Pak sarzamin shad bad

Kishware haseen shad bad

I’m a indian but wud have been a proud indian if we could have shared the understanding and could hve solved your problems.. Trust me with every blast in ur palce my heart cries for the innocent lives…..

I wish we both countries get matured leaders to kill the issues and work for future rather than let the people die and keep the nations honour.

We were one in the past, we seperated fopr some reasons.. lets stay as neighbour rather than enemies..

Pakistan is facing counter productive results of its past policies.

Being an Indian we can feel the pain what Pakistan people are facing.

I pray to god Pakistan will learn from there mistake, and live in peace.

Overall a nice article but expecting other countries to maintain cool is asking for a little too much. Pakistan, no doubt is in a big mess and only Pakistan can clear this mess provided they use some common sense. Other thing I fear after reading some of the comments here, is that Pakistan is far away from stabilization because people in Pakistan are still ignorant. Hope this changes for the betterment of this world (better late than never).

If Pakistan had followed Jinnah’s vision and remained a democracy we probably would not be seeing this day

Pakistan is like the boxer “Tyson”: short, thuggish, intellectually empty with a power quick to dissipate. The neighborhood is full of big countries do not possess the elegance, subtlelty and graces of another boxer like Muhammad.Ali. A country like Pakistan had to prove, a little extra, that it could manage. The image of the bad boy in the baddest neighborhood persists, thanks in large part to the American aid and the remittance money. Pakistan needs to pay attention to its negligible intellectual resources and think of surpassing the barbarians in the neighborhood.

“First they came for the Hindus, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Hindu;
Then they came for the Sikhs, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Sikh;…..
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me.”

The path towards intolerance is paved: With the belief that one has a monoply on the truth. With self righteousness. With judging the private life of others. With lack of introspection. With lack of doubt. With lack of compassion, except for ones own. With hatred. With greed. With lust for power. With injustice. Feel free to add to this list. In Pakistan, we have spent the past three decades paving this path. It will at least take that much time to build a better path, but it can be done if people look inside themslves and finally wake up. I do have some hope, because the same country that produced the nuts has also produced Abdul Sattar Edhi and Dr. Abdus Salaam.

Hi
Finally some common sense from a Pakistani Newspaper. I’am an Indian living in the US and want a stable and successful Pak. I’am from a generation which did not feel and nor do I feel Pakistan should unite with India anytime. But what I hope is for Pakistan to catch the perperators of henious crime in Mumbai. I was stuck by insensitivity of TV anchors and guests in the immidiate aftermath of Mumbai tragedy speaking calously.I feel religion should be a private matter and not a state subject.Even when I read your newspapers they are all India centric which is not the case with our newspapers. You have a long way to go to change all this. This article definitely is in the right direction and more such articles are necessary in all newspapers including Urdu.
All the best

but can’t our neighbours take China’s cool silent stance for a bit while we try and sort things out ?

The issue is that it did not seem that you were trying hard enough. Now with the action in Waziristan, maybe your neighbours will at last realize that Pakistan wants at last to do something about extremism.

Single most disturbing thing is that all the schools have been shut down in Pakistan. Being an Indian, I can say that an economically strong and peaceful Pakistan is essential for us. Most of the “terrorists” are not people who lay down their lives for upholding teachings of the Prophet(pbuh), but those who are driven by desperation to wear a suicide vest for one lakh rupees and few days of good food. Economic improvement will sure change this. And as for the grand illusion of India and Pakistan uniting, I can only laugh aloud. Both countries will be lucky if they maintain unity among themselves (baloch, waziristan in pak and north east in india) and become really peaceful like the Europe. Rather, it would be great if both countries become economically closely related so that both countries will be losers if anything happens to one. Both India and Pakistan spend a huge proportion of their GDPs for buying bombs from already rich nations while millions here starve. Being an atheist, this is one more confirmation to me that regardless of whether there is a God and whether he created the man, he sure has been the reason for a lot of them getting killed.

All the best for Pakistan and the courageous Pakistani soldiers laying down their lives for the common man.

FACT:
EVERY INDIAN HAVE INTEREST IN PAKISTAN & VICE VERSA. OUR ANCESTORS HAD FOUGHT TOGETHER, WE HAVE SAME FOOD TASTE (When ever I go abroad I look for Indian, Pakistani or Bangladesh restaurant) WE RESEMBLE IN SKIN COLOR, OUR LANGUAGE IS SIMILAR, HAVE SAME CULTURE. IF WE WORK TOGETHER I BELIEVE THIS PART OF THE CONTINENT WILL BECOME SECOND TO NONE.

***WE SHOULD UNITE AGAIN AS BEFORE 1947***

I don,t how all will react on this, but I believe we will become one of the largest economy, big military power, cricket power and lot of other powers.

%%%I would certainly like have comments from my Pakistani brothers %%%

This too shall pass. The forces of chaos will collide and die.

The fundamental problem lies in the fact that the leaders in Pakistan did not build principle based policies. It was get it by hook or crook. And then it almost became reaction based policy vis a vis India.

It just shows fundamental flaw in thinking. What is required is principle based policies and with the right principles of course.

India did not do such a great job at it either but has done it better. We do not accept crooks as leader of state. And the best part is they can actually be thrown out. And the power is with the elected government with checks and balances. However chaotic it may be it has some order in all chaos.

In Pakistan the government itself almost gave the power away to the military to further their non principle based policies. Then of course power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. This just has gotten out of control.

What you need is people to introspect deeply but more importantly get a leader who can work within the constraints but still build principle based policies. That will change it all.

Forget extremism in all forms-VHP and Shiv Sena in India and the Pakistani ISI, Taliban etc in Pakistan. These forces of evil want war and not peace-we need more Nadeem Paracha’s and Shyema instead of evil haters such as Zaid Hamid and Hamid Gul.

I hope the people of Pakistan get true democracy one day soon,…….

Very courageous article. But not quite courageous enough. To bring an end to the destructive and self-destructive tendencies of Pakistan, you need to address the root cause of the mess you are in. I could tell you what this root cause is, but you Pakistanis have to find it out for yourself.

I think the world should stop playing the blame game. Instead of blaming each other for the destruction caused by terrorism in the world,we should better unite and work to curb against this menace. Since a couple of months Indian and Pakistan are fighting over the detainement of Hafiz saeed.Even if he is imprisoned, this doesn’t mean that the menace of terrorism would end all over there. We should not waste our time over what has happened instead we should think of solutions in trying to avoid that happening again.

Must admit, this is an excellent article, and i also completely agree with with Pak Crazy, our nation has led by corrupt, but we can not blame them in any way, its us who never stood up against them, we always “adjusted” to the situation.

However the blast at the Islamic University is against us the youth, we need to stand up before we are pushed to stone age, all of us who are reading this should be thank ful that we give charity today, tomorrow if we dont stand for our country we might be living on charity given by others. Pray, love, think ! God bless our country

Problem of Pakistan and terroris is the lack o representative Govt. If you guys had representative democracy and powerful institutions then you would not have faced all these problems.

We have an inbuilt fault in our system. First, we, from the very beginning have brought in our system people who had no merit for the job they were pushed in, that is to say, Civil Services (to some extent), our induction into the services of Police, and other Law Enforcing Agencies are totally corrupt, Judical system from the grass root level is corrupt (Perhaps on the Higher Level there might be some goody), our system of Education is Highjacked by Theocracy in all levels of its approach) and finally we have Totally Corrupt Political Leadership (take anyone). Secondly, our Media (mostly) print or electronic behaves as if only they have the solution of every problems. Here it seems as if some quarters have given them a Green Signal to go on with subjective talks and reportings, not realizing that when the tables would turn then they will not even get 10% space to do all what they are now doing. The best solution to all problems is, ” Let the people choose their representatives the ways they wish ” without any injection from the Agencies. We should never forget that if our approach to our neighbours is not as ” Love your neighbour as yourself) then God Bless Us. The same approach is also required from our neighbours. OK friends God Bless Us All.

