Dear Abdullah Hussain,

Assume that when Pakistan had no Nuclear weapons and a foreign country, a fierce enemy of Pakistan had attacked Pakistan and the fear was despite strong army of Pakistan, the enemies will destroy Pakistan. If at that time one of the Super Power country such as USA, had made an offer to fight side by side with Pakistan against the attacker enemies, will you accept the offer or reject the offer?

Mustafa says:

Fatma, you wrote well.
But also remember, if you are fighting evils, it does not matter if angels help you to kill the evils or the devils help you to kill the evils. The ultimate goal is to wipe out the deadly enemies of Pakistan.
……………………………………..

It is better to kill with a surgical knife than a butcher’s knife. Killing is common in both the cases however there is a vast difference between a devilish killing (suicide attacks) and an angel (legal) way of killing (Army action). We definitely need to get rid of the Talibans but the idea should be to clean Pakistan of the dirt and not to burden Pakistan with more dirts.

AH

Fatma, you wrote well.

But also remember, if you are fighting evils, it does not matter if angels help you to kill the evils or the devils help you to kill the evils. The ultimate goal is to wipe out the deadly enemies of Pakistan.

I agree with Fatima, our intelligence agencies have long supported jihadis for their own cause. Women, children are dying and lot of blood has been shead, will the people in uniform get this to their heads.

Is this the Pakistan that Jinnah and Iqbal thought about, that we will be ruled forever by men in uniform who will put the country thru all the trouble just to come back to power?

All the seeds of Terrorism that Zia-Ul-Haq and the Military Establishment and ISI have sown in the 1980’s are coming back to haunt us.

Hello fellow Pakistani’s,

It really saddens me to see innocent people getting killed again on Sunday in Peshawar.
When will the bomb blasts and violence stop?

When will we realize that we have to set our house in order rather than blaming other country for our own problems.

We all know that certain elements in our system have been supporting jihadis for their own objectives.

But today our nation is paying the price as Taliban is spreading more violence, resulting in women and children deaths also.

When will our country be independent of USA as the Americans have their own agenda. We are under obligation as always from USA for we are taking their aid in dollars. But that assistance is not reaching the common people of Pakistan. Corruption has invaded our govt. past and present also.

Wake up fellow citizens before our country disintegrates!

The press and the media are doing a good job of reporting the facts!

Congrats to DAWN newspaper and GEO TV!

Fatima

I have been to Pakistan twice for some projects. Believe me all the Pakistanis I have met are true gentlemen.

All they want is progress!

Unfortunate though that the projects we were to do together may have to be shifted to some third country because of the current situation.

It will provide employment to some third country and deprive the same to local hard working and enthhusiastic youth of Karachi that we met!

This unemployed youth will then become angry and land up with some ill advised groups and the cycle will continue.

Can we do something to stop this together so that this does not happen?

Let us join hands

Concerning what akbar khan Says: November 6th, 2009 at 10:16:- For a long time i have often thought about the question (Isn’t it funny to see that there is seriously something common between Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan?) you have asked.
Nearly eight years ago i concluded that Pakistan now has, like Iraq has always had, an unstable demographic balance between communities.
Now i can safely conclude that Muslim civilization has never successfully tackled, where jurisprudence is concened, ethnic conflicts. This incapacity has been accentuated by problems being created by ever-increasing populations which fact has not been helped by the theory of certain economists, in the past forty years, that growth is a plus.
The net result is an unsustainable pressure on material resources of the earth.

Zafar:

I agree with you.

Everything in this is world and beyond has been created by God. Nobody is closer or further from him. The word ‘Kaffir’ can only be used by people who are against God, because they commit the ultimate blasphemy of telling God who is with him and who is against him. God knows and doesn’t need certifcation from humans!

Someone in their post yesterday said:

“Can you imagine the value of a single human life in front of Allah and then see these evil animals taking so many innocent lives in each suicide blasts? Do you call them Muslims? They are worst than Kaafirs.”

What do you mean by “worst than Kaafirs.” This arrogance of ‘us’ better than ‘everyone else’ coupled with the ever-narrowing definition of ‘us’ is the root of all the present-day evil in Pakistan.

Until we accept that ‘non-believers’ can be better human beings than us ‘believers’ due to their noble deeds, there can be no respite from this state of affairs. But what to do when generations have been brainwahsed to kill anyone who expresses any free thought in this land.

I would not like to comment why all this problems are happening in in neighboring country. The reason is my comment can be taken as if I am critising or feeling jumpy about it.

You have many well good thinking people who can tackle this problem decisively once for all so that the lives of innocent common people is not lost.

I will be the happiest person when there is peace in Pakistan. I want a peaceful Pakistan with good Indo-Pak relations.

This is not the war of religion.

This is to solve the problem where many innocent people are losing lives, many children are not able to go to school. It is just a loss, loss, loss and nothing else.

Good Luck my brothers.

Sarcasm is not appreciated. In Pakistan case it looks very relevant. Last week in Peshawar, bombings reflect the evil of fanatacism. What is evil? When anything is done is in excess. In Pakistan’s case its religion. Deny this fact – this country will perish. Isn’t it funny to see that there is seriously something common between Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan?

The terrible situation in Pakistan needs a rational analysis. What is happening to Pakistanis? We call people who are attaching the Army center and civilians terrorists but Pakistani army is killing the children, women and men of the NWF in Waziristan and has done so in Swat valley. Who started it? We are doing these horrific things to our own brothers and sister. Pashtoons are our brothers and if they choose to implement the Islamic laws in their territories they have right to do so. And, in reality the Sharia laws are part of their life for centuries. Now, why is Pakistani army fighting the people of NWF? Because the US wants us to do so! They, the US and its allies have destroyed Iraq and Afghanistan by pitting one group against another-the old divide and rule method. Now, we hate our own brothers. Pashtoons hate Punjabis and vice versa. Are we sure that the terrorists are not the “Enemy” of Pakistan? And these are just the tricks that the US did to Iraqi’s and Afghans. It is the same tricks that Muslims fell during the early British Raj when India was divided based on religion and casts. Why Pakistani’s should fight the others war. If, NWF gives asylum to another fallen Muslim in need of protection it is allowed in our faith. It is not a crime and we should support each other’s instead of killing each others. Our enemies are not Pashtoons but the other powers who want to divide and control us.

We do not have any nationalism. We think we are the best patriots but we do not care about any body because we are a bunch of selfish people. We see our selves as Pathan’s, Punjabi’s, Sindhi’s and Balochi’s. We never think that we are Pakistanis too. Karachi should suffer the same pain when our brothers and sisters in Peshawar suffer. We should bleed in Hyderabad if somebody bleeds in Nowshera or Quetta. Unless we have that kind of feeling, I am afraid we will never be able to stand up for Pakistan.

The people of Pakistan have no one to fear but THEMSELVES. Mr. Jinnah is crying at the sad state of affairs, as the militants drag this great country to hell and back.
Look closely insides before you blame others for the ills in our society, you are killing your own brothers and sisters for a few who want total religious and power control.
I pray that we will find a PEACE !

