Where the Jihad Lives Now

First of all, we must not forget who aided and abetted the Taliban. It was the government of Benazir Bhutto who allowed the Taliban to flourish at that time. It was in Pakistan's interest to pursue such a peaceful policy then with a neighboring country, but not today. This is why more than nintety five percent of the Pakistani people oppose the Taliban and the results will be clear in the January elections where every extremist party will suffer a resounding blow. There are religious parties on social issues in Pakistan, just like the Republicans in the US, but it doesn't mean they are pro-Taliban or extremists.

Secondly, 9/11 changed the foreign policy of Pakistan and Pakistan has done its utmost by sending more 90,000 troops at the western borders and rooting out these extremists. More than 1,000 have lost their lives. Now, if Americans quite frankly want to rile the Pakistan nation, all they would have to do is send their troops in Pakistan and there they would meet the professionalism of the Pakistani army and the sheer ire of the 160 million Pakistanis.

The extremists are in every society and it will take time to root them out, but to blame Pakistan so overtly for its incompetence in dealing with this militancy is reprehensible. This peice of journalism is jaundiced in tone and approach. I wonder why some of the folks (western officials or security experts) whom you quote speak on the condition of anoynimity. The fact is that they don't have the balls to acknowledge the truth and recongnise Pakistan's successes of the past in bringing these terrorists to justice. It was the works of the Afghan-Soviet war, whom America so enthusiastically backed that the country is facing such a situation today and it can't be rooted out in a fort night. It is the making of more than 2 decades, so one must give it atleast a decade to come under control.

Also, Pakistanis are aware of the violence brought by suicide bombers. We don't need lessons from abroad to know the carnage brought about by a few maniacs. Pakistanis have suffered 33 suicide bombings this year and about more than 500 deaths because of that. We don't need outside lessons in that. It is a lesson in living for us and we don't require any special direction in combatting such a threat.

So, I fail to understand the motives of publishing this story at all and that too as a cover story of NEWSWEEK, but if it is to build up a public anxiety in America about Pakistan, or to provoke a diologue to invade Pakistan, it will fail miserably and must be dismissed by the American Public. Pakistanis are proud people, they are good people and will refuse to countenance any denigration of the country at the hands of a few war mongerors in the Editor's office at NEWSWEEK.

although i dont like the idea of making tall claims, but ahsan warsi has made a good point about indian bloggers. very opportunistic of them, to try to defame pakistan any chance they get, when anyone with common sense and general knowledge can tell, that this article is extremly biased and not reflective of ground realities at all. yes pakistan has problems, but those problems stem from poverty, illiteracy, lack of accountability and law enforcement and improper distribution of power. they do not stem from radical islamists. because at the end of the day, the only reason why such people pick up arms is because of their troubled economic conditions. pakistan is not the most dangerous country in the world, but yes it is a frustrated country and we need to improve the lives of masses to make them happy and peaceful. the only threat is poor governance, the likes of which politicians catering to their own vested interests like Bhutto serve. musharraf is the best thing that can happen to pakistan in such trying times, when it is trying to survive its own internal rifts, pressures from america and back stabbing from neighbours like india. we have a lot on our hands to deal with, so kindly cut us some slack and dont be so hasty to judge us.

it is true that pakistan is the most dangerous country for the world but in +ve sence. it is realy now a fast growing country with atomic power, fartilize agriculture land, unbreakable army, full of minrals land, and a fasinating student' strength etc. Pakistan is a country which can do anything not only in cricket but every aspect of life. these all things are realy a alarm for all the world. and the world do any thing Islam will will will spread all over the world and who say about Islam anything they know that fact. they are scared.

maadder choddo tumhari ganda mein nuclear danda jayey!

bhennnchooodoo tum sub ki maa mein pakistan ka nuclear lorra jayey!

bhennnchooodoo tum sub ki maa mein pakistan ka nuclear lorra jayey!