Very True!

Unlike India, Pakistan has suffered under poor leadership from the very beginning and all the bad decisions are now starting to show results of the bad kind. Look at today’s front page story of FM Malim blaming India for all the terrorist attacks in Pakistan. Huh? It is to the credit of DAWN and writers like Shyema for acknowledging what the put-upon neighbors have long known. Shouldn’t the great patriot Musharraf have used the $10 Billion, given generously by George Bush to fight terrorism in his own backyard eight years ago, to take care of home-grown problem that has now grown much worse?

It’s a wonder to see articles like these, and I congratulate Dawn for keeping the voices of sanity and reason resounding, though for the most part, on deaf ears. I am an unfortunate Pakistani Christian who is on self -exile with my family in a relatively serene South Eastern country. The reason for this “self-exile” is the treatment we Christians receive at the hands of the so called “pure of the pure” in the land of the pures and the citidal of Isalm. We keep hearing this cliche, that Pakistan treats its minority with respect and care and the much too often preached sermon that Islam is religion of peace and universal brotherhood.But to a sickening degree of frequency, the majority of this land of the “pure” targets the minorities with an unbridled “zeal” for their religion by burning the houses of this wretched and hapless minority along with the residents. Never has any single perpetrator of these heinous crimes against humanity been brought to justice. A few usual statements of condemnation appear in the media and then, life goes on as usual, waiting for yet another similar atrocity to strike. I, as a Pakistani Christian find the curse shadowing me and my family even out of Pakistan, as in Pakistan we are misstated and persecuted for being Christians and out of Pakistan we receive the same treatment for being Pakistani. We are like citizens sans state. The mighty Americans who are “begging” Pakistan to take billions of dollar in aid, also give a damn to human rights and minority-related issues in this country. Until and unless the media takes up its role to educate people in the right direction (mercifully Dawn has) and the people of Pakistan learn to see the light of reason and quit wallowing in their ignorance and insanity of blind prejudices and bigotry, there is not light at the end of the tunnel.
It is a pity that our media has still not been able to call these barbaric terrorists by their right name, as some call them, extremist, others, and yet others, jehadis for Islam. Is any one listening out there?

Here you go again! Following are the latest statements by none other than the Interior Minister of Pakistan, as reported in The Dawn.

“We have solid evidence that not only in Balochistan but India is involved in almost every terrorist activity in Pakistan,”

Doesn’t he understand that it not the intelligence of the Indians and Americans but of the rest of the world.

“Don’t threaten us. We can give better ones to you.”… “We are a nuclear state and not so weak. We better know how to retaliate.”

These are the kind of loud mouths and hot heads that scare not only India but the rest of the world.

The world that will live in today relies on the rule of either “Give and Take” or “Get it by power”.You need to be strong enough your self , every country has its own interest’s and they will not jeopardise them just for sake of ‘friendship’.Actually they should’t!.

Every one can see India and China as two emerging super powers , specially China because of huge global reach which they already establish by powerful economy.There are will be clear of conflict of interest among these two giants , in those times both will need Pakistan support for geographical reasons more than ever. Hope our leaders able to make right call on when the time comes.Stable Pakistan is in will serve every one.

Just in responce of one of the brothers who said that there are people out there who are trying to harm us. I think we are living in a totally different world, why would someone try to harm us if we are destroying ourselves more than anyone else. When will we grow up and get red of narrow approaches of blaming other for our own wrong doings?

Pakistan is probably fighting the war of its survival. It is under duress and a dilemma as it has internal strife and zero community and national unity as two, rather three provinces are almost at war with the center. The helm of affairs are better off if they weren’t there at all…
There is indeed involvement direct and indirect from Pakistan in most of the listed terrorist acts in teh recent past but, having said that, there are reasons as i list above to initiate that.
We can hope and pray that we find honest leaders to give the country a clear picture and not just give in to external pressure and be a “yes man” to just about everything…
God Bless Pakistan…

Hi, I understand..Its a genuine request to ask India & Afghan to keep quiet…But, somehow the trust is not there between the countries..only if we (both the countries) do something to build the trust…..we can achieve the peace…India (we) say – show us some evidence that Pak is doing right thing like punishing Mumbai attack mastermind etc… then, Indian & Pakistan can team up against the evil..

Excellent article! I liked it very much. I wish Pakistan should try to get rid of all militant groups not only Taliban.

I am sure every Indian including me would like to see a peaceful, safe and secure Pakistan that can focus on building credible relationship with its neighbours. I commend the Pakistan government and army for the work they are doing now. Wish they had done this 20 yrs back!

We support the citizens of Pakistan in their fight against terrorism and hope one day I can visit a safe and secure pakistan without any visas and likewise

I hope and pray for India and Pakistan to emerge as a strong economy as Clinton pointed out in one of his article.

Regards,
A Pakistani well-wisher from India.

A well thought out article indeed. This is truly our time to realize we need to be thinking out of the box and work towards a European Union style of operation atleast for most part. Yes its not going to be easy or quick but its the time for our Pakistani friends to realize India is not your enemy. the enemy is within. We as Indians want a stable and prosperous Pakistan. We honestly from the heart of hearts wish you the very best.Ofcourse when we get hurt by elements from across the border sporting closeness to the Pakistani agencies we say stuff in anger too especially when we hear weak and half hearted statements from people in power whom we expect to honestly control these elements who are enemies to all of us even thogh they may act like they are Pakistans friends in hurting India. I’m not denying that we may shout out when we get hurt and sometimes call names but we only hope the people of Pakistan appreciate that is out of pain not out of hatred. Ofcourse we have some people who are fanatic and who make unwanted comments even when it is not warranted among us too, however please be assured these are people that the Indian population detests anyways, and these are the people who do not respect people from other parts of India even and Indians by large care less for these people, so let us all pray together irrespective of our religious beliefs and affiliations, national or other differences for the speedy resolution of the all problems within Pakistan today, and overall improvement of ties between all our neighbors so we can all enjoy a great future together.
Believe me when i say we have more in common and more to loose and gain together than China or any other nations considering our similarities more than differences so let us work together with this undertsnading.

Very well written article. I am actually pleasently surprised to see some unbiased writing in pakistan media off late. The Ghosts of Mumbai will haunt pakistan until it realizes the enemy is not outside but within the country. Instead of trying to compare and equate and fight for equality status with India on every front pakistan must play within its strenghts and try to build the nation just like India must shed its egos with China and accept the other country is strong but that does not mean we are weak. Lets play to our strenghts. A stable and democratic pakistan is in the best interests of India.

Regards,
Muthu.
Chennai.
India.

Shyema scores, once again. Brilliant topic and very interactive writing style. Pakistan is a very important country, geo-politically and what happens here matters to international powers as well. Lets hope we can sort the Iran issue as two fronts should be enough for us, for now:)

As an Indian I get concerned seeing the news about daily bombings in Pakistan. I whole heartedly wish people of Pakistan that they overcome this crisis.

as an indian i feel shyema has done a courageous attempt. i ll say that india is not perfect also but here the best thing is that we have democracy so it may be that some unsruplous elements r here(shiv sena, VHP)…but max no of people never support them thts why they dnt have a say in politics & economics nd can never acheive irrespective of the fact tht they may influence sum people.
the credit fr all this goes to the founders of our nation who made a sound establishment of institutions nd democracy (evn i hate nehru fr his selfishness)
i jst want to say tht it is the middle class of pak which shud strive to make pak democratic ……..i hope tht sumthng will happen nd hope d best fr pak

The article starts with:
“We’ve been making people very angry lately. Not that I’d like to call Pakistan the bad guy in any scenario but lets face it, we need to acknowledge the fact that we’ve been seriously ticking off our neighbours lately.”

