Comments for CHUP! - Changing Up Pakistan

Comment on South Waziristan: Holding Seems to Be the Hardest Word by shaheryar Mirza

shaheryar Mirza — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:38:33 +0000

As far as Karachi is concerned, the city authorities do not want that. That is fairly clear as has been proven during the Swat offensive. The city is already not able to care for its population and lacks the resources, and furthermore it fears the infiltration of militants. And their is also a racist, ethnic aspect to it. I think Lahore and and Islamabad/Rawalpindi probably doesn’t want to care for these displaced people either. It’s rather unfortunate. I mean who wants to go back to a war-ravaged place like that where the Taliban could come back at anytime. People have left their life savings in Waziristan and just escaped, knowing that their investments will not exist when they return. What incentive do they have to return? The government is failing to give them an incentive because it cannot even convince the people of Waziristan that they will have a viable state structure to go back to. And many will go back because they have no choice. Many will languish in camps and makeshift homes in big cities. And the cycle will continue as you illustrated above. The strategy is not clear at all on the governments part as to how they are going to manage the people they and the Taliban have displaced.

Comment on South Waziristan: Holding Seems to Be the Hardest Word by shaheryar Mirza

shaheryar Mirza — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:22:51 +0000

Did Imtiaz get into why it hasn’t been brought into the fold? There are many reasons as to why it hasn’t been brought into the fold including government negligence, misconceptions and resistance from the indigenous people of the area. It’s a lengthy conversations so I’m being pithy about it.

Lack of services and economic empowerment is part of the equation but there are so many parts of pakistan, probably the majority, which aren’t empowered like that but they are not autonomous. There is a fierce movement and cultural separation from Pakistan in the area, and unless they are willing to give an inch they can’t be given a mile. Nonetheless, it is mostly government negligence, but the people also have to be willing to give up some of their autonomy if they want to receive benefits from taxpaying pakistanis. I mean you can’t expect to work outside the bounds of a central judicial control, with your own tribal system, and then expect the government to set up institutions for you. Or you could, but the Pakistani government is neither so generous nor so rich and responsibly run. They have to be brought into the central judicial system first and foremost before there can be any central government progress there, and that means giving up a large portion of their tribal rules and lifestyle. And on the other hand, the Pakistani government has to prove to them that its judicial system CAN provide them justice, and that is the hardest part. Basically it is a cinderella, but the cinderella also has to be willing to make some concession in order to allow itself to be brought into the fold. The initiative starts with the government providing them with an alternative choice, which it is failing to do.

Comment on South Waziristan: Holding Seems to Be the Hardest Word by Hagelslag

Hagelslag — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:56:43 +0000

If the Taliban do retake the cleared towns; nobody will want to return there. I recently read that the people of South Warziristan will then begin to move into the larger cities and the Pakistani authorities do not want that. Is this true? If it is, then to keep the IDPs in camps is going to be even tougher.

Taliban occupy towns/areas in South Warziristan.

People leave these towns for camps (IDPs).

Pakistan forces clear towns.

Taliban (suicide) bomb within major cities.

Pakistan govt wants IDPs to return to towns therefore clear the camps.

IDPs reluctantly return to towns because there is nothing left there and the Taliban WILL return. Govt needs to provide services to guard against Taliban return.

Taliban do re-occupy the towns.

Pakistan forces go in again to clear the Taliban.

Taliban continue to (suicide) bomb within major cities.

Comment on Look for the “Bear” Necessities… by sashi

sashi — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:44:23 +0000

@ Faiza,
I’m more than a little taken aback by your comments. First, how can anyone be sure these chaps hadn’t killed anyone? Toting AK 47s, its a given they would have done more than target practice!
Secondly, at the risk of sounding facetious, will you term the fundo who drove his explosive laden van to Meena Bazar in Peshawar as harmless while enroute since he only had ‘intention to kill’ & hadn’t yet detonated the bomb?
Finally, calling guys of their ilk ‘human beings’ is a cruel tribute to all those who’ve died due to terrorism worldover esp in Pakistan!

Comment on South Waziristan: Holding Seems to Be the Hardest Word by Kalsoom

Kalsoom — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:51:31 +0000

I just went to an interesting Afghanistan/Pakistan seminar, where Imtiaz Ali, a Pakistani journalist and Fellow at the U.S. Institute of Peace spoke. He actually made a really interesting reference regarding the Pakistani government’s treatment of FATA, calling it the “Stepmother Complex” – it made me think of FATA like a forgotten Cinderella. In all seriousness, it was an apt point because government after government have never brought FATA into the fold, which is one reason why it’s so difficult to “hold” today – the ppl in the area really have no affiliation whatsoever to the rest of the nation, esp. since there are such a lack of services and economic empowerment (Imtiaz mentioned that there is one doctor for every 8,000 people).

Comment on South Waziristan: Holding Seems to Be the Hardest Word by Global Voices Online » Pakistan: Not Eliminated

Global Voices Online » Pakistan: Not Eliminated — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:48:03 +0000

[...] at CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan posts a roundup of the latest news and information on the South Waziristan war against the Taliban. Cancel [...]

Comment on South Waziristan: Holding Seems to Be the Hardest Word by f

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:48:02 +0000

Nice piece kals. I love the Taliban fashion… their pants/shalwars are hiked up so high looks like they are anxiously waiting for a flood.

Comment on South Waziristan: Holding Seems to Be the Hardest Word by South Waziristan: Holding Seems to Be the Hardest Word | Tea Break

South Waziristan: Holding Seems to Be the Hardest Word | Tea Break — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:26:16 +0000

[...] to the NY Times, “militants appear to have been dispersed, […] Read more at: CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan al jazeera, ample evidence, army officers, athar, curly wig, dowry, hardest word, military [...]

Comment on The Political Magician Does it Again by Kalsoom

Kalsoom — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:58:52 +0000

Oh yeah, I was just making fun of their logic – it seems his face-altering plastic surgery played a part!

Comment on The Political Magician Does it Again by Salman Latif

Salman Latif — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:31:33 +0000

Apparently, and rather surprisingly considering it’s
‘the’ Forbes, the power ranking are done through a very shallow analysis of actual powers vested with individuals. Stands very true for Gillani who’s merely the one playing the show and not the one calling the shots.

Btw, why do you think Dawood Ibrahim doesn’t merit the ranking? The guy ruled the underworld there, the last time I heard of him, no? o.O