Right from the start, Pakistan has been living under a lot of challenges ;) Thousands of people migrated to reach the lands they wanted to live in i.e. India and Pakistan at the time of separation in 1947 and thousands were killed in this process. We got Pakistan with a specific goal and that was the Muslims could live in a separate land as they do differ in context of philosophy and life style to Hindus. We could have been living together with our Hindu fellows but I personally think that it was a right decision since it was better to live in separate land instead of fighting over petty issues. One can bring two good reasons against this idea: firstly there are still millions of Muslims who are living in India then why some Muslims did prefer a separate state? Secondly Pakistan could not reach the goal it was created for. Both of these reasons are strong and logical ones.
Well, as far as first point is concerned, I feel it is almost impossible to bring a solid result that what could have been better i.e. one land or two lands? At the time of Movement for the separate land i.e. Pakistan, Muslims were of both opinions, there were those who were in favour of separate land and they had their strong reasons and there were those who were not in favour of separate land. I am personally in favour of the separate land although it was a difficult choice and it took a lot of sacrifices; choice of a united land was also fine but I don’t feel good at it. Today, Muslims of India are living fine but I think Indian society was not that open and liberal at that time (i.e. around 1947) so things were more complicated and harder on that stage.
Second question is that why Pakistan could not reach its goal of being a strong and prosperous Islamic state? Well, it is also a hard question, I feel that there have been some natural reasons for that failure and there also have been some reasons due to fault of Pakistani nation. We have been up against both internal and external challenges. Internal challenges have been struggle for a system of state, we have been following a system which is mixture of Islamic rules and other ones and people have been divided over the choice of a system; I think this one has been our biggest problem till today. In addition to that there have been problems like instable political system, weak economy, weak educational system, class system, weak judiciary, corruption, unfair division of resources among provinces etc. Our external challenges have been wars with India, Kashmir issue, wars in Afghanistan and of course our marriage with USA and engagement with UK ;). Some of our international enemies like friends have been fantastic and we will never forget their wonderful contributions towards Pakistan ;)
Anyway, we somehow survived many difficult times, conspiracies and illnesses during last sixty years. I would like focus now upon the last decade of the Pakistan and current situation of it. I feel that last ten years have been of special importance for us since this is the period when we really started to change.
Last 10 years
A coup
Pakistan has been living under Army rule during much part of its life and one commando named Gen. Pervez Musharraf came on the scene like a Hollywood hero and he took the control of Pakistan in end of last century. He gave his own reasons for this brave coup and in reality there has been no neutral and open investigation that what actually happened: stories and fairytales are spread here and there. People of Pakistan felt happy that they have got a new saviour who will do magic for them e.g. he will make all the mountains of Pakistan of gold and all people will be happy and rich, in reality it was start of new fun!
Actually Mr. Musharraf is a very cunning guy since his childhood ;). I don’t know whether he was sincere towards Pakistan or was something else; as no one can read the heart of anyone. It has been hard to exactly judge him and his goals as he has been under different pressures and situations but I personally feel that he got two big problems first he tells lies shamelessly; lies sink a person and his credibility and secondly at times he has been too much diplomatic to the extent of cowardliness. In addition to that Mr. Musharraf has been living among friends who are very corrupt and cunning so he had been misused and misguided. One more thing is that Mr. Musharraf is kind of person who can lose their sanity if flattered; he starts thinking that he is very special, intelligent and brave person to the extent of exaggeration which is the problem with many people. In addition to that he has been trying to do all alone and how much a person can do alone? One has to depend upon others too and his colleagues made a lot of corruption. He did not try to take his nation into confidence at important issues and it is so hard to survive if own people are not backing up! He must have been clear that International Powers in general withstand as long as they have their interests and then they scrap anyone mercilessly. Anyhow, Mr. Commando himself is not free of fault.
Our nation is so simple and they could be cheated so easily and this coup was start of new deception.
September 11
After few years, when Mr. Musharraf was the sole power in Pakistan, happened the big bang i.e. September 11 incident!
USA has been riding on our necks rather on the necks of whole world. They made a lot of hue and cry that we have been cheated and destroyed by the Al-Qaida. Ok, whoever this Al-Qaida is and what ever they did, it was extremely wrong, no one must be allowed to kill the innocents and civilians and no one must attack other countries but those dear American fellows went too far in their hunts. They took this incident as a ground to justify all what they did, right or wrong and world was like a scared goat! No one really asked them to make a real open investigation and bring the real solid proofs so that one could look for the exact and real criminals and punish them instead of running and killing people madly. This is in no way justified to invade countries, detain people, kill them and label them as criminals without clear and solid proofs and without fair and open trial. Even the worst enemy must not be punished without solid proofs, open and fair trial.
