The Editor’s Desk

Pakistan should not be subsumed by the Western rhetoric of "extremism" and ???terrorism???. There are "extremists" and ???terrorists??? on both sides of the religious and political divides ??? including secular extremists and the neo-con Christian extremists and terrorists of the US who have unbolted their own floodgates of terror in Iraq and, through Israel, in Palestine. Western imperialism has coined two words to justify their brutal actions. These words are Talibanisation and Taliban. Anyone who has a beard and opposes and fights the US terrorism and imperialism is labelled as Taliban. The doctrinaire doctrine of terrorists getting hold of Pakistan Nuclear weapons used by the western governments, think tanks and media is not only preposterous and unwarranted but highly untenable. India and its security forces are battling more than 14 insurgencies. These insurgents are called terrorists by the Indian government. But one never hears western governments and media delving in such discourse that the Indian nuclear facilities are increasingly imperilled by a Naxalite takeover. Now the US is subsidising the Indian bombs in the form of the 123 Agreement (Indo-US Nuclear Deal). Moreover Indian government does not give free access to foreign media to report from the Indian states mired in insurgencies. There is no denying that Pakistan has a problem but we need to rid ourselves of hackneyed Western labels of "liberal" and "extremist". Pakistan is not like Iraq or Afghanistan. If bombings do not make Israel or Lebanon another Iraq then Pakistan propinquity with Iraq is preposterous and extreme.

Pakistan should not be subsumed by the Western rhetoric of "extremism" and ???terrorism???. There are "extremists" and ???terrorists??? on both sides of the religious and political divides ??? including secular extremists and the neo-con Christian extremists and terrorists of the US who have unbolted their own floodgates of terror in Iraq and, through Israel, in Palestine. Western imperialism has coined two words to justify their brutal actions. These words are Talibanisation and Taliban. Anyone who has a beard and opposes and fights the US terrorism and imperialism is labelled as Taliban. The doctrinaire doctrine of terrorists getting hold of Pakistan Nuclear weapons used by the western governments, think tanks and media is not only preposterous and unwarranted but highly untenable. India and its security forces are battling more than 14 insurgencies. These insurgents are called terrorists by the Indian government. But one never hears western governments and media delving in such discourse that the Indian nuclear facilities are increasingly imperilled by a Naxalite takeover. Now the US is subsidising the Indian bombs in the form of the 123 Agreement (Indo-US Nuclear Deal). Moreover Indian government does not give free access to foreign media to report from the Indian states mired in insurgencies. There is no denying that Pakistan has a problem but we need to rid ourselves of hackneyed Western labels of "liberal" and "extremist". Pakistan is not like Iraq or Afghanistan. If bombings do not make Israel or Lebanon another Iraq then Pakistan propinquity with Iraq is preposterous and extreme.

With all due respect i feel so ashamed that "NewsWeek" has left no other way except to get shocked from the ignorant "presentation" of the reality existed otherwise. Being like all other free people this was felt as the failed attempt to "HIT" the idea to bring the nations closer through peace. This will create no other then the Unrest in many minds. Even all this has been through this magazine, i am still hopeful that there will be a bold attempt to stop such an efforts to create confusions and misleadings.

With all due respect i feel so ashamed that "NewWeek" has left no other way except to get shocked from the ignorant "presentation" of the reality existed otherwise. Being like all other free people this was felt as the failed attempt to "HIT" the idea to bring the nations closer through peace. This will create no other then the Unrest in many minds. Even all this has been through this magazine, i am still hopeful that there will be a bold attempt to stop such an efforts to create confusions and misleadings.

It is quite obvious that Newsweek has not learned anything from the fiasco it started and the humiliation it endured from the false story on the abuses of the Koran at Guantanamo in May 2005. Your front page coverage labeling Pakistan as the world's most dangerous country falls perhaps in the same ignominious category of alarmist journalism (Re: "Where the Jihad Lives Now," cover story, October 29, 2007).



