodwill and charity

Customer focus = Good marketing
Self focus = Bad marketing

Good product = customer loyalty
Not so good product = customer apathy (if not wrath)

Real persistent stories + values + symbols + myths + leadership = brand identity

First up all why you have to compare with India. How can you say India is projecting. If India is projectin how it will allow movies like Slumdogmillianare.
we are struggling to get educated and coming up. So many poor persons are coming up by their hard work. Also Indian Government is helping the people by way of scolar ships, free midday meals, free travel for students etc and suppling books etc etc. How a pakistani knows that 40% are below poverty line if that news is not published. Even for those people , most of the Governments are supplying Rice & Wheet at 2Rs per Kg. Yes we are struggling and coming up. we are not always looking at China or Pakistan or some one else and thinking of defeating them or destroy them. we are not chalenging any one that we have Atom Bomb etc etc. We are not expanding Atom Bomb making faclities and at the same time asking the world to support our IDP from SWAT etc.
Even after the big TSunami, when world offered help, Our PM has thanked them and indicated that we will be able to look after. Our Government has come out a Rural Employment Scheme to help out Rural poor. So pl try to work hard and come up instead of finding India as a reason for Pakistan’s problem. Both India and Pakistan got independance at the same time. We have come out with white revelotion and developed MILK & Diary industry. We have come out with Green revelotion and developed agreeculture and now India is exporting food products. it is like that ….yes we are poor and we will come up with out begging any one.

My grandfather came from Sialkot in 1947. Unlike most of the other refugees he hadn’t left pre-independence but a month later. At the peak of the violence he entered India on the 5th of September leaving behind all his wealth or belongings (And I’m sure the same was true for most of the refugees that came to Pakistan). Today with God’s grace and the hard work of my Grandparents and parents I live a comfortable life. But I’ve always wanted to know what about my roots, visit the village where my Grandfather was born and brought up. I’ve been planning a trip for the past 4 years but I’ve always ended up canceling because of reasons that are very obvious to all of us.

In India we have our share of problems, probably the incredible economic growth we see today is because of reasons that aren’t aided much by our political leaders, but somehow we figure a way out of deep trouble sooner than later. A lot of our problems are because of religion too. I say this for many hard-line Hindus and for Muslims too, maybe we need to look beyond religion to find answers to our problems. Maybe religion was meant to be a way of life and not a hindrance to it. Between our nations, there doesn’t have to be a competition! We can both grow economically and socially into stronger nations without pulling the other guy down.

Maybe it’s time to promote mutual growth instead of trying to backstab each other.
The billions of dollars we both spend on the defense budget could rather be spent in feeding the hungry, providing cheap and affordable healthcare or educating children.

And make no mistake, I am extremely proud to be an Indian!

Terrific responses to this blog. If only the people of Pakistan got together and demanded accountability from their Elected Officials, The Army and Government for steering the country down the wrong path, something good might actually come out of this. It is nice to know the average Pakistani is large hearted, generous and hospitable. Unfortunately, Pakistan’s image abroad can hardly be built using that alone as a parameter. Where is the money for Education. Why defence? The Army’s place is in the barracks and when it starts dominating politics and government as it has in Pakistan’s checkered history…. the results are visible. Pakistan a country on the verge of economic collapse trying to match defence capabilities with India an economy that is many many time larger than Pakistan. Why? Shrink the Defence Budget and increase spending on Public Education. The image will take care of itself.

I liked how you present the argument, I think Pakistan has complex set of problems starting from its image building (even when Pakistan were not considered the dangerous zone , the overall image was not so good , as compare to india)to big mighty problems like true extremism.
I guess people in Pakistan are confuse about there identity, just work on it , and whole world will acknowledge you.

Keep blogging.

@bob
What a joke, to hear Osama bin laden is in Pakistan, yeah the same there were WMD in Iraq!.It’s so true that some people just cannot learn from history (Vietnam, does it ring a bell to you?)

Rija Zaidi,
Something for you too to think.

Search for Google “political, moral and diplomatic support” and you will see who used that euphemism to provide support to terrorists.

You are making it sound as if every impression of Pakistan is manufactured by India & Indians.

Don’t you want to take any responsibility for the impressions of your country?
Does everybody in the world base their impression of Pakistan, on what India or Indians say?

When will Pakistanis like yourself, change their Indo-centric ways, stop blaming all your ills on India & own upto your own doings?

You’re laughable nuances indicating all Pakistanis as loving & hospitable creatures while Indians are money-grabbing cheats is quite delusional. If you really want to change the image of your country, I suggest that your first change your attitude & do some serious introspection.

For all those Pakistanis, who are owning up for the impressions of their country instead of blaming it on others (and I see quite a few comments), I applaud you. Pakistan’s hopes rest on you.

I’m an Indian and have met and befriended Pakistanis in several countries in Europe and now Australia where I reside. We never talk politics and the friendship we share is not polite but one with genuine warmth. I do agree it’s tough on Pakistan to overcome their country’s image overseas and that politics has a lot to do with it. However, people on an individual front have to make an effort too. Comparison to India hardly helps since politicians in India too want to milk the hatred. Pakistan has never enjoyed a real spell of democracy, education levels are extremely poor (in India too, but awareness and consequences of better education is very high) and there is a growing spell of fanatisism. I watched a documentary on Taliban in Pakistan yesterday and young kids are brainwashed into suicide bombings in several madrasas. I feel the Pakistan government has always been a puppet of agencies, who would sink into oblivion if relations with India improve. I would advise the author to not fall into the India comparison trick again and ask her to look at the real issues why Pakistan exudes a negative image. So negative that many people are not even comfortable travelling to India. As someone rightly mentions, bad news travells faster and news like the attack on Srilankan cricketers means that something truly noble has to happen for people to forget something of that magnitude. The fact that Taliban is getting into several parts of Pakistan and daily bomb blasts are not what encourages people to want to visit Pakistan. the country has to strive to overcome these issues before people change their perception and image of Pakistan.

Pakistan’s tragedy lies in the exploitation of Islam by both religious and political leaders. True, the role of religion cannot be ignored in a country like Pakistan. But the point that needs careful consideration is whether the subservience of religion to politics has served the interests of either Islam or Pakistan.

Good article Nosheen.

Although it is true that Pakistan has several problems and also that many of its citizens lack basic amenities, this is also true of many other countries. Yet the context is totally missing in reports on Pakistan.

It is so true that Pakistan is not marketed properly. Part of that, if you ask me, is that Pakistanis espouse free speech like no other (I say this after having lived in several different countries and cultures). They have got to be the least defensive about their shortcomings and speak freely about them, unlike citizens of many other countries. As a result, they are also quite lacklustre generally about the perceptions that are beamed internationally.

Contrast that with India (and the comparison is not because of some inferiority complex, as one of the comments above suggests but because that is the comparison that is forced upon us often)—and the obsession with “managing perceptions” across the border is quite plain.

Well said, Nousheen.

Yes Pakistan is not seen by all angles but who is. perception is all that counts. each and every country is a mixture of good and bad. whether is India, USA or Pakistan. There are poor people in every country, there are racists in every country,there are bigots in every country so on and so forth.we helped create militants and we are paying for it.Most Pakistanis did not create Talibans and most still dont support them.But this is the blowback from 1980.Both US and Pakistan paying a price for it. Righteousness and Morlity are never the virtues of foreign policy. It is time that Pakistan should eliminate militancy and stop balming the US for all its ills.Some were defintely caused by US but we agreed to be party to it in 1980’s.

Yes! Here it is! I was waiting for that!
The article ends (it had to) with a feel good note that pakistan is better and superior to India. And this ‘feel-good’ is enough to feel good and stay satisfied thinking we are better than Indians. Huh!

Well, actually the two are quite indistinguishable in terms of hospitality, historically speaking.However,the trait about welcoming guests is gradually receding in India,maybe due to arrogance due to renewal of prosperity or the American influence of being professional or whatever,I have been most part of my life outside of home,in India,and rarely come across “atithi Devo Bhavah” except as a marketing tool of the tourism industry in places such as Rajasthan,or spouted by non-creative persons in seminars.About Pakistan,it is unwise to comment unless I personally visit thers,yet the traveler must recall the instance of Bombay based Daniel Pearl of WSJ befriended in Karachi and the rest being history,as a lesson too.Hard to say,since picture is muddled quite.I admit,I myself could be muddle headed too on this.

At the core of the problem is illetaracy. 500 or 1000 yrs back people needed food and religion. But today they want cars,phones,acs and so on. That is worldly pleasures. There is this 10 % of pakistanis like Taliban followers who want the first two but rest 90% want modernization. They cannot coexist. Solution is to make 99% modern, create 100 new universities in the backward places and let them learn what is going on in the current world. Religion will take backseat. It is very funny that people fight and die for religion.

This refers to the comments made by Bob.

Those who tried to blast airport in Glasgow, Scotland were not from Pakistan. They were from India and Iraq. Check these links:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6265608.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6929991.stm

And this is called perception….Since Pakistan has earned a bad perception, people will continue to blame Pakistan for everything.

Also remember, out of 19 hijackers of 9/11, none was from Pakistan!!!

Extremism started in Pakistan when US attached Afghanistan and Taliban started moving to Pakistan tribal areas.

Lets don’t blame Pakistan for everything.

In 1990s I visited Pakistan almost every second month and I can say with full honesty Pakistan is not a bad place the way it is being projected these days. We need to see the whole situation from a political angle and all the players involved and their long term interest. It’s surely a political game beyond imagination and understanding of any common person.

Well what we see, is love from both country’s (people), not the government policies.
we Pakistani people love to see Indian movies, cricket matches, against eachother. i really feel there is nothing else but only love.
but from where this hatred comes, only and only from selfish policies, made by high ups.

So much for Pakistani’s obsession with India. Is this really about India or Pakistan? This is where reality check starts. Even countries like North Korea, Burma have some good aspects. People in those countries also would like the world to recognize the these aspects. However, if they do not acknowledge the bad and do not start doing something about getting rid of the bad, the world does not start paying attention to the good.

This is precisely the situation with Pakistan today. Until a month ago, the government did not acknowledge the fact that Taliban is a real problem. Once, they acknowledged the fact and started attacking the problem, the world started reporting success of the operation against Taliban. By the same toke, if Pakistani people start recognizing some of the deep rooted problems with their society and start addressing these problems, the world will start recognizing the good aspects of Pakistani society.

India for example, does not go out of its way to hide the facts about poverty, HIV, internal terrorist threats etc. They acknowledge these problems and continue to address these problems.

Yesterday Hafeez Saeed of Lashkar-e-Toiba was released from prison in pakistan. He and his organization are responsible for the massacre of 200 people in Mumbai. We are enraged beyond the point of having any hope of justice coming out of Pakistan. And then you say we malign your country’s image in the western world.

Pakistanis hospitality is well known. This does not have to be rediscovered. But there are two Pakistans. One has the elite feudal and rich people and the other are the ordinary class. The former can charm anyone and are highly sophisticated.

But Pakistan’s image outside can be summarized by what happened to Daniel Pearl. Pakistan has to get rid off the Jihadi elements completely before its image changes. And there is no need to compare with India on everything. India is yet another country with its own issues and positive points. Pakistanis should start believing in themselves and not subconsciously behave like India’s shadow. The shadow does not exist without the real object. Is Pakistan a shadow? I believe not. Wipe out terrorism in all forms in your country and work towards progress. The image will automatically change.

Pakistan has its problems for sure. The biggest one, in my opinion, is its Government and judicial setups, and the fuedal mindsets in most of the rural areas.
Every nation has an elite’ that is on the top and runs basically the main enterprises and employes the rest to a large degree, for their own betterment. However as long as fair and equitable social and governmnetal systems are in place (the checks and balances) and accountability and free judiciary for all, elite as a whole, couldn’t take undue advantage of the rest, and/or specailly in the case of Pakistan, treat them as second/third class citizens.

Therefore, if Pakistan truely had people’ representatives in the government, that had selfless aspirations and only the good and welfare of the avergae in mind, and an overall set of govt systems that woudl treat all citizens equal, rule of law available to all and equally, and the govt would provide basic services such as free and compulsory eductaion for all, medical and social services, tax all to get revenue to pay for such services, provide freedom of speach and religion, than Pakistan would be a very differnt cocuntry. Right now, it is two contrries within one – one for teh rich and upper middle class, taht can essentially get their way in all areas of life; and the rest, the peasants, the servants, the shopkeepers, the farmers, the const workers, and the rest, who can hardly find enough money to feed themselves. Where is the govt and its representatives that woudl demand and provide forf an equal resources and opportunities for all.

