Let’s give cross-border friendship a real chance
It took Pakistan and India four very long years to reconcile their differences and open the borders to facilitate business, sports and diplomatic ties. Being a complete supporter of Indo-Pak friendship, the efforts put in by both countries is both joyous and commendable. However, the fragility of our relationship makes me think if we can really put our past behind us and embark on a journey which will be mutually beneficial for both the nations. It is quite ironic but all it takes us is a second to launch senseless accusations on each other without paying any heed to the fact that most of the people residing on both sides of the border demand and are in favour of congenial relations between both the countries.
A few days ago one of Pakistan’s most famous politicians visited India to propagate the message of peace and solidarity. However, some of his statements regarding Mumbai attacks and India’s alleged involvement causing instability in the province of Balochistan did not sit well with many political leaders of India. His statements instigated a series of verbal attacks from both sides jeopardising the much awaited cricket series and the overall peace process.
The statements he made are quite debatable; however, what motivated him to make such claims on a peace drive is absolutely unfathomable. I personally do not agree with the words of the aforementioned state figure and believe that he should have refrained from making statements on such a sensitive issue because of their negative effects.
On a completely different front, a week and a half ago, Zeeshan Abbasi, Captain of Pakistan’s blind cricket squad accidentally drank ‘phenyl’ whilst staying at a hotel in Bangalore giving skeptics another very important cue to hatch conspiracy theories. Although Abbasi drank phenyl, which is a common cleaning agent used in the subcontinent, various Pakistani news channels reported that he was ‘made to drink acid’ adding more fuel to the already lit and growing fire.
The comments made by citizens of both the countries perplexed and saddened me immensely and prompted me to hit the roads and ask people about their true opinion and feelings over both the aforementioned solitary incidents — incidents that instigated people to launch a series of verbal attacks blaming each other for malicious acts.
The frantic feedback I got from people ranged from “I am sure he was poisoned out of sheer jealousy because we were winning” to “we want Pakistani authorities to handover all the alleged attackers to India as without that I don’t see any peace process happening”. Whereas other people went on to say that “I do not care who said what and what exactly took place in Bangalore but I am sure that India and Pakistan can never be friends” and “we will forget the past and be friends with Pakistan and then militant factions in Pakistan will launch another attack on Indian soil killing innocent Indian without any reason.”
The other half of Indians and Pakistanis that I called and met were so enraged that they refused to give me any statement at all. However, a non-resident Indian from Detroit, Michigan agreed to sit down with me for a small interview on condition of anonymity and provided me with at least some rationale behind the anger.
“For us the most important issue is to see the perpetrators and militants behind Mumbai attacks behind the bars. We want them to be tried and punished according to the law of the state. Whether that happens in Pakistan or India we do not care. We only want to see that the justice is served. Honestly speaking when I read about how militants who took Mumbai under siege for days roaming freely around in Pakistan, I feel angry and disgusted. On the top of that when Pakistani politicians visit India and make ludicrous statements about lack of evidence for not trying the man and releasing him, I want to question them that if Ajmal Kasab is not a sufficient enough evidence then what qualifies as evidence according to the Pakistani authorities?”
He went on to say that the “sheer act of negligence which resulted in the consumption of phenyl by Abbasi has been turned into several conspiracy theories. Many Pakistanis think that it was a deliberate act of hatred and are demanding justice through thorough investigation of the matter. However, these same people fail to realise that scores of Indians and citizens of many other countries lost their lives during Mumbai attacks of 2008 and there is significant evidence against the perpetrators who are still at large. Our demands are also the same. We want justice and thorough investigation of the case which will bring some consolation to the survivors and people who were affected by the tragic incident.”
The fierce reaction I received made me think that perhaps this is not the best time to ask people of their opinion as once again the emotions are at an all-time high which is why the responses are pretty much extremely naïve and unreasonable. However, it is most important to understand that words spoken by a dignitary or words written by a handful of Indians and Pakistanis on a comment box of a news website do not represent the true emotions of the majority. Many of us fail to realise that it takes years and years of effort to convince people residing on both sides of the border to even initiate a peace dialogue process and all it takes is an absurd statement or unfortunate incident to take us back to square one.