–well good job and I am glad Shyema recognizes the above.

But she lost it all by her concluding comment
“No doubt our A-team comprising Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Rehman Malik and the rest are trying very hard to address everyone’s concerns but can’t our neighbours take China’s cool silent stance for a bit while we try and sort things out? Or would that be asking for too much – we are neighbours after all aren’t we?”
–Obviously she does not know that China is not cool if she notices the happenings around and the current news.

I am NOT surprised at some Pakistani commenters being surprised at certain Indian comments here.

I have toned this down to make it more edible to the moderator and will appreciate if it goes through.

i am an indian and i wish that india and pakistan if they can shed their prejudices can be a powerful force in the world. they can prosper as democratic nations. leaving behind the religious differences they have to march forward uplifting their people to greater level of economic independence.food , clothing , and shelter are the three basic needs which humans seek. two nations carved of a single nation because of religion have to concentrate only on the upliftment of their poor and needy.religon is a later day invention of humans to lead a spiritual life and to prevent them from doing wrongs. all relgions are seeking the emancipation of humans.there is only one god for all of us but we are having so many religons which we have created. let us forget the differences and live peacefully.

When it rains all wanted and un-wanted bushes popup. So is the scenario in Pakistan. I think no country can claim to be absolutely free from being interfered by others or interfering in others affairs. Why people straightaway blame Pakistan is because Pakistan is passing through a difficult time. The events originating from the interference by the then USSR in Afghanistan were not handled properly and the wound of injustices did not heal properly. After getting what it desired, the key player just abandoned everything and packed back. This resulted in the creation of dis-satisfied non state actors who are now out with their agenda to teach all a lesson who abandoned them after using them.

very good article , we are going in deep trouble as we see everywhere anarchy .We are reaping the fruits of our wrong policy .we should immediately take acion against all such element who are indulged in anti social activity in our land .Terrorism cant be justified by any mean .we have very bad relation with india and we are on same way with iran and afganistan who are our muslim brothers .time is not far away when we will loose goodwill with China also . Time has come to wake up

India is not happy with the present situation in Pakistan. We believe that we need to have a very stable neighborhood for our own development. One our neighbors are stable and strong to keep themselves safe we do get any threat from anybody.India has a fear that there is chance of coming the terrorist to India from Pakistan during this operation. This is the anxiety that we have. We pray for your victory over Taliban and other terrorist. Outside Asia we both people are presenting one and known as one. Many of the world people think that we are one country. Do not misunderstand Indian. We have always empathy for you. We have more Muslim Population than Pak. Now we have a new thinking that why we cannot rejoin again like Germany.

Hi Ghulam Khan Peshawari,
You say Pak has friendly relation ship with IRAN…??? I’m sorry for your innocence… Thank god you didn’t say singapore is your neighbouring country..

Introspection is the key word and it seems to have begun in Pakistan. However there are few pointers. First of all Pakistan must do away with the obsession of Kashmir. Second the brainwashing of young school going children with anti-India hatred must stop. This unfortunately has become a part of the curriculum in the schools. Lastly Pakistanis must give up the belief that they are the ‘liberators’ of all ‘oppressed’ muslims across the world, esp. across the borders.
Instead Pakistan should concentrate on growth, development & education to catch up with India.

let us all remember we have a much longer cultural unfied history than any others like in europe who have fought many many more wars than us but have united now.
so the solution is let us form a SOUTH ASIAN UNION from Afghanistan to Myanmar and Nepal to Maldives and let us work for our common progress.ASEAN will also join!
let us leave our creed and religion at home and educate our brethern.
we can beat the rest in the world in any field, if only we can unite.

Pakistan has fallen into a self created hole and needs urgent help. This is not really the time for pride,ego or name calling. America cannot rescue Pakistan from this hole,nor can China or Saudi Arabia. Only the goodwill of Pakistan’s brothers and neighbours – Afghans, Iranians and Indians can rescue it. All these nations are victims of misguided state sponsored terror policies. The policy of good and bad terrorists needs to be drowned in the Arabian sea.The days Pakistan makes a Policy statement that we will clean all you terrorists out – LRT,JEM,Jundullah,Sipahi saheba, all Taliban includng Mullah Omar, Haqqani’s,Harkat ul Mujahideen etc that day Pakistan will be reborn. All neighbours will help not only with money and arms but also in every which way to destroy the devil.

Odd. Now that Pakistan itself is in trouble, the author attempts to play the “good neighbor” card. Was Pakistan a good neighbor for the last 20 years of terror in Kashmir, Islamism in Afghanistan and the growth of the current monster?

Yes, more mature polities like India and the US should give Pakistan a chance. But this will be a quid-pro-quo. Pakistan’s dependence on aid creates obligations towards the US.

Indian trust will only be won once Pakistan realises that neutralizing all terror is in its own interests.

You can thank god that Pakistan has even the most grudging foreign support. Without it, the last vestiges of the Pakistani economy would fail, and take the already shaky state with it.

AFTER READING SO MANY ARTICLES AND COMMENTS

I THINK THAT NOTHING HAS GONE WRONG

PAKISTAN WANT ONLY ONE PERSON AT THIS TIME WHO CAN BRING CHANGE ….A LEADER ….

AND I KNOW ONE OF THAT TYPE

HIS NAME IS MAHATAMA GHANDHI…..

SO IF U CANT BRING HIM BACK BRING HIS IDEAS AND INSPIRATION BACK INTO UR COUNTRY

LONG LIVE PAKISTAN…

Never in my life did I think I would be silently rooting for the Pakistan Army to win. Well, the Frankenstein monstor they created could potentially swallow them and then the next target would be my India. And here I am, hoping that the Pakistan Army would win this one.

Pakistan is going through tough time and we all should hope the wisdom will prevail and peace will return. In India there are already 120 million Muslims and the country is better due to their presence and contribution. I am sure that if the people of Pakistan are allowed to live in peace & practice their faith (that stands for peace anyway) Pakistan will be a great country. I have a dream that one day Indians & Pakistani’s be friends as we do have common heritage.

years ago, almost a decade plus_ I had asked an indian , why don’t they also recruit home grown militants and send over to create the same havoc in Pakistan?

“If we do that, it willcome back to bite us”, he said. “Why” I pushed… ” because, they( such militants) always turn inward and create havoc internally down the line”…

I guess what pakistan is seeing today is that chicken come home to roost.

people in tribal areas/ poor labourers in s punjab flock to taliban because they probably help them in some way. Exactly the same reason why maoists are popular in Indian hinterlands.
State must implement land reforms and developmental agenda and abolish feudal society. Unless that happens these things will continue with different names and idealogies.
The indian establishment has done it to a large extent in most of West bengal, maharashtra and many other states.
Result the indian society is much less feudal & more democratic than pakistan.
Get these landlords give up their land for poor. Like JP did in Bihar and UP.

Very surprised but happy to see such an article written on dawn.com by a Pakistani. As an Indian I think that’s the attitude India expects from whole of Pakistan and problems will be gone in short time. I know leaving issues like Kashmir aside will hurt the egos at both ends (both ends because don’t forget PoK which India claims), but this is must. We must move ahead leaving these never-ending problems behind. I am sure if Pakistan extends her hand over to India, India will welcome Pakistan with open arms. Not only this, Indians will be greatly excited to help Pakistan grow economically if trade opens between neighbours.

its amazing to see such a response from so many indian friends.i wonder if this would effect the indian leadership.All the hard work the Pakistan army is doing to makeup for the mistakes they committed would only reap good fruit if we have unity specialy with our neighbours; India being the most important one.Things are the way they are today if not totally but partially because of these two neighbours not realizing the strength of their good relations.Come to think of it Pakistan government(if they did)would never have to fund these people in the first place if the war between India and Pakistan was over years ago.If we will not learn our lesson today…God forbid we will not even have a tomorrow.

