RT @mohammedhanif: half the population of karachi has turned up on sea view beach. the old book market in saddar was packed. how we love the 1 hour ago
@acorn Weinbaum also in a Wash Times interview called the TTP "Islamic Maoists." Haha. 2010/03/13
@ramanthink Where's your evidence of LeT support for the Punjabi Taliban? 2010/03/12
@amancool5 He's adept at understanding the interests and perspectives of regional actors.That's rare, given the discourse'spolemical nature. 2010/03/12
It’s a shame that rather than ways to uphold and unite our institutions- military and civilian, we’re inciting hatred and mutiny. we differ on issues but our cause and goal is the same – Pakistan. no matter what, from induction till the moment personal ego and lust for power take over, a soldier’s only chant is “Pakistan first”. As civilians, our identity, our very survival is bound with this homeland.
Zardari is now treading a very fine line. General Musharraf began this deal and Zardari has inherited this deal, this War on Terror. Any remote hint of his civilian govt falling apart or a dispute between him and Gen Kayani, as this picture’s been labeled, will be the first, last and only straw for this strip we call “home” to fall apart. If anything else we, especially the PML N, should be accommodative and share the larger vision rather than isolating him at this junction. In summary – Pakistan needs Zardari, Sharifs, Kayani, each and everyone of us.
p.s. lust for power and personal ego… sigh. yes apparently it seems that way, but in the most interesting twists of human psyche, it’s fascinating that even at that moment these men in their Khaki wardi are doing their duty – saving the nation from internal demolition.
and by saying Gen Musharraf began the deal, i don’t mean to imply he’s solely responsible for it. In fact, I’m a staunch believer that in the face of “in this war on terror you are either against us or with us” I don’t think he had a choice. I think he did the best he possibly could in his given circumstances and choices.
The time has come indeed. He better give it into his axxs this time and hang this rascal forever. So that the poor Pakistani nation can get rid of him for good.
Rhea, I’m not sure who is the “we” you refer to in: “we’re inciting hatred and mutiny.”
If it includes me, let me clarify:
1) I was being a bit facetious.
2) I don’t think a coup is an option, nor would I endorse one. However, IF a danda were to be used, it would not be used for a coup, but to reverse Zardari’s moves against the Sharif, PML-N, and Punjab government.
I agree with you that: “Pakistan needs Zardari, Sharifs, Kayani, each and everyone of us.”
I have been arguing for elite reconciliation on the blog from day one. Unfortunately, whoever is in the kursi (Musharraf/Zardari) spends his time fighting political rivals, rather than the terrorists threat. They become drunk on power and assurances from the goras.
Yes, it is a major flaw in the Pakistani political culture. The trick is to get out of the cycle of military intervention. It requires the military to focus on its original job and civilians to actually do the job they were elected for. It seems like the military is doing what it should do, but the civilians. All the civilians, however, are not equal in blame — especially at the present movement. Democracy must be given a fair chance, but it seems as if an indirectly elected civilian autocrat is exploiting the opening created by the military’s absence to consolidate his personal rule, rather than furthering democratization.
The country has missed a major opportunity to set itself on the right track.
So what’s left? Baitullah Mehsud giving the good ‘ol “Meray Aziz Humwatano?”
@Arif Rafiq
I agree with you that: “Pakistan needs Zardari, Sharifs, Kayani, each and everyone of us.”
=======
Dear Arif ,
Your thoughts are good but isnt it about time that Pakistan looks beyond Zardari and Sharif towards “Real Democracy”. Are Zardari or Sharif Kings of Pakistan. Why dont they hold elections in there parties . Why cant we see new faces with new policies on political horizon of Pakistan. Looking at west we talk about “Democracy” as a solution for Pakistan and try to imitate the west but we forget that there political parties hold elections regularly. There systems and procedures and accountability processes are good enough that they would reject if they have corrupt or power hungry leaders like Zardari or Sharif. How good are these leaders that despite abysmal financial condition of pakistan they never repatriated there money back home. How long we as nation would keep hoping of some “miracle” from these leaders … how long would we stay blind … havent our blindness already put us in lot of problems ?
When the government starts to work on a people’s agenda because that is what the people want, the military will go back to do the job it was meant to do.
Untill then Frankestein monsters created by Pakistani government will remain on the lose. Government will continue to remain in a state of denial. People too will stay in the same state. Let’s dismiss the statement that the frankestein monsters will exist till the larger issues such as Kashmir are not resolved. If the goons I create to kill my neighbour begin to kill my family, I cannot blame my neighbour for the killing. Why is this all consuming Kashmir agenda so important for Pakistan that Pakistanis are willing to destroy themselves for it? People will have to rise up first to force the government to bring an end to these monsters. I hope Pakistanis will choose peace over war, love over hatred, my prosperity over my neighbour’s destruction.