The fierce reaction also makes me wonder if we have ever given peace and friendship a real chance or is it just that most of us are hypocrites. I know that it is absolutely unfair to compare an act of negligence with and act involving terror attacks, however, it is most important to understand that majority of Pakistanis have nothing to do with terrorism. Many of them have the same sentiments about Mumbai attacks and the masterminds behind them as Indians because loss of innocent lives can never be justified. Many sane Pakistanis also firmly believe that Abbasi was certainly not poisoned and the act was nothing but sheer negligence on the part of hotel personnel.
The optimist inside me makes me want to believe that most of us as humans are in favour of peace and long-lasting friendship — which is not easily affected by incidents which are beyond the controls of an average Pakistani or an Indian. Many of us will continue to strive hard and will go several extra miles to bring about a positive change in the cross-border relations because it is high time for us to give peace and love a real chance.
The writer is a Reporter at Dawn.com
Faiza,we should wait another fifty years at least.Last sixty years was very unpleasant. Pakistan did try every dirty trick to bleed india,but India has survived and Pakistan has not. Indians understand why all of a sudden civic society of Pakistan is crying for friendship. It has come out of sheer necessity, and not at the change of heart. Quite the opposite in fact. The disparity between the two countries are all there to see. In spite of million problems and corrupt politicians are just one of them, India is marching ahead. India’s defence budget is 36 billion dollars against Pakistan’s six. Unless Pakistan learns to live with the Indians, Pakistan will not survive to the next century in its present form.
The dirty tricks comment is true for india actually but u r very good at blaming and demonising others same as the israelis who blame the victims for occupying Palestine.
“Unless Pakistan learns to live with the Indians, Pakistan will not survive to the next century in its present form”………….wake up George, had a pint too many? Merry Christmas.
remember bangladesh?
Appreciate the positive comments from Faiza and the sentiment that most Pakistanis do not support the Mumbai attackers. It is good to hear that the majority of Pakistanis do not support terrorism.
India does not want more territory or people. It has no desire to undo partition. What we have is enough to keep us busy. All India wants is peaceful neighbors on all sides with exchanges of tourists and trade so people on both sides can be educated, get out of poverty and improve their standard of living. Ideally if we could be like countries in Europe or Canada and the US, that would be awesome.
Unfortunately it is hard to take that first step as long as one country routinely allows terrorists on its soil to cross the border to kill your citizens. How does one empower these majorities so they can effectively shut down the terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan without making it look like they are siding with an enemy?
Although your post started off very well and positively, but your last paragraph rounding up all Pakistanis (your reference to Pakistan) and linking them with terrorists kills the whole purpose. If you follow the news , we as Pakistanis are the biggest victims of terrorism. Maybe showing some sympathy towards us might be a bit more helpful and seen as positive here
Let’s not try to be friends. But can we be neighbours without anymosity, more like indifferent? The people from one country can be friends with the people they know from another country. But please can we quit trying to be friends?
I appreciate author’s sentiments and want to repeat what I have written in many earlier comments that Peace and Cordial relationship will benefit both sides as well as the region and confrontation will harm both. At the same time I would like to highlight the initiatives taken by India to start a new chapter. Atal Bihari Vajpyee travelled by Bus from Wagah border to Lahore to highlight close proximity between two countries, he went to Minar-e-Pakistan to convey that we respect your sovreighnty, and above all he signed what we call as ‘Lahore Declaration’ with his counterpart, Mr Nawaz Sharif. Where was the need to intrude into Kargil ? India showed intiative and Nawaz Sharif was wise enough to reciprocate but who doesn’t know who tarpedoed it ? It was backstabbing but India forgot it and moved on with Composite dialogue and track2 diplomacy. The public of India lent full support to composite dialogue and there was improvement in relations. Pakistan’s former FM Mr Kasuri publically claimed that there was a forward movement on 4 point proposal of Gen Musharraf on Kashmir. Why did LeT chose to attack Mumbai in Nov 2008 ? I will not go into further details as you have clearly spelt out India’s anguish in relation to these attacks. So how far India can go ?
The liberalised visa regime agreement also went through several summersaults at Pakistan’s end before it was finally signed. Even now, Pakistan is one step forward and two backwards, on according MFN status to India whereas India had done so for Pakistan several years back.
I dont deny Pakistanis having some genuine grievances but no one can deny that process of dialogue has been repeatedly derailed by some vested interests from within Pakistan through violence. Where is the guarantee that these vested interests will not repeat their activities ?
