Why Doesn’t the World Care? Looks like things are already starting to change in Pakistan. F-16s are, easily, the most important (and popular) piece of military equipment in Pakistan. After the nukes, they have the larges deterent value of anything in Pakistan. And it is after 15 years of intense effort that Pakistan was able to obtain them, from the USA. The military giving up on F-16s, especially after India having increased its military budget by gigantic proportions, is like a kid giving up on candy.

Indeed, a good move from Musharraf. He will get a lot of points in Pakistan, and outside Pakistan, for this..........Pakistan has enough deterence against India, through its nukes........So this is a good opportunity for Pakistan, to change direction and re-allocate its budgets..........

``Pakistan postpones F-16 purchases

Pakistan`s President Pervez Musharraf says he will postpone the purchase of F-16 fighter planes from the US.`` (www.bbc.co.uk/urdu)

Sufi Encounter Someone who has articulated what I was attempting to say, in a more eloquent fashion. Kamila Shamsie is one of the English language`s fastest rising young novel writers in the world.

``Musical notes``

by Kamila Shamsie
Prospect: Issue III

Karachi, 3am, winter 1999. I am sitting in a garden where the temperature is several degrees higher than in the adjoining driveway. It could be because of all the people
packed into the garden, but it seems more plausible that the heat is generated by the
woman on stage. With her hands raised above her head, she is belting out songs in a
voice that can veer from heartbreak to ecstasy as though they are adjacent emotions.

Someone sitting next to me asks, ``Do you think the neighbours mind?``

Another responds: ``Mind? Are you crazy? This is Abida Parveen!``

It might begin to convey her status and that of the Sufi music she sings to explain that you could find entire neighbourhoods, possibly towns, in Pakistan where the residents would be delighted to be kept up until dawn by the sound of Parveen. There are a host of political, cultural and religious comments to be made about her popularity and importance, but all discussion of Abida Parveen must start with her sound.

``Pakistan`s Nina Simone!`` an English friend of mine said when I took him to hear her at the South Bank a few years ago, and it is true the two singers share something in the resonance and strength of their voices. And as Simone moved between the blues,
gospel and jazz, so Abida Parveen`s repertoire includes the ghazal, the kafi and the
qawwali (the last involving an improvisational quality that some listeners compare to
scat). She is a remarkable qawwal ”the rendition of Must Qalandar`` with which she ends many of her concerts is among the most rousing pieces of music anyone is ever likely to hear, and is one of the many reasons she is often talked of as the heir to the great Pakistani qawwal Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. but it is with the kafi that she is most closely associated.

Love songs with mystical undertones, kafis make use of refrains that form the fixed points around which the singer can string together verses from many different sources. Though most kafis are written by men (Abida Parveen feels a special affinity to those of the Sufi saint Shah Abdul Latif), the poets often take on a female persona as they write of their passion for God, which allows Parveen to bring a particular intimacy to their words.

The writer and critic Aamer Hussein explains Parveen`s widespread popularity by pointing out that, ``she combines classical and folk in the best possible way, and brings together a modern sensibility with classical training. She is able to cut across barriers” she appeals equally to people who like dancing, to those who listen for the pleasures of sound and to those who understand the demands of kafi and qawwali.``

The near devotion with which Parveen is regarded in Pakistan owes a great deal to the
genre to which she harnesses her remarkable voice. She moves from one style to another,
but all within the Sufi tradition of music, with God as the beloved and the singer/poet as the supplicant/lover. To understand how radical this paradigm is, it is necessary only to consider the role of third party intervention in the relationship of lovers. ”it is almost always unwanted, meddlesome and irrelevant. In other words, the Sufic tradition does not allow for any outside force to impose its will, its interpretation, on that relationship between the individual and God. So no clerics, no learned scholars,`` no governments are in any position to dictate the terms under which one can express or enact one`s relationship to God.

Bulle Shah, one of Pakistan`s most famous Sufi saints, has a couplet:

Masjid dha de, mandir dha de, dha de jo kucch dainda
Par kisi da dil na dhain, Rab dilan vich rehnda.

