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Blogger Tazeen Javed returns to the Dawn Blog to provide a weekly dose of satire.
Sometime back, Newsweek named Pakistan the most dangerous place on earth. Now, the American magazine Foreign Policy has come up with its own most dangerous place. Surprisingly, it is not Pakistan. They name Somalia as the most dangerous country. In addition to a detailed article about the perils to life in Mogadishu, the Somalian capital, they came up with a chart of 60 countries that pass for failed states. They have graded the countries on indicators of instability that are as varied as human flight, human rights, economy and factionalized elite among others.
There are no marks for guessing that Pakistan gets an honourable mention in the top ten. It is the ninth most failed state after Somalia, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Chad, Iraq, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan and Ivory Coast – all fairly failed states. What did get my goat, however, was that Pakistan is considered more failed than Central African Republic, which came in tenth. Central African Republic? No one would even know where the country is if its name were not so geographically specific.
But it’s not just the good ol’ Central African Republic – Pakistan is more failed a state than Ethiopia (16), Liberia (34), which is famous for its blood diamonds and child soldiers, and Malawi (29), a heaven for celebrities looking to adopt kids without much ado.
The chart is designed with the maximum point of 10 for any indicator – the more failed a state is, the higher the score would be on most indicators. According to the chart, out of the 12 indicators of instability, Pakistan’s least worrisome performance has been in economy and – believe it or not – public services. It is a known fact that electricity –rather, the lack thereof – has wreaked havoc with our lives and economy. If that’s come out smelling of roses, imagine how bad the score would be on other indicators.
Group grievances, security apparatus and external intervention were among the higher scoring indicators. I personally think the chart is biased and is part of an international conspiracy to besmirch the good name of Pakistan. For instance, it has been suggested that US Drones that are said to be flying from Afghanistan are actually taking off from our own airfields. If that’s the case, then the level of external intervention is not as high as has been indicated in the chart.
Similarly, if the number of times traffic is blocked in the main cities of Pakistan to clear passage for high-ranking officials is any indicator of our security apparatus at work, it seems to be working just fine – that is, for the government officials, if not for all Pakistanis. Pakistan may score high in group grievances, but that is to be expected in a multi-ethnic country. If Baloch people have any issues with the federal government about royalty of its resources and the fate of its missing persons, it’s not that big a deal. After all, they comprise only 4 percent of the population.
Pakistan also scored high on delegitimization of the state. This was perhaps correct in the past, but it has been taken care of since last month. We have officially signed deals with dissident groups in Swat and Bajaur Agency and handed over districts and cities to them. Now they are the ones who are officially administering those areas and government of Pakistan cannot be held responsible for the deligitimization of the state.
The highest scoring indicator for Pakistan is the curiously titled factionalized elites. Contrary to scoring in the chart, the Pakistani elite does not seem all that factionalized. The elite has been quite focused, coherent and persistent in evading the taxes while piling indirect ones on the poor people of Pakistan. It can also be thanked for upholding the flight of Pakistani capital out of the country, investing in the Middle East, signing over parts of the country to militants, selling public goods, and denying external intervention in matters of governance. If anything, they have proven to be the most consistently performing group of the country.
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Tazeen Javed has lived most of her life in Karachi; so far no one has asked her to leave. She has worked as a journalist, teacher, salesperson, activist, tour guide, election observer, fruit vendor, copy writer and television producer in the past. She has wizened up since then and now only works for a living. She blogs at http://tazeen-tazeen.blogspot.com and can be contacted at tazeen@alumni.manchester.ac.uk
Blogs
Tazeen Javed has lived most of her life in Karachi; she now lives elsewhere and misses Karachi. She has worked as a journalist, teacher, salesperson, activist, tour guide, election observer, fruit vendor, copy writer and television producer in the past.
She has wizened up since then and now only works for a living. She tweets at @tazeen
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Comments (208) Closed
Mar 30, 2009 10:29pm
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Mar 27, 2009 10:43pm
There are very strong indications that Pakistan is failing as a State but I hope tht it does not come to that.
Pakistanis, and I am one of them should look across at their neighbour, India and learn a few lessons. Despite its manifold problems India has progressed well over the years which is due to consistent plociies by different goverments. Rather than write a long essay, I will summarise my thoughts by saying that Indians that I meet and there are many, Indians that I see on Indian TV channels come across to me as "Proud to be Indians". This cannot be said about Pakistanis and till they feel proud of Pakistan for the right reasons, Pakistan will not progress and instead will continue to fail but I still hope that it will not happen. And to my fellow Pakistanis I would say that when you read my thoughts do not label me as unpatriotic. It is quite the contracy, I write these words becuasue of my patriotism but I am also a realist and not a day dreamer.
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Mar 28, 2009 02:50am
This sets the stage for occupation of Pakistan by US and British. This was their goal and all this business of NWF and Afghanistan was a cover. The British having experience in handling Pakistanis during colonial times are advising Americans how to go about taking over Pakistan. Long term will be very bad for muslims as US will run Pakistan like a colony. Tragedy of muslims is repeating as muslims are to blame themselves for being greedy and falling for 1.5 billion dollar US aid.
Ya Allah! Ek Ullu kafi tha Gulistan ko barbad karne ke liye,
Yahain to sare ulemma ullu hai to kya anjam Pakistan ka hoga,
Ab wahi hoga jo manzure Amrika hoga.
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Mar 31, 2009 02:04pm
The police academy is fallen pray to terror. What more one can expect from the beggers, kick out all the filthy politicians. They only ask money but do not deliver security to there country and creat menace for others.
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Mar 28, 2009 09:25am
What options Pakistan have now?
Look like between devil and deep sea
One side USA another Taiban
Who created the monster Taliban?
Every body knows funded by USA and executed by Pakistan
Misplaced trust by Pakistan has put the country in this situation
Who are the beneficiary?
USA,The generals and Some politicians
Where does the people of Pakistan figure?
No where!!!!
The generals and the politicians left very little option for the citizens
Can they have independent policy apart from west and USA?
Certainly not at the current financial situation of the country
What choices they have?
Have a no war pact with India
Improve trade with India
If the animosities are cleared India will
Step in with economic aid,which is in her own interest to do
Pakistan relation ship can be independent of the relation ship with China
The relation ship between India and china are moving up
Could any one believed of Joint military exercise,decades ago?
We don't need to carry for rest of our lives
On the happenings of the past
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Apr 02, 2009 09:42am
It sad that Pakistan has nosedived into an abyss it is now finding difficult to shrug off. It is itself only to blame.
If Pakistan wants to progress, its people needs to shed its blind hatred for India and fight as one force against terror and see to it that the terror infrastructure is wiped out from its soil forever. Else it risks being tagged as a FAILED STATE by the whole world, lampooned by the whole world and shunned by everyone. Hope it does not happen for its talented people can be an asset to the world.
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Apr 02, 2009 07:14am
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Joannah
http://easypowerpaint.com
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Mar 27, 2009 03:03pm
Batool, as recently acknowledged by the Chief of the Pakistan Irrigation Committee, India has benefited from the Indus Water Treaty & Pakistan hasn't because while India, keeping in mind it's future needs, legally & legitimately, built dams & irrigation panels over the years, the Pakistani rulers were busy filling up their own personal coffers, internal squabbling & Kashmir, to care about building any dams and that's exactly the reason why Pakistan has water shortage today. If anyone should be blamed for Pakistan's water problems, it should be Pakistani rulers & not India.
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Mar 27, 2009 03:05pm
my suggestion is that pak should take care of the states they already have,rather than trying to get kashmeer.
if they're behaving like ostritch,as in case of kasab,they are going to be a failed state.
learn from saudi arabia.even being a heart of islam,the mullas,imams are controlled by government,while in pak mullas,imams,and extremists defy and bully pakistani govt.
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Mar 27, 2009 03:22pm
India is abiding by the water agreement.
But at the same time, how long it should continue to do so, under so much terrorism which is emanating from Pakistan.
This terrorism is not happening out of a vaccum, it is helped from the highest sources.
So India is under attack.
When you are under attack, you dont need to honor agreements made during peace time.
Tell me where I am wrong.
India exports water to Pakistan and pakistan in return exports terrorism.
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Mar 27, 2009 03:07pm
Reg the comments of one prominent India-hater,all I would like to tell him is to watch the re-run of Oscar speeches of the two Indians..
1. A R Rahman is a Indian, Muslim and a Tamilian. He spoke in English, spoke in Hindi and then a few words in Tamil praising Allah. His identity as a proud Indian, proud Muslim and a proud Tamilian...they are not mutually exclusive to each other..such kind of men are majority in India..
2. Resul is also a Muslim but in his acceptance speech,he was large hearted enough to talk about OM when the whole world was watching.
Both the men took the opportunity to make a point to the world that the pluralism in India is thriving and flourishing.
Whereas in Pakistan, majority of your civil society consist of people like Moin Ansari...No wonder your country is going down the barrel and India is growing high in esteem....
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Mar 18, 2009 01:50pm
It always has been a failed state. Stating that again and again does not make it a non-failed state. Would it have made a difference had Pakistan been ranked 15th? I dont think so. So stash the rankings and Pakistanis need to wake up.
Here is an interesting point I would like to bring up. -- To get the sacked judge back there was a march and people power finally got what they wanted. After Lahore Terrorist attacks where were all these people? It is Terrorism and Govt soft nature and support for Terrorism -- is what is dragging Pakistan into a hole. Sooner you realize -- better it is.
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Mar 27, 2009 04:46pm
Who is this Moin Ansari to talk about Indian Muslims????? He is talking as if he is staying in India and living like an Indian when he is in reality living in a country called Pakistan that truth be told is a complete FAILED STATE in all respects.
Muslims in India are any day in better shape and living and doing very well in all fields except of course terrorism. Does this chap Moin Bhai knows that Shahrukh Khan and A R Rehman are top notchers in their domains. Then u have Amir Khan, Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Katrina Kaif, Johny LEVER, Zaheer Khan, Irfan and Yusuf Pathan, Sania Mirza, and so many, all of whom are tops in their fields.
I have Muslim pals both boys and girls who are doing well and pursuing their careers with happiness. In fact, in my office, my best pals are Muslim girls who are proud of their country called India. We get along well and are happy folks. I know of so many couples who are happily married, inter-related, that is, Muslim boy and Hindu girl and vice versa. Shahrukh and Aamir have Hindu wives.
India offers all freedom to people of all religions. It is only that the same freedom must be leveraged and exploited to get to the top of one
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Mar 27, 2009 02:24pm
Deep1: "What baffles me is the fact that India does not threaten Pakistan, yet the Pak govt. treats India as a threat."
The Pakistani military wants it's citizens to keep believing that they are under constant threat from India so that it can stay the most powerful institution in the country. You have to understand that in Pakistan, the military is not just a defense arm of the Government (like in most other countries) but it is rather the epicenter or power & consumes almost 70% of the country's budget. The moment, it's population realizes that it has no threat from India, the military's power is greatly diminished and that's exactly why it keeps the Pakistani population brain-washed with a constant propaganda against India laced with falsehoods, hatred & misinformation. I hope the Pakistani people wake up and realize that they are being duped.
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Mar 29, 2009 11:56am
Recently 2 journaist were killed in lahore just within days of each other. This has happened jut after the success of long march, where media played a vital role. I do not want to imply anything but it does show the state is not in control of law and order. They are just unable to act and manifest their will and resolve. Either it is because that the lawless elements are too powerful or their exsists a state within state, which has its own agenda and do not want govt. to succeed. In anycase, it is a sign of a failing government. I pray for the integrity of pakistan.
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Apr 02, 2009 02:51pm
The most amazing thing I noticed, while watching the end of the seige was the slogan raising and firing in the air. Perhaps these soldiers failed to note that there were about 10 ppeople dead and about 90 injured at that time. There were hundreds of people mouring or anxious about the victims.
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Mar 30, 2009 03:28pm
Speculation, complete ignorance and arrogance are important elements of posts by Indians here. "Mulla Umar in an ac bunke watching TV and laughing"? How do you know? There are clear differences between situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In Afghanistan: splintered resistance against foreign forces; carried out by small groups of enraged Afghans (hence they 'blend' so easily with local poulation); targets are occupation forces and their local allies; these are typical features of Afghan resistance against foreign occupiers since time immemorial. In Pakistan: Highly trained, well armed and well backed terrorists, possibly funded by foreign elements, attacks are highly organized. Pakistani people (not the Govt.) are at war, imposed on them by 'big' powers, their motives are all too clear to go into details here. My advice to Indians: Stop acting like Americans. You are not there yet.
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Mar 27, 2009 04:11am
Why do you not refer Pakistan as Islamic republic of Pakistan? Any thoughts and commnets
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Mar 27, 2009 11:42am
Deep1
you wrote that "India does not threaten Pakistan, yet the Pak govt. treats India as a threat."
Indian government has stopped water coming in to Pakistan even though it is granted in Indus Water basin treaty signed between the two countries and threats the very existence of Pakistan, not to mention its agriculture and hydroelectricity output.
What fool's paradise do you live in?
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Mar 26, 2009 04:40pm
It's unfortunate but Pakistan is most certainly DOOMED. Since it's inception and more so since the reign if Zia-ul-Haq, Pakistanis have been fed with a constant diet of hatered, falsehoods & conspiracy theories. It's illiterate populace has been brain-washed by it's military to such an extent that they completely believe the fictitious nonsense that is fed to them.
For all their problems, Pakistanis blame India, US & Israel. Every terrorist attack that takes place in Pakistan is done by RAW, CIA & Mossad. Every terrorist attack, for which Pakistan is blamed, is actually done by the secret services of that country itself, so that they can blame Pakistan. Pakistanis have gone so far away from reality that they've lost the ability to differentiate between fact & fiction. Unless Pakistanis wake up right now & see the truth, Pakistan is DOOMED!
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Mar 20, 2009 06:30pm
I think you should stop writing satire, write something serious and hope that people may take it as satire.
The comments here are funnier than the post which is not half bad
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Mar 20, 2009 06:47pm
Sometimes, I strongly feel that Pakistan was built only for:
1. The great Pakistan ARMY who never won a single war & with all great dignity & honor surrendered East Pakistan
2. For Chudariz, Khanz, Vadera'z and political vultures sucking the blood & stealing the wealth of Pakistan
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Mar 20, 2009 07:26pm
Pakistan is not failed state but dysfunctional state because we never follow the footpath of our founder leader Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and his vision to run the affairs of state.
Our beloved founder dreamed and got freedom from clutches of British imperialism to make Pakistan as welfare and democratic prosperous country.
