Enough with the apologism

By
Arif Nizami
-
38
213

Time to set the narrative in black and white

The audacious raid on Kamra Air Base and execution of 25 Shias in Kohistan –all within a day- clearly shows that the Taliban are on the rampage.
The TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) has taken responsibility for the unfortunate incidents. The modus operandi in both cases was somewhat similar with the terrorists disguising themselves as military personnel.
The unarmed Shias felled by the Taliban as part of their ethnic cleansing campaign were sitting ducks. At Kamra, however, the terrorists received stiff resistance.
The Taliban spokesmen have termed both incidents as an act of revenge for killing of their leadership by the US and Pakistani security forces. The attacks were no surprise as there was intelligence reports that the terrorists were bracing to attack our military installations.
Obviously it is mad terror, fuelled by a fanatical ideology to foist a xenophobic totalitarian regime in the name of Sharia. Sadly, the apologists for such elements (which are many) declare time and again that Pakistan is paying this heavy price for “fighting America’s war”. If the Pakistani state boots out the American and starts talking to the TTP, somehow terrorism will just go away, they contend.
According to Imran Khan, the militants have gone berserk because they apprehend the action against them in N Waziristan. According to the PTI chief, as a result of if the military acts against the Taliban in N Waziristan, they will go on the rampage with disastrous consequences for the country.
It is another matter that the Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani has ruled out a joint US-Pakistan putsch. However, he has not discounted the possibility of a unilateral attack by Pakistani forces, if need be.
According to Imran, the attacks on Shias could not be the work of any Muslim. If they are not Muslims, who are they? Not only Imran but also most apologists for the Taliban proffer this twisted logic.
The TTP has never hidden its anti-Shia agenda. And this is not the first incident of ethnic cleansing of the Shias at the hands of the Taliban. Outrage expressed by the UN Secretary General on the plight of the Shias in Pakistan further tarnishes the country’s image on this count.
Imran is not the only apologist for the Taliban. Many abound amongst our political and military elite. Naturally, a fairly large swath of public opinion also subscribes to the naive thinking that terrorism in the country is a phenomenon directly in proportion to the Pakistan’s support for the US.
Admittedly, as per most surveys, the US’s approval rating in Pakistan is one of the lowest. And, of course, it is good politics to blame the government’s policies for rampant terrorism in the country. Is it not time that the politicians engage in a more informed narrative to tackle the hydra-headed monster?
The situation is far more complex than we are willing to admit. Is it as simple as booting the Americans out, severing our connection with them and talk to the terrorists to bring peace? If it was so, it could be done without delay.
But what happened during the interval when Pakistan stopped NATO supplies. Did terrorism or rampant killing of Shias stop? Of course, the answer is in the negative.
Imran Khan has vowed to go to Waziristan to protest. But despite his cynical and ill-advised move to garner the fundamentalist vote, he has been badly snubbed by the TTP as a liberal who is an infidel by virtue of his belief in democracy like other secular politicians in Pakistan.
In fact, the TTP expressing its obvious distaste for democracy and democratic institution is averse to virtually all-political parties including religious parties that contest elections. According to some reports, they are somewhat sympathetic to Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman. But even he has not been immune to assassination attempts by the Taliban.
Imran Khan honeymooning with Sheikh Rashid, the maverick politician, addressed his rally on the eve of Independence Day. Symbolically speaking, what better day the great Khan could have chosen to break bread with a person who openly espouses the cause of the most retrogressive brand of fundamentalism in the country?
Sheikh Rashid, a cardholder member of the obscurantist Defense of Pakistan Council (DPC), chose the occasion to declare his intention of forging an alliance of right wing parties. The PTI chief preferred not to comment on the Sheikh’s proposal in his subsequent speech.
But here lies the rub. Our politicians should make up their mind about the kind of Pakistan they envisage. Paying lip service to Iqbal and Jinnah but, in practice, lending support to those very elements that do not believe in any of the niceties for which the country was created is the worst kind of hypocrisy and opportunism.
Interestingly enough the Jamaat-e-Islami, whose founder Mualana Abu Ala Maudoodi never hid his opposition to the creation of Pakistan, is now spelling out what should Jinnah’s Pakistan be. Imran Khan who has no dearth of pro-JI activists amongst his motley crowd visited Mansoora the other day to express solidarity with its amir, Munawwar Hassan.
There is nothing new about Nawaz Sharif flirting with the religious. At the back of the mind of the PML-N policymakers runs the same apprehension that unless they are able to cultivate the right-wing/anti-PPP vote, they will lose the elections.
Is it not time to catch the bull by the horns? The existential threat to Jinnah’s Pakistan is from those who want to destroy everything through the barrel of a gun. Whether we want a system based upon narrow and self-serving interpretation of Sharia or a Pakistan based upon the Quaid’s pluralistic ideology should be sorted out.
Similarly, whether the so-called war on terror is our war or that of America must be determined. There is no use fretting about the military’s flawed strategic paradigm when civilians themselves are not on the same page.
It is time that the narrative is set before going all out against those who are threatening the country’s very existence. There have been a lot of wild allegations in the foreign media that the Taliban are after Pakistan’s nuclear assets. It has been officially clarified the our nuclear assets are safe and the Taliban are nowhere near them
On the other hand, there are apprehensions that the US wants to take over our nuclear assets. These are all serious issues that need to be discussed amongst our political elite. Perhaps a serious effort should be made to evolve a consensus within and outside the parliament on such matters vital for the future of the country.

