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| India-Pakistan |
| A new sense of fear |
| 2007-08-16 |
| Pakistan's 60th birthday has not brought with it the most encouraging of omens. The recent furore over a possible emergency, the question of what kind of deal has been reached with the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and the general air of uncertainty and dissatisfaction set the stage for a less than perfect celebration. Still more disturbing is the fact that even while there is talk of election, and the unprincipled process of jumping from one political camp to another is very much underway, people on the whole seem generally disinterested with the prospect of a poll or its preparations, and in casual conversations many say they have no idea who they would wish to vote for when the day comes. But this year round, there is also a new sense of fear in the air. Newspaper reports have for several days been stating that suicide attacks are possible in Lahore, and other cities -- and indeed even the names and descriptions of the suicide bombers apparently assigned to strike key targets have been provided. Senior police officials concede they have been warned about such strikes, and are searching for those who could carry them out. The warnings, along with rain in Lahore, put a dampner on the celebrations. Worse still, the security alert in the city remains high, and is to stay so for more days to come. There is reason to believe that the accounts of possible dangers are not based on speculation alone. A short while ago, almost immediately after the operation at the Lal Masjid in Islamabad, a small army of white-clad 'madressah' students, all of them under 14 years of age, were playing at a park in Model Town. Most were engaged in a game of makeshift cricket, discarded slippers substituting for a wicket. But another group was engaged in a far more sinister game, apparently running towards a target and hurling themselves at it while their peers clapped and cheered. On closer scrutiny, it transpired that the children were not practicing rugby -- but pretending to be suicide bombers, with the explosives clutched to their chests. They seemed unclear about the targets they were striking in their game of make belief, which continued until the evening prayer rang out from a nearby mosque. But it is not just 'madressah' educated children who are involved in such games. Parents of pupils attending elite, private schools report obsessions with terrorist strikes, bombings or 'jihad' that verge on obsession. SMS messages are circulated between young people extolling the virtues of extremism, and at some of the more elite city schools, the number of young men with flowing beards or young women with 'hijab' wrapped around their faces, has quite notably increased. This has in many cases happened with no evident encouragement from teachers or parents. Whereas naturally, the right to belief applies equally to everyone, and gunning down people at Lal Masjid or anywhere else is as reprehensible as massacres of those holding different ideological beliefs, there is a need too to address the new fear that is now a part of society. On August 14th, terrorist warnings meant many people opted to stay indoors and avoided crowded public places in particular. No society can flourish in the presence of such fears; a country where small children aspire to be suicide bombers has quite obviously gone astray. The question then is how this state of affairs is to change. A future in which fears of bombings keep people indoors on national holidays can hardly be one to look forward to. The problem must be handled at several different levels. Simply trying to annihilate extremists through military operations can never work. Indeed, such efforts make matters worse by intensifying feelings of hatred – while a US strike within the country, were it ever to occur, would quickly propel matters out of control perhaps making it impossible to rein back the situation. Whereas rhetoric from Washington on its own means little, a direct attack is not inconceivable given the possibility of an exchange of fire across the Pakistan-Afghan frontier, and the potential this carries for injury or death, prompting angry retaliation. Similarly, attempting to police all public places is quite obviously impossible. While dozens of policemen have lost their lives in recent months alone while on duty, their efforts to safeguard security is simply unrealistic given the presence of a band of people, many of them young, apparently willing to give up their lives for a cause they have come to believe in. As many security analysts have written at length, preventing suicide bombings, particularly when targets are chosen across a wide area and can vary from senior government officials to unprotected foot constables or citizens, is one of the most demanding of tasks in the spectrum of such duties. Indeed, privately, police officers concede it is next to impossible -- while there are now very real apprehensions that women, who by virtue of custom and culture generally escape security checks -- may soon be utilised as suicide bombers. The fact that people are so readily willing to give up their lives says something about the quality of life they lead. For many, it seems, the promise of martyrdom offers more than a life of continuous deprivation and the indifference of a society moulded to care only for its more affluent citizens. But aside from the socio-economic question, there is a need too to ignite somewhere a spark of hope amongst people. This can come most effectively from a political party able to inspire trust amongst people and persuade them of its commitment to change. Sadly, the long process of gamesmanship that has been played out between the PPP, the party that in the last poll still claimed the largest number of votes, and the regime, has only caused further despair and disgruntlement. Erasing these sentiments will require a leader with both good will and sufficient charisma to put it across. Other, more concrete measures can begin immediately. These include rehabilitating the thousands of young men in society who have over the decades been associated with extremist organisations or engaged in 'jihad'. Rather than being permitted to drift across society, pulling others with them into a pit of intolerance and ignorance, they need to be treated as victims, not criminals, trained and skills that do not use guns and like members of cults, 'deprogrammed' so there have a better hope of resuming a role in mainstream society. There are other areas too which need work. Thinking among young people needs to be better understood, and schools and parents engage in a united effort to tackle violent ideas. The horrifying DVDs glorifying beheadings or bombings so widely available in markets, and showing 'real life' murders, which have apparently gained a cult status among some groups of young people, must also be targeted. None of these are easy tasks. Nor can they happen overnight. But the effort must begin now so that in the future, people can jointly celebrate national holidays, and the sense of fear that prevails eradicated step by step. |
| Posted by:john frum |
| #5 Islam including Radic Islam has been belabeled as an Ideo-Faith of War + Base/Human Survival in what is normally un-survivable = very difficult. As wid COMMUNISM, gener failed to evolve unto its own higher-order premises or presumptions. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-08-16 20:57 |
| #4 The kindergarten to class v curriculum adopted by the Pak ministry of education in 1995: At the completion of Class V the child has to be able to - 1) explain the importance of the work of past heroes of Pakistan. 2) identify the great personalities who contributed to the making of Pakistan. 3) demonstrate an appreciation for the work of Muslim heroes. 4) demonstrate respect and reverence for the founder of Pakistan. 5) demonstrate respect for the leaders of Pakistan. Amongst the objectives to be achieved is the ability to - 1) understand the Hindu and Muslim differences and the resultant need for Pakistan; 2) know all about India's evil designs against Pakistan; 3) acknowledge and identify forces that may be working against Pakistan; 4) demonstrate by actions a belief in the fear of Allah; 5) demonstrate the desire to preserve the ideology, integrity and security of Pakistan; 6) make speeches on jihad and shahadat; 7) guard against rumor mongers who spread false news and to stage dramas signifying the evils of rumors; 8) understand the Kashmir problem; 9) collect pictures of policemen, soldiers and National Guards. |
| Posted by: john frum 2007-08-16 12:22 |
| #3 The fact that people are so readily willing to give up their lives says something about the quality of life they lead. Yep.. typically with a cook, a maid and a driver... |
| Posted by: john frum 2007-08-16 12:13 |
| #2 This is just another attempt to get us off their backs. Just a little more refined than rage boy. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2007-08-16 11:50 |
| #1 No society can flourish in the presence of such fears; a country where small children aspire to be suicide bombers has quite obviously gone astray. Finally realized that, did ya? Isn't it about time you put out a death fatwa on Yusuf Qaradawi for sanctifying murder bombers? If you don't off some of these jihadist imams, they're going to off you. A future in which fears of bombings keep people indoors on national holidays can hardly be one to look forward to. Welcome to the future. It's your bed, you made it now lie down and enjoy your handiwork. Simply trying to annihilate extremists through military operations can never work. I'm willing to give it a try. Not much recidivism results from those ops. Indeed, such efforts make matters worse by intensifying feelings of hatred Let's play, Spot the Meme™! It's the old "killing terrorists only creates more terrorists" garbage. a US strike within the country, were it ever to occur, would quickly propel matters out of control perhaps making it impossible to rein back the situation. That's a chance I'm willing to take. You yourselves have done nothing save pour gasoline on the fire for decades. It's time for better qualified people to provide their input. The fact that people are so readily willing to give up their lives says something about the quality of life they lead. Ooooh, it's time—once again—to play, Spot the Meme™. This isn't a socio-economic issue. It's a fundamental problem with Islam and nothing's going to change about it anytime soon. This has been proven over and over again and beating this dead horse isn't going to move the cart. Few other countries on earth are more deserving than Pakistan when it comes to experiencing a climate of fear. You maggots have manufactured this nightmare and are long overdue to begin sampling your own wares. Sweet dreams! |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-08-16 11:38 |