Pakistan - The Way Forward

The number of Madaris (Islamic religious schools) in Pakistan has shot up from a mere 868 in 1975 to over 8000 now.

A large number of religious schools in Pakistan are involved in encouraging militancy by sending across their students to Afghanistan for training in warfare, local media reported today.

As many as 126 `Madaris` (religious schools) have been identified by intelligence agencies for sending their students to Afghanistan for training in warfare, `The News` said today quoting a report of Society for Promotion of the Rights of Child (SPARC).

The federal government has reportedly decided to clamp down on these Madaris to stop spread of sectarianism and religious fundamentalism, the paper said.

The SPARC report claims that recently steps have been taken to eradicate those Madaris which have been found to be involved in militant activities and efforts are on to nab hardened criminals being harboured by them.

krashid:

You must realize that Pakistan is like a severed limb which has been twiching since 1947. Half of it went back to mother India`s bosom in 1971 and began to call itself Bangladesh. The other half is and has been trying very hard to do the same. But the wily Hindoo is too smart to take back so many thieves, Wapda, PTLC and the * * *king mullah.

Until it happens Pakistan exists with reference to India, only. If India farts once Pakistan farts twice. If India says it is going to

get screwed by the Russians Pakistan will surely get screwed by the American twice or three times. If some how India disappeared from the surface of the earth tomorrow Pakistan will commit suicide first thing in the morning. Without India it is inconcievable to imagine Pakistan .

The Economist (London): A comment from its issue of March 18 still holds good: ``Pakistan, by contrast (to India) is falling apart. Venal politicians have sucked the country hollow, leaving the void to be filled by Islamic extremists or military coup-makers, with troubling signs of alliances between the two. The economy is primitive, corrupt and weakening by the day. Pakistan badly needs foreign aid if it is not to implode. Yet its military-dominated government and its violent meddling in Kashmir make it a frustratingly hard place to help.``

Kashmir cannot be won by what we are doing. William Jefferson Clinton was right: ``Pakistan is paralyzed by its past.`` We insist on continuing to presume that the people who live in the Valley want us to interfere. Many Kashmiris of the Vale wish to follow the example of Bangladesh and be independent. They know, as everyone knows, that the Bangladeshis are far far better off in every way than they ever were when they were East Pakistanis. However, should the Kashmiri dream of independence come true, will they not wish to claim the territory of `Azad` Kashmir which we hold in trust for them?

Ardeshar Cowasjee, DAWN

krashid #89

In my opinion, there is no difference between the tendency toward corruption or autocratic behaviour in Indian and Pakistani politicians and leaders.

Where the difference comes in is this: In India, to stay in power, a leader has to be perceived to be `doing` something for the masses. His/her corruption is usually overlooked as long as he keeps up that `rapport` with the public, once he loses that rapport, he is out of power.

And remember, a leader with rapport with the public cannot be easily targetted by his opponents, bureacrats, political opponents, other `undemocratic` entities.

In Pakistan, there are apparently many ways of staying in power, maintaining a rapport or direct connection with the silent majority public never seems to have been high on the list of priorities of even politicians, forget about career soldiers.

In the absence of that all-important symbiosis with the public, important even in the absence of `democratic process`, every leader ultimately becomes vulnerable to his oppponents in high places. Thats what happened with NS, Gen PM seems to be inclined the same way, not developing a sympathetic relationship with the public(and I don`t mean just those who read English newspapers). Such a mutually-beneficial relationship involving the moderate majority only can grant legitimacy to a leader and can keep ultra-right viewpoints in check.

Sadhana

First of all most of Pakistanis are Islamist, whether they believe in the particular interpretation or not.

CONTROLLING THE ULTRA RIGHT IS AN IMPOSSIBILITY IN PAKISTAN at this point.

As long as our intellectuals will dance to their self interest alongwith elite, the common man is going to take refuge with other parties. And these pseudo intellectuals have a say with their brothers on this board only and not with common man.

What are the political realities in Pakistan, this BOARD IS A REFLECTION IN A SENSE THAT POLITICS OF PAKISTAN IS MORE VARIED THAN A LIMITED EDITION ON THIS BOARD.

Neither I am suggesting to you to get rid of RSS BJP to mollify their extremism. That is your problem.

Krashid

Even the nuts in India don`t want to undo Pakistan. So there is no question of subjegation. BJP came into power because people were sick and tired of socialism. The method they used were more than a little questionable but that is what happen is democarcy. They had to tone down before they could form a government and that is what also happens in a democracy. You don`t see BJP fanning any cummunal hate when in power, why, becuase people in power want no unrest. Beside, if there is unrest and BJP is culpable, they`ll be out in no time. They don`t have a strangle hold on the government.

On the other hand, does or can anybody control Islamist is Pakistan. Why are they running a muck when only a small fraction of the population support them. Because the military thought that it could use cheap effective soldier which it didn`t have to pay? Now the government/military is caught in a bind. It can`t control them and it can`t get rid of them. (Give an Idiot a gun and he will keep firing till he is out of ammo). Anyone who thinks Kashmir can be taken by force is mistaken. Only way Kashmiris get to decide is through a long process of balloting. Now that the Congress strangle hold on the government and governments strangle hold on mass media is over, chances of minipulating election results or ignoring public opinion is minimal. Best thing Kashmiris can do is get back in the political process and hopefull in 15-20 years they will be able to decide what they want.

