The above message, tweeted by columnist Mosharraf Zaidi (@mosharrafzaidi), does not account for today’s string of devastating bombings, targeting three of Pakistan’s provincial capitals. On Monday, 36 people were killed and 130 were injured when twin bombings struck Lahore‘s Moon Market, 10 were killed and 49 were injured when a suicide bomber on a rickshaw blew himself up near a courthouse in Peshawar, and eight people were injured in an attack in Quetta. Today’s death toll means that in the last 62 days, 490 Pakistanis were victims of militant attacks – that’s about eight victims a day (thanks @mirza9).
For those who follow the Pakistan situation closely, these statistics offer a shocking reality check, a stark reminder of the human cost of this conflict. If these numbers are depressing, then the reaction from our ministers and politicians following these attacks were even more so. After the Lahore bombings Monday, Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah told reporters the attacks were the work of “foreign help…anti-Pakistan forces are attacking us.” While the government had reportedly “received reports of possible terror attacks in Lahore,” Sanaullah said foreign intelligence agencies, “including India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Israel’s Mossad, were responsible for the current terrorist attacks in the country.”
His statements further strengthen an argument put forth by this weekend’s NY Times piece, The Demons that Haunt the Pakistanis. In the article, Sabrina Tavernise quotes Dr. Malik H. Mubbashar, vice chancellor of the University of Health Sciences in Lahore, who asserted, “The real terrorists are not the men in turbans we see on Al Jazeera…It’s coming from Americans, Jews and Indians. It’s an axis of evil that’s being supervised by you people [U.S.].” Mubbashar even contended that Blackwater employees, who had rented the house next to his, tried to lure his servants with sweets, alcohol and “McDonald’s food every Sunday.”
According to Ishma Alvi, a psychologist from Karachi, conspiracy theories are “a defense mechanism that protects one’s psyche from something too difficult to accept.” She added, “It’s a denial of personal responsibility, which goes a long way to cripple our growth.”
Regardless of how founded or unfounded these theories are, it seems our politicians will do whatever it takes to absolve themselves of blame. Sure, the government received reports of possible terror attacks, as Sanaullah indicated. But who could possibly halt the actions of evil outside forces working against Pakistan? Not the lil ole government!
This constant scapegoating, in my opinion, is indefensible because it fosters a culture of fear-mongering without offering any real solutions. If RAW/Blackwater/Mossad/Evil-baby-geniuses-by-the-name-of-Stewie are really out to get us, then what do these politicians propose to do aside from spouting rhetoric and dealing out hollow condemnations? What real retribution can they offer the families of 490 victims of terror, aside from vapid excuses?
At the end of the day, this threat lies within our own borders. While the military is fighting the Tehreek-e-Taliban network in South Waziristan, militant groups once fostered by the state have pervasive influence in southern Punjab. These same militants are said to be behind the attacks in Pakistan’s main cities. So, government of Pakistan, here’s my advice: 1. Put a lid on the fear-mongering. 2. Develop a broader strategy to tackle militant groups in strongholds like Punjab, using provincial government forces if necessary. 3. Provide relief to the families of these victims – don’t just visit hospitals and say how sorry you are, show it, whether it’s in monetary form to the families or shelter/food/clothing to those displaced by the conflict. 4. With the buzzword NRO in the air, make examples of yourselves. Because as a Pakistani, I am increasingly ashamed to call you my leaders.
thank you kalsom for saying what we’ve all been feeling for so long.
I know this is NO excuse but perhaps the reason we blame outsiders is because its so hard to comprehend how another Muslim could kill people while they pray. While each attack is devastating and tragic, the bombing in pindi this week has left so many people wondering HOW a Muslim could slaughter other Muslims while they bow down and pray to Allah.
Kalsoom
Love the piece. Exactly how i feel…..The blasts are continuous and yet, our politicians/leaders (if i may say) fail to bring forth a credible strategy.
*sigh*
Kalsoom, thank you for writing about our feelings. It’s time these CLOWNS stop blaming others and get their act togather…….What a mess!!!!!!!!!
And please, no more comments that we Muslims are not capable of killing innocent people…….I bow my head in shame every time I hear our people give excuses about Mossad, Raw, Blackwater & the CIA, these are plain & simple BARBARINS….evil to the core. Thank God the NWFP Govt is calling it the way it is & are not afraid. We salute them, the Military for fighting them & all others who do not make excuses. A BIG THANK YOU!!!!
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>Because as a Pakistani, I am increasingly ashamed to call you my leaders.
then don’t elect them as your leaders next time. (did you vote ?)
The current leaders became your leaders because the previous generation (your mum and dad?) let them become the leaders. How about a critical piece on mum and dad, asking them how come they allowed such lot to become the leaders ?
