Jihad: Paradoxes and Defining Moments

scout: Further to my post below, I agree with what you say in the rest of the post. I think we need to distinguish between freedom of choice vs good taste.

I am all for freedom of choice. I dont have a major problem with anyone wearing clothes, hairdo, rings, in order to ``make a statement`` - the only statement they are making is ``I am in need of attention from strangers wherever I go``, and that is no skin off anyone else`s back. It is their business.

It is nevertheless poor taste to dress up in ways designed to attract attention. Like wearing shorts to a formal wedding, or a hijab to a shopping mall. And if one tried to limit poor taste by limiting freedom of choice, then clearly it is like giving chemotherapy to a person, causing his hair to fall out, when all he needed was a haircut.

However, if that person adds to this the kind of aggressive self-righteousness that you describe in some bibi hijabans, or sunday school teachers demanding girls wear the hijab at all times, that is perhaps the only time that one can justifiably object to it since they are now limiting the freedom of choice of other people.

scout #132 ``ps: if i get a tattoo, which i`ve always wanted to, would you think less of me?`` Depends upon the location and artwork of the tattoo...

Ref Lajwanti $ 725:

``According to daily Pakistan a police officer ASI Shameem Gondal of Malka Hans had the habit of following a lady school teacher singing the mahiya songs of Mansoor Malangi loudly to seduce her into thinking of love. But the school teacher suddenly took off her burqa and started beating him up with her shoe. Other school girls accompanying her joined in and also beat him up with their shoes. After the beating it was discovered that one tooth of the thanedar ASI was broken but he was allowed to go only after he swore on a copy of the Quran and made the school teacher his sister.``

LOL. Now that is the Punjabiat I remember.

Thanks Lajwanti. Please say hello to Sudebaker et al.

dost-mittar

``Even in Pakistani villages, happiness is one son in the Fauj and the other in Dubai.``

To each his own. In Kerala I guess bliss is one son in the CPM and the second in Dubai.

Kafir K Khan # 728

``Right in front of foreign visitors.``

That is serious and shouldn`t have been allowed

while the foreigners were still there :)))

bong_dongs #712
``By all accounts Paki military srategy for the last 20 odd years in Afghanistan and Kashmir has been brilliant. They have at little military cost to themselves managed to advance their political-military agenda.``

Its brilliant because they havenot been held accountable by the Pakistani people for as you say ``the effects on their own society``. Are complaisant Western funding agencies sufficient for the required economic growth, when will lack of political continuity and tense relations with a large neighbour like India really begin to bite?

If there is no civilian agenda fighting for air, a military one suffices. One doesnot miss what one cannot imagine :)

kafir khan #719 ``dead is dead. Nothing brave in dying. He can not have ras-malaai any more.``

Agreed:

Those who run away,

Live to eat dahi bhalay

That is why your humble servant never joined the army...

There was this Bholenath who was the combination of Jinnah and Einstein. He had the high ideals of Jinnah, secularism, tolerance and modernism. And he had the brains of Einstein to rattle of E=mc2 and the theory of relativity in a matter of seconds.

Unfortunately, he couldn`t impress his ideals on the world and dazzle the scientific world with his discoveries because he died before he could even start speaking. He died when he was one year old.

And how do I know he was as brilliant as Einstein and Jinnah combined? That`s because I say so.

Re subroto722

I am already detecting an anti-southern roachistani bias here. Are the so-called leaders listening?

You left out a few things...You haven`t lived till you have had bhoosa masala dosa or medhu boosa vada or bhoosa avial. And what about bhoosa paan? And for the chi chi folks including those urban doogoodies , you left out bhoosa infused zinfandels and merlots. That`s what I call real bhooze!

BTW, what is the role of heeng in bhoosa cuisine?Perhaps a gastronome could answer that one.

Banjaraa,

{{Ofcourse India does not want Pakistan or any part of it.We all know that.They just want to change the cartography of the area a la `71...yes??}}

Right on, boss:)

What W.Pakistan did in 71 was tantamount to dropping its pants, bending over & presenting its butt to India. Now what do you expect India to do? Kiss it?!:)

A swift kick was the order of the day!:)

Come on, be honest, if the tables were turned, do you think Pakistan would have done anything different?!:)

Nuggets from the Urdu press

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Nasibo Lal in trouble

According to Khabrain, folk singer Nasibo Lal, while singing at Gujranwala Arts Council, allowed fuhush (obscene) dancers like Alisha, Khushboo and Lashana, to perform lasciviously in front of a local audience. People responded with great enthusiasm although the event was against the rules of decency. They repeatedly performed bhangra while ignoring ideology of Pakistan.

