Your comments, views and suggestions can be addressed to Raza Rumi, the founder and chief editor of Pak Tea House blog-zine. You can either leave your query here or write at this address:
Email razarumi AT gmail DOT com
Your email will get a response as soon as possible.
Pak Tea House 
Has any one ever wondered about the following:
If a book (the Qur’an in this situation) is meant to be from God/Allah, why do two individuals of equivalent intelligence always come up with different interpretations of the text?
There are many contradictions in the Quran; the only people unable to see them are those completely brainwashed and have lost the ability to think rationally. They come up with all sorts of historical/non-historical justifications for these such as the arabic language/literary peculiarities etc. nothing substantial or scientific; perhaps they are not aware of this concept.
There are literally billions ans billions of galaxies and star systems in our “known” universe; supposedly we are talking about a creator that is well beyond the confines of any material boundaries; why would such a “person” even care about what goes on in individual hearts and minds on a teeny weeny planet! Why would he be upset about, for example, a woman showing off a bit of skin or someone not observing some ritual exactly how it was prescribed (when there are literally hundreds of such, very contradictory, rituals in Islam amongst the sects; not to quote countless other similar examples.
If the “Loh-e-Mahfouz” was the first thing created with the deeds of all living things and their fate already prescribed, what the hell is the meaning of “the free will”?!
If a ruler of my country wanted me to abide by ceratin rules, I would expect them to be laid down explicitly and clearly for all to understand. Otherwise, I would think they were unjust in prosecuting me for misgivings; why are there so many ambiguities as to what the “true Islam” is; that definition is certainly not unanimous by anyone’s standards as we ll know; the interpretations are so varied and far apart at times that it is mind boggling!
According to the Quran, Allah gave his blessings to the Bani Israel but they betrayed his trust many a times, so he went off them completely and chose a different people for revival of his “Only and True Message”! Are we thinking that an omniscient and omnipotent God, with the inherent knowledge of everything, transcendent through the confines of time, made a mistake!! Then he tried to correct it by chosing arabia for his chosen messanger! How odd!!
Prayer is such a contradictory term, don’t you think. If all is already decided, does God change his mind if we were to grovel before him and grants us our desires as a reward; very confusing!!
The only answers I ever got for these as a child, and many other similar questions, was that we CANNOT work out God’s will and he is the only one who does; what the hell are we doing with our asses up in the air five times a day then!!
All of the above seem to be the desires of the needy and not fullfilled “persona” (to quote Al-Razi); Is it that we have created this “persona” is OUR OWN IMAGE rather than the other way around?
Is our “conflict” with the rest of the world sheer paranoia “they are out to get us”!! and the only reason we cannot accept this is our inherent “sense of pride” so deeply indoctrinated that we cannot listen to reason.
First of I would like to ask you one thing and I am very sure about it that you should have written your real name that was given you at birth. You must be a non believer preferably a hindu because if you were fro any other religion you must have not concealed your real name and religion before your could have tried spitting on sky. Those like you don’t have anything specific about learning anything or getting out of confusion but you people only aiming at criticising the islam and its values. you guys are those who even dont know who your father is and launch a campaign against the only true religion Islam and above all the Almighty Allah Suhana wataala. The Quran besides telling the humanity that you may get success by reading it also makes it clear that you may get lost by self assesing this book. if some one is to understand the book first he/she has to arrange for a proper teacher who himself is competent about the sharia for at least understanding the arabic at professional levels.
So dear fanatic whatever religion you believe in just keep on doing that and don’t mess with Islam. But if you are looking for real path then opt for a proper Aalim of Islam who could dig out the worm in your mind. If you don’t find any proper forum then do write to me i will direct you where to get your dirty ass-mind cleaned.
The minority councellor Devanad and his friend alataf memon provide 2 buses at the occasion of aniversory every year this ear they provide 3 buses 2 to Salman Murad and 1 to Abdul Razzak raja. here no one in memon goth contribute like this. Mr. Salim a designatory demand one more bus but they refused with sorry that one lac we have paid for three so we cant afford more. Mr salim send his friend councellor Maqbool and one other relative Akber they insult and gali galoch the Dev Anand and Altaf and broke the wind screen of Altaf Car. in this way the worker in supervision of mr. Salim are decreasing the graph of the party. do some ting strict and punish them strongly.
assalamu alaykum Nawazish Ali,
If a book (the Qur’an in this situation) is meant to be from God/Allah, why do two individuals of equivalent intelligence always come up with different interpretations of the text?
That is because Quran is strictly experienced as a text by all of the individuals except Prophet, on whose person it was revealed. How else one can interact with a text except interpretation? A divine text is meant to be deconstructed in a particular time and space; and though its divinity may give it a sense of holiness, it does not imply that it should be interpreted universally in a similar manner. That would miserably transform a God-Man project into a God-God project.
They come up with all sorts of historical/non-historical justifications for these such as the arabic language/literary peculiarities etc. nothing substantial or scientific; perhaps they are not aware of this concept.
The import of your assertion seems to be that the only legible method of interpreting a text, in your view, is scientific method. In my humble view, this cannot be the primary method of carrying out exegesis of texts though it can well be a method to validate or substantiate some of the findings that a divine text tends to put through. But your disregard of all the literary method has no ground to stand, unless you choose to point out the specifics in the texts as well as in a particular interpretation. Merely resorting to ad hominem approach wont help much in creating a discussion.
why would such a “person” even care about what goes on in individual hearts and minds on a teeny weeny planet! Why would he be upset about, for example, a woman showing off a bit of skin or someone not observing some ritual exactly
The fact that this ‘person’ gives free will to all the individuals in subscribing the code or otherwise is enough to substantiate that He does not in need of individuals’ rituals. Genealogy of a ritual can best be traced to values human beings naturallt attach to symbolism. And symbolism, as you probably know, is important as far as communication with the Divine is concerned.
If the “Loh-e-Mahfouz” was the first thing created with the deeds of all living things and their fate already prescribed, what the hell is the meaning of “the free will”?!
Predestination is closely linked to God’s all-encompassing knowledge. The fact that He is omniscient does not entail automatically that he somehow ‘force’ our wills to act in a specific way. While we are bound in time and space, these axis are simply unfolded for the the Divine; but obviously this rant means nothing if you somehow believe that you have created yourself.
If a ruler of my country wanted me to abide by ceratin rules, I would expect them to be laid down explicitly and clearly for all to understand. Otherwise, I would think they were unjust in prosecuting me for misgivings; why are there so many ambiguities as to what the “true Islam” is; that definition is certainly not unanimous by anyone’s standards as we ll know; the interpretations are so varied and far apart at times that it is mind boggling!