Our military dictators and short sighted vision of our political leaders who never respect the wishes of people and always bow down and sold our interests of a nation for their petty interests rather than making and implemented policies for stability of a country .
Its dilemma that our foreign policy mostly in era of military dictators formed too much us centric and more hostile to our neighbour.
Today we whole Pakistani are facing problem today due to policies of military dictator Zia-ul-Haq and his predecessor so called enlighten military dictator Pervez Musharraf .
In Zia era had given us gifts of heroine, ethnic polarization, sectarian polarization and many countless evils.
Enlighten military dictator Pervez Musharraf had given gifts of suicide bomber and depoliticize our whole society and further eroded state grip and used state power for their personal gains to please his master US.
When popular leader hanged and assassinated and never given room to chalk out policies for interest of the nation.
As a nation despite divided by our elite ruling I am still optimism that we as nation not a failed state but our country is facing lack of genuine leader who full fill the dream of our founder leader Quaid-e-Azam to run affairs of the country where parliament is supreme .
He should run our state as mother who not only treat all federation units according to 1973 constitution and if it is necessary to amend it for larger interest of people of a country.
Our security establishment, politicians, judiciary, media and civil bureaucracy should play their responsible for welfare of a people.
Our country has rich in mineral resources and only tiny elite class who today is responsible for chaotic condition and exploited resources for their interest should be accountable.
After restoration of apex court judge and free media I am optimist we as nation we should convey to world that we people as nation to be united and with firm determination to get rid from the entire crisis.
In large context majority of people in our country are still liberal but due to stupid and narrow vision of our ruling leaders are facing religious extremism, ethnic polarization, lack of good governance and honest and dedicated leadership.
Raza Mirani
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Mar 18, 2009 12:50pm
they have proven to be the most consistently performing group of the country
i think that line sums up politics in Pakistan
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Mar 20, 2009 06:26pm
I agree with the Indians here on one thing:
- We should not be aiming to overtake India and quit our India-centric view.
- In our daily lives, we should try to envision working for the interests of our nation rather than ourselves.
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Mar 30, 2009 07:43am
The discussion here should be about the real reasons why pak is named as a failed state.Pakisthan cannot walk the lines of peace unless they stop blame games,for what ever mishaps in the country.The real enemies of pakisthan are mullas who are just using the religion for their intrests.I wanted to ask 3 questions to mr.ansari,
1)There had been 3 wars with india waged by generals and not the people,and who lost their lives?i think musharaf is still around there!
2)there are terror attacks every now and then in pakisthan as well as in india(only 1% of what in pak i believe)waged by terrorists?who loses life,common people and terrorist himself,neither mukthar abbas naqvi nor mullah omar loses his life,they are in ac bunkers living a royal life watching all these drama in tv laughing at all of us!
3)u say India is a failed state,majority of indians in thse blog say pakisthan is a failed state?One and only quetion will give the answer,where can a person get justice properly?is it possible that a colonel of ur army to be tried in court by a civil judge for terror crime?Long march is an answer.
I believe it is pointless that we carry on with these mud slugging,let us be one thing very clear.........there are war hawks in both countries.But common people are not for war but for peace because they are the ones who loses at all times........
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Mar 18, 2009 02:56pm
well look at the bright side of things. indicators proove that atleast we are performing someting. it could have been more shame not performing anything. then we would not have been on any list.
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Mar 18, 2009 03:38pm
Well said TJ. A clever piece that sinks the heart as it renders an uncomfortable smile.
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Mar 18, 2009 04:23pm
This is very thought provoking article Tazeen. I agree with you that Foreign Policy magazine has very biased approach towards Pakistan. If I remember it correctly, last year they put Afghanistan lower than Pakistan in this ranking, which was very shocking for me. We should also keep in mind that this is just a magazine, with its own agenda. I think Samuel Huntington was co-founder of this magazine, this should tell us some thing about this magazine's approach. I aslo wonder if Pakistan did not have nuclear weapons, would it still be that high in ranking?
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Mar 18, 2009 04:53pm
We always blame everything on the politicians and other people in power. Ofcourse, they are the biggest culprits for making a mess out of our country. However, we should not forget that "The People of the Nation are in Deep Slumber", they do not want to wake up. It is the Will of The People of Pakistan that will change the fate of The Country one day, inshahallah.
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Mar 18, 2009 05:45pm
Why do we care about what these so called think (Stink)tanks think? We Pakistanis care too much about world affairs and what others think of us when we already know the answer to that question. We are like a teenager who wants everyone to like him or her. Well, they don't. Let
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Mar 18, 2009 06:40pm
i agree with the above post. i seriously pity my country for being held responsible for every little mischief that happens anywhere around the world. this is not surprising as pakistan has done such stuff that it has met this fate today.
i just wish for some miracle because thats our only hope.
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Mar 18, 2009 07:31pm
The state failed immediately after creation when Minorities were driven out of country. Those who willingly joined the state are now II grade citizens.It had been in the interest of Pakistan to discorage fundamentalism right from the begining. Things have now slipped out of hand. Only God can now save Pakistan from disintegration. Maximum suferer will be Punjabi majority.
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Mar 18, 2009 07:32pm
Harambe, everybody condemned Lahore terror attacks but since source of that attack was not confirmed, highest suspect being outside-Pakistan-actors, what good it would bring to come to roads. Hoping of clear and positive thinking from neighbors
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Mar 18, 2009 07:45pm
Correction is only possible if we are ready to accept the facts and the facts are we are a failed state.Dishonest and corrupt politicians are ruling the country and we are very good at blaming Jews,Christians,Indians and Western world for all our failures.
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Mar 18, 2009 08:47pm
Good Job Tazeen. Great analysis. Keep up the good work.
A country that enslaves 450 million Dalits, marginalizes 150 Muslims, where 75% of its citizens stay hungry under Sub Sharan poverty levels, half the denizens of Mumbai 188 million survive in shanty-town, where half the population of Delhi and Lucknow sleep on sidewalks, does not have control over 40% of its territory, has 89 ongoing insurgencies, occupies Kashmir, Sir Creek, Siachin, Sikkim, Bhutan and Arunchal Pradesh, aids and abets terrorism in Sri Lnaka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives, Bhutan and Sikkim is the real failed state. Bharat has had wars with all her neighbors.
http://rupeenews.com/2007/12/07/is-india-a-failed-state/
Of Course Foreign Policy is the bully pulpit of the rejected Neocons of Plan for New American Century fame (pnac.org) that led America to two wars that has economically bankrupted them.
Then there are 5th columnists, Westernized Oriental Gentlemen (WOGs, Brown on the outside and brown on outside) and Bharatis who believe everything the gora sahib says.
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Mar 19, 2009 01:41pm
Folks Aristotle said once "If you let the circumstances dictate your life, you will always be victim of circumstances". Regardless who is bias or who is in favor but more than ever it is time for us to face the reality.
Certainly Pakistan is failed state when it comes to Religion, Education, Infrastructure and Law Enforcement.
We don't even need to go that far to compare us with West. We have great examples in our region such India and China. These countries people are taking over the western world.
When an Indian university graduate come to America or Canada excel in career quickly compare to us from Pakistan Graduates. The only reason is our curriculum is very outdated, the teaching style is very unprofessional. The way knowledge is being test in final exam is not enough to evaluate the competence.
I have been living in Canada since last 8 years and met first class graduates from NED, Karachi University and other well known institution. Unfortunately these first class graduates were not competent enough to prove their skills for western world. Even they were unaware of how to respond basic interviews.
The reason I am emphasizing all that until we fix the problem of academic institution we Pakistani won
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Mar 18, 2009 08:51pm
INDIA AS A FAILED STATE: India is a failed state for failing to provide food shelter and clothing for her citizens. India has bloody borders. India has had wars with all her neighbors. By harping on the
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Mar 18, 2009 08:53pm
Sudra Holocaust: Genocide of 1 million Dalits in India since 1947: About three million Dalit women have been raped and around one million Dalits killed from the time of Independence. This is 25 times more than number of soldiers killed during the wars fought after independence. That is why Dalits do not need Aryan culture or Hindu Dharma based on caste any more.
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Mar 18, 2009 08:53pm
NAXALITE INSURRECTION: The real failed state is
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Mar 18, 2009 08:55pm
PENURY STRICKEN INDIA HAS FAILED TO PROVIDE HER CITIZENS A DECENT LIVING: How poor is India? Some startling statistics have just been released by a forgotten wing of Dr Singh
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Mar 20, 2009 04:59pm
Asif Ali Zardari has divided the nation culturally, regionally and provincially and will not hesitate to inflame sectarian divisions. 99% Sindhis and 99.99% Pakistani Shias vote for Bhutto
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Mar 18, 2009 09:48pm
The issue is not whether Pakistan is or is not a failed state but the issue is why Pakistan was in the list. It is about time for Pakistani people and their leaders to realize that 60 years of existence are too long for most of Pakistani population to live in poverty. Instead of quarrelling with external and internal forces, Pakistani leaders particularly those in power and in the military elite must give up their ego and make genuine efforts to enrich Pakistan economically. The salvation lies in Pakistan being listed as developed country.
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Mar 18, 2009 10:21pm
While the ranking may not be fair the argument against it presented here is equally silly.
You talk about economy and public services and say that they are the worst but this is not true when you are comparing to other failed states in the list, mostly African states. We are much better off.
As far as security is concerned, yes we are worse of than the mentioned mostly African states because large parts of our country are not under the writ of the government.
And yes we do have fictionalized elites. Bureaucrats, ISI, Fazlur-Rehman, Imran Khan, Musharaf, Nawaz, Zardari, Dr. Qadeer are examples of elites who are miles apart from each other.
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Mar 18, 2009 10:50pm
DearTJ,how can any one dare to say that our land of the pure is a failed state. How can it be when Our presidential palace is bigger and more luxurious than the white house? How can it be when our beloved president spends millions of Rupees on tourism ( for his tour of the world with next stop Japan and after that may be countries down under)? How can it be when our Government spends 50 Billion rupees on barricading itself? How can it be when our Government knows everything about the terrorists (it says so) but let them lose so they can blow somebody else up? How can it be when Pakistan has such a strong army that it can not control a bunch of rag tag mullahs? so on and so on. Pakistan Zindabad
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Mar 18, 2009 11:43pm
Who says we are a failed state. The elite class ruling this country is the state and it is very successful. Successful in enriching itself. successful in securing for the elite its huge land holdings to billion Ruppee unsecured loans which always get written off. Successfully making disappear allegation of wrong deeds and corrupt acts never let them stick . Thanks to their brilliantly successful legal moves. State has not failed in securing those who count. Rest are just a number who happened to fall on whatever side of the line . Be it Durand or partition.
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Mar 18, 2009 11:44pm
Morning Tazeen,
I pondered a bit over your comment about
the Baloch people not being all that important as they after all only represent
4% of the population.
Here in Australia Muslim represent around 2% of the population, and they demand Australia revolve around what they want,
perhaps we should send them to Pakistan so
they could learn to appreciate their place in our society.
Similarly, if the number of times traffic is blocked in the main cities of Pakistan to clear passage for high-ranking officials is any indicator of our security apparatus at work, it seems to be working just fine
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Mar 18, 2009 11:48pm
Well it hardly matters what ranking they put us. Pakistan is a nation endowed with culture, hard working people and a deep sense of middle class values.
No doubt as a fall out of some malafide USA and Western policies we have seen surgence of so called Talibans, who do not form even one percent of our population.
Unfortunately we have been failed by our political leaders and an elite class that has still not understood that they are much better off in a society that is based on justice and fair play. I live in UK and work on social sector. It is surprising how many individual initiatives for betterment of our country is taken at grassroot levels in Pakistan. Edhi and Sehzad Roy are good examples.
The West has no doubt contibuted much in the last two centuries in the field of science, technology and in most instance a social justice system that has to be commended. However the mass consumersim and the culture of Capitalism that put all emphasis on material development did destroy their family and community life.
Pakistan is a greenfield country with many of our natural resources still untapped and our potentials still underused. Above all it is a nation of great patriotic people who would never ever allow their beloved country go down.
We as indvidual Pakistani should try do our bit and InshaAllah Allah shall take care of the rest!
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Mar 18, 2009 11:49pm
As an observer from India, I read Pakistani newspapers often to get the perspective from other side of border, on range of issues.
No one in India wants to see Pakistan failing - Becos a troubled neighbour is more trouble to us!
Let pakistanis concentrate on the actual development of the country than to worry about these reports.
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Mar 19, 2009 02:26am
Failed State? you bet. Whether its the first or fifty Pakistan is a failed state and no Pakistani will deny that. Who to blame? is it the ever changing government of Pakistan, the political leaders who seek to rape the country, the lack of education or Mullahism. Look at the way Pakistan operates, here there is long march for the rights of the judiciary but what about a long march for the rights of the people of Pakistan the citizens who are killed in the name of religion, the children who have to start working at the age of 12 because they have no other option, how about the laborer who can not afford to put food on the table. The problem with Pakistan is that we are a War Pad for everyone, no one cares for the Pakistanis they just care for there interests. My suggestions 1. get rid of the mullahs, 2 let the youth come in and lead 3. start to educate the people 4. most importantly let people of all religions and races live freely, look at what you are doing to the Ahmadis, for all the great work they have done for the country this is how you repay them.
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Mar 19, 2009 03:18am
If the courts in Swat started speedy justice, it will spread all over the country, then perhaps state legitimacy will be something fictitious
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Mar 19, 2009 03:50am
Why are all the Pakistanis in denial about there own country? It's a failed state. That's it. Why try to defend the ranking point by point by using disingenuous arguments. Lets take the criticism and try to reform the country. In the Indian media, when we rank badly in anything like corruption, we do not try to defend ourselves but recognize the issue and discuss the ways how to resolve it. This also shows how secure we feel about our own country. Using disingenuous arguments to defend Pakistan as is seen in most of the Pakistani media doesn't alter the reality. Just have the courage to accept the truth. If you don't then you will never resolve the issue from its roots.
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Mar 19, 2009 03:54am
Truth is bitter. When the Americans and Brits dole out dollops to keep afloat Pak state machinery, no one complains. But, when an independent magazine operating under free democratic set-up, sums up Pak's standing, then you cry hoarse. Clean up your acts. Root out your violent communal religiosity from the body politic, then progress will smile upon your nation. The more you give in to religious blackmailing of talibans, the more you are closing in towards your doom. Islamic hegemony and ethnic cleansing being carried out in Pak is the root cause. By its ostrich like attitude and never questioning violent Islamic tenets, Pakistan will slip into another Afghanistan and live upto Madeline's description of "an international migraine". Pak has been denying its Indian peaceful legacy for too long. The illiterate rowdy Talibans, swearing by glory of Islam should be defanged and peace should be promoted. Since 60 years Pak has been systematically cleansing its Hindu population from 15% to 1.5%. The increasing support to Wahhabi Islam and continued rancour against your Hindu ancestry will ensure Pak's downward spiral. Has not Pak obliterated its History and promoting Islamo-centered history and keeping its newer generation oblivious to its Hindu ancestry? Well Tazeen, ponder more....