The writer is Editor, Pakistan Today

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38 COMMENTS

  2. Realistic and reflective analysis. But its a really sad and worrying indication that people want less or no comments on these facts. Our politicians, army and all those in authority will start thinking on issues when it is out of the control. Also it looks like that the rulers have nothing to do beyond apologize for the evil acts of Talibans because Taliban are quiped, can fight with our army, attacks on strategic defense points and can free their people from Jails, able to hide Usama for many years in a home in the country but when it comes to the peaceful and harmless people, the law enforcement agencies are very powerful to calm them and force them to be shut up. So sad Pakistan! Pakistan zinda baad but all those destroying Pakistan showing fake loyalities, Murdabaad!

  3. 2- As you please stated , M Fazal_Urehman , the most influential personality to Taliban . Must give him the chance , support politically & morally . do not under estimate him he has very strong contacts with in them . Personally M Fazal very intelligent having diplomatic_approach to all issues , well aware of the Grave_Threatening imect of Taliban misdeeds to the nation & Islam . But , Corrupt & Biased _Media ignore him , being unable to pay them like Shebaz etc and he is not Punjabi .

  4. Targeting pakistan Navy, army, airforce strategic assets is not child's play. Who is the master mind?

  5. 3- Union of M Fazal & Jamat_Islami will bring very positive_result . But some Secret_Hands [ Punjabi_Establishment ] do not allow them to unite . If these 2 unite , PML_N will Suffer in next Election a lot . Verily only these two can address Taliban_Issue . GHQ also keeps them apart , GHQ love & like PML_N only .

  6. 4- So Huge_Problem , the nation just facing But No serious debate can be seen in the media on it . They are engaged to Cover Biased_CJP and earning $$ . In fact , Nawaz ke LIFAFON Ney Sahafi ISMAT , Tar_Tar kerdi Hay . Thus Your Voice A Hope for the Aggrieved_Nation . Warmest regards & Eid Mubarak .

  7. ^ It certainly is not. That is one reason why terrorists could not succeed on most operations targeting the military. Of course, the masterminds are those who are openly claiming these victories and celebrating them as revenge for the killing of their leadership. Why as a nation we, collectively, continue to be in denial?

  8. It is very logical and realistic article, you point out very main issues, yes our political elite is busy for poltical scoring, they are are not thinking about country. A new force Imran Khan is showing poor perfarmance, only he is doing the blame game.

    • it is a regular thing on this site for comments to be removed if the moderator does not agree-a self imposed censorship-curtailing the freedom of speech-they only publish what pleases their masters

  10. Imran Khan is an Eye-Apple of Taliban and can play a broker role in this fight – all his statements and political standings points that he has strong connections in the Taliban line-up and he alone can make them (Taliban) sit in caves and throwing down their arms and they will never ever stir an eye on any Pakistani army personnel afterwards neither they (Taliban) will say that they don't accept Supreme Court (Iftikhar Chaudary) as QAZI forget about what is Parliament in their views. Mr.Imran Khan why you are waiting for – and who has stopped you doing this!!!! Go and Negotiate Peace with TALIBAN – this poor country is waiting to see your so-called psunami in action.

    • .
      Imran could walk on the water …
      The reason he won't do that is because his feet get wet …
      .

  13. !_ In fact , We are reaping what , Raeesul_Munafeqeen Gen Zia did sow for the nation .By the supprt of Nwaz & co . To earn money they set the country on fire , look we are still burning .