To you it may seem to be a labyrinth but to me it seems to be the beauty of life itself. After all, life is also too complex and too simple at the same time. Ambiguities of life often require us to use our little context switches and religion is no different.
regards
assalamu alay’kum Brother Imran,
Your ad hominem approach to the argument might not serve Islam in best of the ways. The way you seem to display your derogatory attitude towards hinduism is despicable and shows nothing but your misplaced ethnocentrism.
I hope and pray that you do not take my criticism in a wrong way and choose to reflect about your attitude towards other religions. Respect of other religions and respecting human intentions, if you understand, is the essence of Islam.
wassalam
-Aasem
Much of the Muslim response to 9/11 is based upon a false explanation — The 9/11 Commission Report. Watch the video at the above URL, and you’ll see what we mean
To Harris Khalique
Years ago I read an article of yours in which you gave reference to a farsi couplet which your mother used to recite with respect to the afghans, kashmiri etc.
I am inquisitive to know the couplet. Could yo please mail it to me.
Thanks.
PP Kacker
Why dont we take this discussion to a proper forum instead of our “contact”. Write an article on your views and lets discuss Koran and 9/11 on Pak Tea House pages. This way we may all learn some thing new
As For as the questions raised by Nawazish are concerned….
these are not new and if someone wanna look for the answers…..he will find them in various books,but the language he has used..I am stunned,whether he is very confused and asking for the questions or he is laughing for the reaction different peoples have on his words…..I personally think that sort of stuff should not have got space here…And if someone has questions like that they should bring it forward in a proper way,,,he will be answered Soon
Reza bhai, when you get a chance read this interesting article
http://garamblog.com/2008/07/27/a-bangladeshis-visit-to-pakistan/
To me,Nawazish Ali seems a little sick,as his belief is tore upto the extreme.The reason might be his broughtup,his family values or his company.
He will be amazed to know that being a muslim ,one is to believe on Iman-e-mufassil & Iman-e-Mujammil.S,there is no question of IF & BUT.If he ever taught religion ,he would have known that,basically God doesnot want our prayer or some ritual to perform in a particular way.To a muslim faith HE IS BAYNAYAZ.Hence,there is a big SO.,then why we do it,or suppose to do it.Infact your own question has an answer in it.We (muslims)do it for our own good.And all the people who want to force us to be cordial ,because islam doesnot teach hatred,must know that they have to demonstrate as well,the attitude they want from us.The reason being”momen kisi ks haq nahi laita aur apna haq nahi chorta”.
Another answer why we do it,because living life in a codified manner ,shows that we are human beings.And that we are not Animals,who is awake in the morning,eat,sleep whatever way.That is the reason we feel bad eating on the toilet seats.We like to brush our teeth and clean oursalves;dressup and socialize;respect and greet others;love and wanted to be loved.
For Loh-e -mehfooz ,you should know that God was well aware of your nature and your descions,before you born.So it is not he wanted something in that way,but the deeds of the people he mentioned upfront.And still,it can be changed only by prayer.
If he ever read Quran ,he would know that Bani Israel would be searching and fighting for some land for ever,which they can call their home.But they would never be able to,because they were never thankful and they reached their limits.You want to rationalize things so you should also rationalize it.
One last comment,i can feel pitty on you ,as you have eyes and ears ,but neither you can see ,nor you can hear.Its a curse of ALLH Subhanahoo Ta’ala on people like you.God May bless you to find the right path.
Dear Raza Rumi!@
How many blogs are you running? I was just curious. What else you do in your professional life?
Guys, cool down… he is another of those sick “communist” comrade thing!
These kind of people usually have a hard bringing and strick childhood and then they release their anger on everything that their parents thaught them. I know many such morons and there is no need to waste your time on them.. they are gone cases and caught in their own web 0f “achievments”
an interesting article:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=157423
This may sound silly, but I’m still waiting for an article(s) (critisicim/rave) from PTH regarding Obama’s inaugural speech…maybe related to the following parts:
“To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.
To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict or blame their society’s ills on the West, know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.
To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.”
Do you see any scope for Secular Movement in Pakistan as well as Gay Rights Movement?
What would you suggest to kick start such moevements?
Nawazish Ali,
There are 4 different levels at which the Holy Quran is understood
1 > The Ibara or the plain meaning for the aam, the average layman
2 > The Ishara for the khwaas, the elite
3 > The Lataif or subtleties for the Awliya, the saints
4 > The Haqaiq, or truths for the nabiyun, the prophets.
Thus, the meanings are different. If a man made world wide web can exist all over the globe, why can’t God exist all over the Universe?
Bani Israel were punished for their misdeeds and the Holy Quran predicted that the Jews would again come together to form a nation before qiyamah. That has happened in the form of Israel.
Ultimately, before qiyamah this nation will be defeated
Raza Am complaining about these descriminatory comments…
YLH
March 14, 2009 at 6:07 am
Ali mian
If you would like PTH to post pics of underage boys from Bannu, that might not be possible…
Aww…
Raza, I am launching a counter complain against Ali arqam mian about everytime he has abused me and called me a “political orphan”.
These people think they can come here and abuse people but if someone gives a taste of their own medicine, they start whining…
@YLH
Aaahh
“political orphan”…Thats U are…
@Raza
“These people think they can come here and abuse people but if someone gives a taste of their own medicine, they start whining…”
Ok…I stopped whining and withdrawing my Complain…
Hello, my name is Anders Lynch; I am a representative of the US Department of State. I would like to post an English language copy of the US President’s “as delivered” remarks on the new strategy for Afghanistan Pakistan. Thanks.
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
______________________________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release March 27, 2009
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
ON A NEW STRATEGY FOR AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN
Room 450
Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building
9:40 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Please be seated.
Before I begin today, let me acknowledge, first of all, Your Excellencies, all the ambassadors who are in attendance. I also want to acknowledge both the civilians and our military personnel that are about to be deployed to the region. And I am very grateful to all of you for your extraordinary work.
I want to acknowledge General David Petraeus, who’s here, and has been doing an outstanding job at CENTCOM, and we appreciate him. I want to thank Bruce Reidel — Bruce is down at the end here — who has worked extensively on our strategic review. I want to acknowledge Karl Eikenberry, who’s here, and is our Ambassador-designate to Afghanistan. And to my national security team, thanks for their outstanding work.
Today, I’m announcing a comprehensive, new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. And this marks the conclusion of a careful policy review, led by Bruce, that I ordered as soon as I took office. My administration has heard from our military commanders, as well as our diplomats. We’ve consulted with the Afghan and Pakistani governments, with our partners and our NATO allies, and with other donors and international organizations. We’ve also worked closely with members of Congress here at home. And now I’d like to speak clearly and candidly to the American people.
The situation is increasingly perilous. It’s been more than seven years since the Taliban was removed from power, yet war rages on, and insurgents control parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Attacks against our troops, our NATO allies, and the Afghan government have risen steadily. And most painfully, 2008 was the deadliest year of the war for American forces.