I am very much afraid of what is going on in the world in the name of Islam. I think it is a conspiracy to defame a religion that only gives the message of peace. The problem of the present time is that Islam is the most misinterpreted religion of the world and the so called mullas have brought defame to this beautiful religion. What today we need to change the philosophy of Islam these people are propounding. We are not getting preaching of the real Islam. It is misguiding our youth and fill them with hatred against non-muslims. Prophet Mohammad(P.B.U.H) never did this. He rather loved the non-believers and gave them good treatment and having been impressed by the real values of Islam, they embraced Islam. It was not force or hatred that spread Islam all over the world but the core values of this religion. I think that the clerics of
Islam must use their energy in spreading the real values and true message of Islam rather than misguiding people and the world would be at peace.

Concerning Rakesh Says: November 4th, 2009 at 11:33:- Remember the Nazis! They’re Still Very Much Alive And Well The World Over AND Most Likely Collaborating With The Taliban Too!

Concerning what Man from Rawalpindi Says: November 4th, 2009 at 22:11:- “drawing room philosophers” have long been obsolete. We are now faced with “The Bedroom Philosophers” and don’t even know that these ones were first discussed during the “French Revolution”!
“Similar historical events occur first as success, next as failure” and so much for any ideology, above all, nihilism itself.
There are many people the world over who were born to muslim parents and have learnt the hard way that the taliban are as Islamic as they come.

Excellent article, I guess Pakistan needs more people like you to raise their voice against what is going on.

I know that the whole of Pakistan is going ga ga over the army’s offensive in South Wazaristan but was the army not responsible in letting these terrorist organizations spring up in the first place?

I saw a CNN news report few days back and from it I guess people in your government & intelligence agencies have still not learned the operation is being carried out against only the terrorists in South Wazaristan but what about bases in North Wazaristan & in Pakistan occupied Kashmir? No operation is being carried out in these areas as the Pakistani military still considers Terrorsists in North Wazaristan as a strategic asset against Afganistan & the terrorists in POK as a strategic asset against India.

Please people rise up & tell the “few bad elements” in your government to stop doing this you need to get rid of each every single terrorist. There is NO “good” or “bad” here, all terrorsists are like snakes no matter how much you feed them, they are going to come back and bite you.

I am an Indian & trust me at the basic level, no Indian hates Pakistan. Trust me the Pakistani army wants its dominance & thats why it scares the common people against India, when actually there is NO threat.

I know India has its own share of problems & I condemn all the so called Hindu extremists as well even they also just want power to rule people, even they don’t care a damn about my country, but still we are more or less a secular country, we do not have blasphemy laws, we do not hang people if they disrespect Geeta or Ramayan, please friends it is really sad to see all these blasts almost every single day get rid of all these religious leaders, these maulvis they don’t want your well being all they want is power to rule people by any means.

I have so many friends & we always talk of how Pakistan can be a prosperous democracy if it learns to separate religion from politics.
Common friends, we want to give our coming generations a peaceful country where they have a chance to prosper & realize their dreams, where religion does NOT decide how they live, where they can choose for themselves. Please get rid of these religious fanatics & let religion be a part of life, NOT the sole aim of life.

yes it is very sad that we have bomb explosions, sucide attacks in major cities of the country. Every one on electronic media is talking about it, the ordinary people are more concerned. The politician are more interested in their own thoughts rather then the real issues. I recal my past three years in kurram agency when small childern, women were taking shelter from mortars and frequent attacks on our villages. The media, the politicians and the civil society were tight liped. Some expert on tv named the war a secterian one while some called it an afganistan sponsored conflict. Unfortunately no one tried to know the ground reality.

pranav: The religion seperates us. Religion has nothing to do wih God- which is a totally personal issue. But religion, with its tribal beliefs and prejudices seperates us, even though we are genetically pretty much the same.

To all those who say “government” has done nothing for improving the lives of it’s people, I agree grovernment should do it’s “job” to improve lives, law, and justice. BUT, let me remind you what all Muslims know or should know well, “Allah (SWT) helps those who help themselves.” Please don’t misunderstand. Point again is, let’s not lay all the blame at the feet of “others” take some personal responsibility also. I’m sure many have heard of a famous quote from JFK, “ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what YOU can do for your country.”

Even though in this day and age, we may not make much of the first man to moon, but remember a common phrase, “bringing the moon to your feet” or “are you from moon” generally referring to the “impossible,” but MAN has put man and woman to moon. It requires effort, in a positive way so anything is possible but to do good, you have to be good.

God Bless.

Dear “Man from Rawalpindi,”

From another man from Pindi, how many times do you want to talk to them? And, do you really think they are “rational” people? Their mission is un Islamic. Their ways are un Islamic. For the sake of “our” generations in Pakistan, and Muslims the world over, “we” need to clean up our “act” and leave no place as “off-limits” as some of the tribal and other parts of the country are.

One law, for all. When we hold ourselves accountable, and our leaders and governments accountable, only then will we see law and order in the country. I was appalled the other night when I heard that the “other” brother of Lal Masjid was released after however many lives were lost because of this guy and his brother and their backers in the government and outside, it is an injustice that continues to keep us on our knees and down.

When some of our brothers in the tribal areas and other parts of our country withdraw their support, and government has it’s writ over the entire country, and we refuse shelter to the criminals and terrorists, and our leaders learn their lesson from trying to spread terror to achieve their “perhaps justified goals” with “completely unjustified and un Islamic” means, will we see peace in Pakistan?

Mr. Musab,

Simple question that begs a simple answer. What justifies these criminals (taliban, and like minded people) to take life that Allah (SWT) forbids?

Those with Drones and Pakistani army atleast have the mission of removing terrorists from harming the general public so the schools can remain open, Islamic universities can remain open, parents and retired ones can peacefully collect their pay checks and pension money to support their families. The “so called” torch bearers of Islam are completely opposite to the core teachings of Islam. What do you have to say for this? Please save your energy trying to put the blame on “everyone else” to justify “committing” the most egregious crimes a human. By the way, please name a person among companions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUP) who “celebrated” death, even during a ghazwa? What I know the most is Islam spread due to the “C H A R A C T E R” of it’s followers especially the way our Prophet lived His life. To deny the ground realities of who these people really are and what they do to gain power is just plain ignorance.

By the way, who counts how many civilians die from Army or Drone attacks? These same terrorists?

Most importantly, what have the tribal people done to refuse protection to these terrorists? Tribal areas with their “off-limit” places where all the criminals of the country and out of country find escape and a major reason the “world” and not just Pakistan is suffering from this. I pray to Allah (SWT) to finish the terror of these mad people from our country and the world.

Taking responsibility means holding oneself accountable for ones own actions not that “he made me do it”.
God Bless.

not with standing the zealots active in both countries and afghanistan also, i wish the people of Pakistan all the best for their fight for survival. I live for the day when relations between us will be so good that I can take my children from Delhi to Jammu and Srinagar and onwards to Gilgit and then to Murree/Swat/Khyber pass without fear. Guys both our countries have our own battles to fight, squabling between ourselves serves no purpose other than keep our poor and our generals armed to the teeth.

Shiva: This is not an issue of killing Muslims or non Muslims.

First on the subject of Islam, which over the years I have tried to understand. It is a stunningly simple proposition. There is one God, and nobody comes between you and God. This aspect of it makes it universal. For example, if there was life on another planet this dictum could apply.

However, most ‘Muslims’ seem to be taken in by tribal traditions. For some reason, this essential dictum of Islam is forgotten and some places become ‘holy’ some ‘not holy’ etc. etc. The dictates of the Prophet(P.B.U.H) are rules for living. But God is above everything and Islam says that your relationship with your God is totally yours. In that sense, I am a non Muslim but follow Islam.

