If you didn’t get a chance to watch U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton‘s rather refreshing testimony before Congress last week, here is the clip:
Ultimately, Clinton recognizes the U.S. role in funding the Pakistani mujahideen, the fighters sent to Afghanistan to fight the Soviets in the 1980s. She asserted,
Let’s remember that the people we are fighting today, we funded 20 years ago. And we did it because we were locked in this struggle with the Soviet Union…and we went to work.
Obviously, we cannot change the past – but an acknowledgment from Washington about the part they played in the problem is still pretty cathartic. What do you think?
In related news, the CS Monitor reported that hundreds of protesters marched to Lahore’s General Post Office today, armed with posters and letters urging the government to step up its fight against militancy. The letter, circulated via email and over Facebook, read, “Mr. President, we too must fight the Taliban, who have chosen to fight against the state and who routinely terrorize and kill innocent Pakistanis. It is incumbent upon you to mobilize the nation against the scourge of the Taliban before it is too late.”
Although the rally was relatively small in size, especially in comparison to the country’s Long March last month, it nevertheless shows how the public conscience has begun to sway collectively against the Taliban. And it’s not just secular Pakistanis. Dawn also reported today that top leaders of the Tablighi Jamaat, a missionary Islamic movement, spoke out against the enforcement of Sharia at gunpoint, religious extremism, and terrorism, calling instead for peace, interfaith harmony, and human rights. One leader told a congregation, “Muslims should preach peace, brotherhood and tolerance across the world, including Israel. They must avoid imposing their creed or faith by force because Islam is a religion of peace and promotes tranquility.”
CS Monitor, Lahore Rally
these are positive developments.
–Awesome that Hillary acknowledeged that we funded Osama bin Laden in the first place!! Change we can believe in. adding to the imposition of “Shariah at gun-point” its the taliban’s own convulated version of Shariah–I hear women’s school’s have been shut down???
in Swat Valley…
Yep, not only have girls’ schools been bombed, but women’s education was banned and they are not allowed to enter the marketplace. Madness…
WOW.
so the current US administration IS introducing some changes in its foreign policy. like showing some form of accountability.
maybe next time they can say, “gazans are homeless because we gave isreal all the weapons”
but in any case, this is a really positive change. just hearing those words from Hilary made me happy! let’s hope they really dedicate themselves to undoing what their predecessors have done.
Yes, let’s hope the new Pakistan policy the administration is apparently still formulating follows suit and encompasses the “change” they all have been preaching!
Amen, to the spirit of the true Pakistanis and the true Islamic leaders. Most of us Muslims forget that Islam preaches tolerance for all, regardless of their beliefs. That spirit of Islam is lacking today when we try and point fingers, find fault etc. etc. As far as accountability, well, a day late and a dollar short…but does it change anything really? I hope the Pakistan Govt will take positive steps towards maintaining the concept of Pakistan as one nation and not yield to the “black turbaned” self proclaiming Mullahs and idiots who have suddenly become the torch bearers of Islam. What they teach is NOT Islam and never has been. KP
[...] About Time…”, url: “http://teabreak.pk/well-it-s-about-time-42/19799/” }); Read more at: CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan brotherhood, cathartic, creed, gunpoint, hillary clinton, islam is a religion of peace, [...]
To think I was just talking about this with my colleague. I think it’s about time we mobilized.
We need a united front. The lawyers movement was united on so many fronts. We need the same. What we really need is a common umbrella for CSOs to work under.
I was really happy to hear about the Tabhligee Jamaat though. They’re pretty non-political but their statement sends a pretty strong message.
For people who are in Islamabad, the Citizens’ Trust for Victims of Terror is organizing another rally against the Talibanization of Pakistan on May 9 – here is the Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=80655951611&ref=mf#/event.php?eid=80655951611
If you are organizing a rally/protest/petition, please send me the information at changinguppakistan@gmail.com, and I’ll be happy to circulate it!
The Foreign Policy Watch blog just had an interesting post on Pakistan, which I disagree with based on comments from CHUP and said so in a comment (along with giving CHUP a shout out). Check it out: http://fpwatch.blogspot.com/.
Thoughts, anyone?
Thanks Heather! I actually disagree too – where is this dude getting his information? There’s an obvious disconnect between what he is reading and the fact that many Pakistanis are now realizing that they don’t want to be a Taliban state. At the same time, however, I do see his point that people have been pretty apathetic in the past, but his logic for now is an obvious sign that he doesn’t get our country very well.