Many people in the United States — and many in partner countries that have sacrificed so much — have a simple question: What is our purpose in Afghanistan? After so many years, they ask, why do our men and women still fight and die there? And they deserve a straightforward answer.
So let me be clear: Al Qaeda and its allies — the terrorists who planned and supported the 9/11 attacks — are in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Multiple intelligence estimates have warned that al Qaeda is actively planning attacks on the United States homeland from its safe haven in Pakistan. And if the Afghan government falls to the Taliban — or allows al Qaeda to go unchallenged — that country will again be a base for terrorists who want to kill as many of our people as they possibly can.
The future of Afghanistan is inextricably linked to the future of its neighbor, Pakistan. In the nearly eight years since 9/11, al Qaeda and its extremist allies have moved across the border to the remote areas of the Pakistani frontier. This almost certainly includes al Qaeda’s leadership: Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri. They have used this mountainous terrain as a safe haven to hide, to train terrorists, to communicate with followers, to plot attacks, and to send fighters to support the insurgency in Afghanistan. For the American people, this border region has become the most dangerous place in the world.
But this is not simply an American problem — far from it. It is, instead, an international security challenge of the highest order. Terrorist attacks in London and Bali were tied to al Qaeda and its allies in Pakistan, as were attacks in North Africa and the Middle East, in Islamabad and in Kabul. If there is a major attack on an Asian, European, or African city, it, too, is likely to have ties to al Qaeda’s leadership in Pakistan. The safety of people around the world is at stake.
For the Afghan people, a return to Taliban rule would condemn their country to brutal governance, international isolation, a paralyzed economy, and the denial of basic human rights to the Afghan people — especially women and girls. The return in force of al Qaeda terrorists who would accompany the core Taliban leadership would cast Afghanistan under the shadow of perpetual violence.
As President, my greatest responsibility is to protect the American people. We are not in Afghanistan to control that country or to dictate its future. We are in Afghanistan to confront a common enemy that threatens the United States, our friends and our allies, and the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan who have suffered the most at the hands of violent extremists.
So I want the American people to understand that we have a clear and focused goal: to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and to prevent their return to either country in the future. That’s the goal that must be achieved. That is a cause that could not be more just. And to the terrorists who oppose us, my message is the same: We will defeat you.
To achieve our goals, we need a stronger, smarter and comprehensive strategy. To focus on the greatest threat to our people, America must no longer deny resources to Afghanistan because of the war in Iraq. To enhance the military, governance and economic capacity of Afghanistan and Pakistan, we have to marshal international support. And to defeat an enemy that heeds no borders or laws of war, we must recognize the fundamental connection between the future of Afghanistan and Pakistan — which is why I’ve appointed Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, who is here, to serve as Special Representative for both countries, and to work closely with General Petraeus to integrate our civilian and military efforts.
Let me start by addressing the way forward in Pakistan.
The United States has great respect for the Pakistani people. They have a rich history and have struggled against long odds to sustain their democracy. The people of Pakistan want the same things that we want: an end to terror, access to basic services, the opportunity to live their dreams, and the security that can only come with the rule of law. The single greatest threat to that future comes from al Qaeda and their extremist allies, and that is why we must stand together.
The terrorists within Pakistan’s borders are not simply enemies of America or Afghanistan — they are a grave and urgent danger to the people of Pakistan. Al Qaeda and other violent extremists have killed several thousand Pakistanis since 9/11. They’ve killed many Pakistani soldiers and police. They assassinated Benazir Bhutto. They’ve blown up buildings, derailed foreign investment, and threatened the stability of the state. So make no mistake: al Qaeda and its extremist allies are a cancer that risks killing Pakistan from within.
It’s important for the American people to understand that Pakistan needs our help in going after al Qaeda. This is no simple task. The tribal regions are vast, they are rugged, and they are often ungoverned. And that’s why we must focus our military assistance on the tools, training and support that Pakistan needs to root out the terrorists. And after years of mixed results, we will not, and cannot, provide a blank check.
Pakistan must demonstrate its commitment to rooting out al Qaeda and the violent extremists within its borders. And we will insist that action be taken — one way or another — when we have intelligence about high-level terrorist targets.
The government’s ability to destroy these safe havens is tied to its own strength and security. To help Pakistan weather the economic crisis, we must continue to work with the IMF, the World Bank and other international partners. To lessen tensions between two nuclear-armed nations that too often teeter on the edge of escalation and confrontation, we must pursue constructive diplomacy with both India and Pakistan. To avoid the mistakes of the past, we must make clear that our relationship with Pakistan is grounded in support for Pakistan’s democratic institutions and the Pakistani people. And to demonstrate through deeds as well as words a commitment that is enduring, we must stand for lasting opportunity.
A campaign against extremism will not succeed with bullets or bombs alone. Al Qaeda’s offers the people of Pakistan nothing but destruction. We stand for something different. So today, I am calling upon Congress to pass a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by John Kerry and Richard Lugar that authorizes $1.5 billion in direct support to the Pakistani people every year over the next five years — resources that will build schools and roads and hospitals, and strengthen Pakistan’s democracy. I’m also calling on Congress to pass a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Maria Cantwell, Chris Van Hollen and Peter Hoekstra that creates opportunity zones in the border regions to develop the economy and bring hope to places plagued with violence. And we will ask our friends and allies to do their part — including at the donors conference in Tokyo next month.
I don’t ask for this support lightly. These are challenging times. Resources are stretched. But the American people must understand that this is a down payment on our own future — because the security of America and Pakistan is shared. Pakistan’s government must be a stronger partner in destroying these safe havens, and we must isolate al Qaeda from the Pakistani people. And these steps in Pakistan are also indispensable to our efforts in Afghanistan, which will see no end to violence if insurgents move freely back and forth across the border.
Security demands a new sense of shared responsibility. And that’s why we will launch a standing, trilateral dialogue among the United States, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Our nations will meet regularly, with Secretaries Clinton and Secretary Gates leading our effort. Together, we must enhance intelligence sharing and military cooperation along the border, while addressing issues of common concern like trade, energy, and economic development.
This is just one part of a comprehensive strategy to prevent Afghanistan from becoming the al Qaeda safe haven that it was before 9/11. To succeed, we and our friends and allies must reverse the Taliban’s gains, and promote a more capable and accountable Afghan government.
Our troops have fought bravely against a ruthless enemy. Our civilians have made great sacrifices. Our allies have borne a heavy burden. Afghans have suffered and sacrificed for their future. But for six years, Afghanistan has been denied the resources that it demands because of the war in Iraq. Now, we must make a commitment that can accomplish our goals.