Pakistani’ are ofcourse very gifted people, but that is not a unique quality they only have. They are no better or worse than any other nations citiznes. It is their locked up potential that makes them inherently equal to others, which they must use, &/but the govt must first provide, alomost as a parent, the resources(food, shleter, education etc) where a child/citizens can infact flourish. In other words, how is it that Pakistani’ and Indians alike(and for that Africans and any other deprived nations citizens) do wonderful things, and achieve so much when they settle down in other countries, such as in Europe and in the US. They don’t get that by giving up their religion or traditions etc, but it is due to the fact that the level plain field they get there to play on which is blind to the religion and other aspects of social class, provides them with the mindset that it is upto them to work hard and get ahead. So as long as they work hard, or get educated, more and more opportunities are there for them to take advanctage of. But even if they didnt go to school, they can atleast feed there family and live in diginity, and no other can take what belongs to them unduely, or hurt them without a consequence/the law protects all.

Though cream always comes up to the top, it must be provided the right conditions.

If we pay attention to these things, Pakistan will not only not have any time or reason to worry about what others are doing etc, Pakistan for example would infact look upto India for advise and wisdom in variosu areas. It is all matter of state of mind, and mutual respect…specally when the two share so much and have so much in common – more than any other 2 nations in the world. So we must firts and foremost strive to get better ourselves, and in doing so, we will find that we will start appreciating others that are doing the same, and or will help others that have not yet.

It is amusing to see commentators from Pakistan claiming Indians defame Pakistan that’s why Pakistan has a bad image.

And what exactly do pakistanis do? spreading the glory of India all over???

The truth of the matter is India and Indians do not have a self-image of us being anti-Pakistan.

hi,
this piece of writing rather than being informative or critically thpought is merely an emotional outburst, i think the writer should stop using some foreigner’s opnion to further instigate the age old india bashing agenda.
i ‘ve seen and met lots of people in my country (especially youth) who dont believe in spreading negativity about Pakistan, in fact some of my friends even visited the country last winter during the mock UN at LUMS, lahore.
all i am saying is that perception is changing, although at a very slow pace but nonetheless you can see the change among the educated class of the country. however, thanks to the journalism of few political mouthpieces, state of fear and ignornace persists over big chunk of population.I am sure this is going to change as India needs to tackle its home grown problems (as rightly pointed in one of the replies) in order to be a developed state.
I seriously think that this sort of writing will only lead to a further emotional build up and more of the notorious Indo-Pak mud slinging matches.
Peace and love from across the border.

Refer to Salman Haider & Iqbal Qasim mature comments.

We know the problems. Here is the solution.

- Declare Pakistan a Secular country.

Religion must be separated from the State. Islam should not be used by politicians to get votes. Politics + Religion is the most dangerous cocktail. The secular decision is NOT going to hit at the roots of Pakistan or its identity. We hardly have any identity left and if it is there it is a bad example of creating a country based on religion alone.
- Do not let the Army rule the country ever again.

They have no vision to run a country. How do you expect a person who has spent 35 years learning about military operations, weapons and nothing else to suddenly become a political visionary. Winning an election is not a joke. Try and win even a municipal corporation election ? You have to have intense interaction with the people, their issues, their local solutions and the web of relationships. A politician who spends 35 years doing this is closer to the ground and is forced to look after their constituency else he will not be elected. They have to per force build democratic institutions since they have to deliver on the ground to win the next elections. This is an unbeatable proposition.

- Make friends with India.

For all that we might say, I feel India has never attacked Pakistan unprovoked and has never claimed any territory of Pakistan. It could hav retained East Pakistan but did not. It could very well claim the Pakistan part of Kashmir ( since officially Kashmir was merged with India by the ruler of Kashmir by a signed document. That is the fact.) but it is more busy countering the claim of Pakistan over their part of Kashmir. This is the truth – however unplatable. A friendly India i much more use to Pakistan than a friendly China or USA. And India is much more willing than Pakistan.

- Reform our education system.

Scrap everything and rewrite every book. Take out untruthful and hate filled teachings. Replace with a modern and scientific temper.

Let me quote a relevant saying from Nehru.
“India will never break up due to Islamic fundamentalism. the day Hindus become fundamentalists the country will go to pieces.” The recent election has shown the wisdom of Indian by rejecting the Hindu fundamentalist party BJP. We should continue to do the same. Reject the fundamentalists of Islamic parties.

Excellent Article. I Agree with the author. As a foriegner I have stayed in both india and pakistan and can say that I had similar experiences in that the people of pakistan were most hospitable. I was surprised but it just shows that you should not judge a book by its cover.

Also, let me reflects certain pages of recent history:

in 1960s and up to Early 80s, Pakistan was a much liberal society compare to our neighbourhood. Pakistanis were well respected throughout the world. Many countries head of states used to consider it an honour to visit Pak those days. US presidents visited us for a long tour to Pak. We had the OIC summit those good old days. We used to welcome many honourable guets including Queen Elizebeth. Our cities were much wider, rich, developed, and cultured those days. India was struggling with its bad days as there was Khalistan Movement on its peak, Mrs. Gandhi was killed as Ms Bhutto is assasinated in Pak. There was emergency in India and media, civil rights were banned there. People were so poor that if any Pakistani used to visit India, we used to hold our ears and come back. If any of our Indian friend used to visit us then, they used to love our cities, culture, social values, liberalism.

My point is very simple. There was a very good time for Pak in those 3,4 decades and India was struggling. It is very common for nations to see good or bad times in their history. Soon, Pak will come out of crisis and we shall emerge a much better nation rogether, InshAllah, if we do not loose courage, faith and unity.

Nice observation about Pakistan by Nosheen Abbas.

Pakistanis are a very hospitable national but unluckily we are not able to project it to the outside world.

Pakistan is among top 7 nations of the world in terms of population. We have 6.2 percent growth rate in most areas. Our poverty levels are falling. We are the 1st Islamic nuclear power. Our achievements are being globally recognized. We have so many amazing success stories but we refuse to acknowledge them.
We are the leaders in Textiles.
We are number 8 in Nuclear Technology.
We are one of the largest producers of rice.
We are the second largest Islamic nation in the world.
We are a country who gave birth to people like Quaid-e-Azam, Allama Iqbal, Dr. A.Q Khan, Dr. Abdul Salam, Edhi, Imran, Mehdi Hasan, Noor Jahan, and lots others.
We have the largest dam in the world.
We have a population which contains 70% youth.
Our IT professionals can be seen everywhere in the world now.
We are a country of having all the natural resources including water, Islands, Sea, Mountain regions, Canals, reivers, Ports, Land and more important the 180 million people out of which 120 millions are youngsters.

Pakistan must stand up to the world. Because I believe that, unless Pakistan stands up to the world, no one will respect us. Only strength respects strength. We must be strong not only as a military power but also as an economic power. Our children must be well equipped with education so that they can present the correct picture of Pakistan to the rest of the world.

@ kaps

Yes, we have Murree Brewery … one of the oldest brewery company with very high quality beer.

http://www.murreebrewery.com

This again shows your little knowledge and closed views about Pakistan…. but you are not to be blamed because you see whatever your television shows to you, which is only negative image about Pakistan.

Why are you so hesitant to accept that India tries to defame Pakistan? By the way, did you ever wonder why India has so many consulate offices in Afghanistan? and they are all in those cities that are close to Afghan-Pakistan border! Think my friend think.

Pakistanis are living in deep denial.

I am not from Pakistan nor from India; neither a Muslim but I don’t look at these two neighboring countries the way you presented it. Whether you like it or not, this article shows biases for both countries. This article is telling that India presents:
a. Pakistan as an unsafe place; and
b. Pakistani as not hospitable
On one hand, this article also presents that the people of India cannot be trusted since they destroy the image of Pakistan and its people from foreigners.
The images, articles found in internet showing how horrible it is in Pakistan are all products of your country. Who post these pictures? Who are these people? Are they not your people?
You are seen by the other countries because that is what you present.
Start from within. Market your country and your people the way you wanted to be seen.
Although I have never visited your country, I know your people as good people because that is what is presented to me.

@Aamir,

“Perceptions are dangerous than actual facts”…..
Well said Aamir………
You are so true in depicting the typical mindset…..
I live in west but want to visit Pakistan myself…..met a guy who hailed from Pakistan, we spoke a lot and i showed my desire about visiting Pakistan and he was more than happy to assist…….
The trouble starts (as I have mentioned in my earlier posts)when a sizable population of your country believe in conspiracy theory…….
Civil society and institutions are most important……..
I’m shocked to see that people who visit this respectable newspaper and have such kind of things…..’largest HIV population’, ‘50 freedom movements’ etc.
Why don’t you guys stand against the wrong doing of your authorities??
I was appalled at seeing all this…….I can certainly tell you that in India people don’t think too much about Pakistan..instead they are busy doing good for themselves and than incidents like Mumbai happens …….n then Pakistan get a bad press in India………Is it there fault?? History is full of incidences like this…….
Cricket – biggest casualty of all this…….
Educate people in right way……during my schooling in India we were never taught anything wrong about Pakistan or anything against any other religion…In fact i still remember that we all were taught be be proud of our “Secularism”, tolerance and history….
I have friends from all religions….and all are doing very well….we talk business and fun not religion…..
Why there is so much stress on religion in Pakistan……it’s personal matter, it should not be made a state matter…….someone can say Pakistan was formed on that basis…..but will this hold in future if the things in country are not peaceful???
Innocent civilians and kids are being displaced and killed…….
Your society should wake up, shout, scream…..do something…..

I wrote earlier that at first this article was in poor taste

I have to say that your positiveness is quite a good trait that you have. But, also, as someone from the USA, it really seems strange to us that you can talk this way, when Osama bin Laden has been in your country for almost 8 years. The 711 terrorists are from Pakistan, the people that tried to set off a bomb at an airport in Scotland are from Pakistan, the Mumbai Massacre Terrrosts are from Pakistan. You just let the head of the organization that planned the Mumbai Massacre out of (house) arrest. I am only listing the highlights here. It is good that you are finally beginning turn this menace that has developed in Pakistan. I am glad that there are people that responded to your blog from Pakistan that are beginning to take responsibility for the action of Pakistanis in Pakistani society. If you want to be respected, being nice to some people is not enough. There are nice people everywhere. Hitler made the trains run on time. It is Pakistan’s high numbers (relative to other societies) of incorrigible depraved psycopaths, stoning women, beheading people, making war in Afghanistan, vicious attacks in Mumbai, and providing safe haven for some of the worst criminals and mass murderers in the history of the world that make you look bad. But, why are Pakistani’s not out in the street demanding that OBL be captured? Why do you not keep poeple that would be called a traitor in any other society, and almost started a nuclear war in jail? Why do you have nuclear weapons when you’re broke. Why do you protect the person that has done more to spread the scourge of nuclear weapons around the world ahan anyone? It is not only your depraved fanatics that make you look bad, but it is also that the majority of Pakistani’s do not seem to have the courage or the character to stand up to the depravity in your midst. So, clean up your international killers and improve your education system. We will help. Then I’ll come and visit and see about how I like Pakistan. It is probably a beautiful country with beautiful people. Take care of your quite ugly problems abd let the world see.

– Bob

“… why this inferiority complex and comparison with India all the time? If Pakistan is good it does not have to be good compared to India, it just needs to be good.”
This comment by Manbir says it all. Pakistanis have to get rid of their congenital inferiority complex with respect to every one else in the world, not only India. If you must compare, then keep your mouth shut and strive to be better. The world may take a while to notice, but your shouting from the rooftop is not going to help. Has it helped so far?

The problem with people like the author and the majority of the Pakistani leadership is that they think that they have an marketing problem. The world may not be seeing the good side of Pakistan because the bad side is so overwhelmingly huge. Personally I see a future for the people of North Korea and Iran but Pakistan … you need an act of god.

hi friends in pakistan

nosheen has brought up very valid point of perception about pakistan.percepton is the reusults of the deeds one do wheather good or bad. now let me give one glaring example of wat create a good or bad perception. yesterday lahore highcourt released hafiz sayeed in the absence of any proofs. now I believe whole world knows who is hafiz sayeed and wat does he do. im not saying judiciary is at fault but its the job of authorities to do the credible investigation to prove in the court of law which they never did. so wat perception world got out of this-good or bad. no prizes for guessing.

Grow up Nousheen!