The hatred for non-muslims must stop. because now it doesnt mean just people of “other” religions. It now includes any muslim to who doesnt agree with the “bad” muslims. Learn to realize that when you kill someone you kill a creature of God. Stop thinking that a “good” muslim will not kill another muslim but its okay to kill non-believers. It’s how the young minds are poisoned to view the world as “believers” vs. “non-believers”. Start believing that the universe and we humans are the creation of a Supreme Being called by whatever name. Only then religion not be a dividing factor among people.

Dramod has put his fingers on the weak nerve of Pakistani’s. It is a sad fact that majority of Paksitani’s talk in this way. It means they are too much sensitve about religion. After every sad incident of a bomb blast our political leaders, religious leaders and even our media persons issue this stereo type statement that “terrorists are not muslim”. Even our prime minister has recently issued such a statement. We need to ponder why we can’t come out of this state of denial.

Rastogi is absolutely and 100% correct. We must ensure that the society sheds all rubbish beliefs which are backward. These man made customs and social tribes. What the Muslim society needs to focus is on simple tenets of the religion and not on rituals and customs. ALLAH requires that we be good human beings, kind, tolerant, forgiving, non-discriminatory, honest, charitable, helpful,sincere, and respectful of all his creations. If ALLAH wanted all humans to be ritualistic Muslims, HE would not have allowed China & India to have multiplied their population to become 1/3 rd of the Worlds population, Do not question HIS wisdom! Be a good human being.

Well, pramod raised an excellent point on muslims/non-muslims and humans/non-humans. It is here where pakistan looses it completely and I am surprised that this comes from an editor of dawn magazines, who is a well read, and a well educated person.

If people look deeper into the reasons why pakistan is in the mess that it finds it self in, then one reason will certainly point to religion and the way the whole concept has been politicised and projected in pakistan, to the extent it has become a state subject where it should have just been left as an individual preference.

The more you look at the world through the prism of muslims and kafirs the more squeaked mullah brigade is going to be propped up and there will come a time when even the liberals will be ready to take refuge in the militant psyche pushed across by such mullahs as they will eventually start justifying the same.

mind sets dont take long to change, Zia did it in late 70s and 80s and another generation down the line it could very well be a recipe of complete disaster!

but then i dont completely blame you either, after all pakistan was created on th basis of religion, but then it is better late than never!

I am an Indian as well and am extremely saddened by the current state of Pakistan. While growing up in Hyderabad, India, my impressions of Pakistan were based on my Muslim neighbours who have relatives in Pakistan, who used to visit us every couple of years and bring us wonderful western chocolates and video cassettes of Dhoop Kinare.

There was a time when Pakistan was more “modern” than India and this I know from watching Dhoop-Kinare Why have we (Pakistan and India) devolved to a state where narrow interpretations of religion mean more than broader understanding of humanity?

I am an Indian and we have been victims of terrorism. My personal opinion is that Pakistan is suffering today because of the misdeeds of General Zia-Ul-Haq.

First he radicalized and indoctrinated a highly disciplined military force in the name of Islam.

Second, to avoid the spill over of the Russian-Afghan conflict into Pakistan he diverted those agents into India.

Bottom line is he is the father of all disasters of all problems in Sub Continent.

First and foremost support pak army in the present war on terror. Segregate state and religion asap, close all the madrasas run by mullahs and religious fanatics, they are breeding grounds of these terrorists. Pakistani’s must do this to save themselves and their future generations.

@ Paramod,

You raised a good point.

Indeed I said this: “Do you call them Muslims? They are worst than Kaafirs.”

I admit, I should not have said that as this gives the impression that all those who do not believe in God, His Messengers and the last day of judgment are worst human beings. But this is not true. There are many Atheists who are serving humanity very well.

In Islam, killing any innocent human being (whether he/she has a religion or no religion) is forbidden.

Allah says in the 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).

Here Allah makes no exception. It does not mean you killed an Atheist and you are excused.

Thank you for raising this point.

I agree with Bhaskar. India is not against Pakistan. We have more muslims than Pakistan. Muslims in India have reached greater heights in India than any minority community in Pakistan (or any other country on the planet).

We’ve had Muslim President(s), Sikh Prime minister, Women Prime minister and President, Christian Chief Ministers, to name a few. Can’t get more secular.

Many countries don’t want India and Pakistan to be friendly (Taliban, Al-Qaida etc).

Wake up, let’s unite and be friends, shun politics, lets become the super power of Asia and bring prosperity to everyone including Hindus and Muslims. Our arms are always stretched to embrace you, help you. We have no desire to hurt you.

Go to the bottom of your heart and ask yourself who is truly Pakistan’s friend at the end of the day?

China? What is common between China and Pakistan? Look at India – history, culture, tradition, background, people all are linked and common. Who else can be better friends than India and Pakistan? Just ask the people of both countries.

-True, Secular Indian.

Judging from the comments, the strategy of generating opinion for the army’s attack on the tribal areas seems to be working well. Although the discussion has gone off on various tangents, the prevailing opinion seems to be to back the army operation and in fact criticism in a lot of cases that the army and government has not done enough.

Let me try pull many of you out of the narrowness of your field of vision and try to give you a broader perspective. Indeed, the grim reality of muslims being slaughtered on a daily basis is indefensible. But people are not being killed only by the recent spate of bombings in the cities.

How many innocent muslims in Pakistan have been killed at the hands of the American drone attacks? Perhaps they don’t count because as long as it happens outside the boundaries of our cities, far from our daily lives, its not an issue!

How many innocent muslims in Pakistan have been killed by the various operations by the Pakistani army? Perhaps they don’t count because they are conveniently labelled ‘collateral damage’ which makes it ok!

Before the American army arrived in the region, the successive Pakistani governments didn’t feel the pain of the people of the tribal areas but all of a sudden, when the American interest in Afghanistan is not being met, Pakistan feels the sudden urge to rescue the people of the NWFP from ‘extremism’ and ‘terrorism’. How noble of our rulers! Strange how they’ve never felt this urge to rescue the millions of citizens of this nation trapped in endemic poverty! or trapped in slavery at the hands of wealthy land owners! or dying daily due to diabolical sanitary conditions! or destruction of the society from drug abuse! and the list could go on and on.

No, we are to believe that the people who have demonstrated time and time again that their corruption has known no bounds, that their self interest is above all else and that the subservience to western imperialism is their primary objective, have sent the army into the tribal areas to root out ‘terrorists’ to protect the citizens of Pakistan!

The fact of the matter is, successive governments have never taken the welfare of the citizens as a priority and its not going to change anytime soon. What is going on today is the normal disregard for innocent life. All the events unfolding today are a direct consequence of this and the starting point for the current episode being played out was the day our government completely support America in killing our neighbouring brothers and sisters.

When are we going to wake up and understand that as long we have corrupt governments, there will never be security and prosperity. Only when we free ourselves from this slavery can act and independently and safeguard our own interest rather than that of other nations.

This is where our thoughts and efforts need to be concentrated.