Oh great Hrleen!
you have a very good record of indian “innocence”. Would you please add some good points from what your agencies are doing in Kashmir?
No..you won’t. To you, only those killed in Mumbai, were human, and kashmiris are born to suffer.
“Taxes are not raised to carry on wars, wars are raised to
carry on taxes!”
— Thomas Paine, The Crisis Papers
India’s continuous efforts to marginalize Pakistan, whether be in sports (cricket), at the UN (the trade issue) or any other matter, doesn’t help your cause either. Unless India takes positive measures and not always be against Pakistan at the international level, you shouldn’t expect much improvement.
Yours is a marginalized country already, no one need to try for it. You marginalized your country by yourself. Stop pointing fingers to others.
In general Pakistanis think that they are the true Muslims. On the other hand, Muslims in India are a persecuted lot, according to them. As a result, they (Pakistanis) need to send out jihadis across the border to cause senseless murder and mayhem. This holier than thou attitude is standing in the way of developing better relations. Besides, three wars for your obsession with K word did not help either.
“In general Pakistanis think that they are the true Muslims. On the other hand, Muslims in India are a persecuted lot, according to them”
Are you serious?? What have you been smoking.
Folks enought of peace talks that will leads to nowhere. How can terrorism and peace goes together.
Until Pakistanis take action on LeT and its leaders, forget about peace.
u and ur goverment should take action against the thugs and criminals in india, bombay, against thakery family, instead of paying them respect in terms of state funerals, and stop killing and raping mulims in kashmir, then we will talk about peace…
Maybe india should also stop the aggression towards Kashmir and their continuous efforts to marginalize Pakistan at the international level. We as Pakistanis are the biggest sufferers of terrorism nowadays. Ever thought about that?
An arsonist who gets burnt while trying to burn other people’s house is not a victim – he is still a criminal and he doesn’t deserve any sympathy for getting burnt. So stop claiming to be victims of terrorism – it was Pakistani state that started terror attacks in the first place. So what is the big deal if Pakistan burnt its hands once in a while?
We don’t want to be friends with Pakistan , completely useless and worthless. Let them rot
Indians have an insufferably superior attitude they must jam up your nose at all costs,
and Pakistanis want to instruct the world on their superior knowledge of God’s Will.
That is why India was partitioned. When it is peoples’ endeavor to annoy each other without mercy or respite unto eternity they create a Hell on this Earth for themselves.
When God created India He said to Himself, ” What Fun! Now I will create a nation of people who can instruct Me.”
Hate?
Yes, 1.3 billion and counting
Better maintain a sizable distance from Pak . It’s the epicenter of terrorism in 20th century. All notorious activities like Osama capture , Daniel Pearl beheading, NY bombing, 26/11 attack,9/11 attack,abduction of foreign journalists,Indian plane hijacking have links with Pakistan . Faiza Mirza is too emotional about this .
hindustan is the biggest terrorist state on earth, let me give u some facts here, indian state terrorism has killed more than one million kashmiris since 1947, rapped 100 of thousands of kashmiri women, and still doing that all the time.., 1000s of muslims have been killed in gujrat riots by the hindu mobs, while ur police was standing next to the mob few yrs back, babri masjid has been destroyed through hindu mobs, ur govermnent did nothing, at that time, from whole india around 2 million right winged hindus were taking part in the and celebrating the destruction, while one of the top gunda and crinimal leader, who also was behind that destruction of the masjid and killings of 1000s of muslims in the last decades, got state funeral in bombay few weeks back, the THAKERY SHAYTAN…daily bombs r killing pakistani citizens in big cities of pak, ur terrorist agents r behind that, every child knows it in pak, and u guys r calling pakistan a terrorist state ?? how funny…..
To be completely fair you will notice on Facebook it is the Pakistanis who are verbally attacking Indians and taunting them with foul language. It is rarely the other way round.
Read times of India see indians comments about pakistani, Islam and then write back another blind Indian lover
Mr Cyrus It seems you have never read public comments on indian newspaper sites and blogs….or you also believe in keep repeating the lies and people will believe it.
How about the Gujarat riots, Assam issue, continuously meddling in Balochistan issue, the rape of a medical student in Delhi, corruption in india.
