The Republic of Konfuzistan

Ray

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COMMENT: The Republic of Konfuzistan —Razi Azmi

Having missed nearly every opportunity to progress, having shot themselves in the foot at every step and squandered massive quantities of aid, Pakistanis have created a make-believe world far removed from reality

Pakistanis are confused like no other nation on earth. Christina Lamb had remarked many years ago in her book, Waiting for Allah, that Pakistan is a country searching for a nation. It is not only striving to find its raison d'être and its purpose, it is even grappling with the issue of its geographical location — South Asia or the Middle East.

There is strategic confusion and there is tactical muddle. We do not know what it is that we want and we do not know how to get there. Yet we seem to be sure what everyone else wants from us and from those we call our 'brothers'.

It is an article of faith with Pakistanis that the US, India and Israel are conspiring to eliminate Pakistan's 'nuclear assets'. Few doubt that the US invaded Iraq for its oil and now the west wants Libya's oil too. Many believe that Washington overthrew the Taliban regime in Afghanistan to prevent the establishment of a model Islamic state, which would have been the envy of the world.

The world is against us twice over, first as Muslims and then as Pakistanis! Our only true friends are the Chinese Communists, whose avowed atheism does not bother us in the least. Even our adoration for Saudi Arabia as the birthplace of Islam and home to Makkah and Medina is somewhat tempered by disgust at the Saudi regime's close alliance with the US.

There is a near consensus in Pakistan that the American claim to have killed Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad on May 2, 2011 is a total lie. There are three schools of thought regarding the al Qaeda chief: (i) Osama is still alive; (ii) he died long ago, only God knows where, when and how, and (iii) he was killed by the Americans some time ago, somewhere, and they were not making it known (and preserving his body) to justify the occupation of Afghanistan and drone attacks in Pakistan.

The Americans claim to have killed Osama now in order to (a) help Obama win his re-election; (b) obtain justification for an honourable exit from Afghanistan (and Pakistan), and (c) create a pretext to strike at Pakistan's nuclear assets. It gets a bit confusing that Washington has not produced his dead body or even pictures of it!

The Abbottabad raid itself and the 'false' accusations against Pakistan for hiding the US's 'enemy number one' confirm that it was a test run for Kahuta! Next target Kahuta, followed by Beijing. China is not only Pakistan's only reliable friend, but also an emerging superpower, which, if allowed to progress in peace, could soon teach the US a lesson. Those Americans will stop at nothing, or so goes the lament.

Overtaken by such paranoia, Pakistanis are convinced that the west is plotting to make a 'failed state' out of Pakistan, which its hard-working and God-fearing citizens could turn into a prosperous and strong country and the envy of the world.

Our nuclear 'bums' (bombs), our mighty 'Qaraqorum' (Karakorum), our delicious 'chaunsa' mangoes, juicy 'kinoo' oranges, our 'bahadur afwaaj' (brave armies) and Wadi-e-Swat — the 'Switzerland of the East' — what a beautiful and powerful country together they would make, but for the 'sazishain' (conspiracies) of our enemies — the Amreeki (American), Bharti (Indian) and Yahudi (Jewish)!

It is true that Pakistan could be a great country, for it has great natural assets, not the least being its hardworking and enterprising people. But having missed nearly every opportunity to progress, having shot themselves in the foot at every step and squandered massive quantities of aid, they have created a make-believe world far removed from reality. Here, blaming others and manufacturing conspiracy theories passes for serious discussion and analysis not only on buses, trains and in teashops, but also on television channels and college classrooms.

In truth, however, rather than conspiring to make Pakistan a failed state, the west in general and the US in particular are doing everything to prevent it from failing, for the consequences of its collapse will be dire for the region and the world. The US alone has provided $ 20 billion to Pakistan since 9/11.

Cumulatively and historically, Pakistan might well have become the second largest recipient of foreign aid per capita in the world (after Israel). Foreign aid has made many Pakistanis rich beyond belief and has also supported one of the largest military establishments in the world, neither of which was the goal of the donor countries.

