A Nuclear Identity Brother you are absolutely right, the next time anyone says on the radio (was it B96 by any chance??) that Pakistan is ONLY famous for the Nukes, settle down with it! Admit it, and live with it.

After all that is what the majority of us stupid ass Pakis wanted. We wanted to go nuclear, we called our leaders `sissy girls` (hathon mein choorian pehanlee hein) for not exploding the bomb. We took out demonstrations, hell we even distributed `mithai` in the mosques on Friday prayers (Villa Park mosque).

Yeahhhhh everybody forgot that India had ALREADY exploded the bomb in the early 70s.....this was just a `repeat play`. But this time the blood of the Pakis was too red to take the challenge of the enemy in stride. We spit in the face of the enemy and now the whole world is spitting on us.

I was in the office the day the news of the explosion came. Some folks, trying to be `with it` said, ``yea why should U.S. have all the power, it was Pakistan`s right to do that, congrats Anwar``

But their eyes were saying, ``you stupid third world critters, lets see now how long you can swallow the grass you say you can eat!``

So again my brother, it is the choice we made with pride and joy, we forced our government and leaders to do it!

Now WE must pay the price.....just live with it.

p.s. when I say WE, I refer to the general population.

What Price Sharif Propaganda? Excellent article Ms. Sarwar, very impressive.

Pakistani society has such dual standards that its not even funny.

A friend of mine just came from Karachi for a reunion and she acted like she just got out of jail after a long time. Then she started telling me about how bad the condition of women have become over the years in Pak and how she dreaded to get out, even for a little while.

I was shocked by some of the things she told me for example, she was abused by a mullah in ‘Itewar Bazar’ for wearing shorts sleeves….she also told me other incidences.

On the other hand she tells me about how McDonalds, Subway etc etc are doing so good!!! (Symbols of Western Influence), she also tells me about all the Keelabs (Sapphire lounge) that have popped up everywhere.......as I said the most dual standard society I have ever known.

Well, I guess our country is nothing else but a soap opera.

Kudos to you,

Anwar

Global Economy in a Swirling Freefall Manzur

Your article correctly describes the current scenario of the world economy. It is very well written.

But I tend to disagree with you in blaming the IMF or WB for all the downfalls in the global economy.

Yes, you are right that due to IMF`s rigid and biased policies some economies in Asia have suffered but there is no denial to the fact that Asia itself is much to blame too, actually more to blame.

Corrupt politicians, defaulting institutions, and lack of long term planning brought down the so called `Asian Tigers`. As for Russia, with the economy as big as the Netherlands and armed to the teeth, I would agree with you that giving them more than $30 billion dollars in aid was a U.S./IMF way of saying, ``Here don`t sell your nukes to Iran etc, we`ll keep your corrupt politicians warm!``

Now as for Japan, it has always been a policy of Japan to aggressively drive into Western markets (dumping etc). The government financed the conglomerates to establish business in the west....well if you start from bad policy of lies and deceit....you end up the same way.

Japan went through boom or bull years during the early 80`s when the U.S. economy was in a `minor recession`. They could not maintain the bull due to the fact that too much money had been given to defaulting institutions whose sole purpose was to `Finish competition in the west`.

Well, the western countries are no fools either, the companies here proved their products are as good or even better then their Japanese counterparts and sales increased (example: Automobile Industry!)

So, as you can see that IMF/WB/U.S. sure is responsible for screw-ups in some countries, but most have just axed their own feet!

Anwar

Towards a Nuclear Weapons Free World What I meant to imply when I said, ``The genie is out`` is that the superpowers of this world tried their best to control Nuclear Power so as to control the world itself.

But now, it is out of their hands (genie is out). They have to come to the same table as India and Pakistan, find a mutually beneficial solution, and implement it!

From now on its NOT going to be, “Screw the East, we can consume over 90% of the world resources and nobody can touch us!”

As I indicated in my last line, I am not afraid of even terrorists, I am afraid of powers who HAVE used the bomb and STILL posses it.

A

The Unedited Fairy Tale of Safina and Zordar BG,

One of the best pieces of humor I`ve read in a long time. I especially liked the way you bring both the worlds of desis and West together in a spicy formula :)

Pretty good for a 20 min effort. Keep up the good work!

Anwar

p.s. some of us desis don`t know anything else to say but criticize, don`t you believe them for a minute!

Towards a Nuclear Weapons Free World Very direct and concise. Your article is very simple and straight forward, some authors try to keep the reader guessing or bring them around slowly, you tell it how it is.