I’ve already ordered the deployment of 17,000 troops that had been requested by General McKiernan for many months. These soldiers and Marines will take the fight to the Taliban in the south and the east, and give us a greater capacity to partner with Afghan security forces and to go after insurgents along the border. This push will also help provide security in advance of the important presidential elections in Afghanistan in August.
At the same time, we will shift the emphasis of our mission to training and increasing the size of Afghan security forces, so that they can eventually take the lead in securing their country. That’s how we will prepare Afghans to take responsibility for their security, and how we will ultimately be able to bring our own troops home.
For three years, our commanders have been clear about the resources they need for training. And those resources have been denied because of the war in Iraq. Now, that will change. The additional troops that we deployed have already increased our training capacity. And later this spring we will deploy approximately 4,000 U.S. troops to train Afghan security forces. For the first time, this will truly resource our effort to train and support the Afghan army and police. Every American unit in Afghanistan will be partnered with an Afghan unit, and we will seek additional trainers from our NATO allies to ensure that every Afghan unit has a coalition partner. We will accelerate our efforts to build an Afghan army of 134,000 and a police force of 82,000 so that we can meet these goals by 2011 — and increases in Afghan forces may very well be needed as our plans to turn over security responsibility to the Afghans go forward.
This push must be joined by a dramatic increase in our civilian effort. Afghanistan has an elected government, but it is undermined by corruption and has difficulty delivering basic services to its people. The economy is undercut by a booming narcotics trade that encourages criminality and funds the insurgency. The people of Afghanistan seek the promise of a better future. Yet once again, we’ve seen the hope of a new day darkened by violence and uncertainty.
So to advance security, opportunity and justice — not just in Kabul, but from the bottom up in the provinces — we need agricultural specialists and educators, engineers and lawyers. That’s how we can help the Afghan government serve its people and develop an economy that isn’t dominated by illicit drugs. And that’s why I’m ordering a substantial increase in our civilians on the ground. That’s also why we must seek civilian support from our partners and allies, from the United Nations and international aid organizations — an effort that Secretary Clinton will carry forward next week in The Hague.
At a time of economic crisis, it’s tempting to believe that we can shortchange this civilian effort. But make no mistake: Our efforts will fail in Afghanistan and Pakistan if we don’t invest in their future. And that’s why my budget includes indispensable investments in our State Department and foreign assistance programs. These investments relieve the burden on our troops. They contribute directly to security. They make the American people safer. And they save us an enormous amount of money in the long run — because it’s far cheaper to train a policeman to secure his or her own village than to help a farmer seed a crop — or to help a farmer seed a crop than it is to send our troops to fight tour after tour of duty with no transition to Afghan responsibility.
As we provide these resources, the days of unaccountable spending, no-bid contracts, and wasteful reconstruction must end. So my budget will increase funding for a strong Inspector General at both the State Department and USAID, and include robust funding for the special inspector generals for Afghan Reconstruction.
And I want to be clear: We cannot turn a blind eye to the corruption that causes Afghans to lose faith in their own leaders. Instead, we will seek a new compact with the Afghan government that cracks down on corrupt behavior, and sets clear benchmarks, clear metrics for international assistance so that it is used to provide for the needs of the Afghan people.
In a country with extreme poverty that’s been at war for decades, there will also be no peace without reconciliation among former enemies. Now, I have no illusion that this will be easy. In Iraq, we had success in reaching out to former adversaries to isolate and target al Qaeda in Iraq. We must pursue a similar process in Afghanistan, while understanding that it is a very different country.
There is an uncompromising core of the Taliban. They must be met with force, and they must be defeated. But there are also those who’ve taken up arms because of coercion, or simply for a price. These Afghans must have the option to choose a different course. And that’s why we will work with local leaders, the Afghan government, and international partners to have a reconciliation process in every province. As their ranks dwindle, an enemy that has nothing to offer the Afghan people but terror and repression must be further isolated. And we will continue to support the basic human rights of all Afghans — including women and girls.
Going forward, we will not blindly stay the course. Instead, we will set clear metrics to measure progress and hold ourselves accountable. We’ll consistently assess our efforts to train Afghan security forces and our progress in combating insurgents. We will measure the growth of Afghanistan’s economy, and its illicit narcotics production. And we will review whether we are using the right tools and tactics to make progress towards accomplishing our goals.
None of the steps that I’ve outlined will be easy; none should be taken by America alone. The world cannot afford the price that will come due if Afghanistan slides back into chaos or al Qaeda operates unchecked. We have a shared responsibility to act — not because we seek to project power for its own sake, but because our own peace and security depends on it. And what’s at stake at this time is not just our own security — it’s the very idea that free nations can come together on behalf of our common security. That was the founding cause of NATO six decades ago, and that must be our common purpose today.
My administration is committed to strengthening international organizations and collective action, and that will be my message next week in Europe. As America does more, we will ask others to join us in doing their part. From our partners and NATO allies, we will seek not simply troops, but rather clearly defined capabilities: supporting the Afghan elections, training Afghan security forces, a greater civilian commitment to the Afghan people. For the United Nations, we seek greater progress for its mandate to coordinate international action and assistance, and to strengthen Afghan institutions.
And finally, together with the United Nations, we will forge a new Contact Group for Afghanistan and Pakistan that brings together all who should have a stake in the security of the region — our NATO allies and other partners, but also the Central Asian states, the Gulf nations and Iran; Russia, India and China. None of these nations benefit from a base for al Qaeda terrorists, and a region that descends into chaos. All have a stake in the promise of lasting peace and security and development.
That is true, above all, for the coalition that has fought together in Afghanistan, side by side with Afghans. The sacrifices have been enormous. Nearly 700 Americans have lost their lives. Troops from over 20 countries have also paid the ultimate price. All Americans honor the service and cherish the friendship of those who have fought, and worked, and bled by our side. And all Americans are awed by the service of our own men and women in uniform, who’ve borne a burden as great as any other generation’s. They and their families embody the example of selfless sacrifice.
I remind everybody, the United States of America did not choose to fight a war in Afghanistan. Nearly 3,000 of our people were killed on September 11, 2001, for doing nothing more than going about their daily lives. Al Qaeda and its allies have since killed thousands of people in many countries. Most of the blood on their hands is the blood of Muslims, who al Qaeda has killed and maimed in far greater number than any other people. That is the future that al Qaeda is offering to the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan — a future without hope or opportunity; a future without justice or peace.
So understand, the road ahead will be long and there will be difficult days ahead. But we will seek lasting partnerships with Afghanistan and Pakistan that promise a new day for their people. And we will use all elements of our national power to defeat al Qaeda, and to defend America, our allies, and all who seek a better future. Because the United States of America stands for peace and security, justice and opportunity. That is who we are, and that is what history calls on us to do once more.
Thank you. God bless you, and God bless the United States of America. (Applause.)