Destroy the mosque, destroy the temple, destroy everything in sight
But never destroy a human heart ”for there God resides.``

Abida Parveen echoed this sentiment in a recent interview, saying,``Religion was made by man, love was made by God.`` That she has been able to freely express such ideas in Pakistan over the last three decades, ”starting in the years of General Zia`s military rule, which were characterised by the political ascent of Islamic orthodoxy says a great deal about how deep-rooted the Sufi tradition is, particularly in the provinces of Sindh and the Punjab (it is no coincidence that these are the two of Pakistan`s four provinces in which Islamic fundamentalists have historically been weakest).

Those who think secularism is the antidote to fundamentalism should make their way to one of the annual festivals of the Sufi saints: over half a million devotees come to listen to Sufic singers express devotion in a manner that makes a mockery of the claim that ecstatic music is antithetical to Islam. In Pakistan, very few people express a real interest in secularism for most, religion is part of the fabric of life, and secularism denotes absence. But Sufism, with its ideas of love and tolerance, is a very real presence. And no politician or religious leader, no matter how orthodox, has ever dared challenge it.

Sufi Encounter Sufism - genuine Sufi`ism of the Bulleh Shah variety, not of the Asif Naqshbandi variety - is what defines Pakistan. That is, infact, what the religious and social soul of the areas of Pakistan happens to be - especially the Sindhi, Saraiki and Punjabi areas. Such Sufism is the religious and social historical base of the Pakistani society........

Everything else that is and has been introduced into Pakistan, including the Orthodox Islamism and the Western secularism are very alien to the social history of the current areas constituting Pakistan. Which is why neither Orthodox Islamism nor Western Secularism has ever been able to gain a foothold, in the society, without the backing of major political phenomenon and/or major govt. efforts...........

Even today, Western secularism and Orthodox Islamism are limited to exclusive groups on both fringes of the Pakistani society. Both these groups, however, have a strong hold on Pakistani media, and thus are able to punch far above their weights, in term of social and political discourse. Yet at the common person`s level, barring the extremes, the Pakistani society does not follow Western secularism nor Orthodox Islamism. There has, infact, been no long-term social change of any sort that has been initiated in the domestic society, due to any Secualrist or Orthodox Islamic ideas. Both Jinnah and Zia were unable to impose their Western Secualrist and Orthodox Islamic ideas, respectively, onto the Pakistani society........Jinnah gave up before even starting, realising there would be no takers, and limited his speeches to insisting that Orthodox Islalmism (theocracy) should not be allowed in Pakistan. It is difficult to find the word, ``Secularism`` in his speeches. And Zia tried hard, but with only short term success. After his death, the popularity of Orthodox Islamic political parties reduced to 1% of the elected Assemblies. Even his own institution, the Army, never had an Orthodox Islamist, as its head, after his death.........

Even today, the orthodox Islamic thinkers and secular thinkers from Pakistan, are virtually unknown, with limited popularity. While shrines of sufis and their poetry etc. are still extremely popular, amongst the, ``unwashed masses.`` In fact, it is almost impossible to come up with historical influential names from the regions of Pakistan, in the domain of Western secularism or Orthodox Islamism. Names like Dr. Israr Ahmad or Dr. Iqbal Ahmad etc. will not last beyond their generation (Jinnah being the only exception, since he founded the country). While Data Ganj Baksh and Bulleh Shah are still phenomally popular, even after centuries........

This is not to denounce nor project Western secularism nor Orthodox Islamism. It is just to point out a fact about the regions that constitute Pakistan. Much of the present -day Orthodox Islamism has come, into Pakistan, from Afghanistan, via NWFP. Qazi Hussain and Fazl, both, being Pathans. And to some extent, from the Middle East, via the expats who move back and forth. It has no roots anywhere locally in Pakistan. And much of the Western secularism has come in from Europe and USA, via the Western educated upper class urban circles of two cities - Lahore and Karachi. This has no roots in the local region, either........

Neither are a result of a local organic transformation.............

Having studied traditional Islam in quite a bit of detail, and having debated Western secularism with quite a few people, I have to state that neither has appealed to me, as a viable potentially successful alternative, within the context of Pakistan, as much as the Sufi-ism of Punjabi/Sariaki/Sindhi variety...........