I think this article will or should really lead for an introspection of the ground realities in Pakistan. I am from India and we too have our own share of problems. But the scale of intensity is not the same as we are now witnessing in pakistan. From reading all the various comments on the blog and the candid view expressed in the article as to how do all pakistani people get together regardless of their political/religious/class/colour/regional etc etc(as we subcontinental beings have become specialists in segmenting a normal human being into as many various categories as possible) put up a united front against this mindless killing and mayhem is the most urgent need of the hour. Once that task is accomplished then I think we can all go back to leading our lives normally squabbling over issues like LOC, never ending disputes like Kashmir, power politicking, Inflation and so on. Since our politicians are quite used to these day today issues for you as citizens the most urgent one that calls for immediate action is to decimate or completely annhilate these fanatics once and for all, as thats the only way pakistan can get back on it’s feet and redeem its national pride as well as the recognition it deserves as a sovereign nation among the community of nations. Jinnah’s first promise to it’s citizens in 1947 was” providing law and order to all it’s citizens and religion is not the business of the state”. 62 yrs down the line I don’t think the writer of this article nor all the well wishers and the angry pakistani brothers & sisters would have even dream’t or rather in their worst nightmares thought that things should come to such a pass. My sincere heartfelt condolences to all the families who have lost their loved ones to this mindless killing. My request to all is to put aside the all the differences for the moment to fight this terrorists with a common cause, because the very basic existence of your country and its people are at stake here. Afterall what could be more important than one’s life.

You can blame India you can blame the United States, you can blame Afghanistan you can blame Iran for the turmoil in Pakistan, you can blame the entire world for your ills but Pakistan’s worst and the only enemy is another Pakistani and nobody else.

Great piece written there Mr. Murtaza Razvi, it is heartening to see atleast there are some people in pakistan who are not ready to shy away from the facts as they stand.

Got to completely agree with you when you say, everything else can wait other than the what or as is said in some corners, “Pakistan’s own war”, since if these terrorists are not put to an end today these people will entered your towns and cities then soon enough there will be no stopping them once they enter your houses.

You kill them they kill you!

You think you can kill all of them before they can kill all of you. Think Again!

We must talk to these people and they must talk to us. We must have a sensible conversation with them. This is the only way to ensure our continued existence.

Else we are a doomed country!

Can we survive another 30 years killing these people and they killing us?

No we certainly cannot.

Let us stop listening to these drawing room philosophers!

The gauge of any nation’s international standing is the number of close friends it has. Right now the only nation that is standing shoulder to shoulder with us is China, we owe immensely to them. However we should not lose sight of the fact this relationship is based on on the reality where enemy’s enemy becomes the friend. If we keep slipping south at the current rate it’s only a matter of time we became a liability to the chinese as well and be left to fend for ourselves.

“Pakistan’s survival is at stake”. This is not a daily cliche anymore. We as a nation need to honestly and openly ponder about this chilling possibility. The only way out is complete and bold reversal of our misguided strategy.

Nothing is impossible, You can do it when others can do it, why can’t you? A work done with good intention will always yield good result. These people (Taliban, Al Qaida, etc) are coward. Please remove them for peaceful world.

the craziest thing i always listened to is when people try to back the version that its not us, not Muslims, its the other agencies that are involved in the bloody mess we see. this is unearth perception prevailing in our society. who cares, what religion they belong to. important is that they are the killers who have held such massive destruction all over the country. what they keep on focusing is; it is not Muslims but what they don’t care about that these so-called non-muslims are involved in a carnage like situation. we see the emotionally charred faces everywhere. provided with the best of security arrangements nobody is safe. And the failure of the law and order agencies to protect civilians from this bloodshed has added to the already crippled security conditions.
Unifying as a nation and raising the voice against on-going unstable situation is the need of the hour. we should openly accept now that it is our war… because we stand at the loosing end.

@ Mustafa,
I liked most of what you said except the last part
“Do you call them Muslims? They are worst than Kaafirs.”
I dont know why you people always take things in muslim and non-muslim way. start talking about human and non-human beings.
I have seen so many people who sees only one side of coin. They wont speak a single word when something happen against non-muslims with the hands of Muslims.
eg: Before gujrat riots in 2004, 62 hindus were burnt alive by muslim in godhra gujrat. I have heard lot of Muslim speaking about that but not even saw one muslim criticising Godhra incident which was root cause of ahmedabad riots.

Here also you stated muslim and Kafirs which according to most of the muslim are Non-muslim.
First thinking of a common man need to be changed which makes him easy target for terrorist. Terrorism will be finished automatically as there wont be people to follow the terrorist.

I am gratified to see how many of my fellow Pakistanis abhor terrorists. Pakistan as a nation has to do some serious introspection. But, this is one trait that is glaringly absent in our society. The moment somebody questions the ‘establishment’ he/she is branded as a traitor or a foreign agent. There is no doubt that we invested in the wrong people in the past. We supported and nurtured the Taliban without realizing that one day they’ll consume us. Sure, the war against Russia contributed to it. But if we could not fix the problem in nearly 30 years, we really can’t blame anyone. The infrastructure we have laid out for these anti-social elements has to go. Being a victim of terror ourselves, we cannot distinguish between good and bad terrorists. Some leaders in the past made some wrong choices and we have an existential crisis on our hands now. Inshallah we will prevail.

1. Taliban who kill other muslims cannot be considered real muslims.

2. Taliban who kill non-muslims (Hindus, Jews, Christians) are good muslims.

What kind of logic is this ?

And that too coming straight from the silent majority of Pakistanis through this blog really explains why Pakistan is where it is.

When you stop looking at human beings without being colored by their religion – that is the time Pakistan can hope to come out of this situation.

Doesn’t seem like it’s gonna be happening any time soon.

I read with surprise a comment that ,if they are terrorist, they cannot be a muslim. A terrorist not only kills innocent people, it kills their psyche also and we see examples everywhere. A person who forces his family to live as per his dictum is an extremist. Men who ask females to remain illiterate and remain behind a burqa are also extremist. We see all this and many more terrors in the muslim society and still we do not accept the fact that our social life itself is an example of extremism.

I agree with what is mentioned in the article and want to stress the responsibility of the political parties. Mr. Rizvi has rightly mentioned that PML-N never condemns the militancy of Taliban brutes – and the reasons in my opinion is simple. Sharif brothers don’t want to loose the support of Saudi royal family as they never know when they need their help again.

And the other major responsibility lies on Imran Khan. After recently been following the shariya he has continuously arguing that militants are trying to take revenge of attacks by Pakistan army and US. Can I ask Mr. Khan what revenge these brutes were taking from different community during last two decades?

I think Noor E Sahar lives in an another world. She wants the fighting to stop and the Gov to find out what the Taliban & Al Qaeda want and to sit on a table & negotiate. Why does she not tell this to these terrorists? Do they understand any civilized language? Are they a civilized bunch? Do they understand tolerance, human rights, fair play, or for that matter Humanity??
Noor these are animals. They live in a world which is by gone with the Bedouins of Arabia. Even in Arabia they have changed. What the Bedouins did or do has nothing to do with Islam. That was a culture of the past, which was prevalent prior to advent of Islam. Let us stop this bigotry and nonsense about Jihad & etc.

These non-state actors must be thrown out of Pakistan. We’ve no other choice except to fight with these militants who are not Muslims at all. in order to bring peace and tranquility to our country we need to put them out of our homeland. They are destroying the infrastructure of our society. They must be condemned.

Author’s opinion is good that no one any single government is responsible for the terror in the entire world and in Pakistan we see that now our government take quick action to defeat the terrorists but how and why terrorist come on that place? even though security is there, so the problem is in the system of security of places and the problem with guards who are hired for the security of people or place.