END 10:02 A.M. EDT
Raza, I think you should post this on the front page. Thanks.
Dear Sir
Is it possible for you to please let me know the names of the poets as well as the preceding and the succeeding stanzas?
1 ) “ Chand Hassinon Ke Khatoot Chand Tasvire Buttaan,
Baad Marne ke Mere, Bas Yahi samaan Niklaa”
2 ) “Na Khuda Hi Mila Na visal-e-sanam
Na Idhar Ke Rahe Na Udhar Ke Rahe.”
Hasan,SZ
Beijing,China
Brit-Am veteran woes ……a soliloquy from Af-Pak
O man on the hill you sent us there
To a burnin hell for worse to fare
stingin sand and the blindin glare
in our face for early death to stare
lost an forgotten tribes with a snare
hummvies an gizmos didn’t prepare
for lost friends an those who care
to sit on tonnage and deathly tare
bros and pals that covered my back
frozen for days, stored on a rack
I lost a limb an another an eye
Some were stung by a wicked fly
Natives saw us an tongued a spittle
their ire an angst, we knew but little
The barking sarg was such a creep
crackle an static wouldn’t let me sleep
Someone’s war was, for us to wage
to stand chins up and face the rage
endured for days the rancid stench
crooks and groups of ilk and hench
great the words for freeing a nation
truth trickled down in meager ration
Unfolding lies have tied my hands
My Youth’s been lost to distant lands
Cryptic messages scribbled on packs
Lost in the mad rush to roll the sacks
An back’ome mowed my gal’s look,
too long waited, another she’d took!
This messy ruin is of your make
Screwed up logic “for the counties sake”
Time’s done a circle, around the stars
stripes are blurred the spin now jars
The dangling pride on a roof in Nam
The last post and the report is bam
Your dole an help can’t lend me sate
Shuttling healthcare, to end my fate
Original—saadat (Islamabad)
(April 13, 2009)
Some lingo has been advantageously used to mirror the rambling thoughts in the wracked mind of a disenchanted pfc……
April brings to fore memories of the “operation frequent wind” evacuation of Saigon
Nam—-
Click to access almanac-saigon.pdf
http://pro.corbis.com/images/U1835718-8.jpg?size=67&uid=%7BEFA697D7-7AC0-4C33-A25B-CF83157030D3%7D
I’m no poet, but I can plagarise 🙂
Being a white colonial type, who else would I copy but Kipling? 🙂
Last verse of The Young British Soldier
When you’re wounded and left on Afghanistan’s plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An’ go to your Gawd like a soldier.
Go, go, go like a soldier,
Go, go, go like a soldier,
Go, go, go like a soldier,
So-oldier _of_ the Queen!
love
please send me opperation details of SAWAT operation & forigen policy about pakistan.
what is the today thinking in west of pakistan
Wasalaam Nawazish Ali
First of I wish to thank you for the very important and sensible questions that you put forward the way a non-Muslim does and in my young age we were asked to phrase all such questions by our Imam because he informed us that it behooves us to be able to answer them as we grow older in life by persistently searching for the truth. I shall attempt to do this from my own perspective. Remember mine is but an opinion and that the best opinion must win the day!
As brothers and sisters in Islam we are ONLY allowed to discuss and debate in order to search for knowledge, for truth, but not so as to hurt or harm another Muslim.
Recall the Hadith: A true Muslim is one “from whose tongue and hands the people are safe.” Therefore, if we cannot agree on an issue then we must agree to disagree.
An intelligent discussion is one that seeks to find that point of disagreement so that we go back to our daily lives knowing where we go our separate ways in the Deen of Islam so that God willing we may, one day, find some resolution in our differences after due elapse of time and acquisition of further knowledge by both sides.
Now I shall offer MY opinion – and remember it is ONLY an opinion. However, an opinion can be measured with the help of two criteria that I know of:
1. Facts (factual knowledge), and
2. Logic (logical reasoning).
There is no third criterion as far as I am aware.
Now I shall label your questions with numbers to identify them as questions from you:
Has any one ever wondered about the following:
Q#1. If a book (the Qur’an in this situation) is meant to be from God/Allah, why do two individuals of equivalent intelligence always come up with different interpretations of the text?
Answer #1: My opinion is that the Quran MUST be followed by a believing Muslim according to his conscience because it is the message of God to humankind for their own good on how to live their lives in full and in conformity with the Will of Allah.
But there is a terrible CAVEAT to this! It is simply not possible to understand the Quran in its entirety without placing it, the Quran, in the context of the life (the sunnah, the hadith) of the Prophet. Alas, this is because many, many ayats have a meaning understandable only in the context of the time, the place, the culture, and even the circumstance AND EVEN, EVEN THE LANGUAGE in the Prophet’s life as he lived it then in Arabia!
A gigantic problem exists: In order to understand the ‘deen’ (the way) of Islam properly and completely one has got to study not only the Quran and the Hadith but also one has to double back and FIT these Quranic Ayats into the HISTORICAL CONTEXT of the span of the Prophet’s life during that 22 year long period of the REVELATION.
This is an impossible task for any ordinary human being! How is it possible for a mere human being to know, and then to remember, the actual day-to-day history of the unfolding of the Quran as it took place in the day-to-day life of the Prophet even when he was alive? As we very well know that Prophet Mohammad did not leave behind him any such autobiography.
BUT THE PROPHET’S BIOGRAPHY DID EXIST! Immediately after the death of the Holy Prophet, the great and splendid man of letters and the veritable shield of Islam in the time of the Prophet, Ali the Lion of God, compiled a monumental work within six months of the demise of Prophet Mohammad. He had collected all the explanations of the various Quranic verses as given by the Prophet himself and the circumstances (historical contexts) behind their revelation. When Ali, the scholar magnificent, brought this TREASURE OF THE DEEN OF ISLAM WITHOUT WHICH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND ISLAM to the leaders of the Muslims in Medina, the city of the Prophet, they said, “This is too bulky and people will not understand it.” (? !)
What they implied to the world and which world today judges them in the harsh reality of modernity is that these companions of the Prophet were too ignorant and too immersed in their petty jealousies and political maneuvering to understand the immense value of such a NECESSARY work – and like the proverbial dogs-in-the-manger, they would not themselves imbibe, nor let others imbibe, the knowledge of the Deen of Islam.
So much for the false veneration we bestow upon some of the companions of the Prophet. Caliph Umar was basically an ignorant man who was prone to using the stick more than his brain when involved in a debate. Caliph Uthman was an opportunist-cum-nepotist who valued himself and his own family over the unity and prospering of Islam.