Sufi`ism is, thus, the happy medium on which those pushing Western Secularism and those pushing Islamic Orthodoxy, should agree to settle on, for Pakistan. Nothing else will work and will only divide the society.............

Why Doesn’t the World Care? As of right now, the world has committed $2 billion to Pakistan. And the President`s relief fund has raised $100 milliion domestically. In addition, huge amounts have gone through local charities and independent efforts. And most of all, the international community and local/expat Pakistanis have provided services (medical, labor etc.) on a personal effort. Along with this quite a bit of equipment, has come through as well, like helicopters, etc. Flying one Chinook for one hour can cost tens of thousands of dollars...........A local TV Channel - ARY - had four of its own transport aircraft flying at $40,000/day.....

This is quite a bit..........Though the more, the better

From what I have gathered, the highest amount of money pledged and given is as follows:

Turkey : $150 million (govt)
USA: $136 million (govt) + $40 million+ (people) + Chinooks etc.
Saudi Arabia: $133 million (govt) + 30 million+ (people)
UAE: $100 million (govt)
Pakistanis: $100 million (President`s Relief Fund) + huge amounts of personal help

I have a strange feeling the USA might use this opportunity to attempt to build up its image in the area. This is, infact, a perfect opportunity for the USA to do so. When it helped in Indonesia, during the tsunami, its approval ratings in the area, according to Clinton, went up from 35% to 65%. If it even spends $1-2 billion dollars in NWFP and Kashmir, it will have done more for its image in the region, and in the Muslim world, than spending $100 billion in Iraq.......Let`s see how Bush handles it. So far he has handled it well..............

Why Doesn’t the World Care? I think there have been so many incidences this year, that people and countries have donor fatigue........In addition, the countries may be cautious of the corruption that is rampant in govt. and political circles of Pakistan, thereby, being reluctant to go through the govt.

I am not sure if this earthquake can be compared to the tsunami. In the tsunami around 220,000 people died. That is about three times as many as the figure for this earthquake, so far. And they seemed to have died immediately, in the tsunami i.e either one is dead or one lived. While in this earthquake, a lot of people died in stages. When 220,000 people die, all of a sudden, the impact is far more........In the case of the earthquake, it was resources that were needed more so than money. And I think they did arrive from all over the world........Helicopters, doctors etc.......In addition, the tsunami occured across mulitiple countries. While this earthquake was basically in one country.......

There is really one country in the world that can give in huge numbers. And that is the USA. And it seems like the USA is committing itself for the long run in the rehabilitation. I think China may have made similar remarks (though not sure). It is this rehabilitation/reconstruction where money will be needed, the most. And I have a feeling quite a bit of it is going to arrive. Unlike the tsunami, where the money may have been needed immediately.......

In the end, every country has to fend for itself. It has to provide resources domestically. That is where Pakistan will need to deliver, mostly, on its own.............

I am quite surprised Turkey came in with such a huge amount. It is not a very rich country, like Saudi Arabia. I think Turkey was hit by an earthquake, itself. And maybe that had an impact. I am also surprised that UAE came in with such a big amount. $100 million for a tiny country, is quite large. I am also surprised China hasn`t done much. Though I heard that they will be concentrating on the reconstruction part..........

Bomb Blasts in Delhi Ranger #346: ``be a man and post your own photo so that it can be analysed at length by the folks here. It would certainly throw a better insight than any of your silly lenghty never ending posts on how and why pakis are fairer or whatever than Indians.``

You seem to have taken an innocent scientific study to be something personal.......

Don`t worry. I don`t claim to be the next Brad Pitt. If I post my pic up here, it will scare the hell out of everyone. People will stop visiting Chowk. I am almost as ugly as the next South Asian. And I am not stating that Pakistanis are more, ``whatever`` than Indians. They are not more whatever. They are only fairer. Nothing more, nothing less. I am simply trying to get to the bottom of this hatred that exists amongst our Indian colleagues for Pakistanis.