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Mar 19, 2009 04:14am
Have to agree with Harambe K. Moving down the list should'nt make anyone happy. Need to get out of that list soon.
Inherent built up of violence in the mindset needs to be changed. I hope the new generation takes a good look and gets bored of the Taliban.
I tell you, if anyone breaks the country, it would be Taliban, LeT, JeM. Pakistan is much better place without them. Bring back tourists to Swat for Allah's sake.
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Mar 19, 2009 04:16am
Dear Pakistan,
May Allah Bless You.
Congratulations.
Omar
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Mar 19, 2009 04:59am
The article is not consistent. The only thing its consistent is to take a shot at everyone, whether its the foreign ranking or our own issues.
As a comment mentioned above, we need to realize that instead of taking shots all our lives, we have to wake up and do something about it. When we know that the govt. has always been bad, then its time for us to do something right.
The only problem is that we love blaming others and not ourselves. Once we get the maturity to look at our own personal problems and rectify them, only then we will be able to rise as a collective whole.
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Mar 19, 2009 05:05am
Media can do whatever it wants to do. One should study Noam Chomsky, Noami Klein, et. al. to understand the reasons behind labling otherwise happy, working countries as failed states. The sad part is that a number of educated Pakistanis become victims of this trap and start believing what the media wants them to believe.
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Mar 19, 2009 05:23am
Well written, Good out of Box thinking. THE NATION-STATE of Pakistan was born out of two beliefs, both equally wrong. One, Muslims can live the life of a believer in Quran only in an Islamic state. Two, Muslims, as minorities, cannot expect equality in an independent India dominated by Hindus. The partition seed sown by Muslim poet-philosopher Muhammad Iqbal, in his writings and in his presidential address to the All India Muslim League, in 1930, sprouted and grew along with undivided India
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Mar 19, 2009 05:31am
I don't think Pakistan is a failed state, but choice is there , I feel US put a pressure on Pakistan Army not to interfere and keep away from Pakistani political drama.The silent majority is waking up in Pakistan. The media and the NGOs are taking over in awakening the conscience of the silent populace, which is now aware of their civil rights and the benefits of democracy.
Barack Hussein Obama can become a catalyst for the hopeful public of Pakistan by siding with the silent majority and working directly with the NGOs, sidestepping the current government establishments of Army and its civil cronies. The civilian aid should go directly to the people and not to the government.The current political stand-off has only one winner, Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.His legal crusaders who launched public awareness marches to restore law and order on the strength of a fair and democratic Constitution rather than of biased enforcement of a whimsical presidential rule are winning plaudits everywhere.The sooner the world understands where the actual power should lies in Pakistan, the quicker it would help solve the regional problem. The world should understand the difference between the phenomenon of the good grass-roots Islamic Sharia laws rather than taking a narrow view that Islam only sponsors evil.If the grass-roots in Pakistan are allowed to look after their affairs based on Islamic Sharia laws (if they want to), which have nothing to do with terrorism and extremism, South Asia would start moving in the right direction.In the hour of their need it is the duty of all Indians to support the people of Pakistan. The media, the civil society and the NGOs of the world should channelize their energies in support of the underdogs, the silent majority. Let us not alienate them by criticizing their religious beliefs due to extremist attitude of a few Pakistanis.
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Mar 19, 2009 05:55am
The main question now ought to be - how does Pakistan turn around. It has all the potential to be a happy and proud nation. Intelligent-healthy nd hardworking people- fertile land -eneough water, minerals and fuel. So- what is missing? Ledership? People get the leader they deserve!National charecter - may be! The sooner it gets away from fundamental religeous mindset, the better it is. How will that happen- education and education and good universal education without getting biased with historical errors or personal political agenda. Pakistan needs a Kamal Attaturk!
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Mar 19, 2009 05:59am
i totally agree with the points put forwarded by tasneem..there is no doubt that an international conspiracy is underway to demonize pakistan..instead of giing any attention to these biased and baseless reports govt of pakistan and its civil society should work for d eradication of poverty and improving the basic amenities of the contry
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Mar 19, 2009 06:30am
Pakistan is like this because we do not choose to live the way allah has told us to! we must impose sharia law throught the country and declare it as a religious state. only pure wahhabi islam will give us freedom to make our country stronger. inshallah at least a part of our country now has law & order thanks to visonaries like Md. Fazullah , he is the beacon of hope and i pray he reings over the whole country.
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Mar 19, 2009 06:38am
Pakistan is definitely a failed state.
What do you expect from a nation who are always trying to kill each other just for their own benefits.........from politicians to an ordinary street mugger to talibans to mullahs creating and spreading hatred.
Surrendering Swat to millitants is a major step towards the talibanization of the entire nation in very near future. This may sound harsh but it is truth and truth no doubt is always bitter. Remember we lost a major part of our land in 1971 just because of these power politics. Anything and everything is possible in my beloved country.
God bless Pakistan. Amen !!
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Mar 19, 2009 07:07am
@Umar Tosheeb --- "I agree with you that Foreign Policy magazine has very biased approach towards Pakistan." ---- hmmmm please eat five almonds daily in the morning so that your sense of SARCASM may be improved !!
BTW do you watch talk-shows of Zaid Hamid and Shahid Masoods very keenly as you seem to be a conspiracy theorist like them !
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Mar 19, 2009 07:17am
I think its high time that we should come out of it that the West is against us or it is the West that is ruining our image. All of us need to ask ourselves that are we in any way not a failed state by our own standards? Do we not know that we are living in a system where everything from top to bottom needs to be changed? Do we not know that our politicians whom we have given the most responsible duty of running the country are least bothered about Pakistan
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Mar 19, 2009 07:38am
The problem of Pakistan is the existance and control by the big land lords,wadera,surdars etc and reluctance by the ruling class to agree to the demand of provincial autonomy for the federating entities.Unless these issues are resolved,Pakistan will always be under the category of failed state.
I am surprice that the media in Pakistan is also not discussing these core issues
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Mar 19, 2009 07:49am
on pretty thin ice, me thinks. if one lives in this country, you do not need to read articles in foreign journals to inform yourself that Pakistan is a dysfunctional state - if not a fast failing one.
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Mar 19, 2009 08:01am
LOL! You really do dig irony, excellently written, in particular the last paragraph.
In all honesty, I don't think we are a failed state. God knows we have issues, and big ones at that...but who doesn't, eh? And life would be so boring without those "issues"...we'd end up being "Switzerland of the Karakorams", and who wants that? Cuckoo clocks are all very well but no match for our talents... ;-)
Harambe - we had similar issues from terrorism through the 80s, some would say worse, caused by Khad, RAW and the KGB..that didn't break us, just continued the cycle of violence and got us to the current merry mess and the loonies up north. This too shall pass, the only question is at what cost?
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Mar 19, 2009 08:20am
As an Indian, i feel that Pakistanis deserve much better. As a peacenik, i would campaign for Indo-Pak peace. A stable pakistan is a long term security interest for India. It is wrong to assume that India wants to destablise pakistan. The Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline will bring gas to India and much needed revenues for Pakistan.
But after 26/11 attacks on Mumbai, even peace activists like me are having difficulty in promoting peace with Pakistan.
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Mar 19, 2009 08:25am
thought provoking article. i think pakistan failed as a state becoz it was founded on a doubtful premise - religion (or any ideology) as a basis of nationhood. a nation will do better if it strives to improve the quality of life of its citizens rather than focus on propogating some ideology.if more pakistanis think like you, then pakistan may soon become a non-failed state.
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Mar 19, 2009 08:33am
Harambe K - Pakistan is here to stay. Whether India likes it or not.
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Mar 19, 2009 08:54am
Many of the grievances Tazeen narrates are afflicting we Indians also....the business and political class evading taxes and shipping a great part of country's wealth abroad...maybe in Swiss banks or other hideouts; the power situation, I mean the electricity one, too is very bad in most parts of India. Criminals turning into politicians and empowering themselves....de-legitimisation of state is also seen in large parts of India where writ of naxalites run, writ of mafia runs and writ of criminal politicians run. So, if India is not in the list, it may be beacause of our "vibrant" democracy!
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Mar 19, 2009 09:52am
I am an Indian who loves India but does not feel it necessary to hate Pakistan to prove my patriotism. Though I agree that we in India are no saints, one point I wish to put across the border is that hatred of another country or religion cannot form the basis of policy of existence of a state. Good governance is good governance whether it comes from a muslim, hindu or sikh and that is what our teeming masses need rather than cries over kashmir, jehad or hindu rashtra for that matter. Would welcome views of people on this.
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Mar 19, 2009 09:56am
I am concerned about what had happened us in last fort years(I am 53 so dont know of early 12yrs of polictical scene)
My comments on this issue:
Our country has not given a fair chance to experiment democracy, it's like a married girl, living on her mothers advice and has ruined her home.
Army has a lot of Good educated, disciplined and cultured persons to Rule my home land.
International agencies do act on their own interests as shown in your interesting article.
Education, Training and Empowerment is not grown at grass root level.
As a nation we donot stand even up to definition. If Two nation theory was applicalble in 1930s then Five Nation theory is also workable in 2010s.
Hope this will add to your feed back
thanks
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Mar 19, 2009 10:33am
Attack on sri Lankan cricketers and Shariah courts indicate that Pakistan indeed is a failed state. Humour will not mask that failure
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Mar 19, 2009 11:08am
i dnt agree with ranking but i am feeling like Pakistan is a failed state. Reason is nothing but what happened in Lahore? what is happening in other parts of the country.Country has been in trouble since its existence but i am very disappointed with the Political Parties of Pakistan.
I remember,when ARMY was breifing on security situation of Pakistan in closed parliment, all of sudden onething came in my mind...Opportunity !!!!i guess we lost it , probably we wont get again and time and time we will be stamped FAILED STATE.
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Mar 19, 2009 11:14am
Pakistan should try to stand on its own two feet instead going all over the world seeking financial help.By standing on its own two feet it will command respect. Pakistan relies very heavily on international help. Military expenditure is the main drain on the economy. The size of the Armed forces should be cut to ensure enough resources for development.
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Mar 19, 2009 11:15am
To be really honest, all that western media is trying to do is to frame pakistan as 'a failed state', if you already don't know that is, duh!
I mean come on, yes things are really bad, but we are still funcitioning as a developing nation. Every nation has its set of problems, Pakistan, you can argue, has more than the rest, but it's certainly a far cry to compare it with any of the troubled African nations.
How about adding cold weather, mountainous terrain and 'totally biased opinion' as an indicator.
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Mar 19, 2009 03:27pm
Dear All Pakistanis, Let us stop talking alone, time is ripe to act. Asking you one question... How much do you contribute for your loving country? Let us act now by paying taxes, electricity bills, gas bills etc. Ask yourself whether you are working honestly? Do you some time ignore your basic duties towards human beings. If you are a Doc, an engineer, a police officer, a lawyer etc, did you ever act keeping in mind as a Pak national. I am dead sure never had you thought of that. Let us think. Let us make our country THE BEST. Let us equip our coming generation with education, the applied education. The education that makes them able to distinguish between good and bad. Let us act maturely.
Nisar Khan (khan115@yahoo.com)
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Mar 21, 2009 04:44pm
Why pakistan is a failed state?? no it is not but pakistani leaders are failure infact a BIG FAILURE. Our farmers wake in morning to sow the seeds our no matter how low teaching standrds are teacher and students gather in school no matter if its a private of Govt School all we need is good govarnance rather then blaming any one else we need good leaders. you can see example of Malaysia in this regard Bhomi Putraz are no better than an ordinary Pakistani but what they got Mahatir Muhammad. We got Ziaulhaq Mardemomin before him Ayub Khan and people like sharif pirzada you name them every one of them are WONDERFULLY GOOD at pulling legs of country!!!
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Mar 19, 2009 06:07pm
I think Tariq Ali put it the best: Pakistan is not a failed state but a troubled state for the past 40 years.
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Mar 19, 2009 06:37pm
First of all I really don't think Pakistan is a failed state, but the way things are turning out, I am afraid it will be a failed state in near future,
Any state (failed/successful) must be able to make their own decisions, Hillary Clinton is bragging here in US how she influenced Pakistan about reinstating the Chief Judge, Drone attacks are at will inside Pakistan, is Pakistan a still Sovereign state, does Pakistan leaders make any independent decision, what do you make out nuclear state, leader of powerful state negotiating with bunch of Talibans
For those intelligent souls in Pakistan who genuinely care about their mother land, have you given a serious thought why your country is in such a sorry state
Think really deep to understand what you achieved so far by hating India, military spending, three wars, kargil adventure, just before 9/11 gun touting terrorist where freedom fighters openly supported by Pakistan government.
Do you guys really care for Kashmir or you just want to see it separated from India
I think it
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Mar 19, 2009 07:14pm
I believe Pakistan is a failed state since last 61yrs because of its policy to create hatred against India and Indians! When I read any blog, article and news channels of Pakistan, you can read the mental development of most of the Pakistani people! Pakistan had invested only in hatred and terrorism and you can see the results! Pakistan should concentrate in their youths and provide better and right education to them. A country can't sustain on the basis of religious fanatics. Accept your problems and don't try to defend yourself if you have done wrong in the past! This is the time to correct your people; your youth otherwise whole Pakistan will turn into a Talebanization rule. And, India will not accept Pakistan as a failed state. We need a good neighbor for our own security and prosperity in the region!
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Mar 19, 2009 12:49pm
I am not sure what is the defination of a failed state but I guess the following factors go against Pakistan:
(A) Army take-overs every now & then.
(B) A few suicide bombings each day.
(C) Terrorist attacks planned on other countries in pakistan.
(D) A foriegn sporting team gets attacked by terrorist while touring Pakistan
(E) Nearly all terror attacks in the world, lead their footprint to Pakistan
(F) Another country regularly fires drones inside Pakistan
... these are just a few to count.
I am not sure what else is a failed state.
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Mar 19, 2009 01:19pm
Well said Harambe. It is NOt the question of rank 9th or a 5th or whatever. What ails Pakistan has to be analysed by its nationals and work towards improvement especially changing the ethos and approach towards Terrorism. Refuting and denial regarding the existence of uncontrollable terror groups and giving excuses that the terrorists are NOT under state control is a fact in itself of a failed state. Consider the following facts :
1)That the State of Pakistan is getting alms in form of money/aid from USA for what ? Not for development of country but to tackle terrorism since if NOT tackled will harm US citizens ? what does that show?