Milosevic and Osama

Historian of Afghan jehad Raja Anwar, writing in Khabrain, said that if Milosevic could be brought under trial in an international court why couldn`t Pakistan or any other state ensure that Osama bin Laden is brought before an impartial court? He could be punished only if found guilty. Raja Anwar wrote that Afghanistan had given nothing to Pakistan but kalashnikov culture and was not willing to make any concession, not even on the Durand Line.

Mufti Shamzai`s fatwa

According to Nawa-e-Waqt, Mufti Shamzai of Karachi`s Banuri Mosque issued the fatwa that when the Americans land in Pakistan his followers should immediately take over the country`s airports. Fifty thousand followers did bayat-e-jehad (pledge of war) on his hand. He said anyone fighting on the side of Christians against Islam would go to hell.

Sharif brothers part ways

According to daily Din, Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif fell apart in their hideaway in Saudi Arabia and that Shehbaz Sharif had bought a residence of his own separately from the family still led by Abbaji. The paper opined that since Shehbaz had decided to part ways with the family he may lose Saudi financial help.

Pakistan`s paradox

Renowned columnist Nazeer Naji wrote in Jang that Pakistan had a strange history of upheavals. Bhutto, a liberal, chose a fundamentalist officer General Zia for promotion to army chief, who overthrew him and converted Pakistan into a fundamentalist state. Bhutto was a secularist but spent more time banning alcohol in Pakistan and apostatising the Ahmedis to please the mullahs. The initial paradox was that Jinnah was a secular leader who was opposed by the mullahs, but later Pakistan was to be moulded in the vision of not Jinnah but mullahs. Then General Zia chose Nawaz Sharif as his heir but in 1997 he was elected for his economic policies; instead he chose to enforce shariat after coming to power. But for a man devoted to shariat he chose General Musharraf, a non-Islamist, to head the army. General Musharraf who toured the cantonments to defend Nawaz Sharif for sacking an earlier chief, was later to remove Nawaz Sharif. And an Islamist army was now ready to get rid of the jehadi mullahs and rid the state of fundamentalism. Nawaz Sharif was opposing his anti-Taliban policy from Saudi Arabia although his brother chief minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif had clearly said during his tenure that the Taliban were training the terrorists targeting Pakistani leaders.

What will Pakistan give?

Famous columnist Irshad Haqqani wrote in Jang that Pakistan and the US had discussed the matter of Pakistan`s offering landing facilities during the invasion of Afghanistan but there was no discussion on territorial rights. But General Hameed Gul, through a letter, said that he had trimmed his anti-Musharraf position when assured by him that neither land nor landing facilities would be granted to the American troops.

US to take intelligence help

Famous columnist Hussain Haqqani wrote in Jang that during the Afghan war the Americans used Pakistani intelligence to fight the Soviet Union but this cooperation was not really beneficial; but this time, he hoped, it would be more fruitful. This was a crucial point of time in the Pak-US relations.

Osama wanted me killed!

Leader of the PPP Ms Benazir Bhutto said in daily Din that Osama bin Laden paid Nawaz Sharif of the PML ten million dollars to topple her from government through the device of a no confidence vote. She said that Osama also planned to get her killed, but his plans failed twice.

Present land holding against Islam

According to daily Din, Council of Islamic Ideology came to the conclusion that the present land holdings in Pakistan were against Islam and must be undone because the child born in the house of a feudal lived in luxury while the one born in the house of a poor man was deprived. In the past, land reforms were undone by the Federal Shariat Court on the question of annexation of land without payment of market price.

Beaten up for singing `mahiya`

According to daily Pakistan a police officer ASI Shameem Gondal of Malka Hans had the habit of following a lady school teacher singing the mahiya songs of Mansoor Malangi loudly to seduce her into thinking of love. But the school teacher suddenly took off her burqa and started beating him up with her shoe. Other school girls accompanying her joined in and also beat him up with their shoes. After the beating it was discovered that one tooth of the thanedar ASI was broken but he was allowed to go only after he swore on a copy of the Quran and made the school teacher his sister.

It is not aunt`s home!

According to Nawa-e-Waqt, ex-ISI chief General Hameed Gul said that after the Taliban shot down two unmanned spy planes of the United States, the Americans were bound to run away from the battle field. He said all would soon be well because defeating the Taliban was not khala ji ka ghar (easy as being in one`s aunt`s home).

Zia wanted Afghanistan

Quoting a journalist once close to General Zia, Maqbul Sharif, daily Pakistan wrote that General Zia did not want the Russians to leave Pakistan at the end of the Afghan war. He wanted the question of a new government in Kabul resolved before their exit. In fact he wanted to send Pakistani troops to Kabul in the same manner that India had sent its troops to East Pakistan.