And I am using the research of Indian professors and companies to reach a conclusion. So forget about me. What are your views about Prof Bharat`s comments? As well as the market research carried out by the Indian company.........

Bomb Blasts in Delhi Salim_Chauhan #339: `` understand that you are the model boy for the new Preparation G cream. I can just hear you howling and screaming all over Chowk until........``

Don`t shoot the messenger. I didn`t make the ad. I think the matching name was a pure coincidence. I don`t think they were talking about you. To the best of my knowledge you have never been in such an ad........

I think you may have me confused also. I prefer Ben Gay. Perparation G (or H) is not my style........

In any case, what are your views about the theory, jointly presented, by myself and Prof Bharat of Tata Institute............

Bomb Blasts in Delhi Ranger #336: ``its either a lame attempt at humor on your part , or you are just stupid.
.....If true , that would mean Indians are fairer than Pakis.......coz Indians are obviously superior , more powerful , influential........``

It is quite possible that I am stupid. So I will not debate that part with you. But my interests in this subject are purely scientific........Based on that, your comment does not hold up. Indians may be many things, in comparison to Pakistanis. But they certainly aren`t fairer. Even our darky Muhajirs from Karachi and Hyderabad, Sind are fairer than most Indians......

Secondly, I am pointing to the research from Prof Shallini Bharat, a socio-psychologist with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. I was more than shocked to discover that an illustrious Indian researcher, like Prof. Bharat (the guy is named after the country) had reached the same conclusions, as I. Not to mention, an up and coming successful Indian company`s market research, furthur proving my point.......

Now my wife studied a lot of sociology. So I know that sociologists have nothing better to do with their time than study things like this. So I think this professor must have spent a lot of time researching this issue, before coming up with his conclusions............

Bomb Blasts in Delhi Ranger #333: ``Picture of a typical Pakistani male :``

Actually, that is not typical. That would be a Pakistani male (faisaluno, I believe) who has part of his ancestory from the wrong side of the border. No offence to faisaluno, but my theory recognizes the fact that the average Pakistani is not better looking than the average Greek, Canadian, Norwegian and New Zealander (or even Afghani, if you clean him up a bit)......The theory is based on a South Asian domain......

There is one part of the BBC article I found a bit odd:

``Prof Shallini Bharat, a socio-psychologist with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, believes this complex is a result of the country`s history.......``India`s rulers have always been fair, be it the Aryans in the early centuries or Europeans in later years. Fairness is equated with superiority, power and influence, therefore the preference for lighter skin.``

Now, why does he skip directly from Aryans to Brits. What about the 800 year rule of Afghans, and Turkics and Central Asians and Persians etc.?...........

I would be interested in your comments about his statement, ``Fairness is equated with superiority, power and influence, therefore the preference for lighter skin...`` Would that mean, in the South Asian context, Pakistanis are considered superior, influential and powerful? Which is why they are so hated on this site? My research indicates this to be true.........As does market analysis by the skin company in India..........

Bomb Blasts in Delhi Over time, I have tried to figure out why our Indian colleagues on this site, dislike the Pakistanis so much. Dislike being too mild a word. Why do they want Pakistan obliterated? Why do they want Muslims finished? Including their own. Why do they want to occupy our land and take over our water? And most of all, why do they try to humiliate us by saying we have no chemist shops?

It has taken a lot of observation and debate, but I have finally reached the conclusion. It has nothing to do with Akhund Baharat. And Baharat Mata. Nor does it have anything to do with Aurangzeb nor Ghaznavi........

I think they hate us because we are beautiful (in comparison to them, though not in comparison to Australians and Norwegians and Canadians or Greeks). I was highly impressed by the following article on BBC, which solidified my theory, even furthur:

`` All is fair. So believes an Indian cosmetics company that has launched a new skin-lightening cream exclusively for men in an attempt to target the growing number of metrosexual males.

Called Fair and Handsome, the advertisement for the product gives the message: be fair or remain in dark oblivion.

Surveys carried out by cosmetics companies suggest growing numbers of Indian men are using the creams.....Our initial worry was men would be shy and not buy it. But these fears have proven unfounded.....the firm`s director, Mohen Goenka, says: ``We tested the product in the southern city of Hyderabad and the response was much better than we expected.