On the Radio: Arif Rafiq regularly appears Saturday nights from 10-10:30pm on the John Batchelor Show. Tune your dial to 770AM (WABC-New York), 630AM (WMAL-DC), or XM Radio Channel 158. The show appears on affiliates in other cities. Listen live online at WABCRadio.com.
It’s a shame that rather than ways to uphold and unite our institutions- military and civilian, we’re inciting hatred and mutiny. we differ on issues but our cause and goal is the same – Pakistan. no matter what, from induction till the moment personal ego and lust for power take over, a soldier’s only chant is “Pakistan first”. As civilians, our identity, our very survival is bound with this homeland.
Zardari is now treading a very fine line. General Musharraf began this deal and Zardari has inherited this deal, this War on Terror. Any remote hint of his civilian govt falling apart or a dispute between him and Gen Kayani, as this picture’s been labeled, will be the first, last and only straw for this strip we call “home” to fall apart. If anything else we, especially the PML N, should be accommodative and share the larger vision rather than isolating him at this junction. In summary – Pakistan needs Zardari, Sharifs, Kayani, each and everyone of us.
p.s. lust for power and personal ego… sigh. yes apparently it seems that way, but in the most interesting twists of human psyche, it’s fascinating that even at that moment these men in their Khaki wardi are doing their duty – saving the nation from internal demolition.
and by saying Gen Musharraf began the deal, i don’t mean to imply he’s solely responsible for it. In fact, I’m a staunch believer that in the face of “in this war on terror you are either against us or with us” I don’t think he had a choice. I think he did the best he possibly could in his given circumstances and choices.
The time has come indeed. He better give it into his axxs this time and hang this rascal forever. So that the poor Pakistani nation can get rid of him for good.
Rhea, I’m not sure who is the “we” you refer to in: “we’re inciting hatred and mutiny.”
If it includes me, let me clarify:
1) I was being a bit facetious.
2) I don’t think a coup is an option, nor would I endorse one. However, IF a danda were to be used, it would not be used for a coup, but to reverse Zardari’s moves against the Sharif, PML-N, and Punjab government.
I agree with you that: “Pakistan needs Zardari, Sharifs, Kayani, each and everyone of us.”
I have been arguing for elite reconciliation on the blog from day one. Unfortunately, whoever is in the kursi (Musharraf/Zardari) spends his time fighting political rivals, rather than the terrorists threat. They become drunk on power and assurances from the goras.
This seems to be a danda fetish – using leads to moaning and protests and not using leads to stronger desire for it.
Is there a way out?
Yes, it is a major flaw in the Pakistani political culture. The trick is to get out of the cycle of military intervention. It requires the military to focus on its original job and civilians to actually do the job they were elected for. It seems like the military is doing what it should do, but the civilians. All the civilians, however, are not equal in blame — especially at the present movement. Democracy must be given a fair chance, but it seems as if an indirectly elected civilian autocrat is exploiting the opening created by the military’s absence to consolidate his personal rule, rather than furthering democratization.
The country has missed a major opportunity to set itself on the right track.
So what’s left? Baitullah Mehsud giving the good ‘ol “Meray Aziz Humwatano?”
@Arif Rafiq
I agree with you that: “Pakistan needs Zardari, Sharifs, Kayani, each and everyone of us.”
=======
Dear Arif ,
Your thoughts are good but isnt it about time that Pakistan looks beyond Zardari and Sharif towards “Real Democracy”. Are Zardari or Sharif Kings of Pakistan. Why dont they hold elections in there parties . Why cant we see new faces with new policies on political horizon of Pakistan. Looking at west we talk about “Democracy” as a solution for Pakistan and try to imitate the west but we forget that there political parties hold elections regularly. There systems and procedures and accountability processes are good enough that they would reject if they have corrupt or power hungry leaders like Zardari or Sharif. How good are these leaders that despite abysmal financial condition of pakistan they never repatriated there money back home. How long we as nation would keep hoping of some “miracle” from these leaders … how long would we stay blind … havent our blindness already put us in lot of problems ?
When the government starts to work on a people’s agenda because that is what the people want, the military will go back to do the job it was meant to do.
Untill then Frankestein monsters created by Pakistani government will remain on the lose. Government will continue to remain in a state of denial. People too will stay in the same state. Let’s dismiss the statement that the frankestein monsters will exist till the larger issues such as Kashmir are not resolved. If the goons I create to kill my neighbour begin to kill my family, I cannot blame my neighbour for the killing. Why is this all consuming Kashmir agenda so important for Pakistan that Pakistanis are willing to destroy themselves for it? People will have to rise up first to force the government to bring an end to these monsters. I hope Pakistanis will choose peace over war, love over hatred, my prosperity over my neighbour’s destruction.