WE HAVE SOAR RELATIONS WITH ALL NEIHBORS INCLUDING CHINA THE LATER ONE SPEAK LITTLE WHILE THE OTHERS SAY FRANKLY/ IF ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH PAKISTAN THEN WE SHOULD THINK TWICE ABOUT OUR POLICIES AND ATTITUDE TOWARD OTHERS. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE THAT ALL neighbors are LYING AND WE SAY THE TRUTH

Here is a role model for Pakistan :

Be like Malaysia.

Malaysia too is an Islamic nation. Malaysia has serious differences with Singapore and Thailand. But it does not arm and send terrorists into those countries.

Instead it has concentrated on developing its economy, while keeping its armed forces under a civilian rule.

Malaysia is a truly progressive Islamic nation.

Well written article shyema. Everyone wants to have good relations with the neighbour. In case of Pakistan, to a great extent the army is to blame. There is another article here (http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-What-is-the-army-role-qs-02).

The army is there to protect the country’s soverignity and fight at the border not in the Parliament. The moment army starts to meddle with country’s politics and policy making, you head for trouble. None other than Pakistan knows this best. Keep army away from Politics and let them do what they are meant for. More than half the problems will be solved. (Be it India accusing Pak for Mumbai attack or Iran accusing Pak for attack on elite guards.) Clip the army’s (and subsidiary’s-??) wings.

Today Pakistan is surrounded by its very angry neighbors.

The only solution for Pakistan to become — in charge of itself — into a cohesive informed about itself — united country — is to put the ARMY and its INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES under FULL and COMPLETE control of the elected civilian government — as it is done in every civilized democratic country of the world.

Civilian government MUST be in-charge in Pakistan. If the country wants to avoid wars with all its three neighbors – nuclear or no nuclear.

What an honest and sensible article this is.

As an American well-wisher of Pakistan for many years, I would like to mention that Pakistan, first an foremost, should depend on itself. Be independent even if you must suffer for it. Fight extremists within your country but don’t take aid from outside. You can succeed, you will succeed, and God willing (and you willing) you are going to succeed.

The evil peaks before its death.
This too shall pass.

Everyone makes mistakes, the strength of Character is in recognizing your mistakes, amending and not repeating.

All the best to Pakistan !!!
A stable, friendly and honest pakistan will always be better for everyone including India.

Living in Pakistan, I am worried about future of kids. There is little hope… To start a life in some other country,a suspicion on terror, blocks the door. Can’t blame any one else…

Great Article!!!!!!
One of the best i have eva cum across on dis website..!!!!

But hold on…..the author asks “can’t our neighbours take China’s cool silent stance”…To be franc this sounds a bit preposterous,,China hasn’t lost a single citizen till date to terrorism emanating from Pakistani soil..so its natural for it to remain chilled and silent…

India has lost more than anybody else has, cuz of Terrorism sponsored by Pak based terror outfits….it wud be stupid to expect India to be cool and a mere spectator when crooks from Pakistan come into India to hunt down Indians on their own homeland!!

Let a single terrorist attack take place in China with its source in Pakistan,and you will get to know how cool China will be….!!!

I am very surprised to see the Indian response to the article and I do understand where they coming from but very well said by Anuj, How you so now,so shall you reap later.

We all need strong and stable Pakistan to keep calm in the region. Honest and on the button. India is going through this intro as well and ill prepared to deal with it. Statements and poor training of Pakistani leaders is the single most reason your questions are without response. Instead of building “nation” like India and B’Desh is trying to do it now,Pakistan is totally sees everything, even progress, through religion and being Muslim as a nation or Islamic concepts. I say, first build Nation then other things will follow. Keep writing!

To Anup Misra (presumably indian):

you say that

“Luckily for Sri lanka, Bhutan and Nepal, they don’t share their borders with Pakistan otherwise they too would be complaining.”

———————–

that is very very interesting!!!! — considering the fact that it was indian establishment; as well as tamil-dravidian indians were providing support and logistics to the Tamily Tigers of Sri Lanka (the terrorist group which was responsible for massive bloodshed in Sri Lanka for 1/4 century!)

it was Pakistan that sent pilots, Pakistani defence ordanance, tanks, and pilots to Sri Lanka. And thanks to our help and the bravery of Sri Lankan army and civilians –the Tamil Tigers were CRUSHED.

our ties with Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka — and even IRAN — are warm and friendly. And Inshallah they will continue that way; thank you very much!!!

if there was ever a time in Pakistan’s history where martial law would have justified, it would be right now

but we all know that no matter how much some of us are fed up of a PPP govt. that is failing to deliver — we must still set aside our personal aspirations and unite with the govt. and most importantly –unite as a country

some of us have become numb to the bad news around us. That isnt right. We should all be actively doing what we can for the benefit of this great country. And we should support our brave Army to get the job done.

In Kurram Agency, our people are celebrating that finally there is an operation in S. Waziristan. Waziris themselves are happy the Army is ridding the area of these scumbags.

As for the incidents of terrorism elsewhere in the world –no matter where it happens — it is WRONG.

there are people who want to harm us out there. So we as Pakistanis must unite and destroy the enemies of Jinnah’s nation –and those that seek to tarnish our reputation.

LONG LIVE THE ARMY
PAKISTAN ZINDABAD

Well Done Shyema

I wish every TV channel in Pakistan including PTV would have open minded people like Sheyma.
Let’s educate our people first and remove religious, sectarian, regional hatred and barriers first. And let us stop adorning past culprits with the prefix “Shaheed” for God’s sake. Why have we such short memories of the same people doing damage and being re-elected?
We need to move forward rapidly and change our mindset by assuming we are on our own and will have to resurrect our fate and fortunes ourselves. No need to think China is our great friend. It isn’t as it will just back off at the crunch time. Learn technology from other nations but give credit where it is due. No point in using western technology and then saying they are kafirs, etc. That’s hypocrisy. Learn to control emotions as it leads to a weak character.

We have a bright future but we must come out in the open now and condemn the bigots. Let the religion be practiced in the mind and at home and not used as tool to be-little others.

Salamsto all

It is a great article indeed. This is the first time that i come across a blog regarding Pakistan which doesnt have any bashing.

Hope the importance of this article in such a scenario was understood properly by everyone who read this.

GREAT JOB

Pakistan leadership needs to introspect. However, it is v.important that as Pakistan is now fighting the “mother of all battles” in Waziristan South, neighbours should definitely stand down, and reduce the daily haranguing so that Gen.Kayani and team and Prez Zardari and team get space to complete the issue they face. If they don’t, Gen sahib and Mian Zardari shall soon be acrimonious at each other too. Probably the army shall then rule again. And that will only ensure bad days for this benighted sub continent. By strengthening Pakistan’s hands to perform surgery on it’s cancerour tumour now, we all shall ensure a better looking and stable Pakistan emerges . It shall help democracy in Pakistan and ensure the common awaam there are in better shape and not become cannon fodder for misguided ultras again. Remember neighbours of Pakistan too – how you sow now, so shall you reap latter. It is meaningless to state that Pakistan is the problem; it has been the some rogue elements including in army who have to be blamed. Democracy and a stable Pakistan shall act to root those out as it shall be in Pakistanis interest once cancer surgery is done.

let us give them a break, and wish them the best for now for, say the next 2-3 months of battle.

I wonder WHY the nation of Pakistan don’t stand up.Why can’t you realize this is the time to unite and fight against them.
The enemy is inside this country…not out side.

Presence is made by the past.

writting from ouutside pakistan….

Very candid and honest indeed. I only wish the Pakistani estblishment would take a lesson from this and at least, try to undo the damage it has caused to humanity, irrespective of nationalities.