For better or for worse, because of the impossible nature of understanding the TOTALITY of the Quran IN THE CONTEXT OF THE HADITH, the Deen of Islam is an indeterminate i.e. there cannot be a one-and-only Islam in this world! And therefore, there is no force whatsoever in following any INTERPRETATION of Islam that one should prefer. Consider the following Ayat:
“If it had been thy Lord’s will, they would all have believed: ALL who are on earth! Will you then COMPEL humankind, against their will,
TO BELIEVE?” [10/Yunus/99]
If there is no one-and-only Islam what then is the solution for Muslims to live as one SINGLE ummah? The Muslim is free to explore all the schools of thought in Islam and switch from one to the other until he finds the one that suits him – but he is not allowed to condemn any religion leave alone condemn an Islamic tariqah within Islam itself!
Each Muslim is obligated to seek the knowledge of Islam by studying the texts of the Quran and the Hadith himself as well as study the explanations of the learned people who have devoted themselves to the study of Islam and then to use his/her own intelligence to measure the opinions of their scholars (the ulama) and thereafter forge their own independent path of interpretation. The Muslim individual is free to accept or reject the explanation of any scholar of Islam because the academism of any or all Islamic scholars is not a substitute for Islam itself as a religion and a deen (a way of life).
Nor should the scholars of any school of Islam ever dare to possess the “devil”-inspired arrogance such as to assert their opinions upon a community of believers without its willing submission to that particular interpretation of Islam and which it then comes to believe as true – for itself.
THERE IS NO FORCE IN ISLAM! Only the “devil” uses force. Never God and neither did the Prophet of Islam.
Q#2. There are literally billions and billions of galaxies and star systems in our “known” universe; supposedly we are talking about a creator that is well beyond the confines of any material boundaries; why would such a “person” even care about what goes on in individual hearts and minds on a teeny-weeny planet! Why would he be upset about, for example, a woman showing off a bit of skin or someone not observing some ritual exactly how it was prescribed (when there are literally hundreds of such, very contradictory, rituals in Islam amongst the sects; not to quote countless other similar examples).
Answer #2: God by Muslim definition (that means by our Muslim “belief”) is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, merciful, creator, etc. as per His ninety-nine (99) beautiful names. God cares about each one of us and our lives and our livelihoods because we are His creation. He rejoices in us as we rejoice in the beauty and development of our own children; and loves us all dearly because He created us in order that we may get to “know” Him by having more and more faith in Him through our own choice, our “free will”.
There are many, many ways to get to know God. One of them is by asking questions the way you do because you would like to really and truly know the answers to your questions – OTHERWISE YOU WOULD NOT HAVE BOTHERED AT ALL TO ASK. I salute you for your courage in asking these questions the way you do AND MOST CERTAINLY GOD IS SMILING AT YOU!
As for showing some skin there are the different Tariqas in Islam which dictate the different amounts of skin that your woman can show to the world. Most of these rules are cultural traditions and have nothing to do with Islam although a lot of OBSCURANTISTS LIKE THE TALIBAN AND THE WAHABBI would have you believe that they and only they are aware of God’s will as if God has made then his police on earth. These are the bastards of Islam and the best way to deal with them is by the Quran in which God makes it very clear that whosoever takes upon himself to dictate Islam with force is bound towards hell. So, I shall help the Taliban on their way to hell by use of my free-will by sentencing them to death for breaking the Shariah by using force on people. I am quite willing to shoot them for breaking MY Shariah in the same way they would like to shoot me for breaking their Shariah!
Q#3. If the “Loh-e-Mahfouz” was the first thing created with the deeds of all living things and their fate already prescribed, what the hell is the meaning of “free will”?!
Answer #3 This is an expression of God’s power of creation and omniscience by which God having created all beings He therefore knows the strengths and weaknesses of each one and the path of destiny that each one will take but NOT THAT HE HAS DECREED THIS TO BE SO! So, with this in mind, it behooves all humankind to fear for their own destinies and therefore we pray DAILY to God to show us the right path (sura-t-ul-fateha) i.e. to protect us FROM OUR OWN INCLINATIONS TOWARDS EVIL.
By our daily prayers we not only cleanse ourselves of these sins but we also change our destiny by having God help us to ward off temptations all around us and help us to do good and the charitable instead. This is the exercise of “free will” i.e. will you be humble and seek God’s help to change your daily circumstance written just the previous day by your very own actions? Or will you deny God and assert that you are the “Captain of your own destiny and therefore do not need God’s intervention in your life”? The choice, as you can very well see, is yours and accordingly God will or will not come to your aid when you are in difficulty because God will only come to your aid IF YOU ASK HIM TO COME! If you are not a believer in God it will never occur to you to ask God for His help and therefore you will sit in your little trough and drown in it in the end. But I with God’s help can sail the ocean on a raft and never drown! HOW ‘BOUT DAT, MA MAAN!
Q#4. If a ruler of my country wanted me to abide by certain rules, I would expect them to be laid down explicitly and clearly for all to understand. Otherwise, I would think they were unjust in prosecuting me for misgivings; why are there so many ambiguities as to what the “true Islam” is; that definition is certainly not unanimous by anyone’s standards as we all know; the interpretations are so varied and far apart at times that it is mind boggling!
Answer #4 Absolutely! As I have explained in my answer to your Q#1 that there is no ONE Islam! However, we are all under the umbrella of Islam when we recite the Shahada and thus bear witness that God exists BECAUSE MOHAMMAD THE PROPHET (saws) SHOWED US THE PATH TO GOD. This is the essence of Islam that you believe in a ONE God and that Mohammad is the guide who guided you to God. That makes each one of us a Muslim i.e. we are under Islam having surrendered our ego by accepting God and His Prophet. After that you can do as much as you want in the way (DEEN) of Islam. If you wish you can lay back and smoke all the pot in the world and you will still be a Muslim as well as the one who acts with energy and strength in the way of God. The rewards will naturally be different for each according to his actions, surely!
Q#5. According to the Quran, Allah gave his blessings to the Bani Israel but they betrayed his trust many a times, so he went off them completely and chose a different people for revival of his “Only and True Message”! Are we thinking that an omniscient and omnipotent God, with the inherent knowledge of everything, transcendent through the confines of time, made a mistake!! Then he tried to correct it by choosing Arabia for his chosen Messenger! How odd!!
Answer #5. According to the Quran Allah has sent His messengers to all peoples on earth so that none may say that they did not know the truth about God. The story of Bani Israel is only given in the Quran because Prophet Mohammad had to deal with the Jews of the tribe “Bani Israel” and so God was revealing to Prophet Mohammad the knowledge of the Jews as they know it in their own Scripture, the Torah, so that he (Prophet Mohammad) could stand against their offensive arrogance and argue with the Jews who were immensely proud of their petty knowledge as if they therefore owned God just like the Taliban who think that they with their petty knowledge of Islam own God and Islam.
