From Steve Walt’s Foreign Policy blog:
“According to Khuram Iqbal, the Pakistani Taliban have failed to gain popular support, and show no signs of becoming an effective mass movement (akin to Hezbollah in Lebanon). Instead, they are increasingly seen as a narrower terrorist group, reinforced their unpopularity. While they remain a problem to be dealt with, fears that the Pakistani state was on the verge of collapse or that the entire country might be “Talibanized” seem to have been greatly overblown. (Juan Cole: take a bow).”

“The second section of “Invisible History” limits its focus to the years between 1970 and 2001. Many readers will find this section more immediately relevant to current events, as it deals almost exclusively with the prelude, battle and aftermath of the Soviet-Afghan war and the shadowed (yet starring) role that the United States played in this tragedy. This is a shameful chapter in US history, and one that remains largely unread. Gould and Fitzgerald provide an almost play-by-play account of the behind-the-scenes machinations of the political figures that helped to orchestrate this most ambitious and expensive of covert operations, whereby the CIA funneled billions of dollars through Pakistan’s primary intelligence agency to recruit, arm and indoctrinate the fractious and fanatical militia forces collectively referred to as “the mujahedin.”

http://www.truthout.org/053109Y

I searched for your perspective on South Punjab and the specter of Talibanisation there, but wasn’t able to find a post regarding that.

Ayesha Siddiqa wrote an article about it (http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/columnists/16-ayesha-siddiqa-deadly-social-change-hs-05 ), and Dawn seems to be running a series of posts about seminaries in South Punjab.

1. South Punjab sees Taliban connection as stigma: http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/provinces/03-south-punjab-sees-taliban-connection-as-stigma-ss-05
2.”Islamic education: Coming of age?” http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/provinces/03-islamic-education-coming-of-age-ss-02

Can you point me to a post where you have articulated your perspective on this matter?

A March 31, 2003 brief cover-sheet depicted a U.S. tank roaring through the desert with a biblical quote from Ephesians: “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/05/17-3

It worked in the past, why it wouldn’t work now? What has demo-crazy given the world anyways? Human rights? Where are they? I don’t see any in the western world. I see a growing gap between rich and poor. I see groups/lobbies opposing bills that threatens their interests. Development of Technologies being thwarted which challenge automobiles industry, drug industry and so forth. I see double standards everywhere in the western world. Big hue and cry gets raised when a girl receives flogging in Pakistan but nobody mentions anything when a woman is burnt alive on the death bed of her husband (being satti’d). They talk of Islam’s mistreatment of women but ignore how many thousands of women were raped, and then burnt alive in Gujarat in 2000. The Chief Minister of Gujarat supported the perpetrators.

I feel democracy is a failed system of governance. The rights CAN be withheld if Government’s interests conflict.

Atleast in Theocracy, the leader will do good out of the fear of Allah(SWT). He will establish a welfare estate where science and technology will be developed for the benefits of humans not to further a political agenda.

And some WMD falling in the hands of Talibathora
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/04/world/asia/04nuke.html?_r=1&ref=asia

And then …
“Three juntas and a democracy”
http://rothkopf.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/05/01/three_juntas_and_a_democracy

Man, if editorials could kill, NYT would have singlehandedly killed Pakistan ten times over by now.

Congratulations! You got quoted in Sabrina Tavernise’s confused concoction. Wonder how you are taking it? How do you feel about that dubious distinction?

Obama admn. rightly considers that George w Bush,s 8 years are responsible for USA’s present woes. By same logic, the current mess in Pakistan can qualify as legacy of a parallel years of Musharraf/Military misrule. No sir, Obama admn. thinks the civilian Govt. Post Musharraf is responsible for everything going bad. It seems clear which direction US policy is taking. No need for conspiracy theory there.

“After eight years of George W. Bush, the one lesson the Americans had appeared to learn when it comes to Pakistan is that the only viable option