If you look around all the neighbours you will find that we all are at zero ratings when the Human development index is concerned. 70-80% population is living in an undegnified conditions. This leads to corruption, nepotism, un accountability by our bureaucats, politicians and defence officers. The best thing by them is to keep talking about their neighbours in a negative manner so that the real issues of roti kapada and makan are never resolved. It will be an uphill task for the citizens of this country to enjoy life in the short term.

Shyema done good job.

congratulations. As an Indian and “lover” of Pakistani people, i see hope in this article. I urge u all Pakistani awaam, please give modern education system to your children and don’t take any step that weaken the democratic system. It will take time but there is no short cut.

Well Written article. The honesty in writing this article is should be appreciated by one and all.

I hope at least today, pakistani politicians, army and citizens relaize why there is wide spread anger in india against terrorism. If Pakistani citizens can crumble in a year … Indians are going through it for more than a decade.

Lets hope that terrorism is uprooted from this world once in for all and all the differences are resolved in peaceful maneer without any bloodshed none the less of innocent people walking on the street or studying in their college and universities. WE all need Peace and Prosperity.

Also pls dont appreciate China’s silence, China is silent because there citizens have not been targeted till date. They have not lost their family members in sucide bomb attacks like people in India, Afghanistan, Iran or Pakistan itself …

God Bless u all and help pakistani army uproot the terrorist elements on its soil and bring back the respect pakistan has lost in last couple of years.

Very thoughtful article. self introspection is the starting point in troubled times. India has no axe to grind with pakistan, as Indians are truly trying to get economically stronger for the sake of our billion people. We have a new generation come of age and which was born in the 1990’s. They have no malice or knowledge of events of 62 years ago. Lets move forward as Neighbours. Pakistan must stop interfereing in its neighbours, and not let Kashmir be an excuse for ts present misery.
One hopes more such people like sheyama make the population in pakistan think and introspect.

As long as the majority of Pakistanis remain in a state of denial about the mess their society is in, there is not much hope of progress. Case in point: The recent suicide bombing at the Islamic University in Islamabad was accompanied nearly simultaneously by rabid protests in Lahore against the military operation in S. Waziristan. Accepting militant attacks on soft targets and while letting jihadis walk the streets with impunity does not suggest any kind of enlightenment taking place among the general populace. As long as people continue thinking that terrorists are their “pure Muslim brethren” there is no prospect of social improvement or peace with neighbours.

As you sow, so shall you reap.

We as a nation needs to start asking lot of questions. Why isn’t there collective effort against the terrorists? Why are we not standing up and saying NO to them? We need to become a nation and stand united against any threat to our ways.

The time is so sensitive that we need to put things straight now!
We should not be bothered who is doing what, we need to look into our own issue’s. We, as a bitter fact, have been involved in lot of bad things happening in our neighbors, not just that, we had people who were trained on our soil to mastermind explosions in even other countries.
Today, the problem lies within. If the Army head quarters are being attacked, schools are being closed nationwide, and after strong statements of tight security and “we will not let terrorist succeed” we are not able to stop these terrorist’s, what else we call success?

Is it that we are not capable to stop them? Or our intelligent services were busy with something more important, when all this mess was growing up in our own shed.

If I go straight to my work, come back home and mind my own business, with no offense to others, will you point fingers at me? Will you blame me for ticking you off? How can we let go of Hafiz Saeed?? And then blame India for not carrying on peace talks any more. Are we serious? Infact the people who are the decision makers don’t seem to be serious, they just want to complete there time, earn as much as they can and than, let the next government take care of it.

It is the law of karma. Just like an individual’s Karma, there is also a nation’s karma.

Pakistan as a nation has created so much negative karma due to the beastly jihadi mindset that it has to pay for it’s mistakes. You cannot escape that.

very impressed from your article. The solution for terrorism in Pakistan is not military operation. Terrorism is political problem and it has be solved politically. Our think tanks really need to sit down and look for solution. When our homeland is secure from terrorism i pretty sure we will than look forward to solve our border problems.

When Pakistanis like Usman Qureshi say “Try to act like a nation and we should have to strengthen ourselves”… their idea of “strength” is to threaten nuclear first strike on neighbors and use of “non-state actors” as a foreign policy to create mayhem in neighboring countries.

Until your ideas of ’strength’ change to developing the economy, educating the population, land reforms, respect for women, etc…you will not find peace and neither will your neighbors.

I agree with you. But 1 thing. you said ur neighbors should learn from cool and silent attitude of China. Dont u think u should also show the same attitude towards ur neighbors as u show to china …… do you think its funny for ur neighbors when they point fingers towards u … let some bombs be blown off in china having a source in pak. and see how cool it remains …… do you dis agree

Dear Shyema,
The article put reflects some realities regarding neighbors’concerns.Being Afghan but grew up in Pakistan and spent alot time there and I have seen with my naked eyes very recently that Jihadis were asking people in a very elite people locality for contributions to the so-called Jihad in Afghanistan and the authorities were roaming around and turned deaf ears. These and some other activities are the evidences that churning camps of the bad guys are there in Pakistan. China has been complaining Pakistan for a very long time that some elements of Yoghour province in China also trained in Pak soil

Dear Shyema

very well written article

we all need to work towards peace as any innocent life lost is painful , as it causes immense hardship to remaining family members wherever it happens

I dont agree with a reader comments that we have not accepted pakistan, we accept its there and hope it becomes a strong and stable country

to put the record staright, in india we hardly discuss pakistan till we are affected by some “strategic elements” of its foreign policy ….laugh !!

We have immense issues of our own , education , poverty upliftment, growth etc etc that we dont really have time to discuss neighbours and sincerely wish that all neighbouring countries understand that growth is the route for their salvation too…not by trying to prove some percieved notions about India

Elsewhere in the world people have reconcilled to facts whether Europe , america or anywhere and moved ahead to prosperiety ….why cant we

I remember, while late Ms. Benazir was living in Europe in some kinda exile , she could see how they progressed coming togther and talked of immense possibilites by coming together in south asia….wish we do it…!!!

Nice article. But please remember that much the same can be said for all our neighbors too.
Iran does not get along with Afghanistan, Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan, Tajikistan or Pakistan.
India does not get along with China, Pakistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka or Nepal (in fact only/mostly gets along with Bhutan).
China does not get along with India, Philipines/Malaysia/Vietnam(Spratleys), Japan(WW2). Comes/goes with Russia.
Afghanistan does not get along with literally, any neighbor (and only gets along with India which is not adjacent).

We are getting through a difficult time, of course this is also a result of our mistakes which we had committed in past but those are not causing much harm as our neighbor’s malicious intentions are inflicting. Who doesn’t know about the meddling others? Who is unaware of the interference in our tribal areas through Afghanistan? This time Pakistan is soft target for everyone. Anyone can point finger at us. But it is ephemeral situation, we will rise, Pakistan will rise, then nobody could dare to figure point us.

Whoever people of Pakistan may blame for what is happening in Pakistan but they cannot escape the fact that to certain extent they themselves are responsible for it. When someone in America says something they gather around in hordes in all cities and burn American flags and shout their throats dry. However, we are yet to see them show the same fervor and agitation when their own countrymen kill their own innocent people. Either they support the terrorists or they are just too afraid of losing their own lives. I hope one day there will be an awakening and they will stop getting agitated about what happened half a century ago in other lands and start worrying about, with the same fervor, about the future of their own sons and daughters and about the kind of country they are going to leave behind for them.

I gained a lot by this topic,surely a well written.If I got a headache.what will I do????simply I”ll go to a chemist and ask for desprol.right??
90% of us repeat the same,but never visit the doctor till we get worst situatio, our relatives insist us to go and we half heartly leave.
Same is the situaion with our nation,our leaders diagnose it by themselves and every time prescribe desprol,but the disease is bigger and need specific treatment by a prestigious doctor.
Corruption is amongest the top and a good academy for provking Taliban,Taliban is a cancer born by the society.I belong to Balakot,my village was vanished by flood in 2006,whole village vanished but still the poor people of my village didn’t get even a single penny,a poor person who earned whole life and build a house,if house destroyed what will be his mind situation??????what will be his frustation??? I can understand his situation,but our leaders living in defence area can never understand the root cause of terrorism.