I totally agree that this is a time we as a nation get unite and stand up against these terrorist. We have to take some actions against our Government and ask why they are not doing anything for it? every day we heard that blast happened at this place and that place how much we bear?. Is anyone there who answer why it is happening?

A great Article. We have a similar ideology based terrorism called naxalism and some of the point raised here applies in to naxal problem. Only difference is that Naxals still have not resorted to killing innocent civilians.
It is strange to understand that how can some organisations so called fighting for Islam can end up killing up Muslims through such attacks.
The truth is that we cannot convince anyone blinded by ideology. For them anyone who is not one of them is a enemy and all the romantics refuse to believe that.
Their list of enemies are very long. At the end of the day they want a world that lives according to their ideology.

What our Government should be doing is too make one thing a Number One priority which is Law and Order.

I don’t care

whether who so ever is behind it

I want Zero bombings, Zero Armed Attacks and Zero sectarian violence.

I want these terrorists to be thrown out of Pakistan.

A brainwashed person who blows himself up in an Islamic University cannot be a Muslim.

By this U.S must be realizing that this war is not religion based but its hatred based. The hatred im talking about is indeed the one the U.S govt have as a progressing nation like my beloved Pakistan.

By the way Arun your govt should not interfere it might make things go more worst. It will be a lot better for our President to start thinking about the people dying in bomb blasts rather than NRO and KLB. Money is a worldly thing wont help you in the life here after.

People who are claiming that poverty and unemployment are the root cause of this problem should ask themselves this question : Why are there no Taliban in Bangladesh which is more poor than Pakistan?

The root cause is the bigotry that was systematically taught to people. Slowly and gradually the scope of people engulfed in this bigotry has grown from Non-Muslims to anyone that does not practice Sharia to anyone that supports Pakistan constitution (by implying that if you support man made constitution you are against sharia).

I am an Indian and feel very sad at the slow and gradual deterioration of civil society in Pakistan. At one time Pakistan was well known for its culture, good governance and learned society now all this seems to have been consumed by this all pervasive terrorism.

Nobody seems to be having any clue how to stop it. Military & Leaders are only too happy to get the massive American aid that keeps pouring in. The political leaders are busy fighting among themselves and each pulling his own narrow way. The Pakistani public innocent men, women and children are the ones bearing the brunt of the senseless mayhem. Schools, colleges are getting closed. Where is the future heading?

It is easy to wake up a sleeping man but extremely difficult to wake up a man pretending to be asleep.

My earnest request to the Pakistani leadership: Eliminate the terror machine once for all. Start talking to India and build up a good political relationship, restore trade and commerce, invest once again in education, medicine and culture and restore the democratic institutions that were once the strong pillars in Pakistan. Foreign investment will start flowing in (forget American aid) from all directions and industry will flourish and start creating jobs for the young men and women once again.

Think for yourselves and keep your head high. Do not allow the military or the religious clergy to think for you. Only then will Pakistan again re-emerge and re-prosper.

I am Indian muslim and I can see the Pakistani society clearly divided between two classes the one class of people even educated want pakistan as a hardline muslim state with the vision of being leader of entire muslims in the world and another class is truely educated one secular and respecting all the other religions and have vision of progressing pakistan. My pakistani brothers who want to see pakistan as a progressive state I ask them to make these people stop spreading hatered towards Pakistan.

I dont quiet understand why my fellow indian citizens have to be so critical on the pakistani establishment and society on this.
We should show some patience and respect to the frank introspection on this blog and give time and space to our brothers in pak to sort this out.
Clearly neither do indians nor pakistanis like any comments/advise from their neighbours across the border on sensitive issues like this.
Indians have sufficient problems of their own to take care of. Lets focus there and put our house in order first

The politicians and the media reflect the sentiment of the public. So far the public is not sufficiently aroused to make a difference. Half the people think that taliban are on the right. Unless people come out on the streets in every city and town the misguided will not understand the damage the taliban mentality is causing our country. Every platform and every forum must be used to convince the common person to defeat terrorism.
In order to stop the bomb blasts in the cities the people everywhere have to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police. Believe me the police will take action because recently they have been the target of most blasts.
Terrorism is an ideology and has to be defeated with counter ideology. Debates and discussions must start in our universities, colleges and schools. Everyone should understand the arguments of both sides sanity will eventually prevail.
Leaders do not come from heavens we create them ourselves. The latter half of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century had given uninterrupted access to mic to the mulla. If people have the will the voice of the nation can come from the educational institutions. Hence instead of processions coming out from the mosques after Friday prayers they can come out of the universities with no violence and right guidance. I can understand that the university students in the past had been the fodder of the millitant groups, but all this can change. Yes poverty and ignorance are the root cause of so many evils in our society. No one is coming from the top to help us. We have to stand on our own two feet and do something about our problems instead of pointing fingers and expecting the government to improve our lot.

Killing peaceful people will not help solve any problem. Please stop this terror and start living like sensible citizens.

The militants and terrorists want to overthrow the government of Pakistan and become Khalifa. Emir, Qazee (Judge), Muftee, Kotwaal (Prosecutor), jury, executioner, butcher and owner of Pakistan.

One half of Pakistan population (that is women) should not get education. The terrorists and militants will fill their homes, barns and warehouses with as many women as they want and any leftovers will be for non-militants and non-terrorists just to make babies and do cooking and house cleaning. That is what they believe in.

TV, Radio, electricity, fridge, stove, water sink, shower, cars, buses, guns, medical equipment and everything that has been invented during the last 1300 years, will, probably, be officially declared “Bidaat” (inventions) as such Haraam. They will prove that these things makes your life comfortable and if you make this worldly life comfortable, you are defeating the purpose of Jannah (Paradise) where life is supposed to be comfortable.

They will, probably, confiscate the Holy Quran from every mosque and homes and hide them away because all their deeds and agenda are against the teachings of the Holy Quran. I will mention at least one here

“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).

Can you imagine the value of a single human life in front of Allah and then see these evil animals taking so many innocent lives in each suicide blasts? Do you call them Muslims? They are worst than Kaafirs.

Thanks dear (Mr.Arun) India for the so much kind and human wishes dreaming to see Pakistan peaceful, but let me tell you honestly no prayers are going to help, as our mullas and other extremists have the verdict and mission to unleash on this country’s poor people real hell, for which they r highly qualified and till date much successful.

I am from India my question is

so who are these terrorist? We use to know them as freedom fighters in kashmir during Zia era, Taliban in Bhutto time now they have new name Al-Qaida, somehow they all have links to Pakistan.

One should wonder how come most of the 9/11 conspirators including their ring leaders found comfort in Pakistani soil?

The deep rooted hatred in society needs to be addressed before killing innocent misguided youth, those young men blowing themselves got no education, no jobs and worst of all they think they are better of dying for Allah.

I do agree with the writer above. However, I believe the root of the problem is not the corrupt government nor the military. The problem is that the common man on the Pakistani street supports what these terrorists are doing to your country and that includes the significant number of the educated elite.

Absolutely no military action, no ordinance, no nothing is going to work as long as the mindset of the Pakistani on the street does not change.

What amazes me and to everyone outside Pakistan, is the extent to which religious bigotry has seeped into the Pakistani psyche that they still don’t understand what is happening and why its happening.

Unfortunately, this indoctrination has been gradual and a long phase, and i dont see this changing anytime soon.

The Taliban should be made part of the political mainstream and put themselves up for election and if they get majority they should rule the country simple as that. Stop killing your own people they just want to be represented in parliament.

