What's new

A Priceless Opportunity

muse

ELITE MEMBER
Oct 26, 2006
13,006
0
12,472
Friends:


We have argued that the latest flare up between Pakistan and the US, resulting from Adm. Mullen's malicious outbursts represents a Heaven sent opportunity, if correctly apprehended and harnessed - are we alone in echoing this?

You will note the political response in Pakistan, now, you may think that this is a done deal, but remember we are talking about Pakistanis and politicians - so lets keep our powder dry till we see something we can depend on --

In the meantime there is this :


A priceless opportunity!
By Shaukat Qadir
Published: September 27, 2011

The writer is a retired brigadier and a former president of the Islamabad Policy Research Institute

Sometime a go, I wrote an article carried by CounterPunch titled, “Has Pakistan declared its independence?” (of the US). Apparently, it not only has, but is prepared to go as far as necessary in the dangerous game of “Chicken” currently being played out with the US. If there is no longer a ‘good cop, bad cop’ game being played by the US and the entire US establishment is united in levelling accusations against Pakistan, it seems that so is the Pakistani establishment and, the political leadership has gone so far as to attempt bringing all political parties on board.

There is, however, no doubt that the present situation is fraught with danger. Pakistan is facing, perhaps the greatest crisis of its existence, by challenging the might of the US at “Chicken”. But great crises have always offered great opportunities; if someone is wise enough to grab them!

Pakistan has, over time, become a nation divided within: ethnic divisions and grievances, sectarianism, increasing religious intolerance and diversity of religious interpretations, and finally, of course, the diverse sources of terrorism.

However, I can recall moments of crises when the nation was united: the 1965 Indo-Pak War; even 1971 when, despite defeat, there was a semblance of unity; and the judicial crisis created by Pervez Musharraf. All of these united the nation and the last one, in fact, forced the dictator to quit and leave the country. Also consider what happened when the Taliban took over Swat after the infamous peace deal there — this also united the nation to support the use of force to exterminate this evil within us. This last determination, to root out extremism from within, is present to this day.


Now to the present. Given the force of the anti-American feeling in this country and the general feeling that our politico-military masters have never had the gumption to stand up to the US and say “No”, this ‘declaration of independence’, whatever its other fallout(s), again offers a priceless opportunity to unite the nation.

Currently, no political party can muster a gathering of an impressive crowd as a show of strength; the people are fed up with our current lot of politicians, across the divides. However, if the all parties conference that the prime minister has called for, was to, unanimously, ask the people merely to come out in the streets in front of their homes/offices/places of business/shops, or wherever they are at a certain time of the day, for five minutes, to express their solidarity with the policy of ‘not succumbing to US pressure’, I think the response would be astounding and, if covered by the media extensively, will certainly give the US pause to reconsider unilateral action against a united Pakistan!

But far more priceless is the opportunity to address the real existential threat to Pakistan from increasing religious extremism, not in our tribal areas but all over the country, including (most of all) Punjab; the breeding ground for terrorists and suicide bombers being preached to hate by our Saudi-funded madrassas; a fact that our political leaders are not even prepared to recognise. After all, the logic behind the breeding of this hate against the Pakistani state stems from the accusation that ‘our politico-military leadership consists of gutless idiots who have sold themselves and the hapless citizens of this country to the greatest kafir (infidel) of all; the US —the country that provides unconditional support to Israel so that Israel can slaughter innocent Muslims at will. The same US that is at war with Muslims the world over, in illegal occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan’.

Well, if that is the logic for declaring all citizens of Pakistan as indifels and, therefore, legitimate targets for suicide attacks, then here is that leadership demonstrating its will to “challenge the US might and face the consequences”! That hate can now be garnished and redirected towards a (perceived) common threat and prevented from being directed within to target the innocent citizens of the country. With a nation united in its stand to respond to a unilateral US action, the opportunities are as many as we can make. This opportunity can be seized to bring peace to Karachi, it might even have some impact on the disillusioned and disgruntled, hopeless Baloch youth.


If we have decided on the dangerous course of brinkmanship with the US and are determined not to blink, let us squeeze every little bit of advantage that we can from it.


Published in The Express Tribune, September 28th, 2011.
 
What are the odds that this opportunity, tenuous as it is, will be missed?

At risk of being derided, I think this will be missed, and Pakistan will be worse off.
 