2) What does it show when group of 10 terrorists come into Mumbai and kill 150 + inocent civilians out of which 40 were Muslims as soft targets in a crowded Railway Station and hotels and the government of Pakistan hides under the garb of NON STATE ACTORS ?
3) A country who sent the team to play cricket against all odds and was promised Top Class security are attacked by group of 14 terrorists and NOT ONE terrorist got injured; killed or caught live but on the contararily Police people of Pakistan die. This was not aplace like Railway station or a hotel (soft Target) but a place where terror was anticipated and GOvernment had taken responsibility with the so called top class security ?
4) Educated people like Imran Khan are advocating agreements with Terrorists Taliban ? why ? because there are no options ?
Has any Pakistani person thought why Paksitan has come to this state of affairs ?
I am an Indo- canadian and thus will NOT share my comments on the reasons as I will surely be considered a biased person but above are the facts and NOT opinions.
THINK ABOUT IT . THINK ABOUT IT > ONLY PAKISTANIS CAN RESOLVE THIS . NOT EVEN USA.
GOD BLESS PAKISTAN
4)
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Mar 19, 2009 01:58pm
I am an Indian in the UK and have been tracking Pakistan news for the last 6 years.
I think you must forget your past, and rather than being unduly cynical should concentrate on building a strong Pakistan. This would only be possible when millions of your children are saved from falling in to the hands of these Jehadis. Invest in your future (i.e. children) with quality education and that will ensure a strong Pakistan.
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Mar 19, 2009 01:59pm
I was amused to see India mentioned in the article.
India is not successful state on many counts, but we are not obsessed with blaming our neighbor for our faults.
http://rupeenews.com/2007/12/07/is-india-a-failed-state/
It was good that the above website was mentioned in the article by Mr. Moin Ansari himself - because that shows what is wrong with some people in Pakistan. They spend too much energy in finding faults with India -))
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Mar 19, 2009 02:07pm
One thing I like about Iran is that when it comes to things or comments like these, the Iranians say TALK TO THE HAND DUDE !!! How come people like these have got the authority to label us like this. Yes we have our issues, but does that mean that someone has the right to mark as a failed state? This FAILED STATE according to Foreign Policy, which is the print publication of Foreign Affairs, an American think tank, was not like this until Sept, 2001. Yes we had our issues even before that, but things went from bad to worse after the Americans decided to come and play in our backyard.
Saying this, we Pakistanis also have contributed to the situation. Yes the recent developments where the common public did show that we have started to think now, something which was and still lacking in our society. I don't know if things will get better, but yes we can pray that they do !! We did stand up, but probably we need more realization that when united, we can do wonders and at the same time figure out what really is right and what is wrong for our homeland.
It is very surprising that when the unfortunate incidents in Lahore took place, there were so many comments. But on a report like this, not many people have commented. I am not saying that comments on Lahore incident were not justified, but we as a nation condemned it. At the same time when someone is labelling us like this, we should answer them back. If we are left alone and let us decide, maybe we wont have to tolerate things like this and get our acts together.
People let us be the MASTER OF OUR OWN FATES, rather than some one else deciding that we are a failed state.
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Mar 19, 2009 02:11pm
By looking at the factors in Pakistan, I would say,
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Mar 19, 2009 02:21pm
My apologies for writing that Foreign Policy is the publication of Foreign Affairs. It is not, but rather a publication of Washington Post and Newsweek.
Sorry for that folks !!
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Mar 19, 2009 02:28pm
Pakistan is not at the moment a 'failed State', but rapidly heading in that direction. Some of the factors which will contribute to hastening this process are:
1. Neopotism and corruption at the highest levels of the State
2. 'Islamo-fascism' breeding intolerance, anger and hatred amongst an impressionable young population
3. Increased appeasement of the above fascists and accommodating them into the State (note: the Swat situation)
4. Poverty and hopelessness in a large swathe of the population
5. Foreign excursions into Pakistani soil with an aim to defeat the extremists
Good luck Pakistan!
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Mar 19, 2009 07:29pm
WELL DONE MIDDLE CLASSES OF PAKISTAN
I had always maintained that political order in Pakistan will not improve unless the thinking classes bridle the thought process of the politicians.
Planned long march for restoration of judiciary is a testament of it.
Intelligentsia of Pakistan should be more assertive and impose their logical reasoning on the politicians of the country. If the people of Pakistan were more self reliant, the politicians
will be motivated by the public service spirit rather then self interest (political thinker Iqbal)
In democracy every one has to contribute to the welfare of society.
The momentum of making the politicians listen to the logical reasoning of the people should not be lost. The middle classes of the society should continue and maintain the pressure on them. Reason with them to bury the past, move forward improving the political, social and state institutions all the way with rapidity.
The society should retire the old politicians. The reason being that they do not have respect of the nation. It should generate new able politicians after vetting the candidates in the American ways to assess their commitment to public service and personal character.
I name some of the political talents of the new generation
Ahsan Iqbal PML(N)
Aitzaz Ahsan Attorney
Kashmala Tariq PML(Q)
Ferzana Raja PPP
Shiree Rehman PPP
Mr Kemal Mayor Karachi
Mr Rashid Ex-minister PML(Q)
There may be more who do not come on the television
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Mar 19, 2009 07:44pm
Is there still doubt that we are not a failed state? where judiciary got independence just now and where legislative branch is sitting idly and executive branch just in the politics of horse trading and trying to get the fourth province in its claws by all means. What kind of nation is that?
I think you can guess rest of the story.
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Mar 19, 2009 08:26pm
Usman
Everybody condemned, but not everybody accepted the reality -- which is they were Pakistani based LeT (or some sub - group) that was responsible for the mess. And again let me bring it to your attention how LeT was formed. LeT is nothing but a group of Hijackers of an International Airlines who walked into Pakistan from Afghanistan which you all welcomed saying they were freedom fighters in Kashmir and you see what they are doing? The same people who you have fed are shooting you? Do you want this?
Why dont you and your friends March into the streets of Pakistan and ask the govt to punish these people?
Why dont you and your freinds -- march and ask terrorists like Dawood Ibrahim and probably million others -- with who Pakistan has got no business whatsoever -- to be deported your country. Why would you want to harbor a Terrorist anyways?
There are forums that exist right now where you have Pakistani posters who still blame it on RAW. How insane? You continue to live in a "State of Denial". And that is the opinion of the whole world, not just your neighbors.
You condemned it -- fair enough , but it also seems to me you accepted it as a part of your life. I dont understand -- what exactly are you waiting for the Terrorists to do you for you guys to march on the street? Explode a couple of Nuclear Bombs in Lahore? God forbid.
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Mar 19, 2009 08:27pm
It sure feels from outside--here in NY-- that it is a failed state or heading towards becoming a total disaster.
The way I see it, there are large-scale socio-economic imbalances which make a perfect foil for regional and national spillover effects such as Afghan refugees, Pak-India tensions, the corrupt political parties, the military, and so on, to expand into all areas of social and individual life, and thus trigger a negative loop which causes more socio-economic imbalances, extreme ideology, regional, political, and military tension, and more spill-over effects.
There is a certain degree of recreation needed to develop a new system where the root of the problem, which is vast socio-economic disparities and exist in our part of the world from time immemorial, is addressed. As a few honest leaders like Imran Khan would have it, the system needs to be solidified. On the other hand, to me it seems that large-scale anarchy is needed to recreate the system. The solution lies within the reversal of this negative loop, to turn it into a positive one. For that to happen, the root of the problem needs to be attacked, which is wide social classes and endemic poverty.
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Mar 19, 2009 09:10pm
Its disappointing to see my own countrymen labelling my country as a failed state.
The problem with us is that our opinions are influenced, mostly, by international media and not by our own experience. I hope that changes. I hope we are able to pull ourselves out of this mindset where we let others dictate.
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Mar 19, 2009 09:26pm
we are not a failed state but we are running by the failed persons those who are only thinking about themselves not for Pakistan, Pakistan is full of reservoirs and has capacity of producing electricity more than 40000 MW (wind power plant at Gharo Sindh) which can be utilised for the sake of promotion of industry as well as for agriculture sector.Pakistan's total installed capacity is 18000 MW and demand is approx. 15000 MW due to the shortage of water and furnace oil Pakistan is suffering badly with Load shedding as well as industry and agriculture sector too. We will be failed state if we failed to improve our energy sector.
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Mar 19, 2009 10:07pm
I don't understand why most Pakistanis do not accept the fact that most of the problems facing the country is due to internal reasons. Stop accusing western media for biased opinion. If it is Islamophobia why don't they label Indonesia, Malaysia or Turkey as failed states; because they are not and Pakistan is.
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Mar 19, 2009 10:37pm
Well done Moin Ansari..U threw all your garbage in ur neighbors backyard..Now u can sleep in PEACE! Be happy that you dont have an economy because the world economy is in recession. LOL. Pakis like you are responsible for the state downfall more than its politicians. First step at correcting things begins with acceptance. U need to drink the coffee now because the time for smelling it has passed!
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Mar 20, 2009 01:32am
In progressive states allegation alone is enough to keep individuals from high offices. And look at us. It is my observation that the qualification criteria is much more strict for the door men guarding the high offices of our land . But the gentlemen elected / selected to these high offices can have any flaw in their character any allegation of wrong doing . This is a quick path to failure. We will be if we are not already a failed state.
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Mar 20, 2009 01:41am
Need 2 Fix list
1. Land reforms
2. Decentralization (Except Defense, Foreign affairs,Treasury)
3. Division of provinces ( 4 provinces been there done that )
4. Education
5. Health
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Mar 20, 2009 02:00am
Pakistan is fast becoming the India of the past, when she went around with a begging bowl, people dying of starvation and sleeping on the streets.
Now it's Pakistan's turn.
The only difference is that India still had some pride left in her, whereas Pakistan has nothing to be proud of.
India lifted itself out of it's misery, but Pakistan keeps drowning in it.
Indians love their country, Paki's hate theirs and are extremely jealous of India's success. They keep pointing fingers at others for their problems, yet do nothing to make life better for the common man.
Instead they keep destroying whatever little they have and build nothing, except for reliance on foreign hand-outs.
Jinnah could be turning in his grave and regretting at what he did. You people were definately not worthy of such a sacrifice!
Instead of doing the muslim world proud, you have brought it terrible shame. Killing each other, having no regard for the fellow human being, one corrupt ruler after another, even electing them back into power again and again! Woe is unto you Pakistan, you rightfully deserve to be the laughing stock of the world!
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Mar 20, 2009 02:27am
Dear,
To avoid a failed state tag, I feel that any government comes to power must change attitude towards Kashmir and shun hate India attitude.
Example: Pakistan will import grains three times costlier from foreign land instead from India, because of hate India policy.
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Mar 20, 2009 03:10am
I was amused to read somewhere in the middle about the purported international conspiracy to "besmirch the good name of Pakistan". Good name of Pakistan? When did Pakistan ever have a good name.
Most of the failed states that Pakistan is grouped with have failed in their ability to govern day to day business for their people and it is their own citizens who suffer the consequences unfortunately.
In the case of Pakistan, world at large suffers because of its menace. It has some "enterprizing scientists" who in partnership with its "esteemed" ISI have marketed nuclear weopanery to the "great" states of Iran, Libya, North Korea, and God knows who else.
It harbors terrorist who have repeatedly shown their "skills" around the world from Spain, to UK, to US, and more recently in Mumbai.
The country is fameous for its madrasas churning out finely trained terror brigades.
Quite frankly, if the failed state metrics is measured on the bais of the level of harm that a counry's citizens inflict on others, Pakistan probably will rank at the top.
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Mar 21, 2009 03:24pm
Pakistan's tragedy is that those who were offered the chance of going down in History books as great leaders squandered the opportunities by their ruthlessness, lust for power and lack of patriotism. The so called Democracy therefore became a farce and a travesty with highly tainted, corrupt and murderous leaders of the two major parties alternating with spells of military rule unquestionably brought on by their incompetence and looting of the national treasury with rackless abandon.
Pakistan is indeed a failed state whether its citizen accept it or not. The primary function of a state as Mr. Cowasjee reminds us ad infinitum is to provide law and order for its citizens in which the govt. has failed miserably. Its writ is not followed in half of the country. We have a civilian dictator as the head of the government who has retained all the powers the military dictator had and then some. His party acolytes slavishly follow his every command rather than do what is right i.e. repeal the 17th amendment. People lack the basic necessities i.e. clean water, electricity and shelter. Women are being abused brutally every day and government fails to act, the Rupee is in free fall and the inflation rate is breaking the back of the poor and the dispossessed in particular.
Lastly, it matters little what Pakistanis think if their country is a failed state. The world wide view of Pakistan is that it is and is the most dangerous place in the entire world as well as the area from which the next terrorist attack on the lines of 9/11 is likely to come. We have hit rock bottom when US commentators on the highly prestigious and balanced radio station NPR, discuusing whether or not Mexico is a failed state respond ' No, Mexico is not Pakistan'.
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Mar 20, 2009 03:11am
It is my understanding Pakistan has serious issues to deal with and that it is consistently failing on certain aspects such as having to deal with terrorism, radicalization and economic ills. But to put the country into the same league as African countries and other war-torn countries is quite a big stretch.
Whatever its ills, I can safely say 95% of the population are not effected on a daily/weekly/monthly/yearly basis by terrorism. A bigger issue for many is how to fight with the all invasive inflation.
Just to quote some of the better statistics Pakistan managed last year:
1) Our banking sector was rated 6-th best in the world
2) We were ranked first in the telecommunication sector ranking (held in Spain -I forget the name).
Clearly we have a lot of upshots.
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Mar 20, 2009 03:12am
And in 2006 we managed to record the second biggest growth in the entire world community, of course China was first.
If only we can get rid of the terrorism ills and political dominance of the elite, our country can fully realize its potential.
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Mar 20, 2009 04:10am
I dont think Pakistan is a failed state for a number of reasons.
First the mess in the tribal areas is not one of our making, but created for us by the very people who are declaring us a failed state.
Secondly not only are more and more Pakistanis especially those living abroad and some Indians (whom I am surprised have the audacity to comment on Pakistan after the amount of negativity their government has shown us ever since our independence) reading this article are trying to see Pakistan through the prism of a failed.A lot of rich Pakistanis are bringing loads of capital (that they have accumulated in the same failed state) to the same countries(America,Canada,UK) that are labeling us as a failed state.