I think people to people contact between the two countries should be encouraged. But I think government to government contact isn’t the right thing for both the countries. India should put pressure on Pakistan until the terrorism issue is completely dealt with. There should be no softening from India on that stand. So no ministers, or prime ministers from the two countries should visit each other. But the people can continue to visit their friends and families.
The problem is Indians do not have justice in India. Pakistanis do not have justice in Pakistan.
I didn’t get your point.
Pakistan is suffering more on terrorism than india ever has. At the same time, india’s aggression in Kashmir is known to everyone.
Hi Anony, you cann’t set your house on fire and expect your neighbour to do something about it. The terrorism Pakistan is suffering from is home grown. Only you can deal with it. Your politicians and army are accountable and resposible to protect you. Hold them responsible for their duties. You have elected the politicians. Go ask them what they are doing to stop the terrorism. Ask them in clear words what their stand is on terrorism and religious extremism.
If not for corrupt politicians, we would have this friendship process in place years ago. General public from both sides wants to live in peace and harmony. Who want’s war, except for Generals and Politicians. Also our good for nothing religious leaders didn’t help the cause either. Good luck to both sides. I say, open the borders, and live like good neighbors. Aqil Siddiqi (Canada)
Easy for you to say.
See I don’t think India and Pakistan can be friends with each other, ever. They shouldn’t even try to have friendly relationship. They should have people to people contact and normal trade. But neither government trust each other. So just quit trying to be friends. I think, the reason for partition will never make the two countries friends.
Having visited both nations several times there is a discrepancy of both nations development and mentality, although Pak history and culture shares the Indian one. Existence fear and a fundamentalist doctorine of hatred in all sphere of life has brought Pak into this juncture of despair, whereas the indians some how managed to change better position despite huge population, poverty and wars,
somehow managed to remain a secularist democratic governance, with failures. The new generation of Pakistanis can extend the hand of friendship breaking the myth of enimity and distrust and indians most probably will accept the new dimension of hope. And from peace there is only to gain, like we the germans won the unification without a bullet fired.
Let’s face the brutal fact. These reconcilements of differences mean nothing, absolutely nothing, unless Kashmir issue is resolved. You said, “. . . the fragility of our relationship makes me think if we can really put our past behind us and embark on a journey which will be mutually beneficial for both the nations. . .” What past are you talking about, Madam? The demand of the valley called Kashmir? Ask the Establishment, if they are willing to foget it.
Agha,remember december 1971.
Kai ko tension leta hai re? Kashmiris will be fine if you just let them be. They were fine in the 60s and 70s before you started sending your brigades.
True!
May I also add unless the bengali war crimes are answered and mumbai criminals are bought to justice? What right do you have to ask for Kashmir when you cannot provide security to shias and ahmadis? Just a point to ponder! Every sane Indian knows this fight for Kashmir will not with Kashmir….you will want more…because you think Allah has appointed Pakistan to take care of muslims world wide!!
“…you think Allah has appointed Pakistan to take care of Muslims world wide!!”
No. The Iranians think Allah has appointed them to care for Muslims world wide.
Well said. But our indian brothers and sisters posting here tend to ignore that issue for their convenience.
“The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities
committed by his own side, he has a remarkable capacity for
not even hearing about them.”
— George Orwell
.
Hello Faiza,
We need more Journlist like you to bridge the gap between these two nations.People to people contact is the one which is going to narrow the gap.We must advocate to drop the hate for each other.Two nations have lived for thousand of years as one nation and why cannot we live in peace with each other.Look at Canada and US.Can India and Pakistan learn from these countries.I wish good luck for both sides and hope peace and proseperty be with them.
Amar Gill
Well said sir.
The American Civil War divided the nation. World War II brought the nation back together when Northern boys and Southern boys fought side by side against the Germans and Japanese. America because a united country again. It is all about understanding. Unfortunately Muslims’ minds are closed.
At the end of the Civil War Lincoln said, ” … with malice toward none and charity for all, let us bind up the nation’s wounds…”
it still took another 80 years but America extended that charity to it’s enemies Germany and Japan by creating the Marshall Plan and the United Nations to help them.