Pakistani civil and military leaders, TV anchors and legions of political analysts like to repeat ad nauseam that more than 30,000 Pakistanis have been killed since 9/11 fighting "the US's war on terror". In truth, however, the vast majority of them have died as a consequence of religious and sectarian warfare between Sunnis and Shias, and, amongst Sunnis, between Salafis (Deobandis and Wahabis) and Barelvis (Ahle Sunnat).

Then there have been the occasional pogroms against Christians and Ahmedis. In an ironical twist of history, Hindus probably now feel safer than any other religious group in Pakistan.

Every Pakistani will agree that the enforcement of shariah is their ultimate desire. But they cannot tell you what they mean by shariah and which shariah-based state model they would choose from those on offer, namely, Saudi, Afghani (Taliban) and Iranian.

It is safe to say that 70 percent of the population, and a much higher proportion in the big cities, will reject all the above models and support a government based on a liberal, democratic system with adult franchise and an elected parliament. As long as the government tackles corruption vigorously and provides jobs for them, education for their children and security for all, they will not mind if it only pays lip service to shariah.

We hear Pakistanis blaming jahil maulvis (illiterate clergy) for our confusion, yet they not only flock behind those maulvis on a daily basis but also consult them on matters spiritual and temporal. Enlightened scholars of Islam like Javed Ghamdi have few takers and have to flee the country.

We see our countrymen denounce corrupt politicians for destroying the country, yet they cast their votes for them in one election after another. Honest politicians attract few votes.

Verily, we live in a state of confusion in the Republic of Konfuzistan!

The writer can be reached at [email protected]

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
It is obvious that the commentator is as anguished as the state of affairs and quite a few Pakistanis are and rightly so.

I am not too sure if Christine Lamb is right in saying that Pakistan is a country that is waiting for a Nation. I leave it to those living in Pakistan to comment since they are experiencing the situation.

Pakistan sure knows where it wants to go, but the events are showing that they are not quite sure how to go there. Apparently there are too many interests and power centres in Pakistan that are working at cross purposes, and some are also being influenced by foreign directions and even money(?) (or it is said).

The paranoia that everyone is plotting against Pakistan that has gripped Pakistani is understandable since the internal confusion requires an external bogey to shore up the confidence.

The events in Pakistan riddled with confusion would indeed spur consternation. It is very natural. Why should the Islamic fundamentalists kill co religionists with near daily bombings? Why should there not be effective retaliation to the various incursions and slights to Pakistani sovereignty and territorial integrity? why should there be only hot air and bluster alone against these deliberate attacks? Why should there be a Air Chief saying that he will bring down Drone, if only someone orders him to do so? Why should he ask for it when the raison d'être for the Armed Force is to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of their country? Why should the ISI Chief indirectly say that political leaders are on the payroll of a foreign power?

It is obvious that this will cause justifiable confusion, leading to consternation and anger.

Yet, the commentator is right that Pakistan can indeed be a great country if it sheds the paranoia and blame all others for their own infirmity in knowing who they are and where they are headed.

It is time for Pakistanis to be introspective.
 

Ray

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Fareed's Take: Pakistan's chance to become a normal country


Pakistan's military has been embarrassed, to put it mildly, by the suspicion that it must have known where Osama bin Laden was hiding. In response, it is using its old tricks and hoping to ride out the storm as it has in the past. It is leaking stories to favored journalists and unleashing activists and politicians all with the aim of stoking anti-Americanism in Pakistan.

Having been caught in a situation that suggests either complicity with al Qaeda or gross incompetence (and the reality is probably a bit of both), Pakistan is now furiously trying to change the subject. Senior generals angrily denounce America for entering the country.

A Pakistani friend put it to me this way: It's like a person caught in bed with another man's wife who is indignant that someone entered his house.

The military has also once again been able to cow the civilian government. According to Pakistani sources, the speech that Prime Minister Gilani gave at a recent news conference was drafted by the military. So having come to power hoping to clip the military's wings, Pakistan's democratically elected government has been reduced to mouthing talking points written for it by the intelligence service.