Whats that saying about leaders being a reflection of the people etc etc…
What real choice do Pakistanis have?
Kulsoom, its not only Muslims.. I came to know from our driver, who is from Bannu area, that most of Taliban are white Americans ( having beards) and they dont know local language and speak English.. He said confidently, Taliban are not from us. They are Americans!! I dont know what is right?
wow, where were you, I think you should be in Hollywood and trying your luck here, I am probably taking a print of this comment and would show it to 20 more fellow Americans.
Oh yeah & you can even run as our president next time in 2012, are you gonna be available that time around?
mark,
Try to refrain from condescending comments. I think Rumaisa doesn’t mean to be offensive to Americans, but is re-stating what she was told to show that this is the kind of thinking that is prevalent among a lot of Pakistanis right now.
Kalsoom,
This is not just in politics. This is a basic psychology of Pakistan as a nation. I am sorry to point this out because I have never before gone against Pakistan as a nation as a whole, but you people are more than happy to accept that your players are corrupt and they throw away cricket match against India for money or anything else rather than realize that they are nice honest players and lost to a better side. So many of them lost their captaincy just because they had a bad series against India.
Clearly potency takes over honesty over here.
Sameer,
I agree that it’s a national problem, one that’s reflected on our leaders. It does leave one feeling helpless of what else to do though, when people are outraged about these attacks and the government’s ineptitude but then choose not to protest or do anything. To some extent, I can understand because it’s an obvious coping mechanism, but it is frustrating.
This is in response to the “chup reader”‘s comments “….the bombing in pindi this week has left so many people wondering HOW a Muslim could slaughter other Muslims while they bow down and pray to Allah….”
Perhaps you have forgotten all the sectarian bombings of yesteryears where both mosques and Imam Bargahs were targeted – mostly in Karachi. People asked the same question then too: Can these people be Muslims? Fact of the matter is – ALL these bombings that are being carried out BY Pakistanis (cant vouch for the fact whether they ARE muslims or not) who have their own agendas – may they be Anti-Americanism, Nifaz-e-Shariat, or vengeance for all the Talibans that have been killed in the military operation. The government has NOT been able to produce any concrete evidence that points to a foreign hand.
well, I am pretty much hopeless these days because of the current situation of our country. Never been more hopeless and depressed:(…Seeing people die in pain every day..I really can’t see this all ending… There is no leadership which we can look forward too. No hope for us. The public is just a silent spectator too. Its very frustrating. Everyday you wake up and leave home with a fear of blasts. Go to mosque for juma and there is fear of blast in subconscious mind. And still, we can not just feel the pain which the famillies of blast victims have suffered. I am sorry to say that it is hopeless situation. I have always been a very patriot pakistani but seeing blasts all around the corner, my mind has almost stopped working. Don’t know who is behind this all. Definitely people from our country are involved and might be some foreign hand too. Anywayz I just pray that things change for better in our homeland. But sadly, I don’t see any hope at this moment:(
Well put Kalsoom.
But the question resurfacing now is that, is a military operation alone even a good solution? Like….what good is a peace with none alive to cherish it?
We need to seriously consider a two-pronged strategy ought to be followed, with something of the form of negotiations along side the operation. It seems virtually impossible to counter every terrorist hiding right among us.
The bottom line is: what good is a successful operation when it achieves nirvana at the cost of turning the entire nation to rubbles.
I don’t know, but found this article by Bill Roggio at the Long War Journal interesting: http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2009/12/pakistan_bars_foreign_reporter.php
Apparently, Pakistan is now barring foreign journalists from entering southern Punjab after the Western media reported on militant presence in that area.
{{{Because as a Pakistani, I am increasingly ashamed to call you my leaders.}}
That statement of Kalsoom is a source of great satisfaction. I can hear the steps of eternal change – CHUP heralds.
Many might find it really hard to believe that as an Indian, I get no joy in seeing the relentless terror attacks that Pakistan is enduring right now. Nevertheless, it true.
It seems to be an incredibly and dangerously complicated situation. It seems like Pakistan is at a point where it will have to choose to either fight along with the Taliban against Taliban’s enemies or with the US against US enemies. Pakistan might now want to opt out of either’s battles, but unlikely that either Taliban or US are ready to opt out of Pakistan.
If I had to choose there is no doubt which side I would but, I cannot of imagine the difficult position that Pakistani leadership is in today, considering the emotions and opinions of citizen’s. Balancing on two boats is a hard act. It’s time to choose one and fight the other.
Don’t call them foreigners, Mossad agents etc. Wake up, these are devils from our past. Stop blaming other people. All these conspiracy theories are nothing more than excuse for not doing anything. At least our so called president came out of his bunker, should declare Thanksgiving day this coming Friday. Taliban stands for Satan. Eliminate them. May be military would understand now that there are no good Talibans.