Pakistan is undoubtedly at a trying stage these days. But its troubles as a nation are not even comparable to those endured by many others. I would like to ask what has changed in Pakistan recently that Newsweek finds such a cover story fitting? The mere approach of national elections that have led to political posturing by President Musharraf and his rivals, the opportunistic arrival of Ms. Bhutto and the attempts of Islamist bigots and terrorists to capitalize on the political fludity cannot be grounds for Newsweek to dabble with such gross misrepresentation of an entire country.



The article's lack of understanding of Pakistan's history and political culture is striking, and its brazen sweeping conclusions deeply unsettling. It is amusing that the article portends Ms. Bhutto as a savior of Pakistan, absolving her of any responsibility in the Taliban's emergence in the mid-1990s when she herself was prime minister. It is also unfair that the article ignores the failures of India in responding to Pakistan's peace overtures that could have helped reduce the power of religious radicals in both countries, as well as the continued unmanageability of Afghanistan, which has historically been a prime source of Pakistan's ills.



I have always told my friends that a visit to Pakistan would remove many of the misperceptions that the Western media suffers from about this nation. Seeing Pakistan and meeting its people shows that Pakistan's troubles are typical of any developing nation that is located in an unfriendly neighborhood. It is not a nation filled with radical recruits, criminals or xenophobes. And even without nuclear weapons, its armed forces are amongst the most professional and weaponized in the world.



Back in May 2005, when Newsweek retracted its story about the abuse of the Koran at Guantanamo Bay, it lost its credibility as a reliable newspaper. With this cover title of October 29, Newsweek has proved again that it is always more interested in making a quick buck out of sensational and uncorroborated tabloid-style propaganda than qualified journalism.

I wish your reporters had gone actually deep inside the situation reflected in your esteemed magazine. Did they investigate how many countries are pumping money for creating lawlessness and killings of innocent Pakistanis? Did they find out what Uzbeks and Arabs etc are doing in mountains of Afghan belt? Armies of whole world are in Afghanistan, why can???t they stop them from crossing the border? And what money west have given.. Did US fulfil all the promises to fight against terrorism? Its very easy to sit on computer and post article or comment without going deep inside the ground reality. Interest of US and whole Middle East, Iran against Gwadar port is another factor which is never discussed because it would uncover hard realities to people of west. I wish people from west see what actual Pakistani thinks about terrorism!! I can only wish because no one would like his or her brother, sister, mother, father son or daughter killed by the act of barbarism as a result of explosions.

I wish your reporters had gone actually deep inside the situation reflected in your esteemed magazine. Did they investigate how many countries are pumping money for creating lawlessness and killings of innocent Pakistanis? Did they find out what Uzbeks and Arabs etc are doing in mountains Pakistan close to Afghan belt? Armies of whole world are in Afghanistan, why can???t they stop them from crossing the border? And what money west have given.. Did US fulfil all the promises to fight against terrorism? Its very easy to sit on computer and post article or comment without going deep inside the ground reality. Interest of US and whole Middle East, Iran against Gwadar port is another factor which is never discussed because it would uncover hard realities to people of west. I wish people from west see what actual Pakistani thinks about terrorism!! I can only wish because no Pakistani would like his or her brother, sister, mother, father son or daughter killed by the act of barbarism as a result of explosions.

I have read with interest a statement by another writer who said that Pakistan was doing very well financially. Well just check out the fiscal deficit and the large amount of money that Pakistan has to return to its lenders. Pakistan has to even borrow money to pay for the intrest. So how can you get the money invested from switzerland investor, and where is the sourse of Meryl Lynch report stating "Buy from pakistan, sell in India" if they have said so, they must be very naive which I doubt. All the gliterreti you saw in the Pakistani PM stating that Pakistan's GDP is growing by 10.5 percent, if so, than it must be the highest in the world. I think that must be the money that west was giving to Pakistan to fight terror, that money cant be claimed as FDI into Pakistan. Pakistan has in turn spent money to make Taleban stronger as its in its intrest if it can keep the west bound up in Afghanistan as its the source of good money.