Now, some politicians and journalists say they want an inquiry into how America entered Pakistan. But is that really the issue? The United States has been involved in counterterrorist operations in Pakistan for years - using drones and people, going in and out.

The fundamental question is how was it that the world's leading terrorist was living in Pakistan with some kind of support network that must have included elements of the Pakistani government? How is it that every major al Qaeda official who has been captured or killed since 2002 has been found comfortably ensconced in a Pakistani city? And how is it that any time these issues are raised, they get drowned out by an organized campaign of anti-Americanism or religious fanaticism?

Washington has given in to the Pakistani military time and again, but America has leverage. Pakistan needs American aid, arms and training to sustain its army. If the generals are going to receive those benefits, they must become part of Pakistan's solution and not its problem.

Washington should do three things:

1) Press for a major national commission in Pakistan, headed by a Supreme Court justice, not an army apparatchik, to investigate whether bin Laden and other al Qaeda leaders have been supported and sustained by elements of the Pakistani state.

2) Demand that the provisions of the Lugar-Kerry Bill on civilian control of the military be strictly followed, otherwise American aid will be withheld.

3) Ask to see a plan for the Pakistani military to go after the major untouched terror networks in Pakistan, such as the Haqqani faction, the Quetta Shura and Lashkar-i-Taiba.

In the longer run, as the United States scales back its military presence in Afghanistan (which I hope it will do) it will need the Pakistani military less and less to supply its troops in theater.

Pakistan's civilian government, its business class and its intellectuals have the largest role to play in this struggle. They should not get distracted by empty anti-American slogans or hyper-nationalism.

This is Pakistan's chance to become a normal country, and it might not come again.
Fareed's Take: Pakistan's chance to become a normal country – Global Public Square - CNN.com Blogs
Another commentary for view.
 

Ray

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Virendra

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Visited WAB today, quoting two very good posts from there, by Yusuf and OoE respectively. Hope they won't mind it :) :
I have this question esp for the Pakistani members. did the Pakistani authorities consider Osama a terrorist, an outlaw who must be caught and tried?

If the answer is yes, then I ask Why? What crime did he commit against Pakistan? None. So why was he a wanted man in the eyes of Pak authorities? I don't think there is any "documentary" evidence to prove OBL did anything against the law of Pakistan. So why?

But my main point is, if Osama who had himself not broken any law in Pakistan and still considered fugitive in Pakistan just because he was Americas most wanted, then Indias most wanted Hafiz Saeed fits the bill as well. For the last three years Pakistan has been dragging it's feet on Saeed asking india for any direct involvement of Saeed in India. Another case that smacks of hypocrisy on the part of Pakistan and a clear case of connivance with terrorists at the highest level.

When it comes to terrorist leadership you will not find any direct involvement like flying planes into buildings or killing in cold blood people in hotels or train stations. But the leaders are the ones who plan, incite and send others to commit acts of terrorism. If Osama based on what he did on 9/11 is a terrorist that had to be brought to justice, the. Hafeez Saeed and many more like him need to be brought to justice.
A very strong question indeed.
...........

You know something? It really does not matter what the truth is anymore. Obama decided that the Pakistanis cannot be trusted and as a result, the Americans have also decided that Pakistan can no longer be trusted. It really does not matter whether Osama stayed in Pakistan by stealth or by trust. The Americans have decided the issue.

In case, the Pakistanis cannot understand this. You've lost the trust of the Americans. And no, you cannot replace the trust of the Americans with the trust of the Chinese. You've lost that trust when Qaddafy published the CICH-4 warhead with AQ Khan's handwriting.

The Chinese gave you an obsolete air force that they don't want because they refuse to give you an army.
Pakistan is alone. Far more alone than you can imagine.
.... if there's still some confusion in Konfuzistan about their relations with US. Chew it !!


Regards,
Virendra
 

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