Are you trying to imply that Pakistan’s bad image has nothing to do with the reality? And in support of your argument, you picked up couple of isolated examples/events (opinion of couple of foreigners) in order to prove that it is all to do with media and the westerners who somehow deliberately presenting your country as backward, violent and brutal…

Well, they are not just myth or perceptions churned out by the westerners and Indians; they are in fact true reflections of today’s Pakistan. Perceptions reflect reality; and bad perception is the collective image of your nation.

Of course, bombs and bullets are the day to day reality of this country.

Hi
There are certain points to ponder:
1.Bad news travels 10 times faster than good news.
2.Bad (news) and good (news) does not nullify each other.
3. The sum of individual qualities is not equal to the whole. This means that if Pakistanis (or Indians)at an individual level appear as good citizens, this may not be true in equal measure at a community or national level.
4.Coming to specifics, Pakistanis need to answer (to themselves) why for instance, Indians are more respected in even the Arab states of the Gulf,and not Pakistanis.
5. As for hospitality, this was a sub continental trait across the sub continent. As society gets more industrialized and closed knit communities get scattered,compettiton increases, this trait gradually takes a back seat. Pakistan is still very much an agricultural rural society, and the old continental traits have not vanished.

Interesting to note various angles of opinion….. after exhaustive reading on the history of india and pakistan and the politics following it, my conlcusion is that the state of affairs for pakistan today, has its roots in the history of its formation:
1. the basis of forming pakistan was a rejection of democracy, of treating all people equally. The demand was based on communal basis, which in simple terms is “intolerance”, and the results that followed and continue to follow for pakistan are a deal with the devil.
2. Pakistan has been both pre and post formation, been hijacked by a clique of elite politicians and army men, who made it an official policy to use terrorism.

If Pakistan really wants a change of perception, it cannot be done through window dressing. It has to re-examine the very basis of its existence, whether in today’s age of universal co-existence, it’s narrow basis of existence for a single religion, allows it to develop into a modern soceity or pulls it backwards into the dark ages.

Most of all the people of pakistan need to liberate themselves from the shackles of their political and army exploiters, and make it a true democracy.

Image will follow reality, once the relatiy itself changes for the better!

good luck

india phobia once again to the core.suggest nousheen to look within first before commenting on another nation.first become a good democracy,then an economically better nation,educate the masses and the recognition will come on its own.have only one request to all proud pakistanis “LIVE AND LET LIVE”

Asking tourists to pay for services or goods rendered is a normal practice in any part of the world. In that way India is normal.

Pakistanis might be more “hospitable” but a cynic might note that they are more “hospitable” because of their image problem, which India does not have.

Its good to see people from India expressing their views on Pakistan sitting in front of their computers in India and elsewhere, except Pakistan. I entertained a tea delegation here in Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar. One of the guy extended his trip and stayed back for a few more days. Him and I had good long talks on religion, politics, and the relationship between India and Pakistan. He said his wife and kids thought it was a ridiculous idea visiting Pakistan. His friends warned him and told him that he’s insane to be visiting Pakistan. This is exactly what he told me and didnt hold back at all. But he wanted to come to Pakistan and was so happy that he did. He told me he has to go back home and educate a lot of people in India about Pakistan. Him and I have always been in touch ever since. Perceptions are dangerous than actual facts. People who dont agree with Ms. Noshin, should visit Pakistan. We might not be rich but we are all certainly hospitable and loving.

As a Pakistani who grew up in the States I, like most Americans, did not know anything about intelligence agencies and the Taliban before 9/11. Since then I have been rediscovering my Pakistani roots and have found some disturbing realities.

Firstly, we have to acknowledge that we have a serious, serious problem with Islamic militancy in Pakistan. Rather than being a personal matter of choice to be practised in the home, Islam is used as a political weapon by power-hungry religious leaders. Our country will not progress until the general population is educated to understand that religion is a personal matter and until we rein in the mullahs. The only way to counter Taliban and Islamic militancy is through nationwide grass roots campaigns by moderate religious institutions from all branches of Islam to preach tolerance, national unity and co-existance. After 60 years of terminally inept performance by a succession of corrupt governments, we know we cannot rely on the Pakistani government to do anything useful in this (or any other) matter. It has to be done by grass roots volunteer campaigns.

As regards India, there is some rivalry on both sides, but we have to understand that power comes in three forms: military, economic, and cultural. India has been growing on all three fronts, while we have only been focussing on matching India’s military strength. Economically, we are a basket case, wandering the world hat-in-hand, while India is fast becoming a world super power due to Western outsourcing. That outsourcing, in turn, is a result of two things: Firstly the Western governments want India as an ally to counterbalance Chinese and Russian influence in the region. And secondly, on a people-to-people level, India wields enormous ’soft power’ through the cultural empire of Bollywood and also through direct and indirect representation in the Western media. Through its movies and music, India projects its image to the world on its own terms. Indian movies are watched not just throughout the Islamic world, but also the rest of the world at large.

It is this same cultural power, incidentally, that gives Israel so much influence in the Western world. The Western media is dominated by pro-Israel personalities.

The key, then, is representation in the Western media. CNN, BBC and most major American media outlets have ethnic Indian and Hindu commentators, but there are hardly any prominent Muslim figures (except Fareed Zakaria) and no ethnic Pakistani figures of note. We need to encourage our people to enter the media fields. Unlike the Indians, with their rich outsourcing-fueled coffers, we cannot buy media or political influence. We will have to do it the hard way.

It’s time you show the brighter side of pakistan to the world. For decads, the bad image has been projected.

@Rija Zaidi

If you don’t want to see comments from across the border or from anywhere else in the world, don’t write on open platform aka web….
As far as your so called “image” of India is concerned…….better get your facts right before you speak all this……
Largest HIV positive population??? 50 freedom movements? looks like you are reading too much propaganda……
I have nothing against Pakistan and Pakistanis but where did you come to this comparison…….it’s really hard to understand…….
As far as projecting the image of country is concerned, it’s done by it’s civil society……..that’s my question to you…where it has disappeared in Pakistan?? Why do you guys believe in so many conspiracy theories? Why don’t you guys raise your voice against wrong doing by government/Army?

Think, think and think…….question yourself and then say all what you have said……
I want to see Pakistan prosper and would like to visit it one day….
For god’s sake do not, do not utter anything you don’t know and when you haven’t checked the facts……….

on a lighter note…do you easily get good beer in Pakistan??

I will just share my personal experience. I visited Brazil in 2008. I got chance to meet some community members in rural areas. When I used to introduce my self as ‘Pakistani’ the first thought they come up with was, ” which Pakistan? is that whom Usama bin Ladin belongs?”. At those moments I repeatedly tried to clear their minds that Pakistan is not a home for such ‘bin ladins’ and Usama is a Saudi but it really shocked me to know the ‘image’ Pakistan is sketched in countries like brazil.

As they say, perception is stronger than reality. Perception, once created is quite difficult to be disrupted. Yet the task is do-able.Firstly, we need to stop acting as “beggars seeking alms” abroad. Our leaders have to realise that seeking monetary aid all the time as a panacea for the ongoing internal turmoil would do more harm than good to Pakistan’s already tarnished image. Secondly, we have to put our own house in order before raising fingers on foreign world in perceiving Pakistan as a volatile and failed state. Since the country is amidst a pitched battle against surging militancy and terrorism, it would take us long to win it. Yet this evil has to nipped in the bud once for all. Come what may. Hood-winking US and foreign world through half measures against terrorism would win us an image of perpetrators.And lastly, it is for us to re-define and project ourselves. Are we willing to mend our approach viz-a-viz national conduct and maintaining bare minimum level of honesty, self-control and collectivism, is what would make the world sift through wrong myths and glaring realities about Pakistan. Are we all there to move on?

I am from Canada and I have been to Pakistan 4 times for vacation. I am in LOVE with its beautiful places and people. It changed my life 4-ever.

Great Pakistan – here are the good images
http://www.geocities.com/stardan01

Dan

The part of Pakistan which is currently unsafe is the border region with Afghanistan, go and have a look at Karachi. Just have a look at how much Karachi has changed, look at the shopping malls which have opened, have a look at bridges being built. Have a look at the youngsters, girls are wearing jeans these days. Look at cafe’s which have opened up in Karachi for youngsters, in ZAMZAMA. there r alot of fashion shows in Clifton, Karachi.
But these good things never come up on the news, does it.
How dare can you lot say the whole of Pakistan is unsafe.

For all of you who haven’t even been to Karachi, think before you speak. First learn the good facts and then open your mouth.

PAKISTAN ZINDABAD !!!!

Inshallah, Pakistan will emerge a great nation provided that the next generation is educated or pakistan may vanish from the map of the world………. A Pakistani.

I think we as a nation are responsible for this bad name. Let us remember one thing, when we are pointing fingers on others it is further defaming our country. Please as a nation, we should start working together for one objective and it should be Pakistan only.
The other section responsible is our judicial system. Hope with this recent change we are able to solve this issue.

Talking of persecption and reality, than the only difference between Pakistan and India that I have percieved is that India is trying to show the World that everything there is “ALL GOOD”, but in reality it is not so and this phenomenon is backed by their strong media. SO they are trying to influence the perception all over the World and some how they are successful in doing so.

Pakistan is a great country, its masses are also great. Due to some elements with criminal minds have out of focus. There are problems but it does not mean to destroy our home rather mend it try to do better. It is not wise to play in the hands of enemies. We can mend and change what we need. No doubt we need new leadership from young blood. Lets call and follow the rule of PAKISTAN FIRST.
Think what we can do for the country, be positive and true, but be fair with PAKISTAN FIRST.

well, as being IT professional i analyzed that the lot of Pictures are coming from News websites, un-fortunately we have very long war history, 3 against india (with still cold war) 10 years of Afghan jihad, now from 2002 we are again become a battle field.
So, ultimately the Pakistani image become as war fighter nation. Every one assuming it as terrorist.
absolutely, Indian media creating a key role, actually there are lack of pakistani websites on Web. The search engines quires the images and links from the name and links bounded with these Pictures, and lot of bad pictures and clips are tagged with name of pakistan on foreign web sites, you may recall the incident of a gird who beaten by Taliban in SWAT Pakistan, but still there no evidence where that incident exactly happened ?

Just because somebody refused to take a few bucks for your phone call, you extrapolate that the entire Pakistani society is so nice!?

What are Lashkar-e-toiba, Al Qaeda, Jaesh e mohammad and countless other terrorist groups doing there? Can you protect your own people? Did you abstain from taking jaziya from Sikhs?

As per the same logic, India is getting a image in Pakistan.

There is a huge gap of Perception Vs Reality when it comes to the way India is presented in Pakistan.

Can you also write an article about this.

It is even more important, that Hindus and India are projected with a right image (unlike what your text books may teach).

The World does NOT see good angles when to many bad things are happing motherland & it’s no fault of other’s but our own, we have been blaming to long on other’s but we have failed to look within our self, we the people, our elite politicions & the one who consider them self as choosen ones, we all are guilty of spilling blood of our own people in name of islam but untill one of our own is hurt, we dont feel the pain

Hi,
If a country can be measured by the following scale:
CountryMeasure(CM) = (Amount of charity/help and useful products/inventions that a country does) minus (Amount of non-sense or the problems that the country creates to others)

then i think, this measure-CM will be useful to compare countries.

Broadly comparing there are 3 types of countries in the world based on CM
A. High CM (relatively better countries)
B. Moderate to Low CM (countries that create almost equal amount of help and problems or a slightly larger amount of help)
C. Low or even negative CM (Countries that are bad for everyone outside)

All G-8, western European and Scandinavian countries typically fall in category-A (High CM) because many of the products we use today are from them. And, they do a good amount of charity too.

Many of the developing countries fall in Category-B because the amount of problems they create for others is less but their positive impact is also not very high (inventions etc). I would see China, Indonesia, Malaysia, India etc in this category.

As far as i Know, Pakistan gets aid from Saudi Arabia/UAE, China, G8 nations but is the centre of a lot of negative activities.

I see in other comments that People encountered good hospitality/reception from Pakistani People. Now, if you were to tell to the same Pakistani Hosts that you are a convert from Islam to some other religion, how do you think you will be treated ? Just a polite message to leave the place or a life threatening action.

Now you take the decision Where Pakistan should be placed in the categories above-A, B or C?

PS: It looks silly to beg for one’s country to be looked better. Do something better and no one can belittle you.

In India we have one verse for our guests and tourists….

Atithi devo bhavah….it means that guest is like a God and we must treat him like a deity…

This is a verse taken from our ancient language and mother of all south asian language ’sanskrit’….This is in us….and we are following this from our heart from thousand of years….