A feeble attempt at soul searching which is 8 years too late. It does not require a rocket scientist to come to a simple conclusion that the business of using terrorism in support of the State policy has outlived its utility and should have been abandoned lock stock and barrell, the day after 9/11. The policy of cherry picking between terror groups and classifying them as good terrorists or bad terrorists is a recipe for disaster. The longer we continue with it, it will hurt us more and our enemies less. It is time that formulation of our security policy as well as all covert operations are moved from Rawalpindi to Islamabad.

Good article. Really dissapointed by the comments of indian readers.

True..
Reality BITES

I am impressed by the comments. Having spent many months in Pakistan 25 years ago, in my youth, I came to very much respect the people of your country. However, in recent years it seems, from the Pakistani view point, everyone in the world is responsible for your sorrows but yourselves. I’m very glad to see that self-awareness is at last is taking root.

“we woke up to freedom together” and “look where we are today” Need some clarification. Who are “we” ? What does the author have in mind by the rhetoric statement, where we are today?. Does he talk of two parties in the same soup or does he mean that they are a lot different today?
Madan

I think it is our domestic divisions and immature political attitudes because of which we often act miserably. I am not saying to utter ultra aggressive creeds to your neighbors but at least we should now be able to define our foreign policy. Didn’t we learn how to draw lines when it comes to regional politics? And especially with India. As far as Afghanis are concern when they arrived here so yes they are our brothers but what we did was an uncontrolled and unmanageable act of generosity.

I applaud the author’s candour. If only the Pakistani state had the courage to officially acknowledge the proxy war that Pakistan has been running to the east and north for the last two decades. A sincere apology would immediately change the whole equation for Pakistan. You would be surprised how ready Pakistan’s neighbours would be to forgive the past and move on.

wonderfull article,
it was wonder for me why no pakistani dare to interospect themselves? but this article proved me wrong. the problem is that there are very less people like the writer in pakistan who thinks that pakistan is wrong. pakistan administrators always have loopholes handy when addressing neighbours serious concerns which irritates the neighbours. why pakistan always cannot show appropriate behavior when addressing the use of the pakistan land for creating problems to the neighbours?
actually pakistan has never understood the meaning of peace and how it relate to prosperity. creating problems with destructive minds can only create poverty, illeteracy, unemployment and many more…

Its true Pakistan is becoming isolated due to few Talibans henious crimes aimed at innocent Pakistanis as well as Pakistani neighbours.Talibans policy of hate and mass murder for every one including neighbouring countries is alarming, before Pakistan new enemies.

What an impressive and thought provoking work. I completely agree with it and also with some of the comments. But the line: “can’t our neighbors take China’s cool silent stance for a bit while we try and sort things out?” is irking some of them. Why?, because while we ARE sorting out the mess the mess is interfering with our neighbors. Now here it is their responsibility to cooperate and eradicate the disease which is terrorism.

The story of Pakistan is a sad, sad srory.
I remember Pakistan of my childhood,
a promising and enlightend country, with
a bright future.
Now, with the leadership of no good Waderas,
Choudhries,Nawabzades,pirs etc. we are walking towards a unknown destination of
self destruction.

I agree with all the comments above. But Pakistan is responsible for this situation. We never believed in our strong values, never tried to build a system rather Pakistan lives a scatter lifestyle. Pakistan has branded to be a center of terrorism. We can never save this situation unless we save and build a strong value Islamic system which is justice and honesty. If our government stop taking foreign money and start actually doing something for Pakistan, we have our a chance to be respected by our neighbors.

Of late I see lot of soul searching in Dawn articles and blogs, there is reason for hope in Pakistan if this is main stream thinking.

Good to see some sense returning to Pakistan as evidenced by such articles in Dawn.The double games played in the region by all must end for progress to begin, some sixty years after the exit of the Brits. Big brother China is not a bystander, it will pounce to gobble you all if you don’t wake up now; divide and conquer is not a western invention.

Hundreds of thousands of people have died in India and Pakistan due to terrorism. Is anyone seriously looking for any solution? Common people, who want to earn 3 meals a day, are looking for a direction from the leaders. It seems leaders are living comfortably in their so called ‘government quarters’ worry free. I bet you that good solutions will start coming if some of the leaders died in one of these attacks. But they usually escape.

On another note we can’t blame it on the leaders only. People get what they deserve. People got the leaders they deserve. The got corrupt, incompetent, ineffective, lethargic, tunnel-visioned, uncooperative, mostly uneducated leaders because people are corrupt too. It is like you rub my back and I rub your back. We need to do some introspection ourselves first. If we were honest and hardworking, we would have honest hard -working leaders on both side of the borders and things would have been better.

hi
very very good thinking.congrates.

if you talk on neighboures you should talk to pakistani liviing outside pakistan.in us europe they live like brothers why not in country,because of politics?

A very sensible blog Shyema!

Just imagine if Pakistan was actually in getting rid of terrorism instead of the lip service which comes out from the entire A team.
Well done to bring out the obvious

How could you say cool like China. If any terrorist attack happen on China then you will see how cool China is.

Secondly, if any one remember the immidiate cause of army action on Lal Masjid was the abduction of some chinese women by lal masjid students. The army action was the chinese presuure. ” A COOL PRESSURE “. Wake up guys Devil is Devil. There is no good terrorist and bad terrorist. They are all annimals,

I think Shyema should be given the Nobel peace prize rather than Obama.

I assure you we have not learned our lesson.Still mullahs of many mosques are busy preaching hate and poisoning the mind of innocent and uneducated people in Pakistan.

First we need to unite- based on being Pakistani. Who cares about India, Iran or Afghanistan- we need to fix Pakistan first-

Taliban need to be finished as majority of Pakistani don’t want taliban style rule- we need to be united to get rid of Taliban.

JI JUI and all religious base parties need to be disbanded.

Good Governance across Pakistan.- Second priority.

Pakistan People need to reject corrupt leaders- more you place faith in them, worst the situation will get. Third Priority.

Thank you so much for your article. Amidst concern and pain we have for pakistanis what they are going through, I express my disgust for Usmans post, suggesting that ‘if a donkey dies in neighbour country’. Surprisingly I heard this kind of comment appearing in mouth of other pakistani leaders (in TV) regarding the death of 180 innocent, important and very bright people in bonbay. There other blasts/shootouts sponsored by pakistan as well. Even the Indian perpretrators like Abu Hamza (IISc Bangalore shootout), Amir Reza(jihadi in kashmir, resident of kolkata) and Dawood Ibrahim find a safe haven in Pakistan? Can you address this to clean the mess in your country?

Good Article,
In comments however, I can see some of our indian brothers using this opportunity to put full blame on Pakistan for all the issues we have, being neighbors.

Its definitely a ripe time for Pakistan to do a soul searching and identify its mistakes(specially learn how to deal with mullahs and having mullahs understand there boundaries). And just like any great nation, acknowledge them, undo these mistakes, learn from these mistakes and make sure to not to do it again.

Similarly, it is ripe time for our neighbors specially India to do the same soul searching exercise and understand that without resolving border and other disputes among neighbors, there is not going to be long lasting peace in this region. For India, the task is not simple as well, as it has border disputes with Pakistan, China, Sri-Lanka and some issues with Bangladesh.

Same exercise has to be done by Afghanistan as where they want to go from here.

Pakistan is being pushed into this soul searching exercise so lets hope and pray we all Pakistanis and our institutions does this exercise with complete sincerity.