We have to admit that pakistan is a state sponsor of terrorism and has its priorites wrong. A state’s priority shd be welfare of people, pu them out of pverty but not pakistan’s. Case in point India wanted to help during earthquake and pakistan said no. All India wanted is to put Best wishes from Indian people on food materials etc they supply and pakistan said no. It wd have been a great way for politicians to tell people we want peace with India and India wants to help us in our time of need, they are not bad and decrease years of people to people hatred. Pakistan exports nuclear technology to north korea, Iran.Check out Abdul kadir khan’s interiew on youtube, where he admits pakistan helped Iran build nuclear bomb. This balochistan case is another way how pakistan just uses India as a place to blame for its own ills and not accepting truth. Pakistan is reluctant to improve trade with India when getting access to that market wd be most benficial to it. India provides 500 MW of electricity to Pakistan, if pakistan was smart it would help India to put non water storing dams in kashmir and share electricity like they do with Nepal and Bhutan. Helps who – Pakistan. India will India is a peaceful nation, no wonder pakistan was the aggressor in all wars – look at kargil. Pakistan is the evil here misguided by people who want to hide their ineffeciencies and blame their ills on India, sadly but true
indian what u r writing here is totally bulls… cause pak is a peaceloving nation, pak never starts wars, but pak strikes back if attacked, india is a terrorist and anti islamic state, which top priority is to destry pak since its existance, everyday people in pak getting terrorised by your RAW and other terrorists, getting bombed on daily basis, at the same time india is already attacked pak atleast 3 times by making wars, attacked east pakistan, now training ur agents in balochistan, and other cities of pak, india is the biggest enemy and terrorist state on earth, get ur facts right b4 u open ur mouth next time indian……
Wow Shaq! I have to applaud your brilliant entertaining piece!
Shaq, apparently most of the posts here are from indians, and their continuous mantra of labeling Pakistan as a terrorist state, whereas at the same time ignoring the Kashmir aggression and Gujarat riots is what they believe in. It’s a surprise to many
like the americans justify dropping nuclear bombs on civilians, the indians justify masscering thousands of Muslims in Gujrat, during Babri Mosuqe demolitioan and tousands of Sikhs killed after Indira Gandhi assasination. India is a Fanatic Hindu country rightly named ‘Hindustan’ where minorities live in fear of a mob mentality of the majority. A majority which turns a blind eye to its own attrocities.
Your dream just got over. Wake up man
Forget about the past my friend. It’s always time to start fresh. If you keep the past with you, then we will not go any where. I live in Canada, and most of my very very good and trusted friends are from India. We love each other. So why all this animosity back home. It’s all hype created by our politicians and mostly by our good for nothing religious leaders. Let’s shake my hand to start a new “Dawn”. Your Friend Aqil Siddiqi.
Just stop it! A clear case of so much jingoism and self-indulgence leading to apparent self-denial.
First thing first, in a chronological way. We have to admit that India was the first and still is the most belligerent State for sponsoring terrorism across its borders in South Asia. Its history is replete with past and on going misadventures through means of terrorism in East Pakistan, Bangladesh (after 1971), Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan. We also expect Mr: “buddyhi” from Indian State to look after the welfare of its own people first, of whom nearly 70% live in the rural areas. We did eventually take some financial help from India during the 2010 floods, so your argument over refusing the Indian help after 2005 earthquake proves unjustified.
As for nuclear proliferation, India has its own share of great contributions and benefits from and for its nuclear programme through the international black market. Indian nuclear scientist Dr Y S R Parsad, ex-chairman of Nuclear Corporation of India was found involved in nuclear proliferation with Iran in 2003. Others senior scientists were also actively found working with Libya, Iraq and even North Korea. In 2005, Indian businessmen Manthena Raja and Hemant Lakhani were convicted and sentenced by a US court for their involvement for selling a shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missile for terrorism in USA.
As for Balochistan, when PM Gillani handed over the evidence of Indian involvement in Balochistan to Manmohan Singh in a 2009 meeting at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt, there has to be some truth in it, the exchange took place at a Prime Ministerial level (and not at a comments board) and you or anyone would be too naive to label it as “another conspiracy theory”. Pakistan has every reason to be sceptical about India and will always be for the role you guys played in 1971. Imagine how would Syrians think about Turkey, if it crosses the international border after harbouring FSA camps inside Turkish territory ? As for Pakistan’s help on dams in India, you probably don’t need that since your feasibility plans to build dozens of Dams on our waterways are decades old, so don’t give a notion as if you care about Pakistan, if you do, then take a look at Ravi and River Indus in upstream Sindh. We know too well about the peaceful nature of Indian State through its romance-filled relationship with EACH of its friendly neighbours, the role of IPKF in Sri Lanka is another good case-study. So next time, before you intend to lecture us Pakistanis on our sites, stop imagining a halo around your head, since there is nothing divine about your country i.e. India.