Pakistan needs to get out of its obsession of trying to compare it to India and hang on to any comparision done by ANY foreigner.

Yes I have a real experience with Pakistanis in the middle east. They buy conspiracy theories, without questioning them. Pakistani state has just released Hafiz Sayeed, the mastermind of Mumbai attacks. Dont ask me what I feel of the Judicial process.

The country is not built on roads and hospitality. It needs institutions, polity, arts, culture and vibrancy. It also needs sustainable economy, innovation, science and technology and a strong civil society.

Nice article Nosheen !!

I am not surprised to see so many comments from across the border with the only intention to ridicule Pakistan by highlighting only the negative aspects.

If you make a comparison on individual level between an Indian and Pakistani, you won’t find any difference as far as personal talent, potential and capabilities are concerned. This is the lack of bold and imaginative leadership that makes the huge difference. Indians really know how to build a positive image and at the same time how to hide all the negativity about their country. No one can deny India is the largest democracy on this planet but at the same time India is the country with largest population living in shanty towns with just one meal a day, it has largest HIV positive carriers, it is the country where more than 50 freedom movement are currently underway, it is the place where huge number of farmers commit suicide due to poverty….. yet you only see all positive news about India all over as if this country is second to Sweden and Norway!!

It is even more disheartening to see Indians don’t spare any opportunity where they can create worst possible situation from Pakistan. I am a firm believer these two countries can never live with peace no matter whatever level of diplomacy and confidence building measures are adopted.

And of course both countries are to be blamed for this rivalry… you just cannot blame Pakistan for all these nonsense.

So much on the news why would anyone want to Google Pakistan?

The newspapers of the world are full of Pakistan every day.

Most for the wrong reasons..I am sure Pakistan is a great place geographically with breath taking mountains, valleys etc which are perfect advertisements for tourism.

As someone wrote earlier “Get the country in order first by doing all you can to stop harboring terrorists and be sincere in rooting out terrorism.”
The world is not blind and once the people of this world see this done right I am sure they would love to see what Pakistan has to offer.
I would love to visit but not at the moment.

why comparing pakistan with india? you should not forget that before 26/11 many pak artist were performing in india india provided them the stage to perform we indians gave them so much love and respect but see in return what we got……..you people want to work in india but don’t want to respect india……… nosheen you need to do some more research before writing an article………..pakistan is a unsafe country at the moment no doubt in it………..

Given the affectionate treatment I receive from my Pakistani-American friends, I am not surprised that the majority of the Pakistani masses are generous and affectionate people. It is the leadership post-Jinnah until today that has repeatedly messed the country and image up. In the past, I have asked my Pakistani-origin friends to write in and cheer things up – but they are disengaged not because they don’t love their motherland, but because they have their hearts broken repeatedly not knowing what to trust. By the by, warmth and generosity is a trait across the sub-continent (and the developing world).

Hi all,

Pretty constructive debate you have here, I hope it doesn’t turn out to be a battleground between the neighbours. When I was young and the ‘chatting’ frenzy was at its peak I made a few friends on the internet across the border. It was a relationship out of curiosity where we used to discuss about each other’s lives and how deep we mutually cherished each other.

He always wanted to come to India and see the places here and I wished to see Lahore Karachi Peshawar and all. You all can imagine what a 17 year old boy could visualize.

I always wanted to visit Pakistan and I still do but I am worried that I might not return back from there and end up in Pakistani jail or in a coffin.

Also incidents like Kargil, 26/11 have left Indians in anger and antagonism now we say we don’t want to go to Pakistan, we don’t want open borders.

I hope Pakistani friends will realise some day.

Ms. Abbas, you mention that Pakistan is not being ‘marketed’ correctly, but one important tenet of marketing is that the product being marketed must be good; marketing excellence can only take you so far.

Currently, Westerners are really scared of going to Pakistan. The image of Daniel Pearl’s beheading haunts them. The movie on that topic did not help. What also did not help, is that the movie was shot in Pune, an Indian city (which doubled up as Karachi), because the movie crew found it too challenging to actually shoot in Karachi.

You & your ilk are in a minority. I feel most Pakistanis on the street (and there are many more of them than a few handful of you folks who are white collared folks) hate the west and Pakistan is one of those countries that has the least favorable rating of the US. In contrast, American investment in Indian is growing leaps and bounds, cultural interchanges have never been better (Slumdog Millionaire has created a ‘bollywood’ craze in the US), and people to people contact is at a level of equality, respectfulness and friendliness.

The problem with Pakistan is that your rulers coddled up with the *wrong* US team – their rulers and their army. The US/Pakistan government relationship is great (though some would argue that it is not built on equality) but people-to-people contact is missing.

By contrast, India’s relationship with the US was primarily catalyzed through people-to-people contacts. In the 60s, 70s and 80s, Indian doctors & engineers in the US built respectable lives, and silicon valley success stories of Indians multiplied. At the same time, Indian art was being discovered by the US, and as a result, India’s image within the US was totally different from the one it had of Pakistan. The irony was that India’s offical relationship with US in those decades was nothing short of antagonistic. But late 90s, the people-to-people push was so strong, the lure of commerce and trade so irresistible, that there was no other recourse for the governments of India & US to reconcile. This is the correct logical progression that builds enduring and lasting relationships, because they have been initiated & imbibed at the level of its people, not thrust upon by the rulers (like Pakistan.)

I saw a lot of messages here that say ‘Indians love to create a bad image of Pakistan.’ Well, is that so easy? Can Indians do it without help from Pakistan’s anarchy-filled existence? In that case, why isn’t Pakistan able to tarnish India’s image?

The fact remains that barring a few clubs which Ms Abbas points out, Pakistan *is* indeed an anarchic state. The reverse of this is that while India does have aberrations (terror attacks, other problems), by and large, it is peaceful, democratic and ‘inclusive’ in its development (at least it aspires to be).

Unless situations on the ground change, no amount of blogging by the likes of Ms. Abbas can help.

I agree that it is media which portrays the image of a country. Here in Dubai in a local highly circulated english newspaper there is one page dedicated to Pakistan related news. Surprisingly whenever I read the newspaper and get to the Pakistan page, I always find news and pictures related to Taliban, Afghanistan, Bomb blast, Army operations, strikes, etc. And on the India pages there are always photos of fashion show, festivals, positive news related to some achievements, launches, etc.
There are frequent fashion shows, events, festivals, launches being held in Karachi and Lahore, but I have never seen any picture or news related to those here in that newspaper.

Feel good to see some positive things said for Pakistani’s, otherwise on media it seems that all Pakistani are terrorist. This is not the perception of people living abroad but from common people living in Karachi and Lahore feels the same about Peshawar.It is the media from which we see the world which is far from reality.

If Pakistan’s image is not good after almost 60years of nationhood,there must have been some inherent problems which will require an honest and bold introspection.Pakistan must look at the problem of terrorism not from the point of view of pleasing anybody or for getting external assistance but from it’s own image,internal security and building a strong,prosperous and friendly and confident nation.Terrorism as a means to resolve complex issues is self destructive.Pakistan also must approach the Kashmir issue with a sense of objectivity.It would be completely unrealistic on the part of Pakistan to expect India to give up control over Kashmir or even to comply with the time barred UN resolution.It is in the interest of Pakistan to adopt a more realistic middle path to resolve this long standing issue with India.Both India and Pakistam must accept that there can not be a military solution to the sensitive Kashmir problems.I am sure Indians would be very happy to co-exist with Pakistan with equality,dignity and self respect.

Not sure what point Ms. Nosheen Abbas is trying to make. Please do not beg the world to ignore what is happening in Pakistan. If you want the world to think of Pakistan as a progressive, modern country, then that is what has to happen in Pakistan, and that is the perception that needs to go out. Some decades ago, China/Chinese was not a respectable term in the world, but now it is. Some decades ago, India/Indian was not a respectable term, but now it is or almost is – another decade or two. So, instead of begging the world to change their perception about Pakistan and to look at the realty, would it not be better that the realty becomes the perception too. In the 70’s and 80’s, India and Pakistan were at par and Pakistan’s currency was stronger than India’s. Then Pakistan focussed all its resources and attention to aggressive foriegn policy and defence expenditure, instead of thinking about the betterment of its people. The result – Pakistan is now a stagnant whereas India has raced ahead. Forget Kashmir and think about the betterment of Pakistani people.

I agree that majority of the time Pakistan makes it in the news in the West is only when there is some negative news or a tragic event. But some of these media companies have their own agenda and influences. But what is sometimes confusing is that majority of the news highlighted by the local media is also about tragic events (agree with Najam Mahmud’s comment). Not sure if that is just to attract audience…….There ought to be news highlighted where local culture and achievements are portrayed as effectively. I feel the European news agencies do a better job of presenting varios aspects of Pakistan than its north American counterparts. Perhaps Pakistani companies need to invest in the news media in the West or have some sort of cross-exchange program so that various unbiased, non-judgemental aspects of Pakistani society are reflected in the media as well.
Having said all this, if a domestic survey is to be taken describing Pakistan in a few words, it will be interesting to note their response……maybe the media is only a reflection of how majority of the people view their own country and where they see their country heading.

Well said Nosheen, we really need to market our real immage, which is positive, attractive and pleasant in large extend. Here I just want to add something that may clarify and direct your attentions/intentions toward “Northern Areas”. Owing to lack of information and even due to wrong and misleading news from media, majority percieves that the battle is ongoing in the whole NAs. No dear! there’s 100% PEACE in the real NAs the GILGIT & BALTISTAN. Foreigners are bit aware that they are still comming to visit this beautiful area but the domestic tourism is more affected because of our media. Media must distinguish between the war side and the peaceful side especially when the peaceful side is much larger (spread over 28000 mile). The 7 worlds largest mountains are there. 50 beautiful lakes are just around the Skardu City. And who knows the tales of “Lafoo Kaiser”. Polo matches at roof of the earth DEOSAI….Nausheen u really need to write about, because ppl r listening u. Thanks

i’m a Chinese. i’ve been to Pakistan several times and worked long time. Pakistan is a great country with all kinds of resources. Pakistanis are great people with hospitality. Sincerely eliminating terrorists, cleaning dirty politics and developing economy will surely bring out a new Pakistan no more than 30 years. After that Pakistan’s good image will come automatically. Everybody will help.

I, for one, have certainly concluded (after thinking reflectively about such matters for a very long time)that the majority of Pakistani citizens are not parochial beings, filled with hyper-riligosity. However, the more malignant and vicious interpretation of the traditions and history of our own selves has certainly led to a production of some who are brainwashed into believing that they would enter paradise by killing others. I certainly think that a return to calmness and honest reading of the traditions (inlight of common sense) would clarify to anyone that killings and violence has not been the goal of any major religion of the world.One simple thing is to read the traditional texts, applying common sense principles, i.e., read wartime verses in war, peacetime in peace. And don’t lose the overall picture by getting too bogged down in details,esp. when they are not relevant.

Set Mr Hafiz Saeed free and fix image…hmmm. Quick Fixes don’t work. A short cut is most of the times, than not , a very long cut.

i think this is exactly the need of the hour, that we present the more prevalent, the more common & the real picture of Pakistan & seriously work on eliminating the corruption & work on educating our masses & our politicians as well, the later may take the priority!

I have no problems with Islam, but with people who have given it a bad name,all over the world, by too much association with it and in a very bad way.people,have become obsessed with their religion to point of considering anyone who is not of their religion as inferior.people have become extremely intolerant. ready to kill, to blow themselves up, all for a cause they think is just and god-sanctioned. why would would god side with one country and punish the other, when we all are his creation? pakistanis(and some other muslim countries in turmoil) have a very bad habit of associating everything with their religion,including political ambitions.not realising that is the very thing which is giving bad name to islam.
key to improving pakistan’s image:
should become more secular,pluralistic and democratic. half the battle is won.
the second half? education education education….

Dear Ms. Abbas,
Your Casey case is quite unbelievable, pardon my frankness. Like Nadeem Paracha says, Pakistanis are not descendants of Mohammed bin Qasim, however much we may wish for, for whatever weird reasons. Indians and Pakistanis are pretty much the same, only they hate each other, while China is taking advantage of the situation, in my own opinion. Just look at the Saeed who has been released! If the fundamentalists stayed out of our lives, the Indians and Pakistanis will do very well with each other.
Now what are we going to do with the upper hand we gained at considerable loss to our brave soldiers? We will hand it back to the Taliban in six months flat! Such is our paranoia when it comes to India. We blame the enemy standing in front of us when the arrow is clearly sticking in our back.