NASAH, you said right you said:

“You have NO choice but to fight the Talibans.”

The days of negotiations and dialogue are gone.

You cannot negotiate anything with people who do not value their own lives, much less lives of other people.

The Pakistani leaders did that and learnt bitter lesson. They will never do negotiations or dialogue with militants and terrorists.

all religions claim universal love and fraternity as their goal.by harbouring hate or illwill againist anybody one cannot move towards universal love , besides making oneself unfit or impure to pray to god. i think a time has come when man has to transend religion and take personal resposibility to engender feelings of cooperation , co existence and sharing and service. religions have failed to instill virtues in any country or race.

I completely agree with the author. Denying is not going to do any good any more. This is our war and we as people have to stand against the random killings being done by religious extremists around the country. We need to support our govt in this cause. I certainly do.
I think we need to ask ourself a question. Can I have a decent life under Taliban rule? Maybe an even more appropriate question would be: Can I have any life under Taliban rule? Thats what the eventual motive of this group is, taking control of the country and running it under their distorted version of the religion. If the answer to the question is NO, you as a citizen of this country do not need any suggestion as to what to do. You know what has to be done. Call it baby step, but we can certainly start by condemning such acts of terrorism and terrorist mentality.

noor-e-sahar and Saad have said the sanest things. Why wasn’t the stitch made in time to save nine? Where were you and all the soldiers of liberalism when Lal masjid was growing into a Frankenstein’s monster? The way you whine and lash out madly at people who would not support you, is pathetic and even amusing. Your naming names was in bad taste. Does any of those whom you have targeted ever mention you by name?
As nur-e-sahar suggests, you can go nowhere by addressing symptoms.
Find a cure. But that would be too arduous for armchair bombardiers to undertake.

I fully agree with Murtaza Rizvi that this is the time for the Pakistani people to wake up and realize the fact and distinguish between who is friend and who is enemy. These terrorist and their supporters call them self muslim and still killing or supporting their action by killing their own people who are also muslim. To me they are not even human being they are simply animals out of the dark jungle. They are trying to destroy everything. School is just an example. Probably there is no example of any society on the face of this earth who would destroy schools. To me all these seems completely insane. I would certainly blame the politician, media and general public for not raising their voice against what is going on.

It is a good article. But I just wonder on the comments of few readers. Although I respect their opinion yet I would like to tell them some realities. The people who are fighting us as militants were once part of our society as normal citizens. We never wanted to share our luxuries with them. They had nothing with them, no schools, no health facilities, etc. Their parents out of total desperation pushed them into hell of fighting for the cause. Whose cause are they fighting today they hardly know. But there are many among us who knew the cause then and are well aware of the cause today. The ministers and advisers must know that if political leadership will not be delivered there will be many more militants who will fight for their economic freedom and protect themselves against the landlords, feudals, industrialists and so on. For us (the so-called civilized) the present situation may be weary but for the militants it is normal. They think that they are fighting for a cause. Anyways the solution to the problem lies in awakening of our political elite. If they set personal examples deliver in their constituencies and be sincere with the poor, the militants will vanish automatically. The kind of fighting some people suggest may not be required then. May Allah Almighty protect our beloved homeland Ameen.

i agree with the blog, we need to act soon

what has happened is sad and unfortunate. it is sadder that majority of pakistanies are mute witnesses. i am cirtain that inspite of various Madrassas all over pakistan, an avrage person is modrate. it is time for modrate voices in pakistan to rise against all kinds of terrorists and condemn the killings.

kalloo says:

It sounds too simplistic to blame all this on Islamic militants. I have no doubt that these militants are Pakistanis. The real question is who is getting the benefits from this? Who’s interest is this serving? What is the motive? Who is providing funding and training?

Well Mr. Kalloo sir, you’re asking these questions like a philosopher would ask “what is time?” “Where does space end?”. There are simple answers to these questions…

who is getting the benefits from this?

Who else but militants. They want pakistan to stop the operation in NWFP, so one day (in a decade or so) there militants can establish their writ in Islamabad.

Who’s interest is this serving?

They’re serving their own interests. Why is it so hard to believe. If a militant who has been fed by a particular entity for all these years. Now that entity has turned on us, so they are going to create terror, wreak havoc.

What is the motive?

read my answer above.

Who is providing funding and training?

We all know that.

Sir, why do you want to particularly ignore these simple facts and ask those profound questions?

You have NO choice but to fight the Talibans.

As an Indian Muslim, it hurts to see the mess Pakistan is in. In India of course we have violence, extremism and prejudice, but which country doesn’t? But this is a secular country and I am as proud to be Indian just as I am to be a Muslim.

There are 2 ways to be the biggest and tallest building in your block – 1. Build yourself up, educations, economy, culture etc… (What India is doing) the other way to be the biggest building on the block is to try to pull everyone else down (what Pakistan has been trying for decades).

Again I am disheartened to hear the rubbish coming out of the Pakistani establishment – Indians are supporting the Taliban and providing weapons – please wake up brothers your enemy is WITHIN not WITHOUT!

I hope common sense prevails in your country and we can stand side by side once again as brothers.

Let me first inform you that I am an Indian your beloved neighbour.

I am looking for a day when there is a peace in my neighbouring country and innocent people do not die in violence.
I will be the happiest person when that day comes.

I will pray to God that day arrives soon.

Your friend/brother/son.
Arun

I disagree because the situation which you are calling a state of war is not a state of war. Its not a time when we should declare this as a region of war we yet have an opportunity to control all that affairs. why we don’t resolve these affairs on the table? do you have any answer? We bombarded on them we target them ruin them so what we are facing is the reaction. Did we ever try to know what their issues are? Did we ever try to resolve?

We cant do good for people till we don’t come on negotiation and understand their views.

To keep on killing the killers untill the killing stops will only result in the death of all of us.

Pakistan must say goodbye to terror from all sphere of its existance . Terrorism is now gone out of control and its comsuming the nation now .

Pakistanis should not elect any leaders who do not speak out against terrorist and close ranks with the govt in its fight against terror eg if nawaz sharif does not speak out and use the punjab police to arrest and destroy terrorists in punjab where he rules people should never elect him or his party again

I don’t think that the spawning of terrorism can be stopped in Pakistan unless the mindset of the ISI and the military changes. These are people indoctrinated into the ’strategic depth’ concept and they subscribe to its merits based on how much mayhem it has caused among its neighbors.

Sleep is the enemy. Our leaders are actually have’nt come out of their slumber. time will come very soon when they will be dragged out of their beds. They are assuming that they are safe. These days nobody is safe. People like us that are outside the country think that are safe but who knows that these militants broaden their sphere of activites. an ordinary person with average intelligence can understand that without the strong support of the politicians. The politicians must realize that it is in their own interest to come forward and play the role that is due from them.

I live in the first house right after shalimar and yesterday was no less than a living horror. The only thought that did sustain us through yesterdays horror was the fact that we as muslims do believe that Allah has a way in mind for us and also that this too shall pass but for how long. I only have one question after all of this we talk about Lal Masjid or any other political or goverment issue it always has its roots in corruption and ignorance, why cant we the educated rise against corruption and ignorance? is it most of the educated themselves are corrupt? No nation has ever fallen without a reason and all the reasons are always embedded in the beliefs of the society. We need to change our societal mind set for beginners we have to be more self less and forgiving and actually start believing that if some expert is doing something in the country it is for our benefit and we need to simply follow. Why do we have to question everything? The society will make a difference not the Govt, You and I will make a difference.