God has always been there for all people and all people think themselves to be the chosen ones and then God lays them low, all these arrogant peoples, who once He loved e.g. the US of A is now in the dumps because God has turned His Face away from them!
As an experiment try it with any Christian denomination or any Muslim sect and you will incredibly find that ALL OF THEM think like the Jews in that they are the only chosen ones of God and the rest of humankind is destined for hell!
God sent Mohammad the greatest prophet of them all to Arabia because Arabia was the low of the low among humankind – and Great Mohammad (saws) turned these sick jahils into the greatest civilization on earth of the time – that took some doing and no wonder Prophet Mohammad is considered by even European intellectuals as the greatest human being that ever lived on earth: Gibbon, Goethe, Bernard Shaw, Mahatma Gandhi, Rev. Margoliouth, Huston Smith, Gibb, Emperor Hercules of the Eastern Roman Empire, Will Durant, etc. etc.
Q#6. Prayer is such a contradictory term, don’t you think. If all is already decided, does God change his mind if we were to grovel before him and grant us our desires as a reward? Very confusing!!
Answer #6. [see #3 above] By our daily prayers we not only cleanse ourselves of our daily sins but we also change our DAILY destiny by having God help us to ward off temptations all around us and help us to do good and the charitable instead. This is the exercise of “free will” i.e. will you be humble and seek God’s help to change your daily circumstance written just the previous day by your very own actions? Or will you deny God and assert that you are the “Captain of your own destiny and therefore do not need God’s intervention in your life”? The choice, as you can very well see, is yours and accordingly God will or will not come to your aid when you are in difficulty because God will only come to your aid IF YOU ASK HIM TO COME!
If you are not a believer in God it will never occur to you to ask God for His help and therefore you will sit in your little trough and drown in it in the end.
But I with God’s help can sail the ocean on a raft and never drown!
h t t p : / / w w w .apniutube. c o m
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First of all I would like say it was a breath of Fresh Air reading something positive in a sea of negativity about my country. Unfortunatly as well as the International press, our own so called news channels have hopped onto the same band wagon. The prime being GEO which really should be called MAROA if all its reports are to be believed.
Secondly I think responding to an Athiest that uses a muslim name and from his/her retroric is clearly not worth the breath. Allah (SWT) says in
“- And when it is said to them, Do not make mischief in the land, they say: We are but peace-makers.
-Now surely they themselves are the mischief makers, but they do not perceive.
– And when it is said to them: Believe as the people believe they say: Shall we believe as the fools believe? Now surely they themselves are the fools, but they do not know.”
and…..
“Their parable is like the parable of one who kindled a fire but when it had illumined all around him, Allah took away their light, and left them in utter darkness– they do not see.
– Deaf, dumb (and) blind, so they will not turn back”
Contradictions – Where?? If you want to talk about contradictions then I suggest you go talk to the Christians – they can definitly oblige you in that department. As for us Muslims:-
“This is a book of which there is no doubt
For those who fear Allah (Men of understanding)”
You do fall into that category so I have but one thing to say Further
begone shaitaan…You are accursed this day as the day you defied and were cast out..
Oh by the way..No I am no fanatic but a Senior Aviation consultant / Project Manager with faith.
Anyone for consultancy on Airline IT Systems..?
Correction in my earlier post
“You do NOT fall into that category so I have but one thing to say Further”
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Raza you have very unfairly closed the thread allowing PMA to leave two one sided posts but not allowing me or any one else to reply. This is grossly unfair.
I think firs of all you should not have involved yourself so much., The readers are smart enough to respond to what they feel right. Second you should at least allow reply to a post otherwise delete both posts not just one.
Kareem Bhai
I am sorry for this. I do apologise – all your comments were valuable.
But I had to close it as there were several sectarian comments and abuses that I had to stop.
You must appreciate my delicate position here. I want a debate and discussion and not a match between sects and this is what was happening.
Hope you understand
Raza
i wolud to join u group as a fashion dengner i done bba in fashion i
@Nawazish Ali
Try this plz
http://cybersurg.livejournal.com/1226.html
Luqmaan
Hi:
Great resource. Could you also place our blog link on your blog: http://pakistaniaat.wordpress.com/
We have already included your blog. Thank you.
Masood
Salams,
Sir I was just wondering that this other blog “Pak Tea House”, also run by you(if I am correct), mostly has stories/articles on Pakistan written by many Indian writers/journalists. I am happy that many Indians have a lots of interest that what’s going on in Pakistan. I am also surprised to see their thorough researches on Pakistan and it’s affairs. Wouldn’t be it nice if we can also know what’s going on in India too, instead of just negative articles about Pakistan. I felt that some articles can just increase disbelieve among many Pakistanis.
Take it as my humble request, I would love to read articles about India where some one is trying to open “inn k kacchey chatthey” also.
Thank you
Khush rahein,
sabb k hath me Pakistan ka topic aaya hua hey, behti ganga mein nahaney bethey huey hein sab….!
Wolf is still at the door
Dr. Tahir Rauf
New sexual harassment legislation, an amendment to the Criminal Law was passed in the National Assembly and later signed by the president Asif Ali Zardai last week. The bill provides protection to “working women at workplace” against harassment and intimidation. The offence is punishable with either three years imprisonment, Rs.500, 000 fine or both.
Sexual harassment can occur in a variety of circumstances and the victim(s) may be a woman, or a man or a child. In a civil society, the victim does not have to be the person harassed but could be anyone affected by the offensive conduct or associated with the victim or offender.
However, many women rights groups and NGOs have expressed an overwhelming response to the legislation. Without a doubt, this passage of legislation advocates limiting behaviors on the basis of morality and promises new cultural and social values of the daily norms. Laws are made about defending people’s rights from being violated by others. However, the new law’s implementation is an implicated issue considering moral and social behaviors based upon an evaluation of the current circumstances in Pakistani society.
The new piece of law depicts women’s protection only in the work place. But which part of the law will defend women when they steps out of the home alone walking to school, work, or market for shopping. It is common occurrence that men (old or young) constantly glair at alone women with lusty looks, humiliate with vulgar remarks and often stalk. If women travels on a bus, men restrict her entrance; make her nervous with aggressive shoving, and limiting her passage to occupy the ladies seats. Most women remain silent on advances because of family honor or fear of personal safety. These intimidating behaviors and harassment to women have become a norm of daily Pakistani life.
Verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature in any physical setting constitutes sexual harassment. Unwelcomed atmosphere creates hostile environment which cause mental distresses.
Impoverished home-maids women work long hours, going door to door, doing house chores for little money, leftover food and the occasionally used cloths from the Begham sahib. In addition, young girls of such domestic workers often baby-sit, side-by-side with their mother for Begham’s young children. How these domestic workers face inappropriate behaviors and verbal or physical abuse of their employers is a shameful story of the affluent civil society. Neither labor laws nor sexual harassment act provides security to these women. There is no union of domestic workers which can define their rights and responsibilities, set minimum wage, and limit working hours; its absence perpetuates deeper poverty in the society.