Anyhow, Mr. Musharraf also joined the group of scared goats and did not question the doings of blind elephant and this was a start for the fun for us. People of Pakistan were detained, tortured and killed in Pakistan on the basis of allegations/assumptions of so called terrorism and handed over to the USA for further treatment/fun. They were hospitalised in X-ray camp and likes and they had a lot of fun there and world became a better place now: king and queen are happy. I don’t know how many more terrorists are there in this world? May be USA knows better and it is also possible that God is also not aware of it as only USA knows better; may be my name is also there in the list ;) If really my name is there then they don’t need to forge any story against me, come to me simply and I will go with you. Don’t put pressure on your precious minds for more plans.
Here, let me make it clear that I hate Al-Qaida, if there is any such group as it is more a virtual/media and mysterious group, and those Muslims who think that Al-Qaida helped the Muslims or Islam are wrong. First of all what they (Al-Qaida) did (if they did it) is not Islamic as Islam does not support such brutal and unjust acts; this is not Jihad it is sickness, secondly they don’t have right to be self claimed saviours of Muslims/Islam, did they took Muslims especially the scholars into confidence? No, they did not. Thirdly they provided excuses to USA for the invasions, killings and detention of Muslims! What was contribution of those innocents who were killed in this dirty war? Fourthly, it is strange if people like Usama bin Laden are not arrested beside so much advancement in technology and intelligence; but they will say it was fault of Pakistan; it is easy way to end the story and people nod their heads in affirmation like stupids and say yes yes it is fault of Pakistan without finding real factors! Fifthly, it is responsibility of the Muslims themselves and not of USA or others to detain Al-Qaida and likes and punish them for their wrong acts. Reality is that this Al-Qaida thing has proven too costly, painful and source of shame for the Muslims.
Army intervention and control of the state
Anyhow, we lived under Army rule for almost 7-8 years during last decade and it was lead by the hero of the world and champion of lies Mr. Musharraf. He used the resources of the country in the way he liked and we had to obey him. There were no chances to investigate freely what he has been doing; his main song was we are fighting against terrorism that he sung day and night; even while he slept. What does it mean the fight against terrorism? Does it mean to do all what a person likes! He received a lot of money and support in the name of this war and also got total free hand to do all what he liked: humane or inhumane. Pakistanis were not safe even in their own land as anyone could be anytime labelled as terrorist, detained and handed over to masters. We received heavy support from the USA against terrorism but we did not realise that we were actually being fed with poison!!
International pressure for the cooperation in so called war on terror
There has been immense pressure to cooperate in the war against terrorism; it was like the highest sin if a person even dares to question the things being done in the name of war on terror. Anyone who dares something against it is labelled as terrorist, fundamentalist, Taliban etc. As it was supposed that enemy of USA was mainly sitting both in Afghanistan and Pakistan so Pakistan has to cooperate in this sacred mission against terrorists. Pakistan has to shed the blood of those people who were once trained and supported by the USA and Pakistan along with blood of a lot of innocents. Those children, women and other civilians who even did not know where USA is were killed using the latest weapons. Yes, it is best use of the latest technology to kill civilians; it is nothing against human rights if people are killed by advance technology as billions have been spent to make the latest weapons! The whole war mainly has been based upon assumptions and statements. People of the world and especially Americans were taught day and night that we are fighting for your security and our enemy is very brutal and strong; and people believed everything blindly as if angel Gabriel was telling them the message of God! It was thought that every missile and bullet of USA only kills the enemies or potential enemies!
Internal divide of the people over the issue of fight along USA
Well, the Pakistani nation got divided over the extent of cooperation to the USA in this war. There have been four groups: first one was of the opinion that we should totally/blindly cooperate with USA and even fight against so called terrorists; second group was in the favour of realistic and measured cooperation; the third group was in favour of no cooperation at all and last group was of the opinion that as Afghanistan has been invaded so we should fight along with them against invaders i.e. USA. Well, every group had its own reasons and views. Some people even went to Afghanistan for the war against USA and Co. In any case, there appeared different poles at every level and in every institution. It has been a tough phase for the people. There occurred many casualties in this process to contain different groups. Some groups who thought that government was favouring the oppression and unjust of USA so they even went to the extent of suicide bombings against own people. There has been opinion that it is allowed to kill own people and it was not based upon the opinion of scholars of Islam. It has always been problem that the scholars were not consulted in the difficult issues as they are the people who can judge the situation in broadest possible context. It is opinion of majority of the scholars that suicides are forbidden and it gets even greater sin if committed against innocents/civilians. Personally I feel that first and fourth group, who were in favour of blind cooperation and fight respectively, have not been the right in their approach.
