A Strange Tango

Faruq,
56 years is a very short time in a nations life. The US, for example, took over a century to develop her own identity, and still struggles with it. Pakistan struggles with her identity in the sense that she wishes to be a Democratic Islamic state, while her harsh and rigid interpretation of Islam (which is common place in Pakistan) makes it very difficult for her to bring the two (Democracy and Islam) together.

Pakistani people feel used because they did not agree to this `contract`, that you seem to imply between them and the US. They were not consulted. If you do wish to look at foreign policy using the concept of a customer being provided a service, then the customer`s (US)excesses that result in harm to others (Pakistanis, Afghanis and many others) should be curtailed.The customer and the service provider (Pakistan`s military and government) need to be held responsible. I am sorry but I fail to see the world as some kind of global marketplace where people`s lives are traded for cooked up ideologies.

=== Interact Filtered ===
view this users filtered interacts

Asif,
Interesting perspective!

“Pakistan is a new nation still struggling with its identity. Caught in the political crossfire between fundamentalist Islam and a moderate Islam on one side and military rule and democracy on the other, her pragmatic people are merely concerned about making ends meet. Let the corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and cricketers fight over what’s left of the country. Yet, Pakistanis are a vibrant people, full of life and eternally hopeful that things will work out for the better. “

I am not sure after 56 yrs you can say Pakistan is a new nation, but you have a right to your opinion. Could you elaborate on the Pakistan’s struggle with its identity?

“The US government used us while it suited them and then threw us aside.”

They were paying customers. They paid for the services provided. Why do Pakistani people feel used?


Regards,

Faruk

=== Interact Filtered ===
view this users filtered interacts

=== Interact Filtered ===
view this users filtered interacts

=== Interact Filtered ===
view this users filtered interacts

ainak_wala,
I agree that the hatred generated by US government policies can be justified. My point is though that we should try and see that our government (whether directly or as the US` lackey) treated the Afghanis just as badly as the US treated us. Therefore the hatred generated amongst Afghanis for us can also be justified. This is a viscious cycle. I choose instead not to justify this hatred. Instead we need to make an objective, dispassionate assessment of the situation. Hatred has led to far too many tragedies all over the world. While the world mourns the tragedy of September 11, Afghanistan has been the tragic victim of political and religious ideological warfare for almost 25 years now. Far more people have died there than on 9-11, 2001. I try my best not to look at these issues from a Pakistani point of view. As a citizen of the world I claim the right to criticize the American and the Pakistani governments.

Jay,
It is too easy to assume that Pakistanis have an ingrained prostitute mentality. Once again we must separate the actions of the Pakistani government and the wishes of the Pakistani people. We know for a fact that most Pakistani people are infuriated with the ``Jamali Administration`s`` (read Musharraf`s regime) involvement with the US.

Zia did not create the Taliban. His regime`s involvement in the creation and training of the mujahideen is common knowledge. The extent of involvement, though, is not.

arjun_m,
Can you please share with me the source of the following information, as this is news to me:

``Pakis....just happen to train people who went on to lead the taliban, people who went on to do 9/11 and people who were responsible for the jakarta bombing.. ``

I am sure the US will find it interesting that you have found proof that the murdurers involved in September 11 and the Bali bombing (did you mean Bali or was there a bombing in Jakarta that I never heard about) were trained by ``Pakis``. Also which gallup poll did you pick the following from:

``...more than 80% of adult paki males think OSama Bin Laden is a freedom fighter and not a terrorist.... ``

Well, dont you think Asif that using us for their ends, and then throwing away should generate hatred
well, in Pakistan people believe in unending friendship. when you are friends, you are friends no matter what comes...but there on international and political level, friendly relations are subject to a country`s interests...
i think that is what Pakistanis should learn quickly...

=== Interact Filtered ===
view this users filtered interacts

=== Interact Filtered ===
view this users filtered interacts

Manto,

``pappu yaar... tang naa kar. ``

That`s just too hilarious!!! Still laughing...!!!

Jay # 1

You are confusing Mujahideen with Taaliban.

Mujahideen faught the Soviets. Now those Mujahideen look like boy scouts in front of Talibans.

Talibaan, descendants of Mujahideen, brought up in refugee camps in Pakistan and educated by the Madressas of JUI, funded through Saudi charities, are totally local production. Intially, under control of Pakistan - later, out of control - like the frankenstein who escaped the lab.

Jay,

pappu yaar... tang naa kar.

Asif,

The mistrust of the United States of America is based on fallacious premise. However one thing is that Pakistanis also distinguish between Americans and their Government.

-Manto

Asif,

You should have taken the next step and had a look at why pakistanis have this ingrained prostitute mentality, they will do anything for money. When americans said create taliban to zia, he did that and pakistanis joined. Now americans are telling, kill taliban, and again pakistanis are ready. why..why.