Jehadi organisations are fake

Quoted in Jang, ex-ISI chief General Javed Ashraf Qazi said that 90 percent of the organisations engaged in jehad in Kashmir were fake. Hew said leaders like Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Maulana Samiul Haq were interested only in amassing funds and advancing their political ends. If they were sent to Afghanistan to fight they would jump out of the bus and run away. He said in the past the Taliban were warned many times that because of them Pakistan was being labelled a terrorist state but they did not listen.

Israel did it!

Talking to daily Pakistan, Sipah Sahaba chief Maulana Azam Tariq said that those who attacked New York and Washington should be sought in Israel and India because Osama bin Laden was blameless. He said if Afghanistan was attacked he would issue fatwa for the murder of Americans and Israelis. He said America wanted to attack Pakistan`s nuclear installations while pretending to attack Afghanistan. He added that there would be civil war in Pakistan if Islamabad continued to support the Americans.

Hekmatyar will join Taliban!

Editor Ausaf Hamid Mir wrote that if Pakistan were to sever relations with the Taliban in the wake of similar action by the UAE and Saudi Arabia, it will force two offended Afghan leaders, Hekmatyar and Sayyaf, to join the Taliban and make an anti-Pakistan alliance. This new alliance will stop the advance of the Northern Alliance but Pakistan would be forever deprived of the friendship of its precious Afghan brethren.

Allah will answer Mulla Umar`s call!

According to Khabrain Mulla Umar of Afghanistan had prayed to Allah for special intervention against the American attack, as a result of which Allah had sent down a storm off the coast of Karachi as a sign. Before this, Salahuddin Ayubi had also prayed like Mulla Umar and his prayer was heard and a Christians army was caused to be gharq (sunk) by Allah.

A Lahori heir to Afghan throne speaks out!

According to daily Din, Ashraf Durrani of Lahore was discovered to be in the line of descent of Ahmad Shah Abdali Durrani who established the first Afghan empire. Ashraf Durrani formally laid claim to the throne of Afghanistan and stated that the Afghan people were not satisfied with the government of the Taliban. He also laid claim to the diamonds presently owned by the Queen of England and said that the diamond had belonged to his ancestor Shah Shuja.

Allama Iqbal`s joy

Famous historian Dr Safdar Mehmood wrote in Nawa-e-Waqt that Allama Iqbal would have been overjoyed to see that the civilisation of the West was no longer obsessed by women but by a bearded man called Osama bin Laden.

Ms Mazari is anti-America

According to Ausaf, former chairman of the state-run Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad, Mr Niaz A. Naik, wrote to the Foreign Office saying that the present chairman of the institute, Dr Shireen Mazari, was anti-American and was harming the interests of Pakistan by writing against the United States. The paper said that upon an inquiry made by the Foreign Office, ex-foreign minister Agha Shahi stated that she had criticised the United States while defending the interests of Pakistan.

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RE: Jay

``The real contribution of jinnah is the reification of TNT, bringing into reality, an abhorant devisive idea. The greatness if at all of jinnah is comparable to that of another great leader in europe with a funny mush during WW 2 who also fired up a nation on a divisive theory.``

Seems you and your minister Singh are of the same caliber when it comes to understanding the reason for Pakistan. I believe you also look like him.

The Two Nation theory applies to any community where one has leverage over the other in socio-political terms and specifically if there seems to be a status quo of this trend sliding into the economic stagnation of one community while the other progresses. Now this is true of any demographic variable, be it men or women, higher castes or Dalits and Hindus or Muslims.

After the making of Pakistan, this theoretical idea automatically vanished... for the principle under which Pakistan was made ought to be the same principles that the minorities of Pakistan should be secured under. Unfortunately the reason most Indian`s have nurtured this TNT illusion is (1) it gives them a satisfaction of being morally high by condemning the lack of ideal security that Pakistani minorities face. (2) Muslims extended the TNT into a pan-Islamic ideal and almost did what they were running from, and became over-zealous in their attempt to reform.

Given that, I ask you to kindly make educated statements about this. Kashmir is not a problem because India is secular and Pakistan is not. It is a consequence of ignoring the peoples will in Kashmir.

As far as Jinnah goes he is respected by many because it is after a long struggle of his life that he was almost forced to come to represent the Muslim community`s interests separately from India. He did not take any positional power to be his solace, and that is a matter of pride for us. The cost of all the problems was far less valuable than Pakistan`s creation.

By comparing Jinnah to Hitler which your kind always do, including Nehru, you show your raw insecurity in Pakistan having a founder such as Jinnah. I only wish you would practice the things you much dwell on in terms of the legacy of your founder.