People should think more of the purpose of this article rather then criticizing its simplicity.

The genie is out my friend! We should now seriously consider ways to harness and control nuclear power.

Just one point, I would not be that concerned about terrorists with nuclear weapons, I am more concerned about governments who have used it and still protect and posses it.

Anwar

Mainstreaming of Peeping Tom Ferozk

All of the insistences that you have described can only be summed up in one word, ``Nasstyy``.

:)

Aliya

I believe that billions of dollars are spent each year on voyeuristic nature of human beings in general and men in particular.

I can assure you that billions more would be spent if those same men were given an opportunity to express their P.T. side!

That’s mainstream!

peace,

A

A Voice in the Wilderness shafqat

Bro, I understand how my comment may have sounded to you when I described about my understanding of Karachi 2 and `The Bridge`.

I did not ever intend to say that there is any moral difference in people living in Defense/Clifton and people in other parts of the city. I might have come across wrong but my true meaning was the `General` (Keyword) outlook of people living in Clifton/Defense and people from the rest of the city.

You live in Karachi and so have I, we both know that what ever happens to the rest of the city, Clifton/Defense keeps on chugging along. You see, the point I was trying to make with the author was that her positive-ness might not be returned from people who don`t live in safe havens!

My view of a bleak outlook in life does not point out a guy from Nazimabad! That would be ridiculous but more ridiculous would be the denial of the fact when `conditions` go bad in karachi, both these areas are affected the same!

So, in the end I believe that people from across the bridge get MORE affected by the gun culture (thus have more of a negative view of things) then people in Defense/Clifton where all the beauracrats, army personnel, etc etc live who will protect themselves at any cost!

Corruption was the underlying meaning here. Nothing more....

A

Mainstreaming of Peeping Tom hmmmmmmmmm

I kinda scrupled with what to say about your article. Being a typical Paki male I tend to be a little on the conservative side. We prejudge people and put them into neat little boxes of our mind.

I am sleazy but would never admit it, I might shy away from a blond who looks like the Amazon woman but would look at another desi girl like she is prime meat.

I try to ignore the sleazy talk shows of the Jerry Springer kind but I cannot deny that catching a glimpse of it on late night TV is entertaining.

Miami was beautiful last summer and yes catching an unknowing glimpse of shiny naked beautiful bodies was exhilaration......such is a desi male.

But wait, thats just not a typical desi male, this is the same with all male humanoids the world over........now that`s MAINSTREAM!

hmmmmmmmmmm

p.s. excellent article!

A Voice in the Wilderness shandana

You weren`t just going on! :) You made a good point, I am pleasantly surprised at the amount of confidence you have in the people of Karachi.

Although I still believe that Karachi 2 people have a pretty bleak outlook towards the future, but there is no denying the fact these people have, are, and will always defiantly face all the atrocities of Pakiland.

I wish you all the best bud and god`s speed with you.

A

A Voice in the Wilderness Shandana,

Hey! wow excellent piece of work my friend, I am truly impressed. As a Paki guy who grew up in the `motherland` and went to Amreeka to study when he was a kid, and after 8 years of schooling and working professionally is now returning......thanks!

Your article gives me hope that we still are humans living in Karachi. If you talk to anyone here it seems like Karachiites (sp?) have all turned into some form of mutated animals.

But not to sound too critical of your work, I wonder if people living `across the bridge` in Karachi 2, would have the same positive words to say about the `city of lights`. The bridge of course is the Clifton Bridge, and by Karachi 2, I mean people who are not affluent enough to live in Clifton/Defense. You see, although I have lived here for 8 years but I come to Pakistan every 4 months, so I kinda have a good idea about what’s up in the `holy land`.

So, I think some of the Karachi 2 inhabitants might disagree with your positive-ness about the city..…..just a thought my friend.

Again an excellent article!

Anwar

A Voice in the Wilderness Shahbaz,

Wohhhh relax man!! You gonna bust a vein or something!

Okay here goes brother, Pakistan has been independent for a mere 50+ years (``But what about China they have been independent for less``.......oh please spare me the rhetoric and listen up). We are still like a child in the home of great nations (USA etc).

Give us some time, Inshallah we will prove to the world that we are basically `good people` and do the `right thing` in the end!

Now the question arises, do you wanna be a part of a nation which is striving to be great? Or do you want to be a coward and run to a more `civilized` place.

Well it all depends, do you believe in standing up and fighting for yourself or do you just get the first plane out and write articles about how bad Pakistan is!