Difficult border along with Afghanistan and complex nature of the relationships of both people and countries
The border along Afghanistan is a difficult one. On both sides of this border are living those people who are historically and ethnically connected strongly. They share the faith, tribes, languages, history and ethnicities so it is very hard to keep them unconnected and unconcerned from each other. There are those people who even want to fight against the invaders in Afghanistan as they feel that its occupation is unjustified one. Pakistan Army and other security forces have been fighting to contain them and there have been efforts through the dialogue too. It increases the irritation and anger of the people in Pakistan especially of the people along the border after occasional attacks in Pakistan from Afghanistan and regular flights of spying planes of USA/NATO on the borders of Pakistan. Such acts of the USA and Co. are extremely irritating and sometimes they are clear invitation for all out war but we have been trying to be patient and I wish that war does not happen otherwise it will be very costly one for everyone. They know very well how much they are winning in Afghanistan and like to put blame of failures on Pakistan. The oil is added to the fire by the regular allegations by the USA and puppet sitting in Afghanistan that Pakistan is not doing enough against terrorists and that much support is coming for the fighters and bombers from Pakistan. Even Indian fellows also sometimes join the song of allegations which are more allegations and theories and of course there is no limit of allegations. Anyone can come for the press conference and say a lot of words!
These days new theories are coming that terrorists are threatening bigger cities of the Pakistan so they in other words want to follow and attack the invisible electric mouse of Al-Qaida and terrorists in Pakistan. These are the same forces which were used as an excuse to destroy the Iraq and Afghanistan. They say that Iraq is doing fine now! the reasons is that mission there is accomplished as it has been destroyed; Afghanistan is now current destruction point and then they are looking to destroy Pakistan. Wherever they go they leave the destruction and fires behind!!!
Here I would like to mention that Pakistan does not need to support people fighting in Afghanistan. We had been interfering there in past and many others also did so but it is almost zero now. Pakistan wants to see Afghanistan standing on its own feet as both countries have paid a lot in the wars. There are still thousands of Afghan refugees in Pakistan although thousands went back and it has been a huge challenge for the Pakistan.
Situation in Afghanistan itself is not satisfactory. There are many internal and external powers which are still operating there and it is really hard to get a clear picture of the happenings and involvements. Occasional attacks from the Afghanistan side are also a source of worry! Who does it; Afghanistan, USA, NATO or someone else? Opium is big business in Afghanistan and many hands are involved in this business; who are those who are earning millions out of it?
Al-Qaida factor and Mujahidin
Al-Qaida factor and Mujahidin (religious fighters) have been two big problems for the Pakistan. These people were bred during the fight against Russia by the USA and Pakistan; as I said our marriage with USA has been an old and interesting one but the problem is that they knew us more than we knew them. We have been the people who could be easily played with in the name of friendship, cooperation and help and that habit of ours brought us a lot of miseries and difficulties. The fact is that the international powers only care about their vested/greedy interests and all other things like peace, human rights, cooperation etc are generally of secondary importance to them. They show one hand and attack with other one; they give statements in the favour of peace but don’t forget to attack from back if got chance; they give support but never enough that others could be strong enough to stand on their own feet.
Anyhow, we had to give a lot of sacrifices and blood to contain those people who were created for the war against Russia; that was a holy mission at that time of war but now it has become terrorism; this is USA and their masters and not God who have right to define what is holy and when!!. The problem is that USA and others don’t want that we make any talks with those fighters; they want that we remain busy in this endless war so that our wonderful Army is destroyed and divides among Pakistanis bring Pakistan to the ashes; in this way their mission is accomplished but this mission is almost impossible to be accomplished!
In any case if peace comes through the peace talks then we will first go for this option no matter what others say but if this does not work then we will definitely use force against those in Pakistan who challenge the peace; we have been doing it and we will do it in future too. We can’t allow the Taliban, Al-Qaida or any other person to dictate us for their version of Islam; Islam is Islam and it can’t be in the way Taliban, Mujahidin, Al-Qaida or Liberals want it to be; it can only be in the way God told. These are the scholars of Islam and Muslims who qualify to decide in this context and not any other group (like Taliban, Mujahidin, Al-Qaida or Liberals etc) can dictate us that what we have to do! One of the best ways to contain these fighters especially Taliban is to show them the broader picture of the Islam through the scholars so that they could know the real factors!