@ PATS

implicit in your statement is that the singular separation between Pakistan & India is what might be termed ‘tolerance of the other’. Notwithstanding how problematic the criteria for such a term would be, please recognize that we are a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural people. Northeastern Punjab is surely not our only identity; our Pashtun, Balochis, Hazaras and countless other communities trace no roots within your territorial or cultural boundaries. Please respect our identity and refrain for treating us as India’s extension.

I have often heard people say Pakistanis are very hospitable. My best friend during my residency days in New York was a Pakistani (from Karachi).
Pakistan gets a bad rap mainly because of its association with terrorism. There is potential for a lot of things to go wrong. A lot of journalists, politicians (from Balochistan) have gone missing because of their political beliefs and what they had been writing. So, if one is just a harmless tourist, one may not encounter any problems and get to see the best of Pakistan, especially if one is visiting posh areas in Islamabad (with good roads etc) or Lahore. The real problem is in areas like Balochistan, NWFP etc. Horrific crimes like murder of Daniel Pearl (made into a movie now) continue to remain in the memory of many people.

Mr. Iqbal Qasim…love your comments….they are great !! And regarding this article…I want to say Ms. Nosheen Abbas one thing…don’t judge a country by it’s cafes and discotheques….judge by it’s human rights and contribution to the world!

Maybe if Pakistanis should the same courtesy to other Pakistanis like they do to foreigners, we might become a better country.

It is my personal experience that Pakistanis treat foreigners (particularly Westerners) in the best of manners. Yet, when we encounter other Pakistanis, we deal with them with contempt, deceipt, and outright disregard.

Maybe we should learn to respect ourselves first, rather than playing up the ignorant Western caricature that portrays all religious Muslims (particularly bearded men) as violent fanatics.

Only when we respect ourselves, will others respect us.

Really nice article……….does echo the sentiments of a lot of people from our part of the world. Initially, when I came over to the US from India I was quite surprised by the perceptions about India among ordinary Americans but now I couldn’t care less …….if they think India is a land of sadhus, snake charmers and call center employees so be it! It’s their ignorance. Btw, the writer compares Indian hospitality with Pakistan’s maybe she is right maybe not but I’d like to remind you guys about the hospitality and warmth extended to pakistani patients – children in particular who have been treated in Indian hospitals sometimes even for free.

Back in 2006 I read on BBC that a white British man was lynched in an Indian village(I forget the exact reason). End of story. Rachel Corrie, a young American peace activist, was deliberately run over by an Israeli bulldozer and yes there are pictures on the internet. Not a word from the White House to this day. We all know what happened when Daniel Pearl was kidnapped in Karachi. Round the clock coverage, A book and a Hollywood movie! Its not conspiracy. Its just the way it is. P.s. It appears that most Indians have forgotten the hospitality shown by Pakistanis to 8000 Indian cricket fans back in 2004.

@Shakir Lakhani

Ah, the “blame India” syndrome. This is a perfect example of it. This is the number one thing we need to get past. We cannot blame India, we have to blame ourselves for weak politicians and corrupt generals who allowed districts upon districts to be controlled by groups that the entire Western world does indeed consider terror groups. Instead of putting tanks and planes on the Indian border (there is absolutely ZERO reason from our neighbor to the east launch some sort of invasion on us right now), we should have set more brigades to the frontier years ago. We did not have as bad of an image in the 80’s and early 90’s for a good reason.

Well, this is one side of Pakistan we are all talking about. We should not forget that majority of Pakistanis do not have access to all the luxury 5% have. Lets hold other 95% hands, and make sure they walk along with others. I agree that Pakistan must be marketed positively. Same way like Indian movies and TV portray India – rosy picture. But not hiding the truth. We should be proud of whatever we are, not try to become hypocrite – rejecting the masses. Cafes, five start hotels, or Shisha places are not depicting a true picture. We must look at the Bottom of the Pyramid too – otherwise world will look at us as a culture without any base – a long time back famous stage artist Omar Sharif gave proper name to those “Burger Family”

God Bless Pakistan

I really dont think we should be so tranfixed on our image in the West. We should instead focus on fixing the ills of our society. When we solve our immediate issues (terrorism, economy) the so called image issue will be fixed.

Dear writer today chief terrorist Hafiz Saeed gets out of jail by the order of High court,not only that his lawyer defends Hafiz Saeed but also calls all the muslims who died in Islmabad Marriot Hotel bad Muslims, what a joke is he lawyer or a mullah passing Fatwa, but thats the truth how murderers are made heroes just add some thing in the name of religion the rest will be A.O.K Hats off to all the lawyers and CJ Pakistan that was the movement for justice.

I am an Indian.
Well no one is questioning the people of pakistan, it is the Pak establishment that is a question mark and spoiling the whole country’s image.

I wished you did not mention that cell phone/turban incident in the article. That’s clearly saying Indians are less helpful than Pakistani. So naive. Are you ingnorants about India? Guess, you need a tour ot India. It depends which place in Pakistan your are sitting. Peshawar is not the place to go while Isloo/Pindi/lahore might be safer.

When life is at risk, questions arise. There are good reasons to feel safe in Pakistan (some places). When things will cool down so will the negative hits from google about Pakistan.

Nobody has responded to what Iqbal Qasim has written here. That sums up everything in brief.

Unless we have a proper response to that, all other writings here are just emotional and not real. What he says is the reality which is rightly perceived by others as such. Just by being good hosts you can not undo all that he says.

I am an Indian and I very much hope that Pakistan improves itself in its perception around the world. But it should be based on actions and not based on feel-good articles without any rationale such as this.

First of all, I believe that an average Pakistani would be a good person at heart like any other human, perhaps even better. But the question is why is this good-hearted average Pakistani has taken too long and has done too little to accept there is problem within and not from ‘foreign hands’.

The article also shows how an average Pakistan is obsessed with India and comparing itself with India. The choice of comparison with India by a western journalist is what is used to feel good. But the same author denounces the fact that western media is biased against Pakistan. Ask for yourself how many of your own country men and women die due to terrorism instead of worrying about comparison with India. Try to make your country safe for your own men and women and then you can worry about images in Google.

Good wishes to Pakistan and hope you guys will come out of the mess you are in.

A really nice article and very interesting comments indeed from some of the people. I am a Pakistani living in US and see everyday the difference in perception and reality as spoken by people here. For instance a colleague of mine asking how many camels does your family own?
However, I think if there is negative out there whose job is it to offset it with positive? I think we should all as Pakistanis take responsibility and improve image of our country. We all can contribute interacting more with people around the world to begin with. Some of our photographers brothers can seriously help the cause promoting their own websites. I hope this rings a bell! By the way I showed my colleague some of the latest photos of Karachi with all the development that took place in recent years & he sure was impressed.

I think the article by Nosheen is a rather poor attempt to portray the better side of Pakistan. Having lived in the West for almost a decade, I have met many people of Pakistani origin. The one thing that is common to all or most of them is not only their unobjective hatred for India and eagerness to speak ill of the Indian people, but even more so their lack of awareness of the the accomplishments of their own country. If I were a Pakistani, I would have written an article that described its military accomplishments, its musical heritage, its Magsaysay award winners and its physicists like Abdus Salaam (though the way he was treated in his own motherland is all too well documented). And this article would certainly have done without the catty but indeed effete references to the apparent lack of hospitality in the Indian people. As a matter of fact, the one common trait in all people from the Indian subcontinent share is their warmth and hospitality.

Nosheen,

How will Pakistan its positive image to world when majority of terrorists are linked back to Pakistan either directly by root or by training camp they attended?

If these home trained Jihadis go on detonating bombs that is telecast all over globe, when USA is regularly attacking Terrorist areas by Drone ?

There are good things but above shadow all and show the image of bad only.

Why is Pakistani image poorer then what it should be and India’s better?

Answer: Expatriates

Pakistani expatriates bad mouth Pakistan at every opportunity.

Vs.

Indian expatriates are even happy to lie for their shining India.

I completely disagree with the author. Perception is reality in this case.

Look at this survey carried out by IRI in Pakistan.

The International Republican Institute’s public opinion survey, of a “national representative sample of adult residents in Pakistan”, conducted between March 7-30, 2009.

http://www.iri.org/newsreleases/pdfs/2009%20May%2011%20Survey%20of%20Pa kistan%20Public%20Opinion,%20March%207-30,%202009.pdf

The survey suggests that (before the Pakistani army began its offensive against the Taliban in the Malakand region in late April) almost two-thirds of the respondents (72%) supported striking peace deals with the Taliban knowing that such deals with strengthen the Taliban movement. 80% of the respondents supported the government’s deal with the Taliban. That’s not all, 56% the respondents replied in the affirmative when asked if they would support a Taliban support for sharia in other parts of the country, like Karachi, Multan, Quetta or Lahore. Support for the Lashkar-e-Taiba is strong, with 43% viewing it favourably, (46% unfavourably, and 12% didn’t know/didn’t respond).

Sure, surveys are inexact and things might have changed in the last two months, but they suggest that the risk of Talibanisation is not insignificant. Also, if you quantify the numbers – that’s 86 million people supporting Swat type peace deals.

I will agree that Pakistan has became a punching bag for the world. In US whenever i watch a news program there would be at least one mention about How bad things are in Pakistan and strategy for American intervention things go bad. On other hand they don’t say very nice things about India either.

But i am very concerned about some of the comments like how India is only reason that Pakistan’s image is bad or letting JUD chief go free, Not sure when pakistan will learn that these terrorist are bad for India but worst for Pakistan. Look at what they have done or doing in SWAT and FATA. No reason or no religion in the world can explain killing of so many innocent people in that part or any other part in the world.

The creator of our world, i am not saying Hindu god or Allah for Muslim is looking at what we are doing to his world.I dont think he issues some passes to few people like Mullahs or Osama saying what ever thing they do is right. He will look at these things and deliver his verdict without asking for reason. If only he wanted to kill all non-believers he wont need humans to implement his will.

Also i will agree India has many problems. But if a country is growing at 9.0 % is there a chance that they might be doing something right compared to Pakistan’s growth rate of 0.6%. In India we learned that Hindu extremism is as bad as Muslim or any other extremism and thats why we punished those who did wrong things in our election.

As an Indian, I do not think that India or Pakistan are superior to anybody or each other. It is not India which tarnished Pakistan’s image. It is Pakistan only. When Pakistani historians write about what is there in history books, when we see in Dawn and other Pakistani newspapers about what is going on in Pakistan, what can we assume. Common people I think are mostly good, but from outside we deal only with the government. When we see lot of issues in Pakistan’s politics what image we should build. When US attacked Taliban’s we heard many voices in support of taliban but very few in support of US, what image it gives. Pakistan was formed based on religious ground, and still it supports same feeling in Kashmir but not support Panjab or Sindh or Baluch people when they want same. What image that gives you?

The Best news coming out of Pakistan. in a Long time

To get the Best Marketing of Pakistan ,will be through changes with new Political Faces from the new breed of Pakistani leadership.
No more same FACES AGAIN AND AGAIN.They have Failed and Plundered Pakistan .

@Pakistani Nation
ignorance is the reason behind current situation…start thinking Pakistani…define a line between Pakistani culture & indian culture…remember our morals…if not then wait few years everyone will be doomed…

Nosheen

It depends upon whose experience we are talking about. Where was the famous Pakistani hospitality when the people in Karachi had a strike protesting against the arrival of IDPs from Swat? Ethan Casey may have had one experience – clearly Daniel Pearl had a very different experience.
Based on these experiences, perhaps perception matches reality very well!

Sorry, Proud-Pakistani! Now, he is the one reason for a certain image of Pakistan. Why is he depending on God so much for Pakistan’s image and then getting it on the blog too!

Releasing Hafeez Saeed is not helping the image either. You can market yourself better with beautiful images of your country and your people but you are busy comparing yourself with India (not exactly the best place in the world) and create an impression as if you are jealous. I am a regular reader of Dawn and I truly believe that your country can improve itself and it’s own image.

If things have not changed for Pakistan in 60 years, I do not see it to change next month or next year. The perception did not grow in vacuum. Pakistanis are not anymore generous than Indians! That is not a relevant antidote why foreigners would suddenly start loving Pakistan. Dear Nosheen, please be confident as a proud nation and stop relying on handouts! And, please deal with the menace of terrorism! That would be a great first step.