I really undertand your anger.But what i dont is if India is such an evil why is your own president and foreign minister requesting Indian PM to visit Pakistan as his native villagers are eagerly waiting to see him?Also the Pak cricket chairman was almost begging to play against India.As far as Indians are concerned we are done dealing with you.We want friendship,enemity nothing with you.We are happy dealing with other nations as we failed to reason with you.Good luck to Pakistan in your righteous path…
The Taliban have an unbreakable bond with the Pakistani agencies and Pak businessmen.
That unbreakable bond is drug dealing where huge profits are to be made in a recessionary economy. The Taliban believe selling heroin to infidels is a strategic goal which God clearly made to mesh with putting gold in their pockets.
Correct your knowledge , during Taliban terrorist rule in Afghanistan drug production reduce to almost 0 the fact admired by UN. Pakistan agencies are not ruling Afghanistan its the US and allied forces and now the drug trade worth 50 billion USD. Simply quoting few authors on Dawn does not make you the most knowledgeable person
Balochistan will become the pivot for the greater armed conflict between the citizens of Pakistan and the militants – between the Halves and the Have Nots.
Iran, at the border, being Shia Islam can pick and choose it’s side of the war, but drugs are overflowing into Iran and the Iranians are not happy about it. Pakistan may have found an ally, but who inside the Pak government is in the drug business with the Afghan warlords? Someone is. Two million pounds of heroin bound for the West does not just magically appear on Karachi’s docks.
Dear Cyrus Howell you basic information on the ongoing drug trade in Afghanistan is enough to tell us about your wild “westward-ly” imagination pushing too hard for you to fathom the ground realities, the truth is there is no shame in admitting ones ignorance over some issue however, flaunting it is more than just preposterous. You said:
“Two million pounds of heroin bound for the West does not just magically appear on Karachi’s docks.”
The “magical appearance of heroin on Karachi docks” sounds as if a whole container was recovered. In fact, 2 million pounds are equal to around 310 million PKR, the current price of Heroin from Pakistan is over 100 million PKR (its 50 crore/kg in India as per Press Trust of India) which according to you, makes your ‘magical appearance’ just around 3.5 kgs in weight at “Karachi docks”. But you made it sound like as if the $80 billion drug trade flying out of Afghanistan is controlled by Pakistan? And yet you used GBP Two million instead of mentioning the around 3.5 kgs. Is there a more amusing comment on a Christmas day guys???
@ Mohan Menon: Menon sahab! Your Howell sahab just tells us how much your countrymen work hard to malign my country, now that is what I call Indian paranoia at its best!
P.S. Happy belated Jinnah Day to everyone at Dawn!
Pakistan should start teaching its citizens that they are descendents from Hindus and that Muslims came to Pakistan from the middle-east, destroying everything non-Islamic on their path, thus claiming to be superior beings. And that till today, sections of Pakistani have this very same attitude: no respect for other religions. As long as this continues, a section of India will never trust Pakistani. And there will be no peace, since these Pakistani will never give up their attitude.
I believe hindu still has the caste system which distinguishes between humans of the same country, religion, color. The concept of superiority is clearly reflecting within these caste systems. Maybe you should try to remove that. And BTW, what were you smoking when you posted that Muslims are descendants of hindus? Hinduism is a myth.
Hinduism is an elaborate myth, but so are the stories of Adam and Eve and Noah’s Ark myth.
In those secular Western universities we talk about, “Myth” is defined as ” pre-scientific explanation,” the attempt of the storytellers around the tribal campfires to tell us who we are, and where we came from.
A section of America will never trust Pakistani. It seems India and America have learned their lessons.
Who cares
Boy, you will be hurting a lot of islamic flag holders ……how can there anything bigger than islam in Pakistan??? will any human being survive if he says so?? Thats the problem for current mess. After arent Taliban misguided brothers?? How can muslims ever be wrong??? It is a conspiracy..no matter what is shown ……
what author think doesnot matter. the pak politician & intelligence agencies want friendship with india ?