Third the economic dependence that we have on the west is for two reasons. First it costs us money to keep an army on our Western border fighting 'their' war, secondly we have lost a substantial amount of capital inflows due to a war taking place next door, one which we had no role in starting, remember Bin Laden was financed and nursed by the same CIA, whose fellow country men are labeling us a failed state.
To those 'real Pakistanis', who see no other option than a prosperous Pakistan, who have studied our History thoroughly,I can only say that we have seen worst times before,and having been seeing them consistenly ever since our country came into existence, but we have managed to survive and at the same time allowed many people to prosper and progress in this country.Instead of looking for all that is wrong with this country, lets start playing our part in doing what is right for this country.
P.S If the moderator allows I would like to take the opportunity to set Mr Harambe K right.
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Mar 20, 2009 05:16am
I don
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Mar 20, 2009 05:28am
And I want to add one more point...
When Afghanistan was invaded/attacked by US forces, we see the spill-over affect from Afghanistan to Pakistan.
If India continues to bully Pakistan on all fronts and isolates Pakistan from international community, the day will not be far away when India will see this spill-over affect from Pakistan to their own soil. Hence it is in the best interest of India to stop supporting those elements who want to see Pakistan as a failed state.
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Mar 20, 2009 05:35am
Mr. Moin Ansari...Mind you're own business..Indians know how to take care of their fellow citizens...Stop finding faults in others and try to improve your own pathetic conditions. Atalji has once said aptly, "We cannot choose our neighbours"..
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Mar 20, 2009 06:28am
It will be very bad for India if Pakistan fails. A prosperous and stable Pakistan is
the only way jihadist militancy can be prevented from invading India.
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Mar 20, 2009 06:31am
I regularly watch interviews of pakistani people/journalists/politicians. Unknowingly I try to judge their IQ (intelligence quotiente) from their talk with similar people in India & China and find many times pakistani smarter than indian/chinese. The only big problem I find with many pakistanis is that their smartness is directed in the wrong direction as mentioned in previous comments from other people. Once they are in correct direction, I am sure they will leave india/china far behind economically and in progress and Pakistan will be top super power in the world. and I am sure majority of Indians would be glad to see that happen and would like to give healthy competition to Pakistan.
Good Luck Pakistan
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Mar 20, 2009 06:33am
Well, it is true there is serious problems in Pakistan... Why is it nobody is owning up the faults and take some action. Giving Swat to taliban is like legitimising their rule. I am sure in a few years from now the current battle for survival in pakistan will be more bloody and serious than the current one. Unless people do something...
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Mar 20, 2009 07:02am
Thank you for the nice article. We have just cancelled our trip to Pakisian.
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Mar 20, 2009 07:05am
I really believe unless pakistani people strive to acheive for complete democracy, these issues will keep coming.
until then these issues will be depicted everywhere...
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Mar 20, 2009 07:08am
Well, petty politics must stop in pakistan. Real power must be with the people, not the mullah's or corrupt politicians.
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Mar 20, 2009 08:25am
I read with dismay some of the comments talking about the persecution of dalits, minorities etc. We do not say that these problems dont exist, yes they do but we do not blame Pakistan for them. Tell me one thing..why do Pakistanis have to compare themselves with India, why dont you compare yourself with Canada or Dubai, or USA and aim to be better than them, rather than India? Any answers?
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Mar 20, 2009 08:58am
What a pity!
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Mar 20, 2009 10:12am
Sorry to say, we are moving in that direction. Until now we are not a failed state. To defeat this thinking we need following changes in our country.
1. All unite to defeat terrorism. Esp. Pak army should be on board.
2. Nawaz Sharif, Asif Zardari, Aitzaz Ahsan, stop thinking for petty personal gains and realize that the nation is passing through existential threat from terrorists.
3. Punjab military and civilian bureaucracy should forgo at least some of the resources for smaller provinces.
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Mar 20, 2009 01:09pm
To understand as to why Pakistan has become a failed state, all one needs to do is read the comments of one Mr. Moin Ansari on this blog. This article is about Pakistan & has nothing to do with India, whatsoever. Yet, Mr. Ansari, unnecessarily launches into an utterly fallacious, hallucinogenic & misinformed anti-India tirade. Yes, India has problems but with it's strong democratic credentials, secularistic values & growing economy, those problems are being solved whereas Pakistan is sinking deeper & deeper in the abyss, below it's mountain of problems.
It's this Indo-centric attitude and the inability to self-retrospect by Pakistanis like Mr. Ansari, that has brought Pakistan to the cusp of failure, bankruptcy & disintegration, today. Unless & until, Pakistanis accept their mistakes and clean house, nothing or no one can avert it from speeding towards disaster. The world can only help Pakistan if Pakistan starts helping itself.
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Mar 20, 2009 01:28pm
Pakistan is fast moving from 3rd world country to an un-named category of 5th world. It's literacy is one of the lowest in world and population growth is the highest which is not sustainable. Pakistan can not support its self, it can not feed its people and can does not even has a capability to provide clean water and sanitation. Discrimination and corruption are the high points and disrepect for women is honored. Everything Islam is against is practiced in Pakistan. It is indeed a failed anti Islamic State.
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Mar 20, 2009 10:52am
Failed? how? when? I'm sure no one believes in these "PCO" examiners!
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Mar 20, 2009 11:01am
Sorry to say, we are moving in that direction. Until now we are not a failed state. To defeat this thinking we need following changes in our country.
1. All unite to defeat terrorism. Esp. Pak army should be on board.
2. Nawaz Sharif, Asif Zardari, Aitzaz Hassan, stop thinking for petty personal gains and realize that the nation is passing through existential threat from terrorists.
3. Punjab military and civilian bureaucracy should forego at least some of the resources for smaller proviences.
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Mar 20, 2009 04:17pm
Pakistan Army killed 10,000 palestenians in jordan and get paid for it.It helped US to fight Soviets in Afghanistan. Musharaff got 10 billion for fighting and exporting baloachs and arabs.Even today Pakistan Army is not a failed institituion,. It is strong and healthy but the people of Pakistan is another matter.They have won a victory recently in restoration of one pillar of democracy.Hope they build on this.Stop accepting dole from IMF but export, work hard and build your country.
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Mar 20, 2009 01:39pm
The need of the hour is to work from within ourselves, unite as a nation, project a positive image, market ourselves and our talent internationally as we are so blessed with all the natural resources possible. The need is to wipe out all the negative elements of our system , hyprocrites who crticize their own country overseas, and do not know how to take pride in the land that has made them today what they are. There is also a dire need not to 'invite' interference from countries that then declare us a Failed state and also bear the brunt of our blame, when we ourselves have invited the trouble. We must learn to take responsibility of our actions and be more transparet and accountable as a state.
Yes a sincere and able leadership with a vision is what is needed. May Allah enable us to preserve the land of the pure and to purify it further!!
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Mar 20, 2009 01:44pm
I love the fact that most of the Pakistanis blame everyone else but themselves for these issues. Some of the Pakistanis also actually think that Pakistan is wrongly labeled as "failed". They forget to look at certain thing for example:
1. Pakistanis blame Americans for their troubles in the Northern region rather than blaming the Jihadis.
2. Pakistanis on one hand want to get rid of the meance of terrorism but call Lal Masjid Jihaidis their brothers and sisters.
3. Pakistanis are the only ones who when given a chance in a "free and fair" elections gave power to someone who has been accused of massive corruption.
4. Pakistanis forgot Nawaz attack of Supreme Court, or his attack on the plane which not only has Musharaf but also 100s of other people whose life was in danger.
5. Lastly, Pakistanis forget the Surrey Palace, the Diamond Necklace, and the Raiwind Estate.
Good luck Pakistanis. Just keep blaming everyone else and you will be great.
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Mar 20, 2009 02:15pm
Hey! Our initials match! woohoo! Now I can ride the wave of your popularity for fun and fruffet! lol!
also lol'ed at "central africal republic" :)
-TK
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Mar 20, 2009 07:42pm
"You people of the South don't know what you are doing. This country will be drenched in blood, and God only knows how it will end. It is all folly, madness, a crime against civilization! You people speak so lightly of war; you don't know what you're talking about. War is a terrible thing! You mistake, too, the people of the North. They are a peaceable people but an earnest people, and they will fight, too. They are not going to let this country be destroyed without a mighty effort to save it
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Mar 29, 2009 05:41pm
well,failed state or no failed state ...their is no justice here.
laws are not implemented how can they think of improving them with modern times and situations.they can make a good start by giving provincail autonomy...and only punjab can do it ,as it controls majority in NA thus it controls federal gov ,lets keep the issue of party away for a moment ,anybody who wins from punjab makes the gov in centre....
and the politacain from punjab dont want provincail autonomy thats for sure,they want to control the budget,revenues and spendings.(well does anyone have an idea when was gas supplied first from balochistan....multan and rawalpindi(in 60s) and when did it come in(quetta) balochidtan 1986)...YY..where has the cluase of provincail autonomy gone which was stated in pakistan resolution.smaller provinces feel betrayed.
seriuosly.their is only concurrent list of subjects .whats has happened to provincail list...or a separate federal list .india has minded this matter.
all indicators will improve ...if their is justice ...thats our problem..
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Mar 20, 2009 09:26pm
People in both India and Pakistan, should realize that it is our destiny that "ONE DESTROYS THE OTHER". I hope it happens now and swiftly so that the survivor can works its way up.
Like it or not it looks like India will be the survivor. Pakistan should forget about their problems and work towards being a survivor in the ultimate war
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Mar 20, 2009 09:41pm
Dear Freinds,
We are all aware of the fact that today Pakistan is in a worisome state and they are hardly doing anything to resolve it. Instead they have been justifying all the wrongdoings for eg:The swat truce and the attack on the cricketers ( commisoner of Police saying that there were minor injuries in Leg and chest.)
Look at India, we have our issues but we have benn able to progress and flourish.
US is merely using pakistan for its geographical imortance to keep a vigil over china. No doubt there interest also lies flushing out the terrorism.Pakistan has to take responsibilty for its action.
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Mar 26, 2009 04:19pm
How does the fighting over the labels of "failed state", "troubled state" etc make any difference in the reality on the ground. I would go out and make an assumption that most Pakistanis believe in their heart that as a nation they are in trouble from fundamentalist elements and from the national "leaders" with no vision. In the end the solution will have to come from inside (the ordinary people) and not from outside (US, China). I also believe that success can be really accelerated if folks get out of the unhealthy obsession with India or Israel or US. The most favorite argument seems to be that if Pakistan has problems, so does India, hence it is ok. But India's problems or successes should not have any bearing on the process of national introspection and determination and implementation of solutions for Pakistan. The house needs some cleaning and it can be done only through internal will.
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Mar 20, 2009 09:44pm
And my my freind mr. Mansoori i would suggest you to stop surfing cranky websites and use your researching powere to the benefit of your country.
God bless Pakistan and god save the pakistanis.
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Mar 27, 2009 02:30pm
To Batool:
The Indus Water issue is largely misunderstood in Pakistan. According to the water-sharing agreement, India has the right to reduce water supply if the rains fail in catchment areas, as compared to average annual rainfall. The agreement states that India is required to release the equivalent amount of water relating to the percentage of that year's rainfall, compared to long-term annual average rainfall in the affected areas.
This is exactly what happened, but was perceived as an aggressive move by India.
The real problem is that the Agreement itself is deeply flawed, and needs to be reworked.
The agreement does not take into account Pakistan's overwhelming dependence on the Punjab bread-basket for domestic food production. On the other hand, India is not similarly dependent on this water. Food production in other parts of India can mitigate this effect. So the treaty itself needs to be renegotiated.
The second factor is economic and largely ignored. Last year (I think) the rains failed and India made up the shortfall by importing wheat. Pakistan's credit status was junk in international markets, and the government was unable import foodstuffs.
Thus it really did not affect India, but caused flour-riots in Karachi. Instead of acknowledging the real issues, the Pakistani Govt and Media blamed India, and told the people that India was the source of all their troubles.
India desperately wants a stable and moderate Pakistan, in line with Jinnah's vision of a progressive state. The recent Talibanization of the country is giving them nightmares -- from the Indian govt to even the local people.
Deep1
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Mar 26, 2009 05:38pm
To Ajay Mishra:
Agreed. Chinese expansionism in places like Arunachal Pradesh is a bigger threat to India than Pakistan.
What baffles me is the fact that India does not threaten Pakistan, yet the Pak govt. treats India as a threat.
I don't understand the logic, because there is none there. Kashmir is not the issue, the real issue is the official Pakistani paranoid mindset.
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Mar 20, 2009 10:53pm
Whew at least some Pakistanis agree that their country is indeed a failed state. The first step is recognizing the problem then solving it. I think people in Pakistan realize that their country is no good and its time to introspect rather than blame the US & India for their misfortunes. Wake up Pakistan and kick the jihadis off your land and embrace the fundamentals of the 21st century. Getting the jihadis and anti-peace mujahadeen out will be hard, but this pyrrhic victory will be worth it.
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Mar 21, 2009 03:31am
Hey there is a silver lining in all this. Pakistan is finally in the top 10 ranking in the world. Well done guys, hope you make it to number one soon.
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Mar 21, 2009 05:30am
I am an Indian living in Singapore for 4 years. Having left the shores of my beloved nation I am able to see things with bit more impartiality. When i saw the title of the blog one of the reasons i wanted to read it was I knew India would be dragged into it in some form. India obviously is no utopia but whether some of the challenges listed here are accurate may make for an interesting debate, is perhaps not relevant to the discussion. The fortunes of India and Pakistan are not a zero sum game. Prosperity of India and Pakistan need not suffer from an 'OR' condition... it should be a AND condition. India is definitely far better off than where it was in 1990 and those of us who have seen India in the 80s can vouch for the progress she has made. Perhaps intolerance is also higher than what it was in the 80s. I have some confidence that despite the challenges India will continue to prosper at some pace - whether it progresses at its optimum pace or not depends unfortunately, to some extent, on the executive / political branch. Pakistan perhaps is better off focusing on its on challenges. The approach of 'what if I am miserable, so is my neighbor' may not lead to progress and prosperity. And remember by abusing India in such forums... honestly you are only bringing joy to the zealots as they would take pleasure in what may appear as cringing! What say Mr Moin Ansari?
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Mar 21, 2009 10:21am
The need of the hour is to work from within ourselves, unite as a nation, project a positive image, market ourselves and our talent internationally as we are so blessed with all the natural resources possible. The need is to wipe out all the negative elements of our system , hyprocrites who crticize their own country overseas, and do not know how to take pride in the land that has made them today what they are. There is also a dire need not to
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Mar 21, 2009 10:46am
I agree with the view point in general: my view point for all to think about the facts :
1- Jahidi's / Madarsas are a result of no cost control on educational private institutions. Poor people were forced to send their kid in Madarsa due no or low payments of fee. these were norished andnurtures in Zia regime. The Afghan Jihad/ Kashmir Jihad was the start.