I think examples and perceptions are drwan from the masses and not from the exceptions. Pakistan is a diverse country with uncountable beautiful places but which foreign tourist is going to risk his life under the current circumstances? I spent almost 9 years abroad and recently visited Pakistan after a long time. What I found is that some parts of the country have drastically changed or I would say Talibanised. Several parts of the NWFP have been radicalised including Peshawar where one hardly finds a cafe or a nice place to sit and relax. People have gone shallow who literally stare at you if you are wearing a western attire. Scuffy looking bearded men with turbans and women in full veil are a frequuent site in all the major cities of NWFP. However I found people in upper Punjab and Karachi more progressive and liberal in their thoughts and behaviour.

No doubt majority of Pakistani people are progressive , but we cant blame the international community when they have developed a knee jerk reflex in terms of Pakistan that its main culture is jihadi terrorism.When Americans, Europeans,Chineese, Russians ,Indians and even Muslims in Muslim countries turn on Tv sets or read news papers there is a big news about terrorist activity happening in Pakistan that shocks every one when they see innocent humans being killed or injured in hundreds with no end .There are scores of people in Pakistan who want to present positive and progressive image but they are also getting scared from these Taliban who may target them as they become visible as Talibans want no social, political,sports,economics,education activities all they want is hatred and killing and name it jihad.So we should not expect from any body to percieve Pakistan in any other way.Finally judiciary in Pakistan is doing same what used to happen in days of Zia ul Haq as they are releasing enemies of Pakistan and the world Maulana Aziz, Hafiz Saeed , then why people across the world should expect Pakistan to be a civilized society.Recently Iran has closed trade and borders with Pakistan,so it is fear of Muslim countries also that Pakistan has no control over its growing millitancy,the writer of the article should add there is no country besides Pakistan where law enforcing agencies can be kidnapped and killed every week and those slogans Pakistan will get better are loosing any sense among Pakistanis and Internationally.

For a tourist (as someone said earlie) safety comes first.

So the fear of being kidnapped, or some other crime is important.

Everything comes later.

We know you are trying to paint the good side to balance the negative press coming out and everyone on this board understands it.

But remember Daniel Pearl, French engineers, Chinese nationals, multiple white people kidnapped or bombed…

hehe thats the most funny blog that i have ever read. Does the author mean to say Pakistanis are very helpful and indians are mean (by “supposedly not offering cell phone for communication”). Dont live in denial. There is a problem in the house and it is enormous and the house has to be set right. Thats the only way to go.

You cannot make the current problems of pakistan disappear by putting forward a small minded comparison – “here take my phone and don’t worry about the cash”. There are people who do this in all countries – from the remote parts of argentina to mongolia. Again why does your article have to end up to be India centric – like all other articles?

The bottom line is more muslims decided to stay in India than migrate – many stayed because they did not have the means to migrate. However, many also stayed because, they believe in the idea of India – a secular nation. Sure we have our problems – who doesn’t – the point is we having been solving them and will continue to do so. Can you say that about Pakistan? Hand on heart – you really cannot. It is time to do some internal reflection and stop peering over your neighbours fence.

the “mullahs” exploit islam because we dont learn it. We should not worry about how the world sees us, we should be more concerned about how we look at our selves. We fail to follow the sunnah and then complain that where the azab is coming from. Time has come for us to learn the deen and stop this madness in the name of islam

I did Google Pakistan and found very reasonable links … not the kind you mentioned!!!

Moreover if you read NYTimes or kind you will be shocked to learn how much they know and how accurate their perceptions are.

Apart from that Pakistan is really messed up … how much of your population is illiterate and how much do you spend on education? A more interesting question is how many Pakistani’s can think critically and challenge the stereotypes they have? The world’s view about Pakistan is very accurate and the fault is with Pakistani’s … it is not the image of Pakistan that needs to be improved but Pakistan.

Excellent article…it is so good to know that when foreigners visit Pakistan their opinion is contrary to bomb blasts and extremism.

But, we cannot deny the fact that Pakistan is a dangerous place…I mean I live here and I am afraid….!!!Over 6000 have died since 2001…due to bomb blasts and other terrorist related events…

Lets just hope that these extremists soon become extinct in the mist of time….!!Inshallah!!

Nosheen, This is true that we have never marketed Pakistan’s image in the right way to the world. People all around the world knows us well but they think of us from a backward country where religious extremism is common. We are not Taliban type people. Our governments in the past and present have never tried to create a better and modern image of Pakistan. Politicians are corrupt, army rule and now this taliban problem. All foreign journalists visit us and get a positive image about us but they also never try to tell the WEST that we are very modern nation.

I am a Muslim and a Pakistani I live abroad. I crave to read, hear or see anything positive about our country. It seems we have lost hope. We can blame foreign media not talking or showing any thing good about our country. But what is wrong with our media, our governments, businesses and even our people. Why they are so indifferent to discuss and to show the good side of our nation.

I left the country in mid seventies, those days although, the government was socialist, but we were still progressing in so many ways, small businesses were flourishing, and people were hopeful, youth were involved with education because for most of us education was the way to rise above. In short period of our history, we had crossed some great mile stones. Such as we, built several universities, medical collages, agriculture colleges, technical colleges, we embarked on manufacturing automobiles, textile industry was on rise, banking unfortunately was nationalized but we had the experience of developing financial institutes and we were recongnized in that field by several countries including middle east, we built steel mills, we were manufacturing machineries, sugar mills, tractors, ships, we were advancing in pharmaceutical. We had built dams and developed an advance irrigation system in that region. We became self sufficient in our food needs, we developed armament industry to defend our nation. Our commercial shipping fleet was larger than Canadians.

All this happened in a very short time of our history and I am very proud of that.

Unfortunately, then came Zia Ul Haq who brought down the democratically elected government of Mr. Bhutto. Mr. Zia derailed the whole nation from the path of development to this curse of extremism
under the name of Islam. His policies were to please USA in the war against the USSR. The introduction of few Islamic laws was nothing but a sham to fool the nation.

Once the government of USA achieved their goal of defeating the Russia by our help, they left us with the menace of refugees so called Mujjahidins, under the banners of Talibans and Alquaida, who had no jobs, their country Afganistan was totally destroyed by the long war, therefore, they had no interest of going back to their war torned country.

Therefore, they decided to stay in Pakistan, they had all kind of weapons in their hands left from the war. It didn’t bother west until they started to hit them directly.

So my dear Pakistani fellows, let our army finish this group of criminals, who would like to take control of our nation under their distorted
belief which is far from the teaching of our great religion Islam.

We have a great history, we built our nation from scratch, we can rebuilt our nation again onece our great army finish their job of getting rid of these criminals.

Be united behind your great armed forces, give them moral support. They have defended our nation several times before from foreign enemies, unfortunately this time they have to fight enemy within ourselves, they have the ability to achieve their goals and finish the job all they need is the support of the people of pakistan.

Insha-Allah we will be able to talk and show the glory of our nation once again.

How suprising to find indian complaining on a Pakistani blog! It is not enough that we welcome them, but suddenly they have turned against us.

Pakistan is a beautiful and Karachi is one of the most popular cities. I encourage everyone to see how westernized and open it is within limits.

When Pakistani leaders are willing to call Islamic fundamentalists what they really are, when Pakistani leaders are ready to declare the total commitment to building a democratic society based on basic human rights, when Pakistani leaders are ready to declare religion not a state institution but a matter of individual choice, the world will believe Pakistan is a nice place to visit!

Pakistan’s biggest problem right now is security and terrorism. As long as the government and military don’t keep that under control for the next decade. The Image of Pakistan will not change. Of course, there might be cafes and malls(If you think that is development), but what % population of Pakistan is enjoying all that? Work towards development of Pakistan. Few things you might be able to do is …Agriculture and tourism and Music.

Pakistan: Perceptions Vs. Reality is a lovely article being awaited for a long time.
This would prove an eye-opener for those who have negative perception about Pakistan.
I do congratulate Nosheen Abbas for an attempt to enhance the image of Pakistan.
Pakistan is a lovely country inhabited by the friendly people.
The country is struggling to get rid of the rogue elements who are assisting the external/internal threats.
Hopefully, Pak Military, supported by the people of Pakistan would restore peace and order in every corner and the main land of the country.

I am living in London since last five years now. I usually go to Pakistan after every 12-15 months time. I love my Pakistan and would like to do something for my country when I am capable to do so. It is just our bad luck that we never got the chance to prosper even when we have one of the best workforces in the world. People are so welcoming that you feel like a king when you are in Pakistan and that what lacks in UK.

This is actually the media (Local and International) which publicize the bad picture of Pakistan more than what the real Pakistan is. Let me tell you a story about one of my cousins who actually been to attend a wedding in Swat few years ago and he was invited by his friend who has a family there. My cousin was traveling from Karachi and because my cousin was a guest for them, they actually built a toilet in their village so my cousin could live their conveniently. Now tell me, how these people can be terrorists who have such a beautiful heart? and they literally would give their life away to protect you.

Its not only the kindness of the people but also the natural beauty is quite refreshing.

It’s time that we change our preferences and our priorities and the vision and decide as how we want to survive in the world.

This article is out of sync with reallity and a hopelessly “we r better than india”. Sitting in the only under ground cafe in a Hotel in Islamabad and projecting it as real Paksitan. Is it supposed to be fuuny.

It is a very good article. But if you google India you will see images of children starving, litter on the streets, crowd, unkempt alleys, cows eating litter etc. This holds true for most of the developing / third world countries in the world. Bad images of Pakistan has nothing to do with poor marketing of Pakistan. The root cause of the reason is that most of the media on the internet and elsewhere is controlled by handful of first world Western countries.

I am an Indian and I am ashamed to see terrible images of India on the internet and media (Slumdog Millionaire would be a good example of that). Pakistan is not the only victim of media attacks, every other third world country in the world is.

Having said that I am not saying that India or Pakistan are developed countries. We have miles to go before we reach the infrastructural development on America or Western Europe. I honestly feel that we should work together to make our respective countries better. Rather than investing heavily in building nuclear weapons to fight each other, we should invest in roads, schools and hospitals. I hope in my lifetime I see India and Pakistan as U.S. and Canada. I hope in my lifetime I see both the countries united and prosperous.

“Pakistan not marketed properly”?

Methinks Daniel Pearl would have had a different take on that!

We all are living in denial. Every thing is not fine here in Pakistan. What if one of my fellow Pakistani did not ask for money from our guest to make a call. Does that make us better society then Indians? Does that make us a safe and tolerent society?
What about those incident when our sister were getting flogged by the Taliban?
When foriegn journalist were getting abducted and killed by these thugs in our country.
Merely few cafes in our cities don’t make us a modern society.
We just need to adopt the modern thinking.
Writer is just trying to portray a very nice picture of our Pakistan which is far away from the reality on the ground.
We are in danger and we need to get out of this danger right now.

The feel good article looks nice in paper but the reality is entirely different. Pakistan is plagued with terrorism, has produced scores of dictators, and continuously in begging mode to everyone.

Having expressed gratitude to Pakistan and various Pakistanis for my fondly remembered travels there, I will also make mention of a few bad-image elements I encountered:

The free-lance “guide” at Lahore’s Shalimar Gardens, who hounded me and my wife to pay him for unwanted services, and wouldn’t take no for an answer. The prostitute and her pimp loitering at the same venue, who shadowed us as we walked around, even following me to the exit gate. The street beggars in Karachi, many of whom, I’m told, were deliberately maimed by criminal ringmasters. The shambles that called itself the National Museum. Karachi’s smodering rubbish piles and miasmatic atmosphere when the wind is wrong. The horrid, polluting rickshaws. The sometimes dangerous food at catered events.

Pakistan clearly has suffered under bad governance for a long time, a fact that is impossible to disguise with PR.

May be true,since I never been to Pakisthan, but what happend to Daniel Pearl, John Solecki is not correlating what author is trying to say. Imran Khan openly said in an interview that foreign cricket teams are safer than the Pak team but he never spoke after the assault on srilankan team. In my view, there is nothing wrong in telling facts but at the same time it is VERY dangerous reporting something not true. Just think, what happend if Indian team beleived what Imran khan and other people said and came to Lahore to play?. India and Pakistan would have been on the brink of nuclear war,again.
There is nothing wrong in accepting facts and try fixing. Everybody wants to see Pakistan propsper, espcially your brothers on the east.

Pakistan is only “modern” and “progressive” and yada yada yada if you are in the 1% elite. I highly suspect that the author is part of that 1% who live in their own bubble, and probably have never even set food in a slum or village for that matter. I’m a Pakistani-American, and I can say that the reason why nobody shows the progress of that country is simply because there is very little of it. How many universities do you have that are internationally ranked? How many academic conferences do you have per month? How many PhDs do you crank out compared to other countries? What’s your literacy rate? What’s your literacy among WOMEN? Where are your social welfare programs? Why do more than half your children not attend school? Why is there a obvious lack of public libraries in your major cities when compared to the population of those cities?