In spite of these courageous women who come to work, in rain or shine, hot or cold weather, to support their family.
There are many examples available in newspapers that domestic workers were molested, harassed, raped, and occasionally beaten to death. Indeed victims complain, but no one hears them, in most circumstances the police fail to react. The wealthy and powerful escape from punishment either bribing to local police or by offering few lakh rupees compensation to the family.
Who will guard peasant laborers, particularly women and children in rural areas from land-owner’s constant abuse and harassment? Similarly there is no protection for women construction workers in urban areas. Most are abused daily, often raped and molested. Many incidents are not registered in police nor does any piece of law defend them from culprits. Breaking a silence may cause lose of employment or worse. Nothing has altered the fortune of Pakistani women; power and money seek each others.
Poverty is quoted to justify child labor. The children’s earning are essential for their own existence as well as household and can often makes a difference between starvation and survival. Though, adolescent work in the western countries for home delivery newspapers, even in freezing temperatures; or work in fast food and grocer chains, but it does not compare to their Pakistani counterparts who do not have the same essential rights and working conditions, law protecting them. That should be an underline the current condition of Pakistani young workers. This should not be considering an excuse to push children to work place.
Nevertheless, framing a law is important in a civil society but its implementation is essential, backed by the checks and balances by a wider process of the government agencies. Otherwise a piece of legislature on its own is useless. Agencies need to open and legitimize the process by establishing informal as well as formal complaint processes and networks of impartial counselors and investigators who are qualified to hear complaints. Unfortunately, a few number of women judges are working in lower and higher courts or in civil administration. These women may provide a hope or at least sympathize to victim women.
In addition, young women should understand that awareness of their rights can bring a meaningful change to their lives or others. Otherwise the current bill may be another piece of meaningless legislation; silence of the lambs will prevail.
Dr. Rauf works in the University of Rochester. New York E-mail: Trauf24@gmail.com
Raza got a mention…
ZEENEWS: Pak Nobel laureate’s Ahmedi status hurdle for documentary
http://www.zeenews.com/news608261.html
thanks for the link hasan.
good work, raza.
It’s been some months since I started following the arguments on PTH; perhaps even a year or more, I don’t know exactly. It has been a journey of discovery, and of learning. Now other commitments and other responsibilities claim me; I must go. Before leaving, however, I would like to say something to Pakistanis and Indians who spend time here.
We have had a lot of discussions. We agreed on some; we disagreed on some. I would like to think that we hardly ever agreed or disagreed as Pakistani or as Indian, as Muslim or as Hindu, as Christian, as Sikh, as Buddhist, as whatever. Maybe this is a fond illusion, but I would like to think that we disagreed as individuals, exercising our right to think as we wished to on any subject, and to say so in print.
By and large, the fighting was fair; we are not talking Queensberry here, we are talking pankration. By those standards, the fighting was fair. In a few cases, remarks were made which were deeply wounding. If I have made any such which remain without closure, my apologies. For those who have wounded me, it’s over now, and it doesn’t matter really. People in real life know that I have a sense of honour and fair play and wouldn’t have done what I was accused of doing. Let it be.
There are some Indians who come here, regularly, to jibe at Pakistan, at Pakistanis in general, at individuals, at the morals, culture, economy, prowess at nation-building – there’s a poisoned nail for every mean little bastard who wants his fifteen minutes of fame, without doing anything to deserve it. These are trolls; there is a clear definition of this term available for those who want to know. It dates back to usenet days; now don’t go reminding me of my age by asking,”What is usenet?”
For these little pieces of dried up shit and their unlovely antics, my abject apologies. Don’t go by these fringe elements, go by the people who come back again and again, and genuinely try to engage in meaningful discourse. India is a wonderful country, a country to be proud of. The lunatic fringe occasionally shows up, here as in real life, and you would make a singularly bad mistake to judge us by these.
I hope that the two countries achieve some day a sense of sovereign equality, and I hope I live to see it in full bloom. If I don’t, I am confident that my daughter will. I am confident that her generation, on both sides of the border, will look with clear sight and vision at the issues that exercise the minds of men and women of goodwill and discernment, and will reason through their differences with calm, clear reason and judgement.
Ebar aajker moto choli, abar konodin dekha hobe.
“The journey of a Pakistani Muslim”
Yesterday I left a second comment on this blog post – the first comment having been published – which was apparently suppressed following “moderation”. I have today left a pretty tame comment which, I hope, you will publish. If you decide not to, please give reasons.
Separately, I have left a comment on the Hamid Mir story. Apparently, that too is being “moderated”. I await the outcome! Again, I would want to know the reasons in the event of suppression.
The moderators of this website have not responded to my protest. Is this a PPP-funded website which blocks posts criticising the party and its functionaries?
My comments on the disgraceful hounding of Hamid Mir – which you chose to suppress in the post “The alleged stunning indiscretion …..” – were as follows:
“What worries me is that a story publicised by the PPP fanatics is being given credence and respectability here. The accusations are serious enough for the accusers to take legal action against the accused. If they are not willing to do that, and are only engaged in settling old scores or whatever, they should shut up.
Those who have kicked up this fuss are the very people who are attacking our honourable Judiciary just so they can save the skin of convicts, criminals and fraudsters in the gang that passes for the government of Pakistan today. These people will stop at nothing to defend their tribe, the PPP, even if it means sacrificing the cherished interests of Pakistan. Democracy, to them, is merely a means to an end: to gain power and keep it. Honesty, Integrity, Truth, Justice, Fair play are meaningless concepts for these people given to blind tribal loyalty.
As for Hamid Mir, he has written very critical articles about the Taliban, and about the ISI in connection with Pakistan’s thousands of missing persons. He is also a thorn in the flesh of our dysfunctional government. I wouldn’t be surprised if the ISI and the PPP government have ganged up against him.
Here are two articles by Hamid Mir – judge for yourself.
http://jang.com.pk/jang/jan2010-daily/25-01-2010/col2.htm
http://jang.com.pk/jang/may2010-daily/06-05-2010/col6.htm “
sir,
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I often look around the web these days searching solutions to my hay fever. I like to read about new ideas, things that I may not have tried before. I really enjoyed reading the posts on your site. Thank you for sharing.
Thirteen years after his death, I discover that the dear supervisor of my PhD thesis ( SOAS 1975) has passed away.
I feel so sad. He was such a kindly man with a gentle sense of humour. Full of good advice that I always followed to my own advantage.
I am eighty years old now and often have to reflect on days gone by with such fine companions who have gone before me.
I salute his memory.
Conrad Wood. SOAS 1971-75.