About “White Americans”..It could be just Chechens..
the most bad ass messy..could be Al-Qaeda black guards or Lashkar-al-Zil..the elite..mostly foriegners (Caucasians)and Pakistanis
The word the servant might be looking for is “Caucasians” rather than “White Americans”..and hell they may dont know local language..If they were special ops..they will talk pasto/dari better than locals..
Indian Special Forces the elite “Special Group” is known to speak pasto/dari fluently..
It is amazing how many people still blame the US or non Muslim associated organizations. What else do you need to show that these people are killing their so called own. If anything this is an opportunity for the West to come and aid the victims and help change that mentality. The platform is open, one has to undo the negative perception. We will not move forward economically, socially, unitedly if we cannot let go of pride, ego, and ignorance.
Good one. Sad, but true.
A BRILLIANT and STRONG analysis, Kals. You have bravely expressed the frustration and helplessness so many of us feel towards our pathetic leaders who shamelessly continue to play the “blame game”.
k:
(caveat – unpleasant thoughts)
blaming our dear beloved leaders of the hand written will variety or the iji-zi(n)a created variety and then saying we’re ashamed of them may serve only to pacify our guilt some….
we’re them, they’re us!
true, the present government (like the past ones) is nincompoop, lacks in an overall and long term strategy to deal with the suicidal nutcases…but…what have we civvies done in the past or indeed are doing in the present to fight this menace?
* raising decibel levels on the blogosphere?
* barricading ourselves behind higher walls?
* taking extra precautions and paying more attention to personal safety and security?
* and blaming the government, faujis, politicians (and am not mentioning americans, israelis, indians here … you have debunked that theory well)
The best lesson we learn from West is the lesson of responsibility and taking the blame of failure.
I think the Minister of Interior must RESIGN.
The attacks against the govt agencies, police, ISI etc are indeed carried out by the Taliban (who have given their own justifications for these attacks, saying that they are waging a war against them).
However, the Taliban have REPEATEDLY denied attacking civilian areas such as marketplaces and (civilian) mosques. See the official statement of TTP spokesperson Azam Tariq here:
http://revolution.ansar1.net/?p=1609
I am not here to debate whether or not the TTP are justified in waging a war against the Pakistani govt. That is something ppl need to determine on their own after going through the Islamic rulings on which the TTP have based this war (which unfortunately is something rarely anyone does, preferring simply just to get all their views from the mainstream media).
All I want to say is that attacking purely civilian areas would not suit the cause of the Taliban in any way, nor is it Islamically justified (believe it or not, the Taliban do actually rely on fatwas before carrying out attacks against govt agencies)… in fact, such attacks would completely turn the tide against them.
They always take responsibility for govt attacks but not such civilian ones, which is something ppl need to mull over. In this case, the conspiracy theories might not be that far-fetched.
Right on brother!! Thanks for not being afraid to speak the truth and stand-up for justice.
May Allah reward you in the afterlife for having the courage to point out that its not the mujahids and ghazis of TTP who are mass-murdering the innocent civilians since its against the teachings of Islam. It IS the nincompoop CIA/Blackwater/XE conducting these bombings of innocent Pakistanis in their pathetic and eveil attempts to malign the name of TTP (and Islam) and to turn the “hearts and minds” of people of Pakistan against TTP.
But what do these clueless idiots of CIA/Blackwater/XE know about the power of Islam and savviness of ordinary Pakistanis. By all accounts, ordinary Pakistanis, not unlike yourself, are able to so clearly see through these pathetic attempts by the crusaders to turn them against TTP and Islam. Its a clear sign of coming victory of Islam and TTP that most Pakistanis (still) firmly believe that these bombings are being done by the zionist-financed hindoo-loving crusaders.
Allah-o-Akbar!
I do not understand what you want to teach about Islam to Americans? Who believes when somebody says Islam is a pieceful religion when these perverted Muslims, though low in number outnumber anybody and anywhere, making maximum impact by touching the softspots of the people.
If you look from the eyes of the anybody outside this religion, the peace loving ISLAM that you are talking about is not there any where. It is beautifully sitting in the mids of the people like you whose wish is Islam also to be like any other peace loving religion. But history tells us that Islam was never that way.
Islam has been with blood if any body reads with honesty. Its expansion to indian sub continent were also by sword. If you do an analysis of violence all over the world it will be between muslims and other religion or between sects of Muslim religion. Muslim religion is generally and easily hijacked by dictators and the mullah love them as they can give power which they want and the dictator can live the way he wants whether it is islamic or not. the best example is iraq, iran etc..
So the structural change which has to come is to learn to co-exist patience.