These so called Mujhideen are sometimes stupid people who in the name of religion are easily misused. They get ready easily to make suicide attacks and even don’t try to confirm what the real commandments of the Islam are and even don’t try to judge the person who incites them. They think everyone who has long beard and talks about Jihad is right and all other are wrong. It is also very much possible that person who incites for Jihad is playing in the hands of enemies; intentionally or unintentionally.
These so called Jihadis always keep the weapons along with them and their minds are so volatile and their blood is so hot. They bring weapons so quickly even at the minor disagreement. This is not the way a person should behave; peace comes first and not war but they see things other way around.
Red mosque issue
This was one of the big incidents which happened in the recent past of Pakistan. It was one indication of the fight between two groups who posses the hard stances. Both parties showed the rigid behaviour and who paid at the end? The innocent children, women and others who did not had to do anything to the terrorism. Both parties who fought are till today defending their act but there had been no neutral inquiry into this matter and this is a pity. This incident was a big shake up for Pakistanis and Army had to pay a big price for this brutal and ruthless operation. I think both fighting parties played in the invisible hands but they didn’t realise that.
Issue of nuclear weapons and their spread
Pakistan has been alleged to be an active player in the spread of the nuclear weapons. It is hard to know the real facts in this regard as things happened at different levels and in many different circumstances. It is however clear that if something like that happened then many people was involved into it. It is also very much possible that many international forces are involved in such spreads as it is no secret that international powers do sell the weapons and earn a lot through it. There are big players in the international market who do many things which common people don’t know. People think as if all atomic weapons around the world are spread by the Pakistan; which is just a supposition and no reality. Those people who cry day and night of their innocence are in no way angels!
We had to make our defence strong as we had been under threats most of the time. India did the Atomic test first and we had to do it; not because we want war rather because we did not want to be blackmailed and threatened. It is also fear of the people that Atomic bombs of Pakistan might go into the wrong hands but this is more a fear than reality. We have extremely strong protection system for that but there is no limit of assumptions that what can happen in future; there can be thousands of theories about possibilities. It is also no secret that Atomic and other weapons were mostly used by someone whose all acts are justified! Big brother ;) and also their Masters!
Political inability and corruption
It is true that our political system has been quite bad. There is a lot of corruption and even the party system is not democratic. Those people who are influential are the heads of the parties and power is the main criteria to sustain in the politics. In last ten years; Mr. Musharraf supported those politicians who could be easily bought with money; who are with everyone who has power; they don’t care about principles and to tell lies and to cheat is as easy for them as brushing the teeth; in simple words people without feet and faces. So they used their training of grabbing the resources and filled their pockets. Money in the name of war on terror came like flood in Pakistan and Mr. Musharraf distributed it among his companions (thugs) like a king. What did get the common man from that money which was obtained by selling and killing people like animals? Very little and they are lucky that they did not get share from that poison!
Unfortunately there are few people in Pakistan who sell their faiths and loyalties for few coins and this is natural for every society. These corrupt agents can do anything for the sake of money, power and other benefits! They are however being defeated as the common man is awakening and positive forces are getting stronger.
Judicial issue
Actually some people in the judiciary started to challenge the doings of the Mr. Musharraf and his companions. Mr. Musharraf and Co. had just started to enjoy their comforts, luxuries and non-stop corruption. No one was challenging their authorities but all of a sudden Chief Justice of Supreme Court Iftikhar Muhammad Chauhdary started to disturb their enjoyments. He started to give verdicts against the corrupt and uncontrolled companions of Mr. Musharraf. In addition to that he started to ask about those who were missing and were illegally abducted by the security agencies in the name of war on terror. That was a difficult, new and unacceptable reality for the fake commando and his masters. So he ordered to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to resign by calling him at his Army headquarter. Luckily Chief Justice got the courage to deny his orders.
This lead to difficult time for the Chief Justice; he was humiliated by the security forces, was put under house arrest along with his family; even his children were not allowed to attend their schools. A new chief justice was appointed at his position; what a great work by the fake commando; is it not? That lead to the some anger among the dieing nation of Pakistan and people started to feel a bit humiliated and they started to protest against this act.