2- Yet today no one has solved the issue of illetracy, poverty, joblessness, and the invreasing trend of Extremism in our sectarian religious class.
3- We have atarted a blame game and we are not serious about the on going process in which we are going to be envolved & punished for acts done by others.
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Mar 21, 2009 12:36pm
i am midnight child born in post partition india
for last few months i closely followed the news on your as well as other news web sites.looking at conditions of pakistan every indian should think that
- the partion was the greatest blessing on india after the rule of the great mugal king akaber. irinically the price we paid at that time was horrible but seems to minor tragedy today. imagine ayubkhan, yayhakhan, jia-ul-haque, mushraf as generals in indian army and you will see my point.
-Mr. Mohmadali Jinnah shold also be considered as father of nation along with mahatma gandhi. at least one road in every city of india should be named after him. he should be awarded bharat ratn award. there should be statue of him in indian parlament house.
-greatest tragedy of muslim world was not birth of isrial but 1973 oil shock, which made saudi arabia.the most fanatic muslim state a defacto super power. countries like india has to go to him with begging bowl. muslim world reaping the fruits of wahabi islam propagated by saudi arabia
- pakistan might have blade india with Gen. zia-ul-haque sowing babul tree of fanatic islam. al-quada and taliban are children of that policy. if you sow the babul tree you can not expect mangos, but thorns(kabir)
-there is tiny minority in pakistan which are modern, progressiveand liberal. it sould be the first duty of usa, india and whole world to support whole heartedily.
-english media of pakistan has done a good job of exposing lies of pak govt. indian press should publish more articals
-i think pakistanies have understood after 60 years that their real enemy is army and not india. today's greatest challenge for them is to reduce the infulence of army, and make democratic intutions foolproof.here is where usa can be of great help. the new president should concentrate on that functions. once pakistan becomes democratic and strong, war of terror would be half won. india can help through back door by supporting democratic forces.
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Mar 31, 2009 04:13am
Every word of this author is refutable, but then, neither this article commands that respect, nor am I going to write a long analysis.
So, I point out a small part of this passage to show what it reflects.
"Pakistan may score high in group grievances, but that is to be expected in a multi-ethnic country. If Baloch people have any issues with the federal government about royalty of its resources and the fate of its missing persons, it
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Mar 21, 2009 05:08pm
Pakistan, i feel, is in a complete mess.
1. Heavy dependence on foreign aid, not being able to pay the interest of the loans it has taken from foreign institutions- requesting for readjustment, asking "Friends of Pakistan" - a group of islamic nations for financial help.
2. Internal strife. I believe most, not all, pakistanis have a hidden admiration for the terrorists, jihadis for them, as somehow this whole jihad philosophy is Kashmir centric. Superficial steps are being taken to eliminate rather than concrete steps to counter these terrorists.
3. People of Pakistan please understand. military is your biggest enemy. Those fighters flying over the pakistani cities few months back or threats that India is planning some great conspiracy against you, please understand, its nothing more than keeping military at the center-stage. In India an army Brigadier will get a salary of Rs 65,000 ( Rs 1 lakh of pakistani currency) but he would not have any other source of income apart for few privileges. But in Pakistan army is a state within a state with too much at stake. Please understand that the reasons are Purely economical to be in the center-stage for the army.
4. Strong sympathy for the radical factions in the pakistani society. I know many moderates reading this would think- we dont sympathise with those jihadis, but the fact of the matter is that these jihadis roam free on the streets of all districts and towns of Pakistan and have a strong support from the people. Until that ends, the process of talibanisation of pakistan will continue and Pakistan will inch closer to being a failed state.
5. India has no business to be your enemy. Indian are happy ( or sad) in their own lives. Our only business with pakistan comes when the terrorist trained from your official institution (i know you wouldn't agree but deep inside your heart you know this) come and kill civilians in India.
Finally what the actual scenario of a "Failed state" would mean to the Pakistani people? There will be an extremely week govt. at the centre which would assert that they are in control of the situation, but the different sections of pakistan ( Barring cities like Karachi and Lahore- which house the good moderates and "less- anti- India") would increasingly have parallel institutions of governance. So even then many of the Pakistanis would remain in the state of denial that their nation has failed.
And we Indian (at least I) hope that Pakistan does not become Talibanistan, for there are innocent civilians who dont deserve this ( anywhere in this world)
thank you
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Mar 21, 2009 05:47pm
Still a Pakistani in heart, a practicing Muslim living in Western World I feel the Pain Pakistan has been going through since Pakistani Military and Islamic Militants decided to join hand and destroy the democratic institutions. When Pakistanis are given chance to elect their leaders, they chose the same corrupt leaders conspired to loot the country for their personal gains. There is still a chance that Pakistan can salvage itself and become responsible member of civilized world. The solutions are not easy but rather daring and painful.
1. Have a No War Treaty with it
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Mar 21, 2009 06:48pm
Is Pakista n a failed state? Yes with double confirmation. While indian muslims like abdul Kalaam are showing their loyalty and becoming presidents of india, Pakistani scientists are selling their nuclear secrets to foreigners. This itslef is a clear example of the enviroment and education in which muslims of these 2 countries were born and brought up. Pakistan is NOT an islamic country. It is run by mad mullahs, corrupt devils. As indian muslim, i don't hesitate to say Vandemaatharam or Jai hind . It is nothing against islam as islam expects us to behave good humans first and then good muslims loyal for the country. I LOVE MY INDIA :)
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Mar 21, 2009 07:11pm
The motto of SSG ( our crack forces is is
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Mar 21, 2009 09:41pm
Pakistan is a failed state, but that does not mean that there is no hope. I strongly believe that Pakistan can become one of the leading countries in the region if not in the world, but for that to happen, the people of Pakistan will have to make a choice. That choice is to either look out for other Muslim countries or Muslims of the world or them selves. For instance Turkey is much better off after it made a truce with Israel. That is not to say that Pakistan should shake hands with Israel, its just an example.
If any thing Pakistan should hope that India develops rapidly, because of the trickle down affect, Pakistan is sure to benefit from it. Because lets face it India is too strong,military and economically, no comparison.
Some time i think, Pakistan should have army dictator, because as history has shown, Pakistan has had stability under dictators and but not under elected prime ministers.As far as Pakistan being a failed state goes, i know this much, that too many power full countries have their own interest in in this land , so they will never let it fail or at least as long as their interests are there.
Leaders are a mirror image of their people, so when you blame your leaders you blame your selves.
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Mar 21, 2009 10:46pm
Well... another example of a nation on denial mode. And most astonishing comment is about the Baluch population being 4%. The total population of so much celebrated J&K is about 0.99% of total population of India. Even you add up all seven sister states considering their discontent, the amount goes to 4.5% approximately. What India should do with it? Just say "it's no big deal"?
There lies the difference between India and Pakistan. Even if it is .001%, it must be a big deal and the discontent must be resolved here... and possibly that
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Apr 02, 2009 03:33am
Obviously, the blogger's patehtic attempt to be satirical has failed on some people. By the way, Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan: Largest in heart, and largest in its love for Pakistan, with which it shares its unique syllable, the "tan".
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Mar 21, 2009 11:25pm
A failed State!! I think we are going to take everyone with us in the black hole.
The army continues to make matters worse.When are these sitting ducks(read civil society) going to get up from their slumber. We need to take care of the Tribal people and launch full scale war, no negotiations .
Look at the price of negotiations they have kept on bombing our cities. What is the army doing? No need to figure out! The top generals are too scared to come out of their mansions and the foot soldiers are too afraid to peep beyond their barracks!
When Kayani goes around and travels in cities ( he needs more than 3000 soldiers to protect him) . How can he fight a war with that mindset.
A failed state surely unless we have a Purge which encompasses both the military and the political ruling class on the pattern of the french revolution.
Otherwise we would be sucked deeper in this abyss.
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Mar 22, 2009 03:14pm
I live in Europe and am glad to note that the political situation in Pakistan appear to be getting better after the
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Mar 22, 2009 01:11am
Well many forums discussed this topic but has anyone ever questioned one thing. The overwhelming domination of punjabis in all things pakistanis. This is the major reason for the failure of pakistan as a nation as this region has suppressed all other sects and provinces disproportionately. Of course there is this soft corner for Islam, the fanatical one, for most pakistanis.
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Mar 22, 2009 03:54am
It is quite hilarious to read the number of comments here blaming everyone but Pakistanis themselves for problems of their own making.
Why are Pakistanis in denial?
Let me set a couple of points straight. While it is true that the CIA did train the Mujahedeen during Charlie Wilson's war in Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation, it was done through the ISI and the Pak Army. After the CIA left, it was Zia and the subsequent Army & ISI that was entirely responsible for the rise of the Taliban. They continued this policy for 'strategic depth' until 9-11, when Musharraf was bluntly told by Bush in these exact words: "Support us or be prepared to be bombed back to the stone age." Now the chickens have come home to roost.
The economic problems of Pakistan are entirely its own fault, from bad mismanagement to practically non-existent viable educational infrastructures for the poor. You cannot blame the West or India for this.
There is also a ridiculous belief on the part of Pakistanis, especially the Army, that India wants to occupy Pakistan. India is not that stupid -- they have enough problems of their own -- they do not need an "international migraine" on that list.
Pakistan and India inherited the exact same infrastructures, civil service and institutions from the British in 1947. What they did with these was up to them. The differences are too many to mention, from democracy to pluralism to their GDPs and governance.
Remember that when you point a finger of blame at someone else, the other 4 fingers of your own hand are pointing back at yourself.
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Mar 22, 2009 04:21am
leave religion at home, make an outstanding constitution, let highly educated Pakistanis run the country,maybe volunteering their services for one year,establishing infrastructure for every thing,send foreign destructive elements packing and get the country up and running.
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Mar 22, 2009 04:47am
Pakistan is not failed state sure it is going through some problems created by external powers like usa, India, Afghanistan and Israel mainly. Indian raw agency is fanning hatred and ethnic tensions and they have established 5 Raw offices in Afghanistan with help of Afghan police agencies. This so called consulates are training terror activities and financing Taliban terror in Pakistan.Unfortunately, money women and liquor is used extensively. Also through train service loads of Raw Agents are traveling every week and bringing terror related stuff. We are doomed as we had bad neighbor concentrated on destroying Pakistan and foolishly our people are felling prey to Indian , Israeli, Afghan and American bad plans. If India is stopped then peace will return. Swat arrangement is novel and moderate to bring peace and need to be brought in terror affected areas. India is biggest supporter of Talibans.
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Mar 22, 2009 05:08am
I 100 % agree with earlier comments. Its not time to point fingers but accept the responsibility of our actions. YES, we like it or not but we are the epic center of terrorism. WE ARE A FAILED STATE. No body else but we are to blame.
We must apologize to America, Afghanistan and India(Particularly in wake of Mumbai attacks) for our citizens wrong doings. Get our act together.
We must follow what is the best for humanity and not for our own selfish interests.We must follow the path with Honesty and Integrity. Get out religious fanatcism and embrace new century with open mind and arms.
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Mar 22, 2009 05:39am
Still there is time to open our eyes to the fact that we are a failed state. Don't get into false pride. Real person will rise above narrow mindness and learn from our past mistakes.
No country has ever recovered from its failures by singing patroitic songs and blaming others. Time of the hour is Change, not outside but inside. we need to change our ways and fully support our President in his relentless efforts to root out miltancy from this land.
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Mar 22, 2009 06:36am
For Sam Jones (March 20th)...
The world has not forgotten the brick by brick desecration of Babri Masjid and ethnic cleansing of 2500 muslims by militant hindus in Gujrat in the so called largest democracy of the world.
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Mar 22, 2009 06:39am
To Pakistani Friends : World is changing very fast, change with time, or you will be left behind, There are two Pakistan, there is one Pakistan says give me a chance other say prove yourself, History is changing a page, be part of new chapter, Pakistani are eager to change, Pakistani live in optimism, one Pakistan loves to lead. Pakistan is dynamic beauty it has faith in its people.It is now up to. You are the edge of time or time will change you. World is beautiful, charming and come smell roses.
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Mar 22, 2009 08:54am
Notwithstanding the dearth of true, sincere, dedicated, selfless and transformational leaders and leadership in the land of the pure since the passing away of the great Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah on September 11, 1948, I don't think that Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a failed state.
This highly biased rather discriminating theory has been perpetuated and spearheaded by the powerful media leaders of today's globalized world in which only money walks and money talks amid the neocon hawks.
In fact, all of the so-called third world countries including India could be termed as a failed state on one pretext or the other but why the 'buck always stops' rather is forced to stop in Islamabad, Peshawar, Karachi, Lahore, Parachanar, Saidu Sharief, Chammen, Quetta, Gilgit, Channari and Chakhoti?
I leave the answer as a challenge to the enlightened, educated, mature and excelling readers and writers of this great blog forum of 'Dawn.Com,' which has provided us the unique opportunity to express our views and opinion freely and directly without any restrictions, deliberations, pre-conditions or censor - a distinction that even the top newspapers, magazines and journals of the so-called free American and European media including CNN & BCC don't enjoy.
Keep it up 'Dawn' and hang on tough.
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Mar 22, 2009 04:25pm
To Amina Shah. Your comments are repeated at the end of this response.
There we go again -- blaming others for Pakistan's own failures. No one forced Pakistan to lurch from military dictatorship to cosmetic democracy since 1947.
I do not know what kind of fantasy world your media has created for you. Why would the Indian RAW support the Taliban and related groups like LeT? It would be suicidal, since they are targeting India! India never recognized the Taliban govt in Afghanistan while it was in power. And with all the FBI, CIA and Interpol presence in Pakistan, do you really think that there would be ZERO evidence of such involvement if it existed?
This RAW deal was a myth created by the ISI and dutifully parroted by your media. For an example of this doublespeak in denial, look at the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks statements coming from your own govt. Every day heralded a new assertion that contradicted the previous one. The attacker in custody was not from Pakistan, then he was. Then they said he was dead, and oh -- he was alive again. The attacks were not planned in Pak, and then they were.
Your own govt is engaged in obfuscation not just to outsiders, but to its own citizens as well.
And you continue to swallow this Orwellian doublethink because people around you say it is true...