Stop whining about how others perceive you, and try to take a step back and understand WHY they perceive you as such. There’s a reason, and it’s not ignorance. Ask any American of Pakistani descent. You can sit in your little elitist bubble in Defence or wherever and talk about how outsiders view Pakistan. But talk to your maid who washes your clothes, makes your chapatis, or washes the dishes or ask the little girl who sweeps your floors, and then look me straight in the eye and tell me that Pakistani is even close to being a progressive state.

The hospitality of Pakistanis is as real as the terrorism emanting from Pakistan. For many Pakistanis terrorism became a concern only when it started visiting their cities. If the UK had followed terrorism as a state policy until it blew back the only people visiting London would’ve been foreign journalists and intelligence officials.

For better or worse, I understand the instinct of comparing Pakistan with India. I believe smaller countries like Pakistan are easier to govern and develop than larger countries with dizzying diversity.

Nosheen:

Firstly, we all know that there’s an inherent goodness in all people.

Having said, we also know that those very same people can change into demons, more so when they are radicalized in the name of religion, as it so often happens in Pakistan.

So while there are no doubt stories about the kindness and compassion of the Pakistani people, we also have abundant stories of people like Daniel Pearl, Piotr Stancza (the Polish Engineer), and some ICRC workers who were beheaded for their crime of trying to help the Pakistani people, and that of Greg Mortenson (the Swedish mountain climber) who is still in Pakistan serving the Pakistani people under grave threats to his life. John Solecki (UN worker) was possibly the ONLY westerner who has come back alive after being in teh clutches of the Pakistanis!

Nosheen,

I am perplexed by the initial statements regarding searching google images for “Pakistan Modern”, “Pakistan Cafes” and “Pakistan Progress”. I tried them all and had a number of relevant results displayed. This puts your entire article in question and makes me think if your opinion might be “slightly” biased. Here in North America, I find that people are very curious and want to know more of the reality of life there. Yes, there are some stereotypical perceptions, but on the whole “People think Pakistan is full of bearded men who run around brandishing swords” is not true.

On the other end of the scale, having returned after living a decade in Pakistan, I can definitely tell you that the fact that there are modrn cafes and so called progress in the country for the 10% (or less) that can afford it, does not imply that the entire coutnry is on a road to progress. If you want to see the real Paksitan, why not venture out into the villages and actually see the plight of the people who are concerned more about where their next meal comes from than the number of people dying in Swat or other regions. That is the real Pakistan I have seen. The big shops and luxurious foods are NOT Pakistan, its a small part of it. I agree that outsiders should be aware of both aspects, but to tout the fact that the whole country is modern, I would beg to differ with you on that. There is life outside Rumours’ exclusive domain that needs to be experienced to understand the social structure of the country and then attempt a course of action that may actually help it.

Unfortunately, the current leadership and the people electing them are mostly in the same boat, and therefore I do not believe that Pakistan will grow out of its current predicaments anytime soon.

I agree that a large majority of us Pakistanis do not support the views of the very few radicals/fundamentalists, who have badly tarnished the Country’s image. However, I also believe, we (who make up the majority) have not done our part by speaking out, and making our voices heard. Only a few brave souls have stepped out and condemned the actions of the extremists as well as our government’s inappropriate responses to such actions. My main gripe is that we, the voting public, have neither had the courage nor have we demonstrated a willingness to get involved in the political process. I am confident that we as a nation are much more capable of picking competent leaders–leaders who will put the best interests of the nation ahead of their own. Only when we prove to the world that we are united in our condemnation of the radical extremism from both sides will the World see us any different.

The blogs author speaks of cosmetic changes for media sake rather than contemplating on the deep cancer within the pakistani society.

An average pakistani should also be concerned of religious freedom, womens rights, female infanticide, school health, infant mortality rates if ever he.she wants to deliver himself from the mess that there is .. Waiting for deliverance will only lead to Taliban or the corrupt politician

Unfortunately the ppl of Pakistan have been under the rule of landlords for sixty yrs.

Am hoping the current administration realizes the frustration, disappointment, anger that the ppl of Pakistan have in all areas of life.

politicians will continue deceiving their own ppl. Its upto the ppl to decide how much they can take and when to draw a line in the sand. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

Remarkable!
Rather Intriguing!Just to see a normal and intelligent woman’s perception and argument about world’s ignorance about pakistan.

Or rather more obvious the fact of the mind set of the educated and upper class people like the author of that article.

One must need to remind nosheen that a marriot Hotel in Pakista offering a free call, which doesnt cost any thing to the Phone subscriber is not a worthy argument.

If that is the standard of being a good and just society than there is no evil in the world.

Just want to remind the author that Basti’s and Paras she passed on her way to marriot is the real pakistan.

And all those little children who are supposed to be in School studying rather than begging on every corner in big cities are the real people.

All those sick people die in the open Sun in every hospitals because of lack and Attitude of doctors are the people and image of pakistan.

Oh,by the way,live through only one day without your Airconditioner and see how it feels,perhaps it will give an idea about how your People live like.

And yes,The Prosperity and advancement only comes with the Empathy.

You want to show the World how good you Are?

Take care of your people!

Nice article on the day that we release Hafeez Saeed – leader of one of our biggest “non state actors”.

I’m sure our friendly neighbor to the east is now desperate to help us improve our image.

I’m sure that the Hudood Ordinance helps our cause to get women folk here to Pakistan.

I’m sure also that our rabid checks to see the world through an Islamic lens helps us immensely in bringing non-Islamic people here.

Not to forget our ex ISI generals who keep chanting about how America was behind 9/11 to get into Afghanistan will bring Americans here on the next flight.

Assalam-alaikum Public-Pakistan,
Finally someone steps up and talks something positive about my mother-land. I pray to Allah that, Ms Nosheen, Allah bless you and help you to the path you have chosen. Your article was unique in its way, why? because you came out and said something magnificient about the people of Pakistan. While, every other journalist is mocking and spreading hate speech (Nadeem Paracha) regarding the mother land. You said ” when will the world see Pakistan from all angles,” well my respected sister we have to show them. We need to take the curtains down and let the world see how generious and well-mannered we are. Everyone, not only you, we are all ambassadors of Pakistan. It’s our duty to act, talk and behave in a manner that, when a foreigner meets with us they are stunned. Sister you are in the media and you have more opportunities than majority of us. Sister every nation has gone through with civil wars and economic downfalls, but the great nations come over those issues and learn from their mistakes. We are only 62 yrs old and mashAllah, we have been succeeded in many different aspect of a great nation. There are some obsticales, but inshAllah by the grace of Allah we will overcome them. Lets not give up and certainly don’t give in. We are the future of Pakistan, and we will take it to the next level. Inshallah. May Allah bless Pakistan and it’s People, and may we shine under the light of Qur’an and Sunnah. Ameen Sum Ameen

Sure, there is a lot of warmth that one encounters on trips to Pakistan and that is why people keep coming back. This however should not detract from the fact that Pakistan is a boiling kettle right now. There is no independent source for news and information on what is actually happening in the SWAT region. None of the top commanders of the Taliban have been nailed down, notwithstanding their uninhibited conversations with the Press and the News Media. I hope the operation against the “Miscreants” an innocuous label for the Taliban and Terrorists is for real and not another “Commando” dog and pony show for the international audience.

I know that is the pakistan…We lived in Lahore in front of ‘Shalimar Garden’ in 80’s and rented our apartments to lot of forigners(mostly European, some Americans, chinese and even indians). We respected them as our guests and never had any issue. Even at that time we got the same response from those visiters.

Nosheen Abbas,

If Pakistan were full of people like you there would be really no need for a boundary b/w India and Pakistan. Most Pakistanis, I have met are pretty nice folks – can’t say the same about the Mullahs, and the Generals though. Not to mention the politicians on both sides of the border.

Earnestly wish that Pakistan sorts out the issues with its radical extreme fringe elements, and returns to normal, where voices like yours can be heard more loudly.

It is so true that Pakistan is NOT marketed right. I remember when my husband’s Canadian friend accompanied us to Pakistan in the summer of 2001. Driven by his adventurous spirit, he went alone to Swat and Malam Jabba, took a helicopter ride over Rakaposhi mountains, ate food from the street vendors in the northern areas, roamed the streets of Lahore & Islamabad and came back absoultely impressed by the Pakistan experienece. He said, ‘its unfortunate that Paksitan has a very bad press.’ That’s the point exactly. As long as a place is safe people will keep pouring in. Its filthy, its poor, doesnt matter, it has to be safe! Unfortunately, Pakistan is not safe currently. Who wants to spend a vacation where they are scared every day that someone might behead them? There is so much potential in the country but, its un believable how much is being wasted and overlooked. If the proportion of educated people in the country can increase and we can control our alarmingly high population, most of our problems will be solved.

We let thousands of terrorists from all over the world be our guests in the name of a misplaced sense of hospitality. They do not want to go back to their countries, they would rather kill their hosts. OBL was an honoured guest of Mullah Omar and the Taliban and see what misery has it has brought to millions of Pakistanis. Having said that, I will never shun a guest away.
That is how we are made.

Well!!!

Pakistan just needs to do all the right things.

Perceptions will change, so long it keeps backing Terror groups, it will have to pay the price, internally as well as Internationally.

Good reporting indeed! An Indian, I am looking forward to such vignettes on Pakistan.

Dont agree with the author…the images you will show of a country are those of the majority..not the priveledged few or the 10% of society and how they live…
what should be shown is bunder road, saddar, paposh etc.
when you look at images of toronto you wont see the ghettos, but the rest of the clean city, majority of which is…
and a jornalist comparing afgh to isloo?…maybe if he would go to quetta or peshawar…malakand? buner?
article for the sake of an article..sad.

I have heard many stories, even from indians, about the hospitality of pakistanis and felt it here in america with the limited amounts of pakistanis ive met, but the question also must be posed, when will the ruling elite that have been allowed to rule and play games with the publics mind, whether through the media or schooling, be taken down. When will there be a ruler without corruption charges or a murky past. I think it would be more beneficial if the world could humanize pakistan a little more, and if pakistanis(for their own sake) could learn to understand the way they are being educated and the consequences that it has caused(from shedding responsabilty of its own problems, to the creation of a mentality in many that allows for a passive allowance of terrorism)

What a touchy topic! Thank God somebody has brought this angle-up. I am 100% agreement that we should promote Pakistan in pictures, articles and etc the positive image, because the world media (which is controlled by elite-few) is being corrupted which is the part of Great game, but as Quran says ” Wallh-o-Makralmakireen” and Allah is tricker for those who tricks him”.
I am not sure about dancing with alocohol in Islamabad, but I agree with positive image and real Pakistan instead of media oriented Pakistan.

Thank You, thank you!
As an American, having been to Pakistan a couple of times, for extended visits -6 months and 8 months – I’ve also seen first hand the kindness of the Pakistani people.
On my first visit to Pakistan I landed in Islamabaad at 2am, alone, no one awaiting my arrival. I not only survived, but was daily taken care of by the kindness of strangers. Even today,after my second long visit to Pakistan, I am more comfortable alone in Pakistan, than I would be alone in LA, NY or SF. Most Americans cannot imagine this because of the poor press Pakistan receives.
Again, thank you for taking the time to help bridge the gap between reality and media fantasy.
David

This is an amazing article…

Well, the point is to put your best foot forward. And certain things have a habit of overshadowing everything else…..So before you can say to world, look its great, you really need to control the terrorism aspect of things. Maybe not vanquish but definitely control.

We Indians can be very grating, rude and imposing……. but we run better ad campaigns than you.

Well said Nosheen, but lets not say that the perception west has is totally wrong. A good percentage of Pakistani’s are against the west even though most of them do not make any rational arguments as to why. To most all white people are anti-Muslim and then there is the hatred towards Jews and Hindus.

Incorrect! i just did a google on pakistan there were beautiful pictures of northern areas and mosque in lahore, though i agree that perceptions about pakistan are really bad …but its mainly because of ourselves, our hypocrisies …till we dont realize that problems are within ourselves nothing would change…sorry didnt want to give lecture.