.....`Wheat fields`

The domestic skin-lightening cream industry is valued at over $190m - a strong indicator of the great Indian obsession with fair skin......There`s not one guy who admits to being dark and attractive, they just say we are wheatish and fair

Editor of men`s magazine, Man`s World, Jerry Pinto, says most dark-skinned men are as insecure as women and go to equal lengths, albeit secretly, to achieve lighter skin. ...

``So there is just not one dark-skinned person in this country, they are all rolling wheat fields of masculinity.``

Prof Shallini Bharat, a socio-psychologist with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, believes this complex is a result of the country`s history.

``India`s rulers have always been fair, be it the Aryans in the early centuries or Europeans in later years. Fairness is equated with superiority, power and influence, therefore the preference for lighter skin.``

Most advertisements for the creams tend to portray that dark skin will hold a person back, whereas fair skin will mean social acceptance and even success in the chosen profession, as well as among the opposite sex.

The advert for the male cream shows a dark-skinned college boy (named Salim_Chauhan) relegated to the back seat and ignored by the girls (named Saminasha, ZahraJ, Zeena and Scout) until he uses the product. Soon enough, his complexion lightens and girls flock to him like moths to a flame.

Prof Bharat says this sort of advertising is not good for Indian society as it promotes fair skin in a country where a large percentage of the population is dark.`` (www.bbc.co.uk)

Based on this, I think the best course of action, for Pakistanis is to start setting up skin cream plants in Pakistan, and exporting them to India, for our colleagues. This will eventually reduce the dislike of Pakistanis, amongst our Indian colleagues, on this site............I hereby offer a joint venture to any of our Indian colleagues for, ``Skin Whitening Research Labs of Islamabad...``

Bomb Blasts in Delhi Urstruly/hamidm mian: I think one needs to keep things in perspective.........

Americans should be thanked by Pakistanis for their efforts during the earthquake. Specifically, the American helicopter pilots should be thanked by every Pakistani. Those of us who know a thing or two about aviation, will tell you that flying helicopters (and C-130s) in those areas is amongst the most difficult flying jobs in the world. Especially for those pilots who have never flown there before.

There are two groups of people who are true heroes in this earthquake. One are the doctors, from Pakistan and other countries. And the other are the helicopters - from the Pakistan Army and other countries (primarily the USA and UN).........

As for America harming Pakistan: It really hasn`t done much to harm Pakistan or to help it. It has been indifferent to it, historically. Hence I don`t think Pakistanis can complain about America. It has screwed the Arab common guy, quite thoroughly. But Pakistanis are not Arabs.........

In any case, I think the USA has done quite a bit for the earthquake. I think this could have been a good area for Bush to score a lot of points in the region. If he decides to come in very heavily with the aid, it will do him far more good in the Muslim world, than any misguided ideas of changing regimes in Iraq etc...........

Bomb Blasts in Delhi Salim_Chay #219: ``The alternative is to exchange penises with Dr. Gupta.``

Hmm.....

How exactly does this happen? Does one have to be a member of the Gay and Lesbian movement..........

Bomb Blasts in Delhi Kulharee #: ``Romair Ji. If you are really interested, I can suggest you use a pencil Sharpener.``

Wouldn`t this result in circumcision. And not un-circumcision. For un-circumcision, one would think some kind of glue or stitching material would probably be involved.........

Bomb Blasts in Delhi How exactly does a person get uncircumcised?

I watch all my episodes of ER. I have gone through every inch of the health benefit booklet that the insurance company sent to us. And I regularly watch Dr. Sanjay Gupta on CNN. Not to mention Dr. Phil, Dr. Laura and Dr. Frasier Crane. I also vividly remember all the naked pictures that I skimmed through, as a kid, when my friend and I got a hold of his physician aunt`s medical books.....

But I cannot recall any procedure for uncircumcision.............Or is it decircumcision?

Science kay karishmay..............

Bomb Blasts in Delhi I think Manmohan Singh`s immediate statement linking this terrorist attack with Pakistan, though expected, has proven counterproductive. As I had suggested, in my earlier posts.

Within a few hours, after the attacks the think tank line in India was accusing Pakistan. Within 24 hours, the Indian media and newspapers had figured out that Pakistan was involved. During the same time, Indian commentators were on Int`l channels, like BBC, openly accusing Pakistan. And in less than 48 hours, Manmohan Singh had blamed Pakistan, openly.

Crimes like this are nearly impossible to figure out, in third world countries. So I cannot see how, within 24 hours to 48 hours, Indian govt., including PM and media had figured out that Pakistan was involved. And within Pakistan, an individual organization that was involved. It took the UK and Spain longer to figure out who carried out the bombings there. And it took the USA longer to track down the McVeigh bombings. And this is despite the fact that USA/UK had accesss to exact videos of the crime. And Spain had access to complete records of who goes in and out of Spain........

How in the world did India figure out, faster than UK/USA and Spain, who committed these crimes? Even before a motive had been established, and anyone had been charged. There are no videos. No trials etc. India does not have computerized records of everyone entering and leaving India. Even if there were, it would take days to establish guilt. And then more days to trace it back to Pakistan.........

On top of this, L-e-T, whom the Indian govt. and media, immediately blame, has, itslef, denied and condemned this crime. So now where does everyone stand?

Such knee-jerk blame placing needs to stop. It will hurt India`s own interests. The world will become jaded to it after a while. Despite the claim of the Indian PM, no world body is taking any actions against Pakistan. Nor has any country condemned Pakistan. The world knows that the blame was more for internal politics, then anything else.........

However, the Indian media and public, apparently, has bought Singhs words, completely. They don`t seem to be asking questions, on providing evidence. On whether the govt. is trying to hide its own incompetence. Or other problems inside India. This is what needs to change. Indians need to start challenging their govt. to provide proof, in such situations. And only then, place blame. They should also encourage their govt. to include int`l investigators, from UN etc., so as to give legitimacy to the process.

Such blame-games create unnecessary hostility in India towards Pakistan. And they create a rebounding hostility in Pakistan, towards India. While using the media to hide problems is effective in the short term, it does not solve the problem in the long term. That requires acceptance of the truth. For example, for a long time, the US govt. pushed the idea to the US media that the insurgents in Iraq and foreign fighters from Syria and Iran etc. Everyone in the USA seemed convinced. However, now the USA govt. has, itself, admitted that only 4-6% olf the insurgents it has apprehended are foreigners! The rest are all Iraqis. This will actually help the USA in the long run, not harm it.

Similarly, an honest open investigation of this crime, with facts presented internationally, will help India, not harm it........If the facts actually do point towards Pakistan, Pakistan will have no option to accept, if the facts are presented internationally.........

P.S. Though one has to admit that the media campaign has had such an affect that Chowk Staff, even, ended up placing this article on the front page. And even made statements related to Pakistan in the article, before any info was out! While it does not place such articles about attacks in Pakistan on the front page. Much less connect them to India, before the facts are out...............

Bye Bye NAM, Hello Realpolitik! Anil #356: ``agree with you too, and also wonder what is the issue then?``

Kashmir needs to be de-militarized, from all sides and left to itself, for a decade, or more. People on both sides of the LOC should be allowed to meet as and when they want, since they are brothers and sisters. And no side should make any ridiculous statement about the place, i.e. it belongs to India or belongs to Pakistan, or we will accept this solution, but not that solution.............

So what is the issue in this? Certain people are unwillilng to de-militarize Kashmir. It has the most soldiers per sq. ft. in the world, by a gigantic margin. And too many people make too many statements about the place, due to domestic poltical pressures, which are not needed at the moment, i.e. No boundary changes, or Yes boundary changes etc.

So if every side could keep its mouth shut on Kahsmir for a while. Get the soldiers out, so the locals can sleep peacefully. And leave the place alone, and let people move openly, it will end up on the backburner, automatically, in a nature manner. If people want to put it on the backburner to close the issue, once and forever, through military force, then I am not sure if the term backburner is correct.........