That protest was joined by the Lawyers of the Pakistan; it was like a change in the way of Pakistan. Protest became so successful and intense that dismissed Chief Justice got reinstated but as he again started to do his brave job the fake commando again got up in problems. Now authority and position of the commando as president was also challenged there in the court. At that point he felt that verdict of the court will be against him; he dismissed more than fifty judges and imposed state of emergency in Pakistan. That was not the only thing; he also put many judges under a kind of house arrest but actually his ship had got irreparable damage; now he had to sink in any case. Anyhow, this forced Mr. Musharraf to leave his position as Army Chief and he was left with one authority of being a President only which he got because there were no neutral and brave judiciary and parliament otherwise it also could not have been possible.
Unrest in the provinces
In some provinces of Pakistan people are not quite happy towards the government of Pakistan and Army. Their aggression and dissatisfaction is natural and justified as they did not get the rights they deserved. There was no clear definition of the rights of the provinces and also if some rights were defined they were not given to the deserving people. The problem has been that top authorities were corrupt and they did not care about the people in different areas. This suffering did not confine to any particular province; almost everyone got affected by it. At times when people started showing the resistance; they were also crushed by the security forces which further increased the aggression. This divide and unrest was also fuelled by some external fellows of Pakistan who are from the very first day unhappy with Pakistan!
Indian factor
Our relations with India have been tricky from the very start. Pakistan and India were born like twins but we are quite different and our goals are not similar. We also have fought quite a few wars with each other. Anyhow, luckily during last ten years we did not had any big war. There was not any major conflict recently between two countries but the issue of Kashmir remains unsolved and that issue could be a flash point at any time. Quite recently things are happening quite awkwardly in Kashmir!
There has been intervention by the both countries in each others country and matters but recently Pakistan has reduced it almost to none. It has, however, become a fashion to blame Pakistan for many things what happens in India e.g. explosions and violence. They always try to prove themselves as the angels! And sometimes I feel as if the whole world is full of angels except Pakistan. Some of our Indian fellows day and night try to prove to the world that Pakistan is a problematic and rogue land and they themselves are the sacred cows! We, however, know very well that how sacred they are! ;) Yes, we know that they (Indians) never tell lies, they never cheat, they always think sincerely for the world and all other positive what a person can think of is present in India. On the other hand Pakistan and Pakistanis are the most brutal, stupid, unethical, terrorist, liars and all other negative what a person can think of is in Pakistan. People of the world are free to believe them; we don’t have any objection to that as people are free! ;)
As far as people of Kashmir are concerned; they are free to take any way they like for themselves. They can live independent or can side with India or if like can come with Pakistan. We respect and support their right of any choice they like.
I would like to mention it that no matter what happened in the past wars; who was right or wrong but this time if India did mistake of attacking Pakistan then they will know what it does mean because this time we are ready to reply. Yes, we want to have peace with India and all others but it does not mean that we will tolerate their aggression and propaganda.
American intervention
It has been impression that America has been quite active and influential into the internal matters of Pakistan. They supported some special political and other forces which could safeguard their special interests. They have been against the restoration of Chief Justice as they have been afraid that it will open up many hidden acts of theirs if he started to investigate the people who went missing during so called war on terror. They have been till recent Past supporters of the undemocratic authority and dictator i.e. Pervez Musharraf although people of Pakistan in general hated him. They also have been active to buy people among our army and there have been other hidden activities too although statements from the American administration have been different and very beautiful ones most of the time. It is also quite interesting that whenever there are elections in USA some Al-Qaida dirty frogs appear in some part of the World!!
Sometimes USA and Co. talk about the plans of the Al-Qaida and terrorists in such a way as if they do lunch together with them! By the way, USA uses the pretext of Al-Qaida to attack other lands what if others also start thinking in the same way against USA? why not?
Suicide killings
Pakistan has been big victim of suicide bombings although people think that these people just kill non-Muslims but if one would analyse who were the victims of these suicides then it will be clear that they are mostly Muslims. We have been shattered by these acts of suicides. Our people don’t feel secure even in their own country. So one thinks that who are committing such brutal acts? There quite a few factors as already mentioned which are playing role e.g. Army action against Militants, attacks from Afghanistan, Pakistan’s support of USA in Afghanistan, brainwashing and misuse of Jihad with possibility of external hands etc.
Here I would like to mention one more point: Islam is against the suicidal attacks especially against civilians but it should also be kept in mind that if a person goes for such an extreme act where he/she even kills own self then there should be some big reasons behind it. There are the circumstances like injustice, anger and feelings of total helplessness which might lead a person to such an extreme action; so circumstances are also big reasons along brainwashing, ignorance and misguidance which cause suicide attacks! In any case such acts must be fully condemned as they generally take blood of civilians and lead to chaos.
My personal views and every one is free to agree or to disagree.
In next post i will present some positive changes which have been happeing in Pakistan.