I could not agree with you more. Lets pull ourselves together and make these talibans live our country.These so called Champions of Islam need to be erased once for all.

It amazes me why so many ullma dont condemn the suicide bombers, a huge majority of them are silent or point fingers on America.
When will they wake up? till all of us are dead from bombs?

Thousands of people came out in the streets to protest Danish cartoons because that was an insult to Islam. Thousands of people came out in the street to protest Kery Lugar Act because that was supposedly an assault on Pakistan’s sovereignty.

So why is no-one coming out in the streets to demand more strategic action against these militants? Is the killing of innocent women and children in Meena Bazaar is it not a much bigger threat to Pakistani sovereignty?

Couldn’t agree with the writer anymore. The people of Pakistan should force their leaders and Media to fight this war and change the way these people have been denying the problem.

Government should take measure to destroy all the terrorists camps in and around pakistan

After reading this article, I reckon that the Pakistani journalism has come of age…and matured. It has emboldened itself to rise against the doctrine embedded into the minds of unsuspecting masses by the successive governments to safeguard their individual interests as well as to keep the Army in good humor.

I hope that Pakistan emerges out of the present circumstances unscathed, with a victory for its people, not necessarily for its Government or its Army. For a peaceful Pakistan is passport of prosperity to its neighbours and the whole world.

Praying for the peace to prevail.

This is the high time for people of Pakistan to introspect and call the spade a spade and decide future action.

Rhetoric satisfy the short term goals but not long term goals.

India and Pakistan should become good friends and save billions of war dollars to pave the way for growth.

Regards

Absolutely agree with Thassim. What we need is a unified, concerted message from the religious, political, and community leaders that says these terrorists are evil and they must be defeated.
It’s funny how a majority of people are quiet or will turn a blind eye every time such a brutal act of terror is committed. Enough is enough!!

My friends, the time has come to renounce terrorism. Not only in your homeland but in any homeland anywhere in the world. Politics supported by the barrel of the gun has never benifitted any society and never will. Because guns are selfish and they speak only for their master. Look in the world outside and look for one nation that has been successful using violence. Look at all the successful socities in the world and you’ll notice that they all embrace peace.

For all of you, the time has come to ask questions … ask your govt. about it’s support to terrorists, what is it doing to get rid of ALL terrorists, has it ceased support to all militants or is it still being picky. It’s time to understand that you cannot buy peace with a gun in your hand.

All said, I doubt any of you will ask these questions. I look forward to the day when Pakistanis demands development, technology, education and not hatered of India.

As an Indian, I do feel for the people of Pakistan who are going through these horrible times. I feel for the parents who send their kids to school with morbid fear for their safety. They do not deserve this.

However, I would also like to point out that people of pakistan need to change their mindset big time. People who kill other human beings can NEVER be patrons/saviors of any religion. Even after so many attacks people hesitate to condemn them in uncertain terms. Even the media hesitates in calling them Terrorists and instead uses words like militants/gunmen.

Great write up. Very carefully examined !

Our young generation must stand up and play a role. They must organize themselves and become eyes and ears of Pakistan. They must keep an eye on their neighbors.House should not be rented out to strangers without certification from the elders of Mohalla. If we are vigilant they can not move with guns in their hands or suicide jackets on their chests. Young man and Women your future lies in your courage. Stand upright even if you have to rise against your kins. It is time to make history. Every living being on earth will not be there after 100 years or so. Even well known generations will be a part of history with in a span of 200 years.it is time to give a honorable place to Pakistan and get rid of so called Mullas and spiritual leaders who only know how to bark.If you do not some one else come and get you or these so called leaders will face the same fate as they met in Europe

Dear Razvi,
The picture you have painted about the overall situation of the country and politicians, cannot speak a better and bolder truth. So very rightly pointed out that PML N has not even once raised their voice about the detoriating situation. Imran Khan and JI Maulanas have lost their direction. It seems that our military is the only organization facing the threat just like the rest of poor masses. Our politician are very safe and heavily guarded by the police and private guards.
Just a sad sad state of affairs. But what can one do, smell of $$ can quiet anyone and everyone, have we not seen in the past ?

Evil wins when good men become indifferent. The evil of jihadism is an abomination in the name of Islam. What have the Jihadis built…nothing. They only know how to destroy. Look back at the life of our beloved Prophet and find a single example which supports this evil. You can’t. It is time for war and all out war against these fanatics.

We as Pakistani citizens are responsible for our own fate; therefore we must eradicate these evil minded backward criminals from our beloved land. They have done nothing for Islam, rather gave it a bad image around the globe. It is about the time that our Mullahs play their crucial role and instead of telling us the same centuries old religious events, they can start speaking against these criminals. Please stop blaming the West and America for all your failures before it is too late.

Well said. How many more innocent Pakistanis need to die, before the media in general and some politicians start accepting it as our war?

Good article. I believe government functionaries know very well in which places the terrorists hide outs are in Punjab. Why they are silent, God knows. We must initiate our efforts to bring to book all those who are supportive of Taliban movement within the counry. Even if we are successful in waziristn, the residual is hiding in Punjab. Police must and should know where they are. They are to be identified before the public.

Time has come to speak truth and whole truth.

Killing innocent people is and was never Islam. Everyday that innocents are killed in the name of Islam, I hang my head in shame. We should take a look at a peaceful way of getting out of this mess. For starters, lets not release terrorists/extremists/fanatics and allow them to thrive in our streets. We really need to take a stand against all violence.

You’re absolutely right, if they can strike in the heart of pindi near all the banks and other buildings, then where can they not strike?

Also, in the past attacks they targeted military / government buildings but they’re now targetting innocent civilians .

When and how will this stop?

Well said Mr Rizvi. People in Pakistan are either blind or totally paralysed. Pakistan is heading to be another Somalia in the very near future if we don’t wake up.

We as a country have become a stinking pot of terribly mixed,confused and ignorance-ignited interests. All this has been prepared since a long time by the well-known external interests helped by the mind boggling incompetence, nay, the complicity of some of the elements of the political elites. The house is burning, but is the state hiding behind some thick walls waiting for the end and preparing to leave gilt-edged for their distant abodes.I deperately hope that I am wrong here.

I am an Indian and last summer I had been to Andalucia, and like many others was marvelled by the mediaeval Islamic heritage of Cordoba and Granada. I wondered how many people of our subcontinent are aware that the mediaeval Andalusia also produced some of the most brilliant Islamic intellectuals, whose influences engendered the opening up of the mediaeval European mind to modernity. Abu I-Walid Muhammad ibn Ahmed ibn Rushd, the father of concept of secular ideology who was born in Cordoba, was certainly one of them. For me it is always a paradox –how the Islamic influence could emancipate the European minds but reduced itself in to fundamentalist. Modern-day Islamic intellectual of Pakistan should ponder on this point.

Excellent article Murtaza, GOD bless u always

I agree. Along with this, we must adapt. The people must be trained for self-defence. Instead of going to conventional schools, let us teach children in groups of 5-10 in people’s homes.

Perhaps most difficult of all is the fact that we have to decide what kind of country we want for ourselves. What kind of ideology do we want to adopt? And then we need leaders with sincerity and vision.