Deep1
You wrote:
Pakistan is not failed state sure it is going through some problems created by external powers like usa, India, Afghanistan and Israel mainly. Indian raw agency is fanning hatred and ethnic tensions and they have established 5 Raw offices in Afghanistan with help of Afghan police agencies. This so called consulates are training terror activities and financing Taliban terror in Pakistan.Unfortunately, money women and liquor is used extensively. Also through train service loads of Raw Agents are traveling every week and bringing terror related stuff. We are doomed as we had bad neighbor concentrated on destroying Pakistan and foolishly our people are felling prey to Indian , Israeli, Afghan and American bad plans. If India is stopped then peace will return. Swat arrangement is novel and moderate to bring peace and need to be brought in terror affected areas. India is biggest supporter of Talibans.
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Mar 22, 2009 04:52pm
Friends,
As long as the army has a say in governance, democracy can never take roots in Pakistan.Secondly, drop the India-centric foriegn policy.
I am sure that, like me, most Indians would like to see a strong and prosperous Pakistan because any trouble in our neighbourhood will sooner or later adversely impact us.
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Mar 22, 2009 05:13pm
Pakistan is a failed state, there is no doubt it. Pakistan is able to survivie because it is receiving massive amounts of foreign air. If it is stopped and when it is stopped, the survival of the country would be very hard.
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Mar 22, 2009 06:28pm
To Moin Ansari:
It has astounded me lately that Pakistan wants a fifth province called Kashmir, when it cannot even manage the four provinces it already has: Punjab, Balochistan, Sindh, and NWFP. NWFP is getting carved away in the form of Swat 'independence' etc. NWFP is already outside the writ of the Pak constitution.
Pakistan cannot manage its own territories, yet cries foul when others respond to attacks coming from there.
And yet, it has the gall to call itself a 'sovereign' state. Look up the definition of 'sovereign.'
The maps presented by you are a joke. You present the 'wanted' Pakistan as a bunch of islands floating on land surrounded by India. Can you give give another example of non-contiguous land slices with common governance other than the West Indies, that are surrounded by sea and only come together for cricket?
Pakistan had non-contiguous land in the form of Bangladesh, and lost it. They even had contiguous land in Kashmir, and gave it away to China in the form of 'Aksai Chin,' the pound of flesh to your friend Shylock. 'Kashmir Hamara Hai,' indeed.
Why doesn't Pakistan think about what it has instead of what it doesn't have? Like its wonderful people, their education and an incredible history and prehistory contemporaneous with the Egyptians?
Your web blogs talking about Arunachal Pradesh smack of desperation. Sir Creek was ready to be signed into agreement before the Mumbai attacks, and Siachen talks were close to fruition.
Take a look in the mirror with a thought for the 'morrow, friend. Before Pakistan implodes...
Deep1
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Mar 22, 2009 10:06pm
This urdu sher explains the situation:
Barbad-e-gulistaan karne ko to ek hi ullu kaafi tha
Yaha..har shaakh pe ullu baitha hai anjam-e-gulistan kya hoga.
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Mar 22, 2009 11:17pm
The matter of US drone attacks evokes consternation amongst the various segments of Pakistan some genuine others contrived. Talk show hosts, the only item Pakistan has plenty of, froth at their mouths at the attack on the sovereignty of the country and talk darkly of the need for a fitting response to the US, the destroyer of Muslim 'Ummah' in Afghanistan and Iraq.
But do they really go against the interests of the country? The blood thirsty savages who murder our countrymen, are they really our 'Muslim brother's' or the mortal enemies of the country? The drone attacks have already broken the back of Al-Qaeda leadership in NWFP. On the other hand, the Pakistan government has proven to be utterly incapable of controlling the insurgency in NWFP, Swat and Balochistan. Acceding to their demands and having two disparate systems of justice in one country is a shameful dereliction of duty. When an agency is not able to control a serious situation that the foolish policies of previous governments allowed to fester and grow under the self-destructive doctrine of 'Strategic Depth' it is prudent to seek outside help. Therefore, instead of opposing the US drone policy in public (whatever the assurances given in private might be), the government should ask the US (in private of course) to extend this policy to targeting the Taliban in Balochistan as well, to eliminate the likes of Baiullah Mehsud. The people who will be alienated by this policy are not the well wishers of Pakistan anyway and need not be placated.
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Mar 23, 2009 12:02am
Pakistan is not a failed state and it never will be. The will of the people will never let that happen. Whenever Pakistant is at the Brink , it is the people who save her time and again NOT the Army. It is so sad and unfortunate the formation of Pakistan was based on the premise of 'self determination " it is over sixty years that system which is run by and for the people is not firmly in place. Whenever people of pakistan had the opportunity to express their will, they have acted with maturity , moderation and rule of law. Let us hope and pray that People remain vigilant and focused on the actions of their rulers and Politicians . The will of the people will triumph again and again.
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Mar 23, 2009 04:50am
Pakistan is a failed state or not? It is a matter of interpretation.
60 years ago, China was in a much worse shape than Pakistan is today. 30 years ago, Pakistan was much better economically then India was back then.
China made a drastic change in its mindset. Likewise, realizing India was not going anywhere, its leaders decided to change policies in the early nineties.
Change. That is what one needs to move forward. Unfortunately, Pakistan has changed, but for the worse. And, unfortunately, Pakistanis just don't see it - always blaming someone or the other.
Agreed. In Gujrat, Muslims were killed by non-muslims. It just happens. Christians massacred Jews. Whites killed the blacks. Japanese killed the Chinese.
But look at a muslim country. They are killing themselves. I bet more muslims have been killed by muslims in Pakistan in mosques and cemeteries during the last 2 - 3 years then muslims killed by Hindus in India during last 10 years. Don't forget the population difference between the two countries, and the number of Hindus killed by muslims in India.
So, learn the lesson. There is no RAW or CIA. Blame them as much as you want to, but the reality is, it's the Mullah, the military, and the ISI which is your biggest enemy.
Look inward for a couple of years, and try to fix the problem. There is no other solution. Change with time or you are going to become a failed state, if not already.
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Mar 23, 2009 05:42am
Thoughtful article ! Cannot believe people have made a complete mess of such a beautiful country.
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Mar 23, 2009 10:07am
Pakistan a filed State?
My view not yet,but will be if some soul searching is not done
India followed the soviets till 80s and we had to pledge our gold to bank of England
Thankfully we came out of it and now not looking back
But Pakistan was in Alliance with USA and west for 60 years,what did they get in return?
Japan after world war 2 became ally of USA
South Korea be came ally during Korean war
And look at the economic progress these countries made
But Pakistan with 60 years association,still at the receiving end of IMF
One of the problem is education
Does these Madarasas teaching the children making them employable?
The communists say "religion is an opium"
given to people,I don't agree with this but
When we over do the results are chaotic.
There were comments about Dalits in India
They have reservation in jobs
They have reservation in schools,colleges
They have reservations in Parliament
They are a political force in India,one of the most populace state i ruled by a Dalit politician.The Indian constitution provided these safe guards since independence.These types of reforms take time and now the country is marching forward
India is never Pakistan centric but Pakistan is India centric
When the Govt of Pakistan conceding territories like SWAT,why do they want Kashmir?what are they going to do with it?
The Americans are there to stay and they need land access to Afghanistan Baluchistan is critical in their scheme of
things
The threat to Pakistan is not India,but the Americans ,the generals and the west
It will be in the best interest of Pakistan to have good relations with India and whether the storm
To get over this Pakistan need to address India's concern "Stop cross border terrorism"
People should not believe in the theories like "strategic depth","Thousand cuts"
These are fancy words(exclusive to the so called intellectuals)
I still believe Pakistan is not a failed state,but in trouble, a visionary leader can make the difference
Bet wishes
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Mar 23, 2009 10:50am
1. You still have some time to reach the limit of being declared as failed state. But you cant wait for that time, act now to reverse the situation. A happy pakistan is good for all countries in and around it.
2. Countries like America or west will not allow pakistan to be a independent and self sustaning country and over a period of time pakistan depended more on three " A's" rather than making itself a self sustained country, see today America decides what you have to do or how to do.
3. The syndrome of procastinating of developing friendship with India will only delay pakistan's progress. Indians and pakistanis are more alikes and we tend to develop likeness with chinese and americans who are totally different. We have common history and culture, it makes great combination of these two cultures. It is more akin to thought of having " chole with chinese noodles or american burger" it is totally immiscible solution.
It wont be happy situation for India or any other country to have a failed pakistani state, pl look at Ethiopia or kenya neighbours of somalia.
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Mar 23, 2009 11:05am
Definitely pakistan about to go at the stage of failed,and its very tought to recover from that stage.But one thing i would like to say "Every thing is possible".Actually i belive in work not in talk. So
I want to provide some points for solutions
1.) Dont use the energy in blame use this energy in constructive works
2.) Appreciates every people who really done great work.
3.)choose good candidate in elections.
4.)Don't give explanation of islam, we all know about muslim, hindu or sikh.
5.)Accept good things from world,left bad things from world
6.)You people have great culture(old culture)(Sindhu ghati savyata), so u can come back from that situations.
7.)do educate to other people
8.)put up the decipline in people.
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Mar 23, 2009 04:38pm
Forget Kashmir. Would you worry about property rights in your backyard while your house was on fire? Why worry about Kashmir when the very existence of your country is teetering on a precipice?
60 years of Kashmir-centric policy has ruined Pakistan. 3 wars and Kargil have caused no significant change in the Line of Control (LoC).
Simply recognize the LoC as the international border and sign a No-War Pact with India. India will agree, if peace can be guaranteed.
This will allow the Army to remove troops from the eastern border and Siachen, and concentrate on the West, where your true threat lies.
Believe me, India's worst nightmare is a Talibanistan with nukes on their border. India desperately wants Jinnah's vision of a moderate, prosperous and stable Pakistan to come true.
If this were to happen, India would become your ally. If Pakistan could swallow some pride and ask for help, then India would help not just monetarily but militarily as well. India has marvelous mountain-troops, considered the best-in-the-world by both the US and the British SIS. They send their own commandos there to learn from the Indians in the Himalayas.
The thought of Indian and Pakistani troops fighting side-by-side may be surreal, but it is not unprecedented. Indian and Pakistani troops got along just fine in UN peacekeeping missions and regularly celebrate Id and Holi together on the border.
Imagine a powerful enemy becoming a powerful friend, one who speaks your language, and helps you whenever you ask.
It is time to recognize that India is not a threat to Pakistan's existence, but the Taliban are a real and present danger to Jinnah's idea of Pakistan.
Pakistanis and Indians are brothers, historically and culturally. A little known fact is that the Indian PM, Dr. Manmohan Singh, was born in Pakistan and spent his childhood there -- which makes him a Pakistani by birth.
It is high time these two countries came together to bury the hatchet and fight a common threat.
Deep1
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Mar 23, 2009 05:40pm
We are very proud to be called as an Indian where ever we are! Whether we are Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian, we are Indian First! And, the credit goes to our wonderful Diversity in our culture, our great school systems and wondeful elders! I can't forget my school days in INDIA, how as a kid we lived to-gether, learning each and everybody's culture together! We can see the outputs now! Of course, we have to except that none of the societies are free of bad people. But we should know how to protest and stand against of these bad people! Don
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Mar 23, 2009 08:24pm
@ Iqbal
Very ironic that you posted that Sher. Here in India we have quote from your namesake.
Sarey Jahan se Achaa Hindostaan hamaara,
Hum Bulbulien hein iskee ye gulistaan hamara
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Mar 23, 2009 10:21pm
Does anyone thinks that India should have absorbed East Pakistan after 1971 war ?
Why ?
Why not ?
If Indians beleive they can live with Muslims, why did they not absorb Bengal ?
This would have negated the Partition atleast partially.
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Mar 24, 2009 12:00am
Pakistanis should remember that they are like any other human beings, Muslims world over have not not authorised them as custodians of Islam , and Islam is a religion of peace and brotherhood, does not preach violence, hatred. Today, hatred has led Pakistan being branded as as a failed state , a state sponsor of terrorism in the international community. All those people preach hatred in the name of religion, are the enemy of islam whether they are mullahs or army generals .
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Mar 24, 2009 01:35am
I am quite suprised at Neerja's comments about Pakistan. Probably she dosent have any Sikh relatives who were harassed and killed in encounters during operation blue star,or any muslim relatives in Gujrat during 2002, when Women were being raped and men burned to death just because they were Muslim.
And the wonderful peace loving Indian electorate elected the man responsible for the entire issue, the Indian Ariel Sharon, Mr Narendra Modi, twice, and the terrorist is still in office.In Pakistan when have we ever elected a religious zealot to the highest public office.In the last elections the religiuos 'Mullah' parties she is referring too won only 1.5 % of the general vote.
It is not us Neejra who is misguided it is you and VHP that is misguided.I for one being a Pakistani have never gone on an Indian website and left such distasteful and poison laced comments, which is sure to enrage a lot of Pakistanis, as I care about Pakistan, not India.
You can now see why the BJP was using the election slogan of India shinning, and most Indians think their country is becoming a superpower, when 200 million indians suffer from the same levels of malnourishment as those in the poor sub saharan African countries.You did do well at the Oscars but not with Dilwalye dulhaniyaa lee jayeen ghaay, but with SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE.
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Mar 24, 2009 11:07am
I don't think that Pakistan is a failed state as long as there is vibrant media and good journalists.
I personally want to thank the author for this prudent article.
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Mar 25, 2009 12:22am
Neerja, thank you for your concerns but you need to know about Pakistan more then what Times of India tells you.
Is Pakistan a failing state? Perhaps the one under foreign occupation of American empire is. The nation of Pakistan, however is intact & is getting stronger.
One question that I must ask my Indian friends here is that is this the India of Mahatma Gandhi? I have just learnt about the support India is getting from illegal state of Israel. I suggest that you must dig in your history books and let all of us know what was Bapu's opinion on Israel.
What India has become today, I am so glad that we are no more part of the next evil empire and manged to separate ourselves to this humble existence.
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Mar 25, 2009 12:26am
Pakistan today is becoming what Cambodia became in US's last misadventure in Vietnam.
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Apr 01, 2009 10:48am
I agree with Bushy, the notion that baloch population is small in camparison to the punjabis or the sindhis, hence that justifies discrimination against them is beyond me. Keep in mind if allowed balochistan can be an economically sound province, that is if allowed.
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Mar 25, 2009 11:41am
to all my pakistani and indian friends :
Like every other citizen of this world , Pakistanis are also proud citizens of Pakistan, their pride is legitimate , but there is difference between pride and jingoism.
Do Pakistanis have enough reason to be proud when 12 Pakistanis were causing mayhem and killing innocent women and children on the streets of Mumbai in the name of islam?