By the way is anybody thinks that Indian Kashmir in the near future will be with Pak any time in the near future, they are thoughly mistaken. Best they will get (or start off with, the whole process of seperation has to be very slow to make it amicable on all sides) is limited Independence for the Valley.

Well......that is the only way it could happen, but it is not going to bacause no one is smart enough to have a long drawn out statergy.

You can say it is a death wish.

But that is reality on ground and only a person with wishful thinking can turn away the eye.

Umairr #84

I agree with most of what you say. Let me re-iterate something I mentioned in passing in my previous post which may be relevant.

The government of the day owes it to the general public to be clear and open about its actions. Only then can the public make up its mind about the governments decisions vs the motivations of `protesters`.

At least, more communication between the government and the public can prevent `motivated` or `selfish` interests from spreading misinformationa and misinterpretations about the governments actions. Also, it could strengthen the hands of the government against its opponents by creating for itself some political space.

Sadhana

krashid #85

I don`t share the death-wish some safe and secure ex-pat Pakistanis have for our region.

Sadhana

Can you stop that Sadhna.

We are doomed to possibly destroy ourselves.

In todays ZEE TV news, there was a hysteria being created for war with ``Enemy``.

You cannot stop Hindu fanaticism.

We cannot stop Muslim fanaticism.

That is a reality on ground.

We have opened the pandora of Mujahideen through American help.

You have opened the pandora of RSS, BJP by downlooking on all your neighbours.

The same tactics does not succed all the time.

The real beneficiary is Israel, America, Europeans, who are selling their arms.

Who has to bend first.

For Pakistan bending means subjugation.

For India bending means prosperity of south Asia.

With prosperity, these phenomenon will die away.

sadna #80: The points you have made are quite valid.

I have nothing against religious parties. I think they should be allowed to operate independently and freely. The only aspect of theirs I do not like is their tendency to get violent if their demands are not met. In my opinion, the only time a person has a right to get violent is for self-defence or if the person is being subjugated.

However, I am not quite sure whether I trust all the religious leaders of Pakistan. It is hard to tell whether they are in politics because they genuinely want to take Pakistan in the direction of their religious interpertation (correct or incorrect) of Islam. Or are they just using relgion to gain personal political power?

I copied an article is a similar reply earlier indicating the current regime and MYC are heading for a showdown (the article seems to have gotten lost in the reply queue). The MYC (Milli Yekjehti Council) is a combined platform for all the major religious parties (except JUI(F)) in Pakistan. I believe in the last election their combined platform did not win a single National Assembly seat. However, they have an immense amount of street power. They have called a protest in a week or so against the Musharraf govt. Let`s see what happens.

krashid #81

On the contrary, Indians have some stake too, in the feasibility of any agreement between Pakistan and India being sold to both the Indian and Pakistani public and political parties.

Sadhana

Temporal,

My reply #74 was for you. You were concerned about the drought in pakistan, wanted to do something. Get those goats, pump some sea water into the drought areas and that should help. This info is my contribution to the drought, what is yours. Have you started ... in the desert.

Just joking.

regards

jay

Stop preaching us Sadhna.

We know very well what we are doing and why.

That is why Pakistan is a pain in -- of India as admitted by Indians.

If Pakistan is considered a mad dog by Indian, I can assure you even a person from Maddressah is more polite than Indian B-stards.

Umairr #78, krashid #79

Good point has been raised by both. Let me take the liberty to put in my point of view.

Its good to protest peacefully against anything you donot agree with. Any representative government has to learn to handle the situation so that such gatherings donot get out of hand on one hand nor is undue force used against protesters(I realise right now prohibitory orders are in place so things maybe slightly different).

But, coming to what the protests were about, whether today or during Vajpayees` visit in Lahore, well, thats the point. The government ought to have taken the trouble, in both instances, to communicate with the parties and ordinary public the reason for its position/actions.

In the case of blasphemy prosecution procedure,

why couldnot some government functionaries, or public forums discuss and disseminate the issue clearly, even one-to-one with prominent leaders of the community, why such a step has been taken. If the cases of misuse(the core reason for change) are highlighted and enough appeal is made to the other parties sense of justice, a middle ground of less acrimony can be found, even if complete agreement is not reached. The total disconnect between the decision-makers and those invested in the decision is the cause of the problem.

Sometime during the last year, the Imam of Delhi Jama Masjid made some inflammatory statements when a visa for Salman Rushdie was being processed. The President of India called him (the Imam) over and spoke to him after which he didnot change his opinion, but toned down the threat of dire action. Someday, sometime some modicum of mutual trust and accomodation has to come into the picture in any issue however controversial. Without it, the simplest problem becomes huge.

Sadhana

Umair #78

If you are not forgetting, the same thing happened when Vajpayee came to Lahore.

Good or Bad?

``Police beat, arrest Islamic protesters: LAHORE, May 11: Police used batons and tear gas on Thursday to break up a demonstration by Islamic fundamentalists accusing the military government of amending a controversial blasphemy law, witnesses said. Police said they arrested about 100 from about 1,000 protesters for defying a government ban on public rallies. The Jamaat Ahle Sunnat group, which organised the protest in central Lahore, capital of the populous Punjab province, said 261 protesters were missing after the police action. (Reuters) (Posted @ 01:20 PST, Friday)`` DAWN, Pakistan.