Many Pakistanis see this article as a criticism from the west. What they fail to see is that Pakistan has slipped to the top 20 nations of failed states in the world; sharing its place with the lawless states in the African continent. For decades, Pakistan has received billions of dollars from international community for its welfare. All it has become is a haven for terrorists creating instability in the region and in the world.

For past 60 years, rulers of Pakistan have lived by their 'Allah, Army and America' foreign policy. That means a religious state with Islam as its ideology; presence of a standing army ready to fight against its arch rival India and America as a patron to pay for the military's misadventures. The terrorists (or freedom fighters as Pakistan likes to call them) in collusion with elements of the army have perfected a cheap way to fight and bleed soviets in Afghanistan and Indians in Kashmir. Now, the same terrorists have turned in to Frankiestein's monster killing Pakistanis.

Many Pakistanis see this article as a criticism from the west. What they fail to see is that Pakistan has slipped to the top 20 nations of failed states in the world; sharing its place with the lawless states in the African continent.

Many Pakistanis overlook the fact that for past 60 years, rulers of Pakistan have lived by their 'Allah, Army and America' foreign policy. That means a religious state with Islam as its ideology; presence of a standing army ready to fight against its arch rival India and America as a patron to pay for the military's misadventures. The terrorists (or freedom fighters as Pakistan likes to call them) in collusion with elements of the army have perfected a cheap way to fight and bleed soviets in Afghanistan and Indians in Kashmir. Now, the same terrorists have turned in to Frankiestein's monster killing Pakistanis.

For Pakistan a Pakistani who fight outside Pakistan is NOT a terrorist, if the terrorists kill Balochis and people in Kashmir and India or in Afghanistan , than they are martyrs. For them balochis are terrorists as they are fighting for their rights and independence. But its not very far that Pakistan , have an independent Kashmir, Balochistan and Sindh. If that happens the world will be a much safer place than it is now,

pakistan has always played a double game with the west, so that the West dole out more money to them. Its time that USA demands accountability for its money. If millions of dollars are spent by Pakistani regimes to let madrassas flourish in the country with aid from radical Islamists, Its time west should ask Pakistan to be accountable in providing modern education to its children. If they are brainwashed from a tender age these boys and girls will turn out to be more intolerant radical islamists.

shams kazmi...please dont be a cut and paste text monkey. Your one message is enough to reach us. Just like many false donot make False into a truth. Thanks for your understanding.

Its the truth of this century that Pakistan is the most dangerous place to be in...Reason is not far to see...The local Pakistanis are furiously anti west and specially anti-American, their newspapers, websites and literature is full of hatred against America, and they percieve that USA is anti Islam. Many in the Pakistani regime are extremely hostile to USA, the coalition partners of the present Government are also involved in spreading Talibanisation in Pakistan. This is the reason why the Talebanis roam fearlessly in NWFP and now in cities, under the very eyes of the army. The pact with Taleban showed Pakistan army's weakness. The main elements responsible for this spread of hatred and terrorism are the mullahs who use the minaret pulpits everyday and specially on friday to preach people to take to arms against the infidels. USA has done a great service to Afghanistan to have rid it to some extemnt of these scourages of terrorism. However it should have been Pakistan and not Iraq on the list. This country is going to become the most powerful jehadi and terrorist country in the near future. Maybe USA should think in terms of securing the tribal region for the betterment of this world before its too late.