Aisha Fayyazi Sarwari.

Sridhar # 721

``Indira Gandhi was not willing to pay such a high price as she would have been routed in elections that followed and her party would have lost popularity with the masses. So, democracy won the day in the end.``

It was not democracy but the ``kursi``that won the

day.

Regards.

Welcome one and all to Bhoosa Bhojanalya (or la Bhoosalya for the ethic chic)

Starters:

Bhoose ki Chatpati Tikki : Spiced raw bhoosa patties stuffed with dates, raisins and deep fried.

Hariyali Paneer & Bhoosa Tikka

Paneer/cottage cheese and fresh bhoosa marinated with fresh mint and coriander, skewered and cooked in a tandoor.

Bhoosa Vada

Synonymous with Southern Roachistan, it is a deep fried snack made from fermented black bhoosa paste accompanied by chutney and sambar.

Soups & Stews

Bhoosa Shorba

A spiced, tempered, thin bhoosa soup. Very popular with Northern Rochistanis.

Tomato & Bhoosa Rasam

Tangy and spiced tomato and bhoosa based broth made from pigeon gram.

Main Course

Achari Bhoosa with Mutton

A tongue tickling bhoosa preparation made from a blend of spices to give a hot and tangy flavor mixed with a liberal helping of mutton.

Malai Bhoosa

A creamy rich tomato gravy with bhoosa dumplings.

Kolhapuri Bhoosa with Chicken

A fiery, mouthwatering bhoosa and chicken preparation cooked in brown coconut paste from the western Rochistan.



Bhoosa Kara kari

A spicy, tempered bhoosa preparation.



Dals & Pulses

Rochistan dey Dhabey di Bhoosewali Dal

A popular mixed lentil and bhoosa preparation dished up in stalls on the highways in North Rochistan.

Bhoosa Makhani

A black bhoosa and kidney beans preparation served as an accompaniment with Rochistani bread.

Breads

Bhoosa ka Bhatura

Deep-fried bhoosa bread leavened with yogurt. A North Rochistan specialty served with Chole.

Bhoosa Bhakri

A typical Rochistan farmer`s bread.

Tandoori Bhoose ki Roti

Bhoosa rotis cooked in the tandoor.

Rice

Bhoosa and Pea Pulao

Rice preparation made with bhoosa and green peas.



Bhoosiyodharai

Tamarind flavoured, tempered bhoosa & rice preparation of South Rochistan.

Sprouted Bhoosa Khichdi

Rich in nutrition, a preparation of sprouted bhoosa.

Salads & Raitas

Bhoosa Raita

An unusual, flavoured, spiced yogurt and bhoosa preparation.

Mixed Vegetable & Bhoosa Raita

A healthy yogurt, bhoosa and mixed vegetable preparation.

Desserts

Kesari Bhoosay ki Phirni

Saffron flavored blend of bhoosa paste and milk.



Lychee aur Bhoosay ki Kheer

Lychee flavoured milk and bhoosa pudding

Bhoosa Halwa

A sweet, tempting delicacy of bhoosa, to be eaten hot in cold winters.

Bhoosay Ka Meetha

An exquisite dessert made from bhooosa stuffed with date mixture, baked and served with condensed flavoured milk.



So welcome to the bhoosa dining experience, we also have a range of fine bhoosa wines available.

Re: Reply #: 704

shankar,

``India`s objective in 71 was NEVER to annex West Pakistan.``

I read something interesting sometime ago. It seems Indira Gandhi was not averse to pressing on the western front even after Bangladesh was liberated. 2 things dissuaded her:

1. Tremendous pressure from USA (even Soviet Union)to limit the war to the Eastern front and

2. India`s democracy.

The latter may come as a surprise to many Pakistanis on chowk. The truth is, when Indira Gandhi asked her Generals if it was possible to win the war on the western frontier, they were supposed to have said: Yes, it was possible but at a terrible price. They put the no. of armymen dead at more than 100,000 i she were to go ahead with war on the western front. Indira Gandhi was not willing to pay such a high price as she would have been routed in elections that followed and her party would have lost popularity with the masses. So, democracy won the day in the end. Wonder what would have happened if India were ruled by a dictator at that time. A dictator would not have bothered about electoral backlash.

(let noone think i am indulging in wishful thinking here. I am not. I am only pointing an interesting observation. If so, I may be wrong and i stand corrected).

Sridhar

Re:Reply #: 712

bong_dongs,

``By all accounts Paki military srategy for the last 20 odd years in Afghanistan and Kashmir has been brilliant.``

So brilliant that Pakistan today faces the prospects of a civil war. All India has to do is to sit tight and watch.

Sridhar