Two points:

- Except for Imran Khan, the current crop of politicians has no credibility. If they pretend to 'stand up to the US', the reaction will be a cynical rolling of the eyes across the board.

- While it is good that people realize that a weak and divided Pakistan is in America's perceived national interests, it is still dangerous to officially fan the flames of anti-Americanism. We will merely be substituting one hatred for another and we never know what it might inspire some crazy nut out there to do. The better approach would be for the politicians to pledge an independent and Pakistan-centered foreign policy. One that aims for self-reliance and diversified international relations based on mutual self-respect.
 
@Muse,
You are a known 'Arab-hater' here. While KSA would be one of the last countries in the world where I would ever want to live in, I have yet to see any evidence that the 'Arabs' are the major cause of the religious fundamentalism inside Pakistan, especially after the Soviets withdrawn in 1989. I wish things were as simple as that: Cut off one major menace and live in peace.

But, in general, Pakistan has to tackle the various rampant pseudo-jihadi organizations inside Pakistan. There is no blaming, whatsover, any foreigners, when someone like Salman Taseer gets killed and thousands march to honor the bigoted killer.
 
- While it is good that people realize that a weak and divided Pakistan is in America's perceived national interests, it is still dangerous to officially fan the flames of anti-Americanism. We will merely be substituting one hatred for another and we never know what it might inspire some crazy nut out there to do.

Problem is that is what all parties have been doing like crazy, make a deal with the US and then deny every thing in public, the last straw beingthe Abbotobard reaction rather than " oh **** he was were dang sorry about that glad you got him" it was OMG America invaded us. Every thing from Dengue to earthquakes is Americas fault every thing will just be rosy if it wasnt for the US. There has been 10 years of anti US propganda a bit late to call for a halt now.


The better approach would be for the politicians to pledge an independent and Pakistan-centered foreign policy. One that aims for self-reliance and diversified international relations based on mutual self-respect.

There is a thing in NZ called a "Tui add" where an impossible situation is on one side of the bill board and Yea right is on the other.

Pakistan Politicians, honest, independant, developing foreign policy for the good of Pakistan ....Yea right.
 
@Muse,
You are a known 'Arab-hater' here. While KSA would be one of the last countries in the world where I would ever want to live in, I have yet to see any evidence that the 'Arabs' are the major cause of the religious fundamentalism inside Pakistan, especially after the Soviets withdrawn in 1989. I wish things were as simple as that: Cut off one major menace and live in peace.

But, in general, Pakistan has to tackle the various rampant pseudo-jihadi organizations inside Pakistan. There is no blaming, whatsover, any foreigners, when someone like Salman Taseer gets killed and thousands march to honor the bigoted killer.


An interesting post - you seem angry. What you may or may not "see" as evidence is immaterial, you may or may not acknowledge the existence of thesun however, if you choose to look towards the blazing sun, you will injure your eyesight, regardless of whether you "see" evidence of the existence of the sun or not.

An Arab hater? Is Brigadier Qadir also a Sodie hater? An Islam hater? Well of course you are free to make any value judgement that appeals to you but I think that when some find their idols to have feet mad of clay, they don't blame themselves for being idol worshipers and instead turn on the idea that idol worshiping is passe. But of course it's a choice we are all free to make.

Sodie funded Madaress have made manufacturing hate an industry in Pakistan, that's just a fact whether you see evidence of it or not.

VC suggests that this opportunity will be missed and it may well be, sooner or later the army will have to decide if islamism has begun accruing it negative retruns
 
Great article, I see a big differences now than before.

Pakistan will realize the real external and internal threats. At least, sold-out politicans should be arrested soon.
 
We need to start to fund a huge campaign of a Nationalist agenda, rather than a religious one. We are many steps behind this than Turkey, but this is the step we must take. Once the country is strengthened we can focus on core issues, but until then Pakistan spouts only empty words.




Long term goals cannot override short term goals.
 
Once the country is strengthened we can focus on core issues, but until then Pakistan hols only empty words.

Sorry, doesn't work that way, you have to focus on the core issues to strengthen the country. lets use an example that you may be familiar with -- lets say you are sick and you say you'll take better care of yourself, once you get better - does it really work that way? You have to take better care of yourself in order to get better -- and Pakistan has to tackle what you call "core issue" now in order to strengthen the country.
 