Have you read some of Bina Shah`s articles??? WOW man, a feminist in Pakistan!! (standing up and fighting for herself) she might be right or wrong but I respect her for staying!

So chill, leave if you want too, stay if have the b@$%s, otherwise come join the easy life in the `civilized` world and you can tell your children how much you did for the country you were born in.

Kudos to you,

Anwar

A Heavy Price to Pay First off, I would like to appreciate Ms. Bina`s choice of the topic which is obviously a very `hands off` and sensitive issue in Pakistan.

I would also like to appreciate Mr. Faisal`s comments against vivid comparisions and mentions about the Prophet`s (PBUH) wives etc.

Now, as a son/brother who grew up with professional women in the fields of medicine and business, I have a very humble opinion about women in Pakistan:

The basic Paki guy mentality is, `Put the person down until they push back or resist`. Yes it is true that the status of women in Pakistan is nothing to be proud of but if seen in a bigger picture Pakistan has been one of the few countries in this world who actually gave women a chance to exceed in life and become superior to men!

Point in fact: Benazir Bhutto. Although, BB did not do jack for women in Pakistan but she was given a chance. This proves that in Pakistan if a women stands up for herself she will be given the respect she deserves, maybe not the first time but eventually she will succeed!

As mentioned earlier, I have seen my mother and sister`s demand and get a lot of respect from a typical Paki male only because they looked them straight in the eye and said what they had to say.

This only makes me believe more that women in Pak need to get respect for themselves FIRST and then demands respect from men.

It is absolutely true that Islam gives more rights to women then any other religion in this world, but if you want to come from that angle you have to follow it through all the way and being a feminist is not following Islam.

So just like in any other aspect in life, you first have to believe in yourself and then ask others to believe in you.

thanks for your time,

Anwar

On The Other Hand I am moving back to Pakistan after 8 years of living in the U.S.

Tahnoon, the two things in your article which really caught my eye were; Pak gets a lot of bad press and how different Pakistanis look from the outside, how different they are from the inside.

I`ve always had real close ties with the motherland, but there is a undeniable fact that no one can deny, due to your position only as a student it was okay to live there for a `while`. Pakistan becomes very different if you try to make a living there. Pakistan is the ONLY free country in the world, free for the rich!

With this thought in mind, a middle class man like myself has started the journey back home.

I guess I am a gambling man!

On Being an Ex-Expatriate Amazing, this article hits home with what I am going thru right now too!

I am a Pakistani who came here when he was 19, did his undergrad then grad studies. Now I have a `good` job, house, etc etc. But I am going back this October.

Anyone I have told, be it here in America or in Pakistan about my plans to return, call me crazy and seriously try to advice me against coming back.

Your article has given me lots of hope, since we both have the same back ground and you survived, I know now that I can too! :)

Anwar

So, Are You Pakistan? First off I will like to comment on the quality of this site which is unbelievably good. Keep up the good work people.

Secondly, Mr. Ardeshir Minwalla talks about an era of Pakistan before destructive forces of Shia/sunni riots, factionalism, and discrimination had swept over the country.

Yes, everybody who criticizes Pakistan is absolutely right, it is a country where corruption rules and women are treated like 3rd grade citizens.

But lets take into consideration one more point, the country has been independent for just 51 years (as opposed to more than 150 for most of the western countries). We are still trying to learn how to walk on our two feet, we might have failed many times, but we have succeeded in some places too.

Apart from being the 7th nuclear power in this world, a poor third world country like Pakistan is also a place where nobody dies from hunger or famine. In Pakistan people complain about the heat, lack of basic utilities, and safety. Yet! we have bigger houses, cars, and our bellies are bigger then they were a month ago.

My grand father tells me that at the time of Independence (only 5 decades ago) the foreign office consisted of one desk and couple of chairs, that were all the resources Pakistan could muster to face the whole world . He had to literally beg for pens, paper, etc. Now he tells me that he cannot believe the size of the building in Islamabad which consists the foreign office, with a desk for each major country in this world.

The point that I am trying to make is that, don`t loose heart, one day we will arise from these shambles return to the glory Mr. Minwalla refers too. Pakistan might look like the worst country in the world right now, but the `majority` of us will lay down our lives for it in a heartbeat.

As my Parsi school principal Mrs. Mistri told me before I left Pakistan for higher education in U.S., ``Aray Dikraa, Pakistan will not go anywhere, remember you are tied to it, for good or for bad, so you better come back``......

I just did!

Anwar