Does Indian politicians & intelligence agencies want friendship with Pakistan? Remember the proposal for vacating Siachin glacier by both sides and how it was torpedoed by the Indian establishment? Why you guys try to pose sooooooo innocent all the time, hmm?
I do not think that ANY terrorist attacking India would EVER be Hanged in Pakistan. Root cause is far more obvious and clear than we all admit.
A terrorist was just hanged in india for mumbai attacks. If he was in Pakistan, he woul dhave met with the same fate. Now how about hanging Narendra Modi for the Gujraat riots and murder of innocents.
The problem with us South Asians is our hyper emotional and somewhat erratic instincts.We get offended way too quickly and show no restrain in unleashing tirade of abuse against each other.I reckon the main reason behind this quick to draw swords kind of behaviour has its roots in decades old mistrust, hatred and feeling of disgust instilled by hate and war mongers on both sides of the border. Don’t trust indian hindu, don’t trust pakistani muslim, indian hindu this, paki muslim that and so forth and so on, they start showering us with this since our early childhood. The only way to break free from this dogmatism is to empathise. We as human beings are not given a choice to born in a country, ethnicity or religion of our choice, so before we start slighting someone for his/her religion, ethnicity or nationality, we should pause and reflect individually , what if I were born in his/her place.
May the peace prevail and masses on both sides realise the sheer futility of belligerence and ill-will. “Us” versus “Them” should be replaced with “We”.
The problem with Pakistani and not South Asians is our hyper emotional and somewhat erratic instincts.It is always Paksitanis who get offended way too quickly and show no restrain in unleashing tirade of abuse against each other.This distrust and hatred is becoz of behavious Pakistanis had fo all these years. In fact Generaly Hindus trust any one and that also fast, which is always not true for Pakistanis. They cannot be trusted. Imagine Nawaz meeting Atal and you started with Kargil etc. Which lost and you want your areas back. I am just asking you all to just listen once again what Nazam sethi had quoted ample times that all the times attack was from your side to begin with.
It is unfortunate but true.
And now you are talking of all this is just becoz that nobody in International world trust you, not even you own muslim worlds. Even China is not interesting in helping financially ,they are jsut signing new MOUs in multiple figures but they are starting projects.
Ahem Ahem !
A bit emotional, don’t you think
How come when things go totally wrong for Pakistanis, they include ALL south asians???? This behaviour should stop. If it comes to musims, then it is the others or kafirs or inferior humans. Pakistan is an entity that is viewed very differently from the rest of south asia for “very obvious achievements”. Please wake up!! It is rather very funny to include India, other nations with your group because you see something that you think is common!!!
s.p.bansal…….this blame game that you just started is the root cause of why you shouldn’t expect any friendship from Pakistan. We as Pakistanis are sick and tired of the blames that india levels against our WHOLE nation, whereas continuing their aggression in Kashmir, and marginalizing Pakistan at the international level.
I agree with you more then 100 %. You are my friend.
@ Umair: Sweet comment my dear!
@ S.P. Bansal: “Mayee ni mayee, main reh na sakaan” (Oh Mother! I just can’t resist.)..
Sadly, Pakistanis trust their government, and should not have. They falsely believe anyone not wearing a mask is an honest man. In India the governors don’t try to fool you, they just give you the finger.
Insightful article Faiza. And contrary to popular notions, we Indians are pretty emotional – Pakistan just has to take one step in terms of convicting the mumbai perpetrators and there will be respect (if not love) from the other side of the border. Of course, India has been disappointing given the snail’s pace the samjhota express trials are proceeding- but then we can take heart in the idea that the state did go after the safron brigade for what its worth.
Samjotha express burning where 66 Pakistanis were bombed to death happens before Mumbai attack pleas take some action on that and them demand Pakistan to reciprocate.
I love to read the articles of Fazia, because they carry the optimism of an average Indian / Pakistani and the desperation of not being united even after sharing the same culture of Indus Valley. Being an Indian, I feel proud to say that I love the like minded Pakistani. I know that only few hate us, and only a negligible from our community don’t like u. Leave of them, come forward, be united – for a poverty free Indo-Pak where there will be total freedom and security to women, where old aged ones sleep with stomack full and without the fear of natural calamity, where kids eyes sparkle with bundles of hope…..come….share the hands together and shout the slogan – “We love You” – Aditya Das Menon From India
Aditya, if not for some misfortunes, we would have been living like a family long time ago. Funny, how the mind set of people living abroad is different from the one living in Indo Pak. Do you know why???? It’s because of our daily dose of hatred, given to us by the media, politicians and religious leaders. Insha Allah Your’s and my dreams of being in peace will come true (Ameen).