  14. 2- As you please stated , M Fazal_Urehman , the most influential personality to Taliban . Must give him the chance , support politically & morally . do not under estimate him he has very strong contacts with in them . Personally M Fazal very intelligent having diplomatic_approach to all issues , well aware of the Grave_Threatening imect of Taliban misdeeds to the nation & Islam . But , Corrupt & Biased _Media ignore him , being unable to pay them like Shebaz etc and he is not Punjabi .

  16. 3- Union of M Fazal & Jamat_Islami will bring very positive_result . But some Secret_Hands [ Punjabi_Establishment ] do not allow them to unite . If these 2 unite , PML_N will Suffer in next Election a lot . Verily only these two can address Taliban_Issue . GHQ also keeps them apart , GHQ love & like PML_N only .

  17. 4- So Huge_Problem , the nation just facing But No serious debate can be seen in the media on it . They are engaged to Cover Biased_CJP and earning $$ . In fact , Nawaz ke LIFAFON Ney Sahafi ISMAT , Tar_Tar kerdi Hay . Thus Your Voice A Hope for the Aggrieved_Nation . Warmest regards & Eid Mubarak .

  19. In fact we have a '' Confused Constitution '' which can be twisted either way and is not in line with what the father of our nation struggled for. Objective Resolution is the mother of all our sufferings. Right now it is in the hands of power brokers and their ready made servants (Judiciary). Killings on one pretext or the other will not stop unless we decide which type of Islam we want in Pakistan. The way our army personnel go through their training process is '' Only us and we'' and the rest is thrash. So is taught in our Religious Seminaries all over the country. We have multiple school of thoughts who misguide their pupil and issues them a ticket direct to heaven with all which we think here as sinful. It is unfortunate that many in our media houses are cashing on these issues by advancing the ideology of known nuts in the religious circles. Even our intelligence agencies know who they are and where they exist but fail to take any concrete action. One wonders how in armed forces one reaches at the rank of Lt. Gen, Admiral or Air Marshal who later joins Jehaddi Out Fits unchecked during his services..

  20. Everyone is beating drum that American or Indians are plotting attacks against Pakistan – am unable to understand why finger is never pointed towards "Russians" – who always wants to settle score with Pakistan and USA after the defeat of Afghan war. Pakistani need to understand that Russian were never friendly with Pakistan.

  22. President Morsi….of Akhwan ul Muslimeen….They are the ones who got us here. Do we need more mullahs…Mr CAT

  23. Each one us are responsible for the mess we in TODAY……we cannot absolve ourselves of our responsibilities by bringing in such leaders bcz we do exercise our rights to vote for people with integrity n honesty n then when such unscrupulous leaders are elected to power due to majority votes from rural areas where these unscrupulous leaders sway power….we blame CJP…..very conveniently. This country can never stand on its feet unless pele in rural areas are educated who can fight for their rights n recognize good n bad, only then we can look for democracy, till then we will continue with sham democracy as it is today being run thru dynastic parties….

  24. Imran Khan doubts if Talibans were responsible for the attacks on Shia's?-what would you expect from a person who was married into na jewish family?can he ever be "faithful" to muslims.The man has sympathies for the west- make no mistake!He has no clear cut policies except "tsunami's".The same tsunam's that will sweep him to power will get rid of him.He is a zionist agent.Surrounding your self by experienced political persons does not make you a politician-wishful thinking-stick to ball and bat

  26. It is not the first time that Kamra Air Base has come under attack. It begs the question, why have the intelligence agencies failed? Where was ISI & MI? Should they not have intelligence ahead of time and prevent such attacks? They should have penetrated these terrorist groups and broken them up.

    Also, why is the military security so lax? The terrorists attacked GHQ, Kamra and several other key military centres and the Military security is asleep at the switch.

    The Taliban are terrorists and that is how they should be treated. It is time for the State to step up and stamp them out for good.

  27. We need to amend the Anti-Terrorism law and give special powers to security agencies to deal effectively with the menace of terrorism. In spite of the possibility that some of these powers may be abused, such abuses are a small price for defeating terrorism in the country after all we are in a state of war. India, even the U.S and many other countries have enacted special laws and empowered their security agencies with special powers to deal with terrorism.

  28. If these attacks were no surprise then why preemptive action was not taken on these intelligence reports?It is a routine with R Malik to repeat this silly argument.Such reports mean nothing if thet cannot prevent an attack. It is failure on someones part.You did not elaborate on this.Some how we always bring in politics.This is no more a political problem.Desperate situations demand desperate and very harsh measures.

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