A true, nice and real story. It is unfortunate that President Bush has no other alternative but to support Musharaf. Whatever be the Government in Pakistan, whether civilian or military, it has follow the golden rule of INDIA baiting because of so called KASHMIR issue. An impartial view by a top NEWSWEEK reporter will tell clearly whether the people of Kashmir wants to join with Pakistan or continue to be with India.

Mr Raju first go get me 2 cups of tea cause thats what you Indians do best. Sell tea at small cafeterias and make money to buy oil to put it on your hair. And Mr. Chowdhary SS please relax. 97 percent of Pakistan is not shown on the video 'Karachi Uncovered' so please you do not try to portray a fake image of Pakistan. We are a vibrant nation with a lot of dynamics. People like you are putting our name down by saying that we are all alcoholic and western. Please Mr. Chowdhry go get a life first. As stated earlier, 70 percent of the people of Pakistan are poor and do not care who is power. They have become hopeless of our system due to corrupt leaders like BB, Nawaz and Musharraf. As far as BB is concerned, yes she is not going to be in favor India the moment she comes to power, which is highly unlikely according to my view. And, Mr Raju you said some lame line about tigers and leopards. We are the tigers and we do not want to change the stripes neither the hatred against you guys. Remember, that we will always be the tigers, either wounded, cornered or victorous. But, we will never be jackals and hyenas attacking from the back at forums which are not even related to your country. Your country had a leader who need 2 women to be around him so please do not get me started. Thank you. (http://pakcentric.blogspot.com)

So the Pakistani ISI trains extremists? Is that anything like Sadaam Hussein being a trained CIA assasin? Or bin laden being on the the cia payroll. Or noriega being a cia agent. OR pretty much every dictator in south america being trained in the US. How is it that we can easily spot the pakistani government involvement in this sad situation from the "street lights being out" but we can't see the thousands of obvious clues that point to government involvement in 9/11? Stop blaming poor voiceless people for the worlds problems. Look at the people who are shaping your world view with their lies.

So the Pakistani ISI trains extremists? Is that anything like Sadaam Hussein being a trained CIA assasin? Or bin laden being on the the cia payroll. Or noriega being a cia agent. OR pretty much every dictator in south america being trained in the US. How is it that we can easily spot the pakistani government involvement in this sad situation from the "street lights being out" but we can't see the thousands of obvious clues that point to government involvement in 9/11? Stop blaming poor voiceless people for the worlds problems. Look at the people who are shaping your world view with their lies.

It is the end times it's a biblical fact that this is gonna happen bush or no one can stop what is suppose to take place all we can do is pray if we pray for are nation and leaders maybe we can help those people but only through prayer will the hand of god move for them people

It is the end times it's a biblical fact that this is gonna happen bush or no one can stop what is suppose to take place all we can do is pray if we pray for are nation and leaders maybe we can help those people but only through prayer will the hand of god move for them people

"Unlike in Iraq or Afghanistan, there also aren't thousands of American troops hunting down would-be terrorists." That's exactly why Pakistan is not only lot more safer than these places but also in a much better position to get out of the current turmoil -grossly over-stated in the article. And this is not the only reason why Pakistan is fully capable of reversing this tide of extremism which, truely speaking, both of our own making and meddeling of the US. There is another side to this whole ghastly saga of suicide bombings and Talibanization. An editorial comment of Pakistan's independant and liberal English Language Daily 'Dawn' after the ghastly 10/18 incident in Karachi must be read after this article. It says, "No one can deny that the throngs that greeted her (Benazir Bhutto) and the festive atmosphere that prevailed in the nation???s biggest city on that fateful night also served to highlight a value system in which bigotry, intolerance and oppression under cover of religion have no place."..."No matter what the cost in terms of casualties and human suffering, we have as a nation demonstrated to the people of the world watching the drama on Karachi???s streets that our resolve to stand up to terror remains unimpaired."
Owais, Karachi