I have yet to see any evidence that the 'Arabs' are the major cause of the religious fundamentalism inside Pakistan, especially after the Soviets withdrawn in 1989. I wish things were as simple as that: Cut off one major menace and live in peace.

But, in general, Pakistan has to tackle the various rampant pseudo-jihadi organizations inside Pakistan. There is no blaming, whatsover, any foreigners, when someone like Salman Taseer gets killed and thousands march to honor the bigoted killer.

Do not ask an extremist what charm he finds in it, for he is still charmed. Ask an ex-extremist.

The testimonies of numerous so called ex-"jihadis" who have been to Afghanistan to wage "jihad" with their truest emotions come out with the same complain - Arabians bypass all the rules tenets of Islam when asking the jihadis to attack and kill soldiers and innocents alike.

Even further, their treatment of Pakistani and African jihadis is least to say despicable, while at the same time they treat fellow Arabians sitting on their a$$es passing orders like Gods.

This is no B.S., I even posted a couple of videos of the testimonies of one such reformed ex-"jihadi", but I suppose no one wanted to look into the dirty truth.

Oh, and on the topic, their travel and new found education on this "jihad" too was funded by the same Arabians.
 
Problem is that is what all parties have been doing like crazy, make a deal with the US and then deny every thing in public, the last straw beingthe Abbotobard reaction rather than " oh **** he was were dang sorry about that glad you got him" it was OMG America invaded us. Every thing from Dengue to earthquakes is Americas fault every thing will just be rosy if it wasnt for the US. There has been 10 years of anti US propganda a bit late to call for a halt now.

Well, it's complicated.

I do believe that the US and others have been responsible for a lot of nefarious activities within Pakistan. I am not talking about earthquakes and dengue, but more 'conventional' activites like supporting separatists and terrorists. I don't fault Pakistan's establishment for highlighting the foreign intervention, but the question they rarely invoke is why is it so easy to find willing accomplices within Pakistan. Separatism thrives because we have neglected and alienated certain ethnicities; terrorism thrives because we have allowed a culture of extremism to flourish. Just pointing a finger at foreigners is only half the story -- the easy half -- we still need to bring our own house in order. That is the much tougher challenge and politicians studiously avoid that aspect of the problem.

There is a thing in NZ called a "Tui add" where an impossible situation is on one side of the bill board and Yea right is on the other.

Pakistan Politicians, honest, independant, developing foreign policy for the good of Pakistan ....Yea right.

The problem is that, except for a handful of people like Liaqat Ali Khan, Ayub Khan, Zulfiqar Bhutto and Musharraf, most 'leaders' in Pakistan's history have never really believed in Pakistan. How can you possibly galvanize a nation when you lack conviction yourself?
 
Sorry, doesn't work that way, you have to focus on the core issues to strengthen the country. lets use an example that you may be familiar with -- lets say you are sick and you say you'll take better care of yourself, once you get better - does it really work that way? You have to take better care of yourself in order to get better -- and Pakistan has to tackle what you call "core issue" now in order to strengthen the country.

What do you say is the core issue?

I feel that, if we can over-weigh religion with nationalism then our country has a chance. We can't tackle multiple stances at once. Our citizens should realize that they can observe strict Islam, within a very Secular society. That should be the test of a true muslim. The youth of our nation are leading towards this direction, whether it happens now, or rather 2-3 generations from now. If hardcore muslims don't agree with our stance they are free to emigrate to Saudi Arabia. This should be a short-term goal, and after it is achieved, we can move on to our long term goals.

Btw, I am a muslim that prays 5 times a day. We need policies to strengthen our position, before we can go around proclaiming what is right or wrong.
 
Not just in Pakistan. I wouldn't be surprised if the CIA supported many of the terrorist attacks in India.

Well, I didn't mean to single out the US. I think all countries engage in questionable activities behind the scenes. It's just that the more powerful countries have a wider reach.
 
If hardcore muslims don't agree with our stance they are free to emigrate to Saudi Arabia.

Sodies don't want these people - Sodies are themselves trying to go in the opposite direction - soon that ruler will be dead and the families of the many wives will be vying for support, you will see for yourself that the most backward of these will make common cause with the Wahabi preachers and the US.
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Total: 2, Members: 0, Guests: 2)


Pakistan Defence Latest Posts

Back
Top Bottom