But unfortunately Indians looks like doesn’t find it important for them to do this exercise yet. Lets hope and pray that they also realize the importance of the core issues, soon. Because without solving these core issues you cannot enjoy a true and sincere friendship. And there will remain an unrest in this region.

love for all

It is heartening to read this blog, as it is the first time I am reading that Pakistan has been unfairly accusing the neighbors for the problems it faces.
Someone said that Indians do not want to accept that Pakistan was created and they are still upset about that. There is no doubt that 60 years ago that may well have been the case; however today Indians do not feel that way. In reality they feel that a stable, democratic Pakistan would be good for the entire region.
Unfortunately Pakistan feels that Indians still carry a grudge over the partition. There is an entire new generation now and Indians have no desire or inclination to cause harm to Pakistan. The leadership in Pakistan fears that if they acknowledge this fact they will loose support from the people of Pakistan. Keeping some doubt of Indias intentions in the minds of the people of Pakistan is also some insurance for future support in case it is needed to prop up the leadership. It is the old trick i.e create fear and arouse patriotism and the people will forget their annoyance with the leadership and come together to fight the proverbial enemy. Leaders have been at this game for eons and it has worked in the past. Margret Thatcher did it in the Falklands and Bush did it to go to war in Iraq and both won second terms.
In Pakistan the Govt. has to stay subservient to the Army for a while. If the democracy is allowed to mature with a few elections under the country’s belt the Army will find it’s rightful place. The democracy in Pakistan has never had the chance to take hold. This present moment is a very trying time and the people of Pakistan are being asked to bear a lot of pain and hardship on many fronts. The only way forward is to stop the silly games and allow ethics and sacrifice to take over. This will be very hard but the prize at the end of it all is worth it for the sake of the future generations of Pakistan. May God give you strength to do the right thing.

Its the damn weakness of the country’s present political regime which is still not able to control the suicide bombing at least.Again such things are forcing the Pakistani people to think that democracy is not capable enough to safeguard the people. Than what else people around will always point to us whenever something is going bad in the country. Ya I do agree other than India, Iran is also our fair weather friend but thanks to our Interior minister who will later accept that yes all such is happening through Pakistan … than what’s left …

Good Post Shyema but for your last para which is out of context as China is not getting the brunt of terror.
Hope we Pakistanies realise at least now that the way to acheive goal is not by the means of inducing terrorism.
I am sure most quarter of the learned society would agree though they keep mum or fail to voice which is a danger by its nature.

Amazing Article I must say.

A fresh of breath air, in which you make and realize us that indeed even we at times were at fault.

Indeed a different angle and perspective shown here.

Kudos to DAWN for hiring bloggers like Shyema.

This article makes us think, which is good becuase AZAAD QUOMAIN SOCHTI HAIN.

The problem is hardliners need to be eleminated from common people of pakistan. Some one like Zaid Hamid, who on every reaction is convincing people of pakistan to go at war. Indians do not want any kind of war with pakistan, but continous denial from pakistani politics is causing all the trouble and now they are paying the price.

I wish pakistan will survive and emerge as a good power.

Best of Luck guys.

You say China is cool. True – when it is not affected. But a few months back when there was an Ulghur problem in China – it did point fingers at Pakistan. And not just the nieighbours, Britain too has been pointing fingers at Pakistan, the unfortunate victims are those innocent Pakistanis who want to travel their for family /business/advance studies and see their visas arbitrarily delayed/denied.

Here is the issue: The infrastructure of 25000 madrassahs which was created in the 80s was initially used to teach young impressionable kids that jihad was good and killing kafirs was considered jihad. At this time 30 years later millions of Pakistani kids and their fathers have been through this system of indoctrination. Initially, Hindus were kafirs, so they were attacked. Then Shias/Ahmedias were defined as kafirs because they did not practice Islam the ‘tight’ way. Then the definition of kafir was changed to anyone not practicing Sharia – so music CD shops, girls schools etc. were targeted. And now anyone that believes in Pakistan constitution is defined as being against shariah and hence a kafir deserving no mercy. It’s been a slippery slope.

When the madrasas are regulated and this hate mongering stops, you will see a difference. Until then all these operations are like cutting the leaves of a tree. As long as the roots continue to be watered and nourished, new leaves will continue to replace the ones that have been trimmed.

It’s high time that the Pakistani public stood up against this menace that’s eating the nation up like a malignant tumor.

Although it’d be nice to have all of Pakistan’s neighbours act ‘cool’ like China, I do not think it would serve the neighobours’ interests very well to have a stable Pakistan –since for some it has been the bane of their existence.

That being said, it’s never too late to turn over a new leaf and start coordinating together with an open mind to resolving all outstanding issues that plague the Pak-Indo and Pak-Afghan relations.

Without pointing fingers, it should be noted that when a government itself is having difficulty thwarting attacks against its own establishment and people, clearly, it may be beyond its capability to foil attacks being launched from its territory without effective intelligence-sharing from its neighbours. Not that this condones any heinous attacks on any innocent civilians, a calm and collected approach is what’s needed to root out the issue at hand.

Perhaps, an easier solution would be to seal the border with Afghanistan, which should curtail the trafficking of drugs and weapons and thus curb the violence in Pakistan for the most part.
And idealistically-speaking, the resolution of the Kashmir issue, which pegs at the heart of Pak-Indo tensions along with water-allocation issues should bring an end to cross-border infiltration that claims lives on both sides of the border.

leave you alone while you sort things out?. Sorry. You should have thought about the consequences. You didn’t. We needn’t do anything. you already have. goodbye

I think Pakistani people should ask very tough questions to their leadership. Whatever they do they shoud do it for their own sake not to satify somebody. Clean up your mess. Stand Tall leave all your bad behavior of supporting indirectly. Don’t compare China. Do the same what u do to other neibhour and see how China reacts

Relax people, i know we are going through a bad patch in our lives but it doesn’t mean that it is end of the world. By Allah grace, and our patience we will overcome this menance or else everyone knows that if something happens to Pakistan no one else is safe. Stay united, pray to Allah and do your bit for the motherland and inshallah we will be fine. To the indian haters out there, you shouldn’t really comment on Pakistan’s reputation with its neighbors, first look at yourself. Sure it is miserable time for us but hey times change.

Once Pakistan finds a sincere leadership, all the problems will be solved.

Very well written.
Would just like to add…. History keeps repeating itself and we still don’t want to learn from it. East Pakistan, Balochistan, NWFP, unfair treatment with all. See the consequences.

Meddling with other countries affairs, Kashmir, Afghanistan etc….as you sow so shall you reap. It is the same Taliban and Mujahideen which our army made who are now coming to haunt us!

Hi ,
This is really a nice article and i do agree to the points presented, I am not from pakistan, but i do feel that peole around the world should stay safe and have power to express them self ..
I think Pakistan will see a change only when people of pakistan protest against their own government (If they feel so )this is possible in democratic countries, people have power to express their views. I dnt know how things work in pakistan .. i hope and pray for all good for all the nations..

How can we blame others, for what is happeing in Pakistan and India? It is the common people’s fault, that we let our religious and political leaders poison our brains.We need to stand up and make them realise that life of a common man in Ind/Pak is worth much more.

What makes the difference to the common man, both in India and Pakistan. We are more concerned with our daily routine to earn daily bread and butter. The polity is just encouraging bitterness to keep public mind away from Bribe taking monsters(Who are actually eating both our countries from within and are the worst form of terrorists).

What difference would it make to have a open border in this age of globalisation. Only better distribution of education, health, job and business prospects.