"Unlike in Iraq or Afghanistan, there also aren't thousands of American troops hunting down would-be terrorists." That's exactly why Pakistan is not only lot more safer than these places but also in a much better position to get out of the current turmoil -grossly over-stated in the article. And this is not the only reason why Pakistan is fully capable of reversing this tide of extremism which, truely speaking, is both of our own making and meddeling of the US. There is another side to this whole ghastly saga of suicide bombings and Talibanization; an editorial comment of Pakistan's independant and liberal English Language Daily 'Dawn' after the ghastly 10/18 incident in Karachi must be read after this article. It says, "No one can deny that the throngs that greeted her (Benazir Bhutto) and the festive atmosphere that prevailed in the nation???s biggest city on that fateful night also served to highlight a value system in which bigotry, intolerance and oppression under cover of religion have no place."..."No matter what the cost in terms of casualties and human suffering, we have as a nation demonstrated to the people of the world watching the drama on Karachi???s streets that our resolve to stand up to terror remains unimpaired."
Owais, Karachi

If US had been honest in comabting extremism in Pakistan, it would have:
1) Helped in the restoration of genuine democracy in Pakistan, with civilian control of military accepted both in theory and practice. We know how ISI and Pakistan's military had been in cohorts with US central command agenda for the whole region
2) Helped promote the gunuine educational reforms , not the cosmetic ones targeting the bogey of Islamic indoctrination. Universal literacy, based on mother tongue, and the quality eduaction in science and techonlogy are the sure ways to raise the quality of human capital, the most effective and long lasting antidote against any form of bigotry. US has frustated any attempt at genuine educational revolution in in Pakistan. The result is an extremely fragment educational system which produces western snobs and salvish mindset on the one hand, and raw bigotry on the other
3) Supported Pakistan on her just stand on the Kashmir issue. The Kashmir issue should not be entangled with this whole world wide jehad thing: it is a genuine national liberation struggle beiing brutally repressed by Indian army. By any standards of the civilized world POTA is a draconian law, but you rarely see US media commenting about indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir. And then US wonder why there is so much anit-american sentiment in Pakistan.
4) Helped the genuinly progressive forces in Pakistan standing for the end of feudalism and mass literacy and modernization of institutions. On the contrary it is either backing corrupt militaray junta or equally corrupt politicians.

5) Ended the occupation of Afghanistan, which is fueling the resistance movement in Afghanistan and adjoining areas. If it is wary of Talibans, the better option would have been to establish a consensus government backed by OIC and regional players like Iran, india and Pakistan. HOw much money has US spent towards the rebuilding of the ravaged country of Afghanistan? They had a part in destroying it and now illegaly occupying it, and don't feel any obligation towards rebuilding , and then they accept afghans who have thousands of years of history of resistance to accept all this lying down. Not only that, US expects Pakistasn to be a partner in the crime, and help them in their illegal adventure, and with no blow back. All that balatant injustice is then totally glossed over in the most shameless media in the world , the USA, by laying all the blame at the door of islamic militancy! Even, Goebels could have learnt a thing or two from the so called free press of the usa

Extremely one sided piece based on gross distrortion of reality. Whatever extremism exists in Paksitan is because of two interrelated factors:
1- US control of the country policy and sovereignty mainly through Pakistan army. This control of Pakistan's policy brought nothing but disaster to the country during the first Afghan war against the Sovietes, which the US dubbed as Jihad. It is again bringing nothing but disaster to the country in the second Afghan war fought ostensibly for liberal agenda, but in reality to sustain illegal occupation of Afghanistan by US and Nato
2- Complete negelect of socio-economic and political aspirations of the people of Pakistan, again assisted and mediated by US through Pakistan army and corrupt politicians. It is no wonder that one champion of US causes in Pakistan is an exteremely corrupt politician who amassed huge fortune through nefarious means and stacked it in west, and the other one is a known terrrorist who has held the big metropolist of Karachi as hostage. So much for US love of moderate agenda in Pakistan