I completely agree with the contents. I beleive the Media can either make a country or break a country. They are the people that can portray anything the way they want. I will support my statement with the help of an example. Iran is said to be a place which has nothing but religious scholars. I have been to Iran various times and I can confirm that it is one of the most scenic country to visit. It has all the facilities that visitors need. The people are also helpful. I would also add that Iranian women can be seen everywhere (ofcourse clad in Chaddors)doing almost all jobs ranging from counter girls to etc..
In the same vein my country Pakistan is a place whose wrongs are presented in a much hyped form. It really deserves to be improved. A very substantial Part of the Pakistani Society is educated that wants to study, roam around, have good food, watch nice movies and have other joys of life. It certainly is not about fighting, killing and fanaticism only. You have to dig a bit deeper to get to know the real Pakistan. Iwish the people of pakistan residing outside the country must do their bit in portraying the real picture of our beautiful and colourful countries. We have excellent artists and great authors and so much more…

Ordinary people the world over can be gracious, warm, accommodating. Ordinary people can also wreak unspeakable havoc on fellowmen.

I’m glad the British journalist encountered, not a Hafiz Saeed or his sympathizers, nor a Fazlullah or his apologists, but decent human beings the world is full of.

I wish people could see this, well now I hope. I miss Pakistan! I just hope that there’s an end to this war, and then one day, there will be a chance that everyone can come out of their place just to walk the streets and enjoy themselves and the view… Play, talk, have fun! LIVE IT!

Sometimes my answer to people who keep saying negative things about Pakistan is,” Dude, stop! Just be quiet for a sec, close your eyes and breathe!”

Peace

Great Blog Nosheen.

I think the image thing is discussed alot – And everyone knows the problem is there, and the true Picture of Pakistan always hides behind the “Sword Wielding Beared Man” image. But there are few suggestions, as to how to improve it? no much is written on that aspect.

Here is a quick suggestion…

For starters, the Government needs to decide if they are serious enough and consider it a problem? based on that a strategy can be formulated , covering News agencies, Marketing campaigns etc etc

perceptions will not change till u continue doing things like releasing terror suspects from custody

Hi, you are kind of right – it has never been about common people – common people across the world are the same – it is the politicians and religious fanatics that create impressions.

I recently worked in a job based out of Dubai, which enabled me to travel in Europe and US. People do have a certain pereception about Pakistan which is way different from the reality. I realized that when I met different people with various nationalities and they were surprized to see me being from Pakistan. I think it’s either due to the fact that most people hide their Pakistani nationality or they don’t tend to mingle and say good things about our lovely country. Despite it was a bit tough for me, but I never hid my nationality and origin. I’m proud to be from Pakistan and will always be. Our country is going through tough times and I pray that we fix our problems in a right way and on timely basis. Good wishes from Pakistan and my fellow Pakistanis.

Its so true. I’m an Indian and have never been to Pakistan but I’ve heard about their hospitality through many who have. God bless them and save from dirty politicians

I completely second your point of view…but unfortunately all paksitani are forced to justify themselves against the negative traits assosiated with them,no matter which part of world they are in.
Deep sigh! this is a harsh reality that we all have to confront. The Negatives of our people outweigh the positives…thanks alot to international media!but lets not forget:

“Let hope be the last thing you loose”:)

It is true that image of Pakistan has been deteriorated among international community because every unpleasant incident takes place anywhere is linked to the country. This is also due to conspiracy theory against Pakistan due its honour of being atomic power. Every youth has experienced bitterly that when one enters in chat room after introducing himself/herself location from Pakistan, then, the person on the other side say immediately as “bye”. Thanks to the image of the country in international society.
To the title, “Pakistan: perceptions versus reality”, unquestionably the people are hospitable and generous to their guests in the country, but there are some harsh realities which need to be explored by Ethan Casey. In this connection, I suggest him to read two books for exploring realities. These included; Breaking the curfew by Emma Dankun and Waiting for Allah by Christina Lamb.

Regards

Elia Rehmatullah
Quetta, Balochistan

Pakistan may not be the place that is portrayed everwhere. But it is upto the media the government to uplift Pakistan’s image.

Your comparisons to India is pathetic. There are more foreigners living/settled in India than in Pakistan at any point in time.

I’m no globe-trotter or jet-setter, but I’ve had the good fortune to travel on five continents, and I’ve spent some time in Pakistan, years back.

Travel teaches that beneath the often strange veneer of a foreign culture there is a human being very much like yourself. Before I visited Pakistan, I’d set foot in the U.K., Belgium, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Guatemala, Belize, Australia, and some other places. I’ve traveled to every U.S. state and every Canadian province. Wherever you go, most people are oblivious to you as they distractedly go about their busy routines of mundane life; as you interface with these busy people, some few will be brusque and discourteous, and some others will go out of their way to welcome the stranger and offer assistance of all kinds. You will find among the myriad faces both ignorance and enlightenment, fakery and honesty, kindness and cruelty, whether you’re in Kansas City or Karachi.

In Pakistan I luxuriated over the span of a couple of months in the generous hospitality of several kind and enlightened hosts and their families. But I also fondly remember some nameless faces in the crowd: a gentleman among the look-alike throng on the railway platform in Multan, who noticed and took pains to offer a smile and a salute to the Western stranger standing at the coach portal, taking in the scene; the two shalwar-clad gentlemen departing the Shah Jehani Masjid in Thatta, who likewise graciously extended themselves with smiles and salutes from across the courtyard.

Traveling in Pakistan greatly enriched my life, and the people who gratuitously welcomed a stranger in a strange land, nameless though they are in my cognizance, earned my lasting gratitude and brotherly love. And that is why I wish for Pakistan, and those people, peace and prosperity.

Yes, certainly, Pakistan rarely ever gets any “good press.” I have visited Pakistan a few times and I always leave with good impressions. People are friendly, vendors sometimes won’t take money if they do a favor for you, and there is a sense of good organization and cleanliness in the cities (Lahore and Islamabad). There has been such a fuss raised that a Walmart outlet has just opened in Amritsar, but there have been several Metro Store (German company) outlets open in Pakistan for a number of years and what a convenience they are! The 500 mile Motorway is a real pleasure and the canals of Lahore are a charming and well-tended natural wonder.

Pakistan is a destination which should be on the list of the top places of the world to visit.

Pakistan has some problems; but it is a nice and relatively clean, human and hospitable country. However, I feel there are forces in the region and outside who have a geopolitical aims agaist Pakstan and Iran for obvious, yes, obvious reasons. The country along with Iran has to play well and strong agaist these forces and work together in harmony for defence and overall development

“This is a difference between India and Pakistan.”

That’s funny.

Because I have been to several countries including Islamic countries, Jewish state, a buddhist state and a number of Christian states. Nobody almost never helps a South Asian and of course people jump to help a white man.

If the author has really written what is written in this colum, then I can only laugh at him, as he pointed to a simple gesture as the difference between the two countries.

Cases like Daniel Pearl wasn’t on the back of his head I assume!

I would like to congratulate Nosheen for this nice, light and good smelling attempt.
Please keep writing such type of light and positive articles. People of the whole world should know that Pakistan and Pakistanis want peace and social progress.

Nosheen, I too did a search on internet, neither India nor pakistan dont bring out any striking pictures. India had a few pictures of its moon mission and some high rise buildings.

But yes the perception of Pakistan is poor in west, and even in India. I have read a lot of posts on Dawn blog about how Peshawar is not all that bad and not every one is a bearded man, its different from what people think.

In India, when ever we see pakistani images, its usually of a bomb blast. I saw the recent footage of Peshawar blasts. I was shocked to see that there was not a single women on streets. There was not a single man who was not wearing a shalwar kameez and a skull cap. Only the few army men a a lone photographer were wearing trousures.

I was forced to accept that the perception and reality is not different in Pakistan.

You also say that for some to expand his/her vision, he/she should have a first hand experience. I wonder how many people would risk their lives to get that first hand experience.

I don’t know what image you expect to portray. On the same page as this blog is the news that a wanted terrorist , for 26/11 in Mumbai, is released by the court as the government did not present evidence. How can any sane person expect people to have a positive image of the country ?
I have never heard of Cassey but his comments are hilarious. I have travelled to over 15 countries, including Europe, US, China, South East Asia, Indian subcontinent etc. In all these countries , I have found people very helpful towards any foreigner requiring minor assistance.

Ah so refreshing to read something good about Pakistan. Thank you for that Nosheen.

BTW, I have met some european guys who have been to Pakistan and were positively surprised to find a place that was nowhere close to what they were expecting after watching all those blood-filled news.

So yes, reality is different than perception, as you put it here so nicely.

I don’t know what image you expect to portray. On the same page as this blog is the news that a wanted terrorist , for 26/11 in Mumbai, is released by the court as the government did not present evidence. Obviously, if the Pak govt wants to protect terrorists it makes no sense to expect that the country can have a good image.
Pakistan has nurturing terrorists for the last several decades. it has been an instrument of state policy since Bhutto’s days.

Its boils down to media.Local media people, please wakeup and report the reality of the country.The foreign media reports what they are fed by the local reporters and media.
I agree 100% with Nosheen that Pakistan is not being projected properly.I had the experience to visit all our neighbouring countries and let me tell you frankly, i would not like to visit Pakistan neighbours again based on what i saw there.

Yes! Here it is! I was waiting for that!
The article ends (it had to) with a feel good note that pakistan is better and superior to India. And this ‘feel-good’ is enough to feel good and stay satisfied thinking we are better than Indians. Huh!
This is what is identity of pakistan – obsessed with India and unwarranted deep hatred agains India. Due to this reason pakistan is in such a state today.
Whole world knows it.

what do you want to prove; pakistanis are so generous to guests and indains are not?
do all pakistanis hotels run free for foriegners?
if iam not wrong daniel pearl was beheaded in pakisan and an average pakistani still hates india and america.

vishvedeep bhat
srinagar,chandigarh,india

This is a good observation and hopefully Pakistan’s perception will improve for us overseas. However why this inferiority complex and comparison with India all the time? If Pakistan is good it does not have to be good compared to India, it just needs to be good.

that is so true, I’m living in London atm and I’m shifting back to Karachi next month, for good. My whole family thinks Pakistan’s a dangerous place and all and they never look at the good things.
People keep on telling me that Pakistan is dangerous, but I tell them that Pakistan is MASHALLAH progressing very nicely, fashion is changing, there are alot of place for teenagers to hang out. Just take a look at the FORUM shopping mall in karachi, cafe coffee day, park towers, restaurants like arizona grill.

“No, no, no, you are our guest”

This is a unique value and attitude of people in Pakistan which is very hard to find in many countries. You will find people very helpfull especially in difficult time. I have travelled some countries and I have also travelled all over Pakistan I fully agree with the Author that much more should be done on this aspact. Good Bless!!!

I think a big reason is also because of our media which overly focuses on the political and war on terror issues rather than giving due focus to other positive aspects of our society.

If we look at the prominent channels, most of the programs aired on prime time are either politcial talk shows, or current affairs and the topics are confined to how Pakistan has to fight millitancy and who is doing what in the political arena.

Dawn as a channel is still doing a better job of bringing programs that focus on the social and cultual aspects, but all channels need to do this especially GEO and ARY as they are also widely viewed abroad.

Cmon Mr.Nosheen, nobody can judge a whole country based on the action(s) of just one of its citizens! it is ridiculous… there are people like the “old timer with a turban” in India too.. and definitely,there are old timers without a turban in other parts of the world too!! got the point?

Pakistan has some problems; but it is a nice and relatively clean,human and hospitable country. However, there are forces who have a geopolitical agaist Pakstan and Iran for obvious, yes, obvious reasons. The country has to play well and strong agaist these forces.

Whenever i hear a foreigner visiting Pakistan, he comes back with the same comments: “oh people are so nice”, “the place is awesome”, “food was great”. The article is right, one of the ways to see the real Pakistan is by going there and experiencing it. Pakistan is different from what people outside the county perceives it to be. We are a modern Islamic state, with modern mindset, values and traditions, and are not like the terrorists you see on tv.

Pakistan Zindabad

Everyday I see the news and Pakistan is becoming famouus with the terror attacks ,but I feel very proud being a Pakistani reading a colum like this.We are warm people.I live abroad but whenever I come back to Pakistan,I don’t feel like going back.This is the real Pakistan.
But the things going on now is also the reality.This is true but the people living in Pakistan should speak out more,how we enjoy life,how we live and break the bad image.This must be the only solution.
I will also do my best from outside.

Pakistan’s image has been badly tarnished by Indian propaganda. Four years ago a German wanted to visit Karachi. His Indian wife told him he’d never leave Pakistan alive. He came here and was pleasantly surprised to find Karachi much cleaner, much friendlier and much safer than even Mumbai. Now he visits Karachi every three months. So desperate are Indians to villify Pakistan that they even try to brainwash Pakistanis living in Dubai into believing that Karachi is teeming with terrorists.