We can only hope and pray

A terrorist is a terrorist is a terrorist!, He doesnt become a “freedom fighter” when he enters Kashmir!
The people of India and Mumbai honestly believed in President Zardari and PM Gilani when they promised that no stone will be left unturned to punish the culprits, yet the criminal proceedings before them have not even started. When you treat such elements with kid gloves, sooner or later they are going to come home to bite you. Handover Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar, Dawood Ibrahim( Indian citizen) to Pakistan, and we will believe that Pakistan is really serious in fighting terror, and not just because Dear Old Uncle SAM (US) is splurging money on you and taking you to further ruins. You will find India standing shoulder to shoulder in your campaign against terror. Very bold and excellent article written by Shyema, and I wish there are more such minds on the other side.

sushmith menon ,

Bhai, what are you complaining about?

It is us Pakistanis that are complaining and rightly so. Indians have freedom even today. We do not.

We made a mistake and allowed the country to go in ruins and the public never raised a voice. Always thinking the Army is saving us, the politicians are ok etc .. now, the public is paying the price.

India and Pakistan both got freedom at the same time. Pakistan was doing great and actually was doing better than India at one point. Then, in the 80’s, Pakistanis gave it away.

A very good article indeed.

We MUST clarify this to world and specially to our neighbours ……

OUR CITIZENS FIRST ……. PAKISTAN FIRST..

We will try to put our house in order FIRST and try to punish culprits who are waging war on OUR people ……

The WISH LISTS of all tom, dick and harry can wait ……. we will see to them when the appropriate time comes.

Send the message – STOP SENDING WISH LISTS!!

If THEY want to do, be our guests!! Go ahead and do it, just don’t keep asking us to do more …… what MORE we can do??!!

Enough is enough!!

Pakistan must work hard to gain trust from all our neigbours. We as a nation must fight against extremism, poverty and ignorance. Fighting proxy war with neigbourly countries has brought us nothing but more poverty and more economic hardship for common people. We should trade and travel with our neigbouring countries. Trade and travel would bring properity and peace.

Good to see atleast somebody in Pakistan is vocal about their desire to live in peaceful co-existance. I am sure a big segment of the population want to lead a decent and progressive life.

I hope Indian readers do not use this article for Pakistan bashing. This article provides a spectrum to analyze the situation in the entire region. Everything that happens in the region is interconnected with its neighbors. The fundamentalist who are fighting Pakistan will be in India in next moment. Reaping and reward theory is flawed here. We all need to ponder outside the box in this situation.

As Quaid said that keeping Pakistan in map of world will be more difficult then its foundation. Since first day it has been cleared that Pakistan is facing lot of resistances and very less support from its friends and partners.
This artical has provided a picture of internal problems and external influances. I believe pen is still mighter than sowrd and by writing we can win more friends then just elobrating our past.

Relevant article. But is it possible in near future ?

Think of the 25000 madrasas created for religious learning, think of the non-governrnance of quite a huge area, think of the intensity of feelings generated over time (throgh politics, media and education) regarding kashmir and india, think about the closely nurtured non-state actors to disrupt the neighbours, think about the hatred the clerics preach about infidels and kafirs, think about the alienation of bangladesh like balochistan and think about the constant dosage of lies in the media and politics.

Where to start from ? Do you have an answer ?

All the neighbours fervently wish you have. But the reality bites.

The pshyche has gone so deep that it will take decades and generations to come out clean.

At least start with the education and blashpemy laws. This itself will take years.

Ofcourse the other side is total take over by taliban. Balochistan gets more restless. US and others have open field day to attack Pakistan and may be at the end create a new PAKISTAN with new hope and direction.

Citizens of progressive nations keep religion inside their homes. People with
rational attitudes get ahead and are leaders of such nations.

It is an appropriate time for India to show sympathy to pakisthan. Indians should be able to feel the pain that pakistani nationals are going through. Now is the high time for India to come forward and align with pakistan as it might bring back the two nations together and help heal the wounds. Dwelling on past has never helped and never will. A hand of genuine friendship from india could go a long way to resolving the difference between the two nations

i wonder when is it all going to stop???
i am from quetta… and i am afraid things are going to continue like this for a long time. Pakistan seems to be living in destruction..chaos…anxiety…uncertainty. Each day brings news of bombs, bullets and killings. we’ve become inured to these things now. who’s doing all this??? why can’t we figure out the invisible hand??? remains an unanswered question!

The article shows the frustration which is understandable, but lets not be knieve, the situiation in Pakistan is not fully to be blamed on us ,there are vested interests of many other countries involved and if someone would have thought that this menace will stay in Pakistan and not accelerate to rest of the region then i would say they are fools…

Hi

I am 100% agree with the fact that Iran should know our problems but all our neighbours are mean if one of their donkey dies they point fingers towards Pakistan.They never accept the birth of Pakistan and continously causing problems for us. Afghanis forgot the war days when they were settle in Pakistan.They are not our brothers its we who needs to be brother of each other otherwise no one will come to help us.Try to act like a nation and we should have to strengthen ourselves.

I am absolutely impressed by this article by Shyema being carried by this blog.

Terrorism is a malignant cancer. (No good folks can condone it.)
The large silent majority needs to speak up with the same clear logic.
To do nothing, to remain silent is exercising a choice: the wrong choice.

we should keep good relations with our neighbours

Reality bites, doesn’t it? Reap the wind, sow the whirlwind (or something like that). Pakistan has been ticking off its neighbors one by one, starting with India, then Afghanistan, Bangladesh (estwhile E. Pakistan), and now Iran. The question is, who next? China? Pakistani rulers would not dare. They are your only “friends” in this vindictive world, whatever their true motives may be. Luckily for Sri lanka, Bhutan and Nepal, they don’t share their borders with Pakistan otherwise they too would be complaining. The lowest common denominator in all these relationships is Pakistan. Perhaps it is time for the people (the average awaam) of Pakistan to introspect and ask hard questions, rather than keep blaming neighbors and others for their own, self-inflicted miseries.

Dear Shyema

You make a good point. As neighbours, it is our desire too that people of Pakistan have peace and prosperity. We do read that the Army is taking on the bad guys but there is still skepticism. Plausible deniability has been used as a strategy for very long by the armed forces. I guess we would like to see concrete evidence that all the “bad guys” are identified and reformation/punishment inflicted as appropriate.

I agree 100% with this soul searching article.

Please keep in mind, one hand washes the other. Pakistan needs to get serious in addressing neighbor’s genuine concerns and act on it. Neighbors do understands that things are not always under current govt/ administration control but at least show the neighbors that the good faith efforts are made. There should be genuine desire from within (from most populace of the country) to live peacefully with the neighbors.

It is funny that you recommed everyone to be cool like China. If Pakistan behaved with other neighbors the way it behaves with China they would be cool too . I hope for a day when we stop meddling in each other’s affairs and creating trouble for the neighbor.

This is so true!! It is high time that we acknowledge our past mistakes, mend our ways and face the reality like true men. The same people we called mercenaries (jihadis) some time back & India called them ‘terrorists’, we are now forced to call them ‘dehshat-gard’ as well. It is high time we take back our nation from those who have always thought that the only foreign policy is that of blood shed & exporting terror to neighbours.. As Shyema put it, as you sow, so shall you reap

the above article is very impressive. It shows that pakistanis are accepting that the enemies lie in their own homes and not in neighbours.

But i have one objection to the statement “can’t our neighbours take China’s cool silent stance for a bit while we try and sort things out?”

how should we??
China is not experiencing terror attacks by pakistani militants or taliban. china is cool because none of element from pakistan side is interfering into china’s matters.
i guarantee if any taliban suicide bomber attacks china, china will strongly react than india, iran & afghanistan.

thanks.

The talibanization/jihadi mentality created in Pakistan during Zia’s regime so as to fight the soviets is now coming back to bite the establishment. I feel sorry for the innocent people both in India and Pakistan who have lost their lives to extremism. We woke up to freedom together and look where we are today. Sad and Pathetic,….

Good article.

Our nation has been lead by the corrupt. They had made Pakistan what it is today. They have successfully brainwashed most of the population and today, we are at the receiving end.