If Pakistan is truly considered to be a dangerous country, given the casualty rate of those 'Anti terrorist and pro-democracy US troops' serving in Iraq, according to ???The Washington Post???, a reliable US source, fatalities of US troops in Operation Iraqi freedom is 3,822 and in ???Operation Enduring Freedom??? is 446 (4,268 total) till October 28, 2007, since occupation 19th March 2003, the numbers of innocent public casualties in this part of world where the liberators had achieved much talk about smooth transition of 'democracy' in gunny bags, coffins and blasts were amounted to 1,099,372 innocent Iraqi citizens.
In review to 134 casualties in Pakistan's are much meager, and in an incident which happens due to Pakistan???s part in collation for ???War Against terrorism???. If this is Jon Meacham???s criteria, we can just as easily prove that it is ???America which is the most dangerous country".
The editorial policy must be checked accordingly, and need not to easily be challenged on logic and analysis in vary ways. This article may fall under the rudimentary 'SPIN' of war mongering 'neo cons' assisted tabloids. Newsweek must register to check and review this feature article with ???publish content??? policy and must not address issues as per the ???lobbying think-tank???s pay back value???.

If Pakistan is truly considered to be a dangerous country, given the casualty rate of those 'Anti terrorist and pro-democracy US troops' serving in Iraq, according to ???The Washington Post???, a reliable US source, fatalities of US troops in Operation Iraqi freedom is 3,822 and in ???Operation Enduring Freedom??? is 446 (4,268 total) till October 28, 2007, since occupation 19th March 2003, the numbers of innocent public casualties in this part of world where the liberators had achieved much talk about smooth transition of 'democracy' in gunny bags, coffins and blasts were amounted to 1,099,372 innocent Iraqi citizens.
In review to 134 casualties in Pakistan's are much meager, and in an incident which happens due to Pakistan???s part in collation for ???War Against terrorism???. If this is Jon Meacham???s criteria, we can just as easily prove that it is ???America which is the most dangerous country".
The editorial policy must be checked accordingly, and need not to easily be challenged on logic and analysis in vary ways. This article may fall under the rudimentary 'SPIN' of war mongering 'neo cons' assisted tabloids. Newsweek must register to check and review this feature article with ???publish content??? policy and must not address issues as per the ???lobbying think-tank???s pay back value???.

If Pakistan is truly considered to be a dangerous country, given the casualty rate of those 'Anti terrorist and pro-democracy US troops' serving in Iraq, The Washington Post, a reliable US official source quote, fatalities of US troops in Operation Iraqi freedom is 3,822 and in ???Operation Enduring Freedom??? is 446 (4,268 total) till October 28, 2007, since occupation 19th March 2003, the numbers of innocent public casualties in this part of world where the liberators had achieved much talk about smooth transition of 'democracy' in gunny bags, coffins and blasts were amounted to 1,099,372 innocent Iraqi citizens.
In review to 134 casualties in Pakistan's are much meager, and in an incident which happens due to Pakistan???s part in collation for ???War Against terrorism???. If this is writer criteria, we can just as easily prove that it is ???America which is the most dangerous country".
The editorial policy must be checked accordingly, and can easily be challenged on logic and analysis in vary ways. This may fall under the rudimentary 'SPIN' of war mongering 'neo cons' assisted tabloids. Newsweek must register to check and review this feature article with ???publish content??? policy and must not address issues as per the ???lobbying think-tank???s pay back value???.

If this is about the number of casulaties (as refered in the editorial), of and in any incidental event then; what about the casuailty rate of 'Anit terrorist and pro democracy US troops' serveing in Iraq and Afghanistan, and in resultant, the numbers of innocent public casualties in these part of world where the liberators achieved much talk about smooth transition of 'democracy' in gunny bags, coffins and blasts.

The editorial must be analytically challenged in vary ways, as this may fall under the rudimentary 'spin' of war mongering 'neo cons' assisted tabloids.

Comment: "Pakistan???not Iran, not Iraq, not North Korea???is now the most dangerous nation in the world." says Newsweek Editor.
We (Pakistanis) can say "It is or it is not dangerous nation in the world? THIS IS THANKS TO THE USA"
Javed Gondal, Barcelona Spain