Or are they proud that people like A.Q.Khan and his cronies busy selling nuclear technology to other rogue states in the world ?
Or does it give them enough reason to be proud of the fact that more than 3 million innocent people including women and children were massacred in formerly east pakistan by marauding pak army?
friends, we in India have more than 12 billion people from diverse culture and religions and economic background , and still despite occasional localised riotting , India is surviving , and prospering . What happened with sikhs or muslims in different part of India, is strictly Indian problem, and whether sikhs or muslims,they are capable of dealing their problem , and they are our internal problems, in no circumstances, we, Indians have authorised or asked any body in the world to intervene in our internal affairs . Moreover , the muslims in India have not appointed Pakistan as custodian or protector of islam ?
we in India are concerned about the situation in Pakistan, but as a good neighbour, we have never intervened in the affairs of pakistan, all we want is peaceful co existence .
India and Pakistan are both poor countries, we both spend a substantial amount of our budgetary allocations to defense for defending against each other, if this money is used for alleviation of poverty , education and other economic development, we definitely could have made this world a better place.
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Mar 25, 2009 03:23pm
Ms Neerja,
I agree with you that there is more harmony in Indian than your neighbouring
state, Pakistan, both of you have been cut from the same cloth, If there was no partition then you wouldn't have become independent state either, the British would still be breathing on your neck,and you would have never stopped saying Gora Saheb this and Gora Saheb that, jee Sir.
Perhaps it is long before your time. It was the sacrifice that most Hindus/Muslims/
Sikhs and christian made, nearly 5 million people lost their lives and who made more, is quite debatable. It would be digging the sad past, but one must never forget history as to what caused it and who benefited most......
Pointing a finger is easy, but looking inwards may make you realize that outside elements are the real cause to breed fear and hatred, which is totally against the concept of peace.
Who will benefit when there is no peace....?
Those FEW who have their own agenda of providing arms and bullets to kill innocent soldiers and civilians.
The dividing line on the map of this sub-continent has not changed the way people on both sides live, eat, dress, talk, laugh and care about each other.
Then why can't we live the same way side by side in peace and harmony and help each other, why must we need such a huge defense force on both side costing BILLIONS & BILLIONS, what a waste of human resources, which can be spent on better projects to help the poor and unfortunates to elevate them from their misery to a better standard of living.
Culture of both countries is no longer the same, has deteriorated rapidly, 'bollywood' contributed, when the 'adventurous' shortsighted rich people wanted to become richer, made young women to shed their clothes on screen and be promiscuous. We always believed and still do that a woman is the foundation of a nation, but the women sold their souls for money, fame and power, which they always had before. So the oldest profession is a bit more glorified without any modesty.
Mullahs, Padres or Pundits etc are all alike, very few really know what they are talking about and those who know, also know that the faiths and religions teach you to be human and helpful to whosoever is around you, be generous, polite and tolerant, but majorities of those such preachers have no clue except their slogan "only what I preach is true" than the guy in the next village.
The misleading religious leaders always find some innocent impressionable to their bidding and lose their lives also while on a stupid/cruel senseless mission, they don't care.
You be the judge.
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Mar 30, 2009 09:34pm
We in last one year have taken over 8 billion dollars of new debt. The spiralling down effect of economy has progressed appreciably now with billions of dollars of additional debt.
With pakistan under extreme law and order situation, i wonder what would be the effects ?It is evident now the war on terror is only limited to pakistan. The war which started in USA, has never touched US territory again. It is not being seen in middle east or far east.It is only limited to pakistan now. It has truely shaped as a sole war of pakistan. No doubt, the international world is now directly pointing its fingers on pakistan.Pakistan in the middle of a political tussle, with an independent and unruly civil and military administraton, pakistan is truely fighting for survival. It is certainly a doomsday scenario for any country. They will really have to come out with a magic plan to get them out of this hole, which they have dug up for themselves.
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Mar 25, 2009 07:53pm
Haider, either you dont live in Pak or stay in some durrr gaanv (which is not possible bcos u cant have net thr) that u pass such an comment that 95% of population is not bothered with terrorism when there are news weekly from your country about bombs being blasted and killing ppl. If what u say has an iota of truth then its a sorry state that people dont realise the impact of terrorism on our/your daily life!
Coming to ur 2 points.
1. Your banking sector being 6th best. I agree to this. As the ranking was given last year when recession has started, Pak banks didnt have any money to lend (since decades) bcos all money has been taken by politicians. SO how can it impact on general public. So ya in that case it is unharmed by economic slowdown and is best.
2. Telecom sector was awarded best in Spain. I agree here too. Their madrassas and terrorist are known to invent new codes every day to pass messages, use of satellite phones by them is increasing. So ya its growing tremendously.
Haider! Wake up and participate in well being of your country.
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Mar 27, 2009 02:49pm
Yet another suicide blast in Jamrud region -in Khyber agency - where 70 worshippers are killed and scores injured and that too inside a Mosque - where is the sanctity of a Mosque? This incident was preceded by yet another suicide blast, some few days back, outside a Police Station in Islamabad killing few and injuring scores. Honestly, is this the face of Islam that Pakistanis want us to us around the world? I'm really lost at words to describe such horrific crimes against humanity and that too by one Muslim upon another Muslim. A "Muslim" is one who is obiedient to the will of God. Pakistanis can keep on blaming the US, India and Israel for their own ineptitude. This cycle of violence will continue for so long as the Pakistani government - be it civilian or Military - is not willing to take on these Islamic militants. During the flowering period of Islam in Baghdad and Cairo during the reign of Harun al-Rashid and his son Mamun al-Rashid, and Imam al-Muizz, Islamic scholars led the world from the front - when Europe was still in the dark ages - and grew it by leaps and bounds. There are so many Islamic scholars to name them all here and they were encouraged by these Caliphs of Islam to pursue their works in Astronomy, Mathematics, Medicine, Geology, al-chemy and so much ore. Where are the Islamic scholars today? Are they being brainwashed and trained by Islamic clerics - Mullah Fazlullah - in the Madrassas of Pakistan? By bombing Schools in Pakistan and by blowing up Mosques, which are considered places of refuge, shelter and sanctity, you Pakistanis are doing a great dis-service to Islam and to its image. By allowing Chechens, Arabs, Uzbeks, Afghans, Nigerians to operate from your territory for their evil ideology, the Pakistani government is infact giving a tacit approval to these militants further their evil cause. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime minister Syed Yousuf Gilani are always engaged in a political tussle with PML-N Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz thus causing a major distraction and weakining the internal situation in Pakistan. These militants then want to take advantage of the situation by perceiving this as a sign of weaknesses. Every Pakistani Muslim man should stand up and say enough is enough and start confronting this menace with their own hands. For as long as this is not happen, these evil militants are going to view Pakistanis as weaklings and continuing on killing and wipe you off the face of this earth. The fate of Pakistan is in your hands.
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Mar 25, 2009 08:39pm
Mr. K Qureshi is very correct and every paksistani should read his views with no bias and political leaders if at all they have interest in common man's thoughts.
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Mar 25, 2009 08:51pm
Every religion has two versions one pure version written in holy books and another version is doctored by the stakeholders of religion. Follow the true islam not the one presented by mullah.
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Apr 01, 2009 06:52pm
Pakistan a failed state for many reasons. But the biggest reason is that Pakistani Army is not subservient to the Pakistani civilian government.
If the civilian government of Pakistan was allowed to make foreign policies, Pakistan would not have come to current state.
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Mar 25, 2009 11:01pm
Deep1 what you have mentioned on 23rd March are exactly my thoughts. A vibrant democratic moderate Pak with one power centre is in interest of India. Nothing affects India's progress more than cross border terrorism. And Talibansation of Pak is our worst nightmare. A failed neighbor means halt in our progress. Many ppl in India consider China a major threat than Pak.
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Mar 25, 2009 11:42pm
How can you call a failed state ?
It is a highly organized and very effective state.
Stop thinking about failed state.
This is a highly organized state which built a nuclear weapon and highly capable one.
They can organize the attack on SriLankan team in just a matter of few days.
Location of the attack: Heart of the city.
Distance from police station: less than 1000yards.
Inform the Pakistan team : Is it just a coincidence that Pakistan's cricket team by was delayed by 5 minutes to start only on this day ?
Who informed them ? and how ? and why ?
Time of gun battle : 30 minutes
Attackers: Cooly walked away, no hurry, did not even run.
Will they be caught : Never
People on the street : No one in the street in the TV footage. Is it just a coincidence or all the nearby people are informed not to be there ?
Intention: Take the attention away from Mumbai headlines and claim they are also victims
Goal: Diversionary tactics
Secondary goal : Kill Kafir's ( I will only beleive that i am wrong, if they attack a muslim nations cricket team).
So if someone is able to do this, and walk away and never get caught so far, isn't this highly effective and organized state ?
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Mar 26, 2009 07:27am
Dear Pakistani brothers and sisters, I for one feel that you dont need India's help in destroying your country, you and your leaders are doing a very good job of it yourselves.
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Mar 26, 2009 11:12am
As the foreign media have always been hostile towards pakistan, the American have also been not good with Pakistan, they just used Pakistan as launching pad for their ulterior motives.we are bearing the burn of Talibanization is the product of America.
the so called three pronged strategy, is to kill the innocent pakhtuns in tribal areas. look if they are extremist how can they give mandate to liberal political party in NWFP.
Pakistan was achieved on the basis of democratic norms, the recent struggle of lawyers ans civil society following the restitution of November judiciary depicts that we are not fail state but having the euphoria of struggle towards democracy.
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Mar 26, 2009 12:49pm
Good satire.
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Apr 03, 2009 03:31pm
On the news of teenage girl 17 wipped in Swat, Shame on you all, who can not save their women. Such incidents bring shame to the country and Islam.
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Apr 03, 2009 10:09pm
Where is the long march to protest terrorism? Where's Mr. Sharif? Where are the lawyers? Good to see Pakistanis have their priorities right.
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Apr 04, 2009 06:13am
pakisthan's future is in ts people's hands,raise against the elements of hatred and terror,then victory will be yours,of the entire world of peace loving personnel.......please use this blog to find out some creative ideas to turn around the situation at ground realities,fnning indo-american hatred is of no use to you...thats what your govt have been doing all along for last 62 years.......let me put 3 suggestions that i think will be of some use....
a)there are no good and bad terrorists,treat them all as one and same,do not offer them a peace deal.
b)get rid of all corrupt politicans like zardari,gilani& shariffs
c)At ground make schools for women,educate your people in right sence,deploy your army there for real protection of people and not at borders...no body is going to conquer you as such they wont be required to go in to turmoil....
d)make judiciary independent of govt
e)attack the suply route of arms to militants.....
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Apr 04, 2009 11:52pm
Kya zulm ko mabood piye betha hai,insaaf kay hoto ko siye betha hai,
Adam nay bana dalay jhannum lakho tu ek jahnum ko liye betha hai
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Apr 05, 2009 10:40am
everyday bomb blast in Pakistan. It is a supersonic road-race to self destruction, civil war, martial law, talibinization, disintegration, economic disaster, disarmament, enslavement, etc . It is a speedless superhighway to the ruins as American drones and a few Pakistani extremists turn ordinary pakistanis dream into nightmare. Pakistan had almost no suicide bombers before 2002.
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Apr 05, 2009 12:48pm
it pains me very much to read that so much killing is going on in pakistan. i wonder it is so. pakistanis have few languages, one religion so they can achieve progress very easily. in india we have several religions, their sub casts, we have hundreds of languages, thousands of gods and still we have muslim population which is more than the total population of pakistan and other muslim countries. our president was a muslim, we have several muslim ministers in governments. there are hundreds of muslim scholars, engineers, and hundreds of muslims in army,navey and airforce and police. thre are thousands of muslim traders and industrialists. bollywood is full of muslims.
can some one find out and suggest a remedy to pull pakistan out of present lawlessness?
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Apr 06, 2009 12:02am
It is the Pakistani government's fault for all these suicide bombs. Had they not supported American bombing of indigenous tribes in NWFP, those tribes would not be retaliating against urban Pakistan. Zardari and Musharraf are responsible for these crimes, not the tribes. The tribes have been there for thousands of years, while Zardari/Musharraf ceding sovereignty to American bombing began in 2001.
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Apr 06, 2009 06:47am
The latest deadly bomb attack wherein twenty-six people were killed and more than 40 others injured at Chakwal is a stark reminder of what the future holds for Pakistan. Added to this, the threat by Pakistan Taliban of Mehsud to conduct minimum two suicide attacks per week is too chilling to think of.
The wheel seems to have come full circle and its here the poor and hapless Pakistan people suffer the most. I pity them for they have to traverse between the devil and the deep sea. The devils are running amuck, creating havoc and tearing apart the very fabric of Pakistan
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Apr 06, 2009 08:18am
i would rather be astonished if somebody says NOT REALLY to the phrase FAILED STATE. I got the news today from ma village sultanwas in Buner that my uncles are yet again busy building and organizing a national army a.k.a qaumi lashkar against the TALIBAN who have captured Gohkand and are threatenin to tread on rest of buner despite the warning projected from the people of buner to evacuate.The deadline has long passed in the morning and the people of Buner will now have to tackle with the taliban with whatever resources they have. its indeed a momment of great shame for the Government of Pakistan that even knowin this all is happening there right now, they are not doing anythin stickin to their embarassing surrender a.k.a the peace pact with taliban
not really a failed state eh ..laugh it loud!! heres an advice to the ANP Government of NWFP and to the authorities including the PRESIDENT of PAKISTAN and the Chief of Army Staff, kindly leave the country to us , we YOUTH would deal with it in a more effective way
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Apr 06, 2009 09:35am
Dr. Adnan Khan Says:
"heres an advice to the ANP Government of NWFP and to the authorities including the PRESIDENT of PAKISTAN and the Chief of Army Staff, kindly leave the country to us , we YOUTH would deal with it in a more effective way"
Seconded!
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Apr 07, 2009 09:27pm
There have been several reports on how Pakistan is on the road to quickly become a failed state. No one has elaborated what exactly is a failed state. Does the Pakistani land disappear if Pakistan becomes a failed state? Do the Pakistani people disappear if Pakistan becomes a failed state? The answer to the previous qn is NO. Life goes on, although, the government's authority is minimized. It is usually limited to a 10 mile radius around te capital city. Rest of the country is ruled by mobs. Law and Order gives way to anarchy. Curruption is rampant. Economy stagnates and inflation rises. Dont we see all the symtoms already?
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Apr 08, 2009 11:57am
Be it person of any religion, human dignity has same definition. If we make religion a way of Spirituality and Human Rights as way of life, the government is supposed to run, we will not have any confusion.
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