I’m not in the country right now but from the news I read, I get the impression that people feel that it’s enough to blame foreign governments for our problems. They have to see that blaming others–even if justified–doesn’t make anything better. Instead of being fearful victims, we must actively fight on all these fronts: ideological, social, and political.

These terror attacks symbolize a lack of a proper system in Pakistan. Pakistani Govt has to think about helping the poor. Else the poor will turn to suicide bombing in desprate need of financial help.

It sounds too simplistic to blame all this on Islamic militants. I have no doubt that these militants are Pakistanis. The real question is who is getting the benefits from this? Who’s interest is this serving? What is the motive? Who is providing funding and training? If the last question can be answered, then we may be closer at solving this problem. Unfortunately i think Pakistan does not have the desire to really solve this problem neither our citizens nor our government is interested in long term solutions.
Fawad

All the Political parties care about is NRO and that is the main agenda of there meetings these days. They don’t care about all the poor people who are dying on the streets everyday. No one is talking about getting together and fight this diease called Terrorists.

The time has not only come but is running out for our country. We need to stand up to these terrorist. When will our people realize that these people have noting to do with Islam in anyway shape or form.

It’s always amusing when the media begins to criticize itself. You end up returning to an agreed upon starting point and deviating from it in a time of crisis. Make a decision: if you want a military state run by the military then it is logical that the Army should be supported. If the ideal is a somewhat democratic state then address the structural issues and understand how terrorism is rooted in the society itself. Perhaps an honest consideration of what elements of the Pakistani state lead to armed resistance would be a useful starting point.

It is time that the state should run the way Jinnah wanted it to run. A complete segregation of state policy from religion. They both got combined in the past & the result is wreck. It’s never to early to move ahead and segregate the two on permanent basis. Else, doom is just round the corner.

These terrorist have done all things to defame Islam and Pakistan. Islam teaches tolerance. Hazrat Ali (A.S) has said, “A person is brother to another person either by religion or by humanity.”

thank you for bringing the fact and very true pictur. as a pakistanti, living out side. it pain me to see our peoples dying every day and nothing has done by our gov and very selfish politcian.where are all fake leaders. dont they have any heart..thank you

I have many friends in pakistan, as i used to visit yr country on business trips. i really feel sorry for what is happening there now a days. i fully endorse your view point on the subject of fighting the terrorists. the silence by main opposition parties of Pak is deafening !!

NOIDA, INDIA

It’s do or die time for Pakistan. There is no such thing as a ‘Good Taliban’. A snake WILL bite the hand that feeds it. Wake up now and rid of yourself of this cancer. India will stand by and support Pakistan but no more ‘Non State Actors’ or ‘Foreign Hand’ rhetoric, you have to wake up and face your OWN demons. US/China and so called ‘Friends of Pakistan’ will be good weather friends as long as it suits them. But you have to stand on your own feet and free yourself from your current predicament. Not only for you, but for your children and generations to come. God bless the people of Pakistan an I hope you come out of this whole mess a stronger and better country.

People like this can never be stopped by our law enforcement agencies. The reason for this is our lack of professionalism and discipline in any walk of life. We are not willing to do the required “due dilligence” in any matter always opting for the easy way out or the short cut. This will not protect out nation.
In order to survive we have to reinvent ourselves as a nation and improve our professionalism starting with the lowest of jobs upto the upper tiers of goverment.
personally I doubt this will ever happen, we will also go for the easy option and let trial and error take its course and as usual end up going back to our peoples favourite line/excuse when everything is going wrong:- ” ALLAH malik hai.”

Fighting Terrorism is for your own good and you are not fighting for anybody – but for yourself.

Sooner the Political and Military leaders will realise this and cleanse the Al-Qaida/Taliban from Pakistani soil (including the sympathasiers) better it is for Pakistan.

Stop all type of violence and i think that the media should be instrumental in propagating positive approach instead of fanning the flame.

Keep the emotion aside for the moment and think why so much violence in Pakistan? personally i would say it is not sufficient to say islam is peace loving religion – one had to demonstrate it for considerable period to make the world believe.

Start now and let it take a generation to achieve the peace. Any delay will only delay your own goal and you cannot blame anyone else other than your ownself!

i was talking to a few people about how bad the conditions in Pindi are these days as i am from pindi..and i was told it has always been this way in karachi ..you are just noticing it because its your own city now,and i felt soo disgusted when i thought how we dont care about anyone else if our family and freinds are safe at home we only nod our heads in dismay if the victims are people we dont know and move back with our lives.I am against voilence no matter where in the world it happens but its true when living outside my homeland i hear familiar street names…hotels..neighbourhoods…it breaks my heart…because this is where i grew up and i fear will i see all of it again….the way these attacks can happen anywhere anytime,i cannot imagine what will happen the next moment.Everytime something has happened we say we need a revolution but who will bring this revolution.We do not have one person at the top right now who can give any hope to us…they are all busy with their dirty politics.I am very sorry to show such hopelessness..but is their any ray of hope?I pray all the time that things get stabalize in Pakistan..is their anything else i can do to make a difference???

A peaceful Pakistan cannot be obtained without addressing issues like poverty, education, employment etc. We may kill the them now but as long as some people are poor and uneducated, I fear that more Talibans will be created.

If these extremists call this all the real Islam then I would certainly not liked to be called a muslim. These terrorist have gained strength and organization during the period of MMA rule in NWFP. There mentors are few political parties. They never come out to protest against these criminals of humanity.

I was talking to a few people about how bad the conditions in Pindi are these days as i am from pindi and i was told it has always been this way in karachi, you are just noticing it because its your own city now and i felt soo disgusted when i thought how we dont care if our family and freinds are safe at home and if its someone else we nod our heads once and move back with our lives. I am against voilence no matter where in the world it happens but its true when living outside my homeland i hear familiar street names, hotels, neighbourhoods it breaks my heart because this is where i grew up and i fear will i see all of it again. The way these attacks are happening anywhere anytime i cannot imagine what will happen the next moment. Everytime something happens we say we need a revolution but who will bring this revolution. We do not have one person at the top right now who can give any hope to us they are all busy with their Politics. I am very sorry to show such hopelessness but is their any ray of hope? I pray all the time that things get stabalize in Pakistan is their anything else i can do to make a difference?

I totally agree that its time now that we all as a nation get united and stand up against these terrorists and their supporters / sympathizers. Our so called religious scholars and politicians should condemn these crimes committed in the name of religion. The problem may not be resolved by just condemning it. So there should be a plan B that could involve severe actions like complete ban on religious parties, elimination of madrassas, fundamental groups, etc…

There is no doubt that we have to fight this war that has been imposed on us due to Strange policies and moves on part of the US forces there in Afghanistan. The root cause of the problem lies in the failed stratagies. It is even more strange that our media/interior ministry highlight this fact every now and then but fail to follow it up and chawk out a strategy. The point is simple… unless the Government of Pakistan takes a stand against it the whole nation than will be in the hands of these talibans. This problem will not simply go away by bombing at them or taking military actions/operations.

Would I be wrong, if I say that these terrorists are defacto rulers of a wounded nation?

I agree. It is about time we stopped pointing fingers and complaining about what is wrong. This is the time to unite and back the army. Personal political opinion can wait till the country is in better shape.

The time has come to admit that we were wrong and these people are not the saviours of Islam they claim to be. The sooner we close ranks and stand up against these terrorists the better. Our religous scholars and politicians should unequivocally condemn these heinous crimes committed in the name of Islam.