@Aqil
Yep! I hope that dream is realized someday!
” No man has to bow, no man born to royalty; Here we judge you by what you do, not by who your father was.”
Those dreams come true only if people are valued. That is the difference between an Aristocrat and a Democrat. To an aristocrat people have no value. The European aristocrats proved it sending 10 million men to the slaughter house of World War I.
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” Let them die and reduce the surplus population.”
Ebenezer Scrooge
How can anybody drink “Phenyle”? It is a thick white aromatic liquid. I think blind people had sharp senses.
how can some place Phenyle near a blind person. What sort of a waiter was that .
Both of you are right – that’s why this is so puzzling.
Unsuspecting blind man was punished by negligence of waiter.
” Go on. Drink it. It’s fine. It’s a vanilla milk shake.”
We value your friendship very much, Fauzia. But can you first solve your Polio problem? To keep us safe at least.
what is the connection between polio and friendship? and what is the connection between polio
and us Indians being safe? you are out of your mind
You want one more polio pandemic in India? Pakistani tourists being the carriers? Try to understand the topic before even commenting.
I hate to bring it up but since you mentioned state of polio in Pakistan which we cannot eradicate due to Taliban. Should we not put a world wide ban on your citizens being the number one carrier of Aids?
Sorry Sir but you also need to understand. It is usually poor people of Pakistan who don’t get vaccinated and it is highly unlikely that they can afford to go to another city of Pakistan let alone India.
Hahahahaha. Vijay is right, we are discussing about the peace process, not the polio problems in Pakistan.
You are right..time for new thinking and a new relationship
i appreciate your approach.we will show our strength to the whole world by sharing business and mutual visits
One simply can not trust Pakistan and its Government in total.
So real friendship can never happen. Mind set of public in Pakistan is ant-India Indian & they are jealous of our achievements .
Since no Nation today is supporting Pakistan Internationally ,they are offering false hand for this so-called friendship. Now even muslim nations are also not supporting so who else can trust,
keep on dreaming indian lamer …..pak has more friends than india, because of the matter of fact that pak is a muslim state, all muslim states r brothers, they all r pround of pak to be an atomic power, muslims dont have problems with christians and jews, since we all believe in the same god, while u guys are separate from the world, copying the west by getting nude indian women does not make u guys internationally accepted… got it ? …..
Google has recorded Pakistanis watch most pornography.
All muslim states are brothers,but arabs hate pakistanis. they do not give citizenship to the Pakis even if they live fifty years.
You accuse Indians copying the west? You will give your leg and hand to get the privilege to live in the west.
Like most Pakistanis,ignorance is terrible.
I saw Tahmeena Afzal, very beautiful Pakistani woman indeed!
Dear Miss Faiza Mirza,
I totally agree with your points. There are many examples in this world where countries have chosen to treat their controversies separately while their cross countries socio-economic ties has been phenomenal, are we meant to be a set of bad examples only ? Can’t we make a landmark to be an flag-bearer of world prosperity and peace !!! I am a student and I really wish some day in my lifetime both the countries will live with peace and will create examples of brotherhood and mutual trust…
Amen
Om Shanti..
Great thoughts. I wish the same.
Agree..
Very bold and honest analysis. Unless you revise your textbooks and take out the hate India,hate Hindu chapters peace shall remain elusive. The true picture of Indian civilization is that their armiers have never crossed the borders to invade and kills others or to usurp others territories. They have invaded the world with love, with innovation and with ideas of oneness of God and the human race. Pakistan need not worry unless it has evil designs. Do not look your face in others’mirrors. Chawla
Neither has China invaded another country in it’s history (other than on it’s borders).
Chinese and Indians were satisfied with their wealth and civilization.
“The Arabs arose from the desert to conquer, and not to learn.”
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“No Arab loves the desert. He loves water and green places.”
(Alec Guinness as Faisal in Lawrence of Arabia)
Not till they are obsessed with Islam.