Notwithstanding the fact that the perpetrators have yet to be caught, what we can say for sure is that the real target of yesterday's attacks were not the Sri Lankan cricket team, nor was it Sri Lanka, or indeed cricket, but Pakistan itself. If ever there was a way to throw two fingers up at the Pakistani government and say we don't care, we don't play by your rules, this was it.
And everyone knows it. My Facebook page has been nearly jumping out of my laptop, with Pakistani friends despairing, truly despairing at their government's inability and ineptitude at holding fundamentalists at bay and getting to the root of the problem - to be a proper, responsible, strong, in control, legitimate government.
"It's adding to the atmosphere of insecurity already present," wrote one friend, "further tarnishing the country's image as a lawless state, more like adding to the atmosphere of insecurity already present, discouraging foreigners from visiting the troubled land, discouraging foreign investment in any form."
The government in Islamabad seems criminally preoccupied with power struggles and accusations (court proceedings drag on and disrupt the important business of government while President Zadari and former PM Nawaz Sharif go the verbal stoush). Ahem gentleman, can we pay attention to the pressing matters at hand? Like the future of your country.
But the West helps no one with its constant carping about Pakistan the Basket Case, Pakistan the Write Off, Pakistan the Islamist Haven. Yes, we recognize in that country the world has a problem, but let's get a grip, take a powder and dial down the pointless drama.
"Today Fareed Zakaria and Afghan Foreign Minister Mr. Spanta audaciously declared Pakistan 'the single most dangerous country in the world' without a thought to the fact that this menace was planted during the Cold War," wrote my good friend Maria Ahmad, a foreign affairs correspondent at Geo TV in Karachi. "Yes, we are a country plagued with this 'cancer' but none of us - not the elected government nor a dictatorship and never the civilians, have even remotely supported this. Pakistan stands to lose the most, our citizens, friends, repute and most of all, our economic opportunities. To isolate us is not the answer. We need dialogue and development, we need friends to stand by us because in this war we have inherited, we too are struggling for survival."
Within Pakistan, there is a deep struggle for some kind of political integrity, some sense that the truth must be told and that the government is genuinely working to and capable of repairing what have been identified, in the West as irreparable fissures. I worried to my friend Farrukh - always a good sounding board - that this attack would give the West yet another opportunity to accuse and blame and dismiss Pakistan based on perceptions that all Pakistanis are Muslim nut jobs living in a lawless land.
Farrukh wrote back some of the most sane words I have heard this week. "We have to fight reality not images. We must fight anyone who does this. No mercy for the terrorist either local or foreign!" was his succinct cri de coeur.
The last word goes to my friend Hasan. "Most people like me are crying in real, with tears in eyes. Today while posting my condolence to the Sri Lankan cricket board, I said them, sorry, as we feel ashamed that despite giving seven lives we could not save our precious guests from bullets of terrorists."
The only thing holding pakistan together is the kashmir which involves the hatred of India. The people are so brainwashed from birth that they are easily swayed and accept ridiculous explanations from their politicians about their failures. Anything bad that happens in Pakistan is automatically India's doing. This easy escape from responsibility keeps the population pacified and docile. It's the reason the army has been able to maintain its iron grip on the people without them fighting back.
I can guarantee that most pakistanis see an indian hand behind these attacks. Also how can you have open dialouge with pakistani politicians? zardari is a liar who plays a double game with america, taliban and moderate pakistanis. gilani sacks darbari for admitting the lone surviving mumbai gunman was a pakistani. Watching these political games in pakistan is disconcerting to say the least.
"The only thing holding pakistan together is the kashmir which involves the hatred of India."
Absurd statement. Both India and Pakistn have ideological governments that curtain freedom of spech and promote religious oppression.
Say what you will about Kashmir (and I agree about the economic and historical reasons for Kashmiris to side with India) but
remember human rights. democracy is worth it. If Kashmiris choose to be part of Pakistan, who are you and I to deny them that right?
The facts about the ineffective and mosty disliked new administration in Pakistan.
Do you think you are helping with your diatribe? Do you think that our liberal brothers and sisters in Pakistan don't see through these political decisions? Let's find ways of working with them instead of finding points of contention.
Your comment might be funny but for thefact that Journalists have d.ied in this god forsaken country:
Daniel Pearl
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Pearl
This other journalist wasn't even American. Just a Journalist
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/19/2495583.htm
I challenge the writer to visit Pakistan and roam openly on city street with a T-shirt with American flag.
That will show what she really thinks about Pakistan and what Pakistan really thinks about Others!
It would have been a bit odd for me to wander around the streets in a T shirt with an American flag on the front, given that I am not an American! Not much point in wearing someone else's flag, I am sure you will agree.
Thanks for reading the post and taking the time to comment.
God bless all..
I don't think there is any debate that Benzair Bhutto was corrupt. So what's your point exactly?
Then sent them to Lebanon and Chechnya to get further training? It wasn't Pakistan.
But my main focus is anti-war, and to get US troops out NOW.
The current political situation in Pakistan is to blame for this type of attack.
Pakistanis need to get mad and take their country back and kick out the current politicians.
Once you keep and feed snakes, you should not complain if they turn around and bite you.
I'm aware that most Pakistani's are against these extremists, but the article does mislead in a way.
"none of us - not the elected government nor a dictatorship and never the civilians, have even remotely supported this."
It does seem like none of the above have any say in it either. What's the solution? Pakistan has become a terrorist haven, whether the people of Pakistan like it or not. There has to be a solution, and sympathy alone cannot solve anything.
And while we're being honest, Indians, Israelis and Americans who fear the Islamic nuclear bomb and make no secret of their governments plans to dismember Pakistan, should ask themselves where their responsibilities lie as well.
I have friends in IAEA based in California, who tell me Pakistan has 200+ nukes. I'd be careful what one wishes for.
And who donates money to Jamaat-ud-Dawa?
Who wants to keep T@liban (aka assets fro strategic depth) alive?
Who wants to establish caliphate in south asia?
Who wants to break India into "million" pieces?
I don't know the answer!!