Dhokha and Being a Muslim in India Kaal bhai,

Muslims will become a majority in Assam and Bengal only after these states become truly secular with strong institutions that commit to a secular future. Being an optimist I see political parties realizing this. But my realistic side tells me that a lot of people are going to die. Most of the dead will be poor Muslims.

Dhokha and Being a Muslim in India Kaal:

"If Hindus want to be the first ones to satisfy Muslims ..."

I love the way you give ownership of India to the Hindus.

Dhokha and Being a Muslim in India Mohar:

"instead, muslims confine themselves in the ghetto - both physically and mentally and just sulk about it..."

They do? Except for the guy who writes for Dawn, I haven't seen sulking.

"... when things boil over - start riots and violence in name of injustice and what not..."

This is not bad. In uncivilized countries this ought to happen till people realize that there ain't any point killing each other. Seen "Gangs of Nueva York"? The govt., however, should not take sides like it did in Gujrat.

Dhokha and Being a Muslim in India Dear tahmed sahib,

Muslims in India are not going around crying "hey we are victims". Some Muslims, like some Brahmans, etc. maybe .... but these are exceptions. Now demanding affirmative action (through political power) is not "playing the victim". It is "demanding" .... same as Ambani "demanding" subsidies, or a share of the noooclear pie. Actually, Muslims are far behind other groups in demanding affirmative action. I wish they were more assertive.

Dhokha and Being a Muslim in India Mohar ....,

"DM continues feeding into the widespread muslim petulance by harping on the "promises"... but ther reality is that Nobody promised anybody a damn thing... nobody owes muslims a damn thing..."

D_M patronises. Muslims stayed back because they wanted to OR because it was not feasible for them to move to Pakistan. People are not fools, they do not believe politicians. Plus, no-one needs to do good to "them". IMs, like others, will have to do well for themselves.

By the way, mohar why do you surprise me once in a while?

A Fatal Act-Bad News for India Pakistan Relations HP,

A bunch of Soviet trained elites (Ike for some reason turned Afghanistan down), a bunch of cut-throat ruffians patronized by these elites and a few experimenting feudal nawabzadas made up the "Left" in Afghanistan. There is nothing to discuss about their "policies" .... I see them as a class of partying and murdering good-for-nothings .... who tried to implement certain ad hoc "orders" from the SU but failed miserably. There is nothing to discuss here as failure to implement without organization is obvious. You cannot compare their "implementations" with those by Nasser or Indira Gandhi. Even Salvadore Allende had a better organization. The "Left" in Afghanistan was a joke.

BUT, as pavo correctly informs us, what survives today is much more mature and effective ... and even then is worthless, relative to the other players.

A Journey Interrupted: Being Indian in Pakistan by Farzana Versey Mohar:

"Farzana's identity crisis and confusion leads her to identify with taliban and reach all sorts asinine conclusions - arjun has ...."

I believe that both you and arjun are deeply in love with FV ... but do not have the guts to ask her out for chai.

A Journey Interrupted: Being Indian in Pakistan by Farzana Versey tahmed sahib,

Now, now .... you are being naughty again. Where is the Mrs.?

A Journey Interrupted: Being Indian in Pakistan by Farzana Versey ts,

"While some (arjun and mohar) think that these folks are anti indian, they may indeed be the very thing that makes india shine....so you see...the comment of "intellectual giants amongst an ocean of mental midgets""

Got you!! I disagree though about arjun and mohar being mental midgets and Arundhati and FV being intellectual giants. But you and I can live with such disagreements. By the way .... had there been no arjuns and mohars there would be no FVs and vice versa!

A Journey Interrupted: Being Indian in Pakistan by Farzana Versey Dear ts,

I find FV and Arundhati Roy very different. Ms. Roy does not seem to know what she does not know while FV knows what she does not know. This honesty I find very refreshing. It also makes her writings bold and honest. It also induces readers like me, who abhor the complicated writing style of desi authors including FV, to spend more time on her writings to try figure out what she is trying to say. Having done so, I believe I have been able to relate to (not understand mind you) some issues in a manner that she perhaps does. For me, at least, this has been a satisfying learning experience.

As far as your seeing most Indians as dumb except for the likes of FV, Arundhati and Deepak Chopra .... I have a feeling that you haven't understood FV at all. She may even take it as an insult. FV identifies more with the dumb Indian spread out between the likes of arjun and me than with your Californian Deepak Chopra.

Cheers.

Attack in Mohmand #89 Posted by TehsinA:

"It is so simple:"

NO, you think all the interactors on this thread are FOOLS. No you are the fool, idiot, imperialist, peon of the west, hamidm, tahmed, jihadi, hinjew. Phew! Yes, so OK where were we...

Oh! It is you? Fool, idiot, imperialist, peon of the west, hamidm, tahmed, jihadi, hinjew ... I have proved to you that you are confused and that you know nothing. And I have proved to you that I am right and that I know more than you.

So there .... things are not that simple. Do you get it now?

Attack in Mohmand HP:

"You are discussing policy and not something in isolation."

Since it is relative, policy can be better or worse. So I do not see why a "better response" would have no meaning given any "situation". There are several hypotheses flying around, I do not see why a comparative evaluation cannot be made.

When you say that I can do the exercise myself, of course I can. But it would be incomplete and stupid given my grasp of the issue. In any case, I have said what I had to say. I am off to the under-world.

Attack in Mohmand #33 Posted by HP:

HP:

You are making a mountain out of a mole-hill. Forget my assumptions and throw them into the dust-bin. For the time being, and at least in pavo's board, I am not interested in figuring out what the US needs to do. Here is my point. If one is criticizing Pakistani responses to US actions, I would like to know what are the "better" responses and why are they "better". Plus, I would also like to know whether the "better" responses are feasible. Simple as that.

Attack in Mohmand Masadi:

We hear you and have been hearing you for 1001 posts. Your points and perceptions are incisive, deep, knowledgeable and intelligent. What you have to say and have repeated again and again is:

The US elites are behind the problems of Pakistan. They need to be defeated. People who disagree with you are idiots and peons of the west.

WE HEAR YOU MASADI, YOU NEED NOT REPEAT YOURSELF!

Attack in Mohmand Zeemax:

I know your view. Your stating repeatedly, along with detours like "... (GT) you know nothing about Pakistan ...", will not convince me that your views are congruent to those of a sizeable proportion of the Pakistanu people. Read the article you posted for me clearly. Even the Afghans are getting irritated with hot heads like you. The commander said: "These Pakistanis are too hot-blooded. They want to fight every day." Out of politeness, he did not add ... "hence they are stupid fighters".

Zeemax, I have my views too: " Some tribal/feudal leaders are playing havoc with the lives and beliefs of many Pakistanis". So there ...

Attack in Mohmand Masadi:

"In this clear very clear alternative that GT knows about but denies he has read on chowk, Pakistan needs to use all means open to it to stop this cross border BS by the Americans including cutting off their proxy supply lines to the Taliban..."

I am talking about a CLEAR policy perspective which systematically deals with political and military feasibility. Just saying that a democratic govt will be able to do so is not enough. One has to clearly show why and how. I repeat once again that I have not seen such an article (or interact) in chowk. I would be happy to see one.

Stating that I am "confused" or "know nothing about Pakistan" will not get the debate anywhere. Even if the labels were to be true.