Article

2006-05-10 India-Pakistan

Success in Afghanistan requires democracy in Pakistan

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-05-10 07:29|| || Front Page|| [7 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Success in Afghanistan requires the dismemeberment of Pakistan. Pakistan, the land of the Pures has only one thing cementing it: Islam and the more radical, the less its minorities will question its existence. Besides Pakistan has two other reasons for creating difficulties in Afghanistan: the fear that a successful Afghanistan will become attractive to its Pashtoun minority (1) thus starting the implosion of Pakistan and the search of strategic depth in its perpetual war against India (where Kashmir is only a pretext and the complete conquest of India the real goal like evidenced by electoral propaganda of its Islamist parties)

(1) Specially if Pashtuns began dreaming of democracy and education instead of tribalism and being docile soldiers for Islam.

Posted by JFM">JFM 2006-05-10 09:20|| 2006-05-10 09:20|| Front Page Top

#2 Why I do believe Mr. Patten is volunteering the Eurocorps for a punitive expedition.
/then I woke up.

Posted by ed 2006-05-10 09:31|| 2006-05-10 09:31|| Front Page Top

#3 I disagree about dismemberment. I would suggest that, for a long time now, we have been strengthening the Pak military, with the idea that over time, Perv will subdue the Waziristans and Pakistani Baluchistan.

Once there is a real, unified Pakistan, with the army in charge of it all, we will want Perv to really start to lean on the innumerble Islamists in positions of power in the country.

This is because Perv really is the only force that can (not necessarily will), make positive change in that country. Splitting up the monster just makes several little monsters.

Clearly, the Islamists have the democratic-political upper hand in Pakistan. For now, democracy without Perv would just result in another theocracy. However, if Perv spends years and years undermining them, negating their power, making them superfluous, then and only then might Pakistan have a chance for real democracy.

And Perv does want to modernize--the dreaded enemy of everything the Islamists stand for. That, more than any good intentions on his part, will finally resolve much of the problem.

Posted by Anonymoose 2006-05-10 09:59|| 2006-05-10 09:59|| Front Page Top

#4 Anonymous you don't understand. Islamism is the condition of Pakistan's survival so conting on the Army for destroying it is like counting on your dog to keep a watch on sausages.

Posted by JFM">JFM 2006-05-10 14:01|| 2006-05-10 14:01|| Front Page Top

#5 According to our Indo-Pak expert john, the official motto of the Pakistan Army is iman-taqwa-jihad fi sabilillah (Faith, Fear, Jihad in the way of Allah). Comforting, yes?

Posted by Seafarious">Seafarious 2006-05-10 14:45|| 2006-05-10 14:45|| Front Page Top

#6 When critics assailed his islamization programme, the then Pak ruler, General Zia Ul Haq retorted with "why else was Pakistan created?" "If you want a secular state, why not migrate to India?"

This pretty much silenced most of the criticism. Pakistan was the world's first "Islamic State of ..".

The state serves the army and the feudal elites whose sons comprise the officer core of the army and who benefit from the military control over the economy (google for Fauji foundation to see how much of the Pak economy is in military hands.. it will shock you).

To maintain legitimacy and control, islamization is needed. Therefore the islamists cannot be hobbled.

Posted by john 2006-05-10 21:05|| 2006-05-10 21:05|| Front Page Top

23:51 Phil
23:49 DathVader
23:48 3dc
23:47 DathVader
23:41 Alaska Paul
23:33 JosephMendiola
23:31 Oldspook
23:28 JosephMendiola
23:27 Ulaitch Omavigum7187
23:20 JosephMendiola
23:17 JosephMendiola
23:17 DathVader
23:13 3dc
23:04 Ebbinese Wholuse3705
23:04 JosephMendiola
23:04 trailing wife
23:04 Alaska Paul
23:03 Danking70
23:00 ed
22:50 Glinter Sneresing9043
22:44 JosephMendiola
22:42 the Twelfth Imami
22:41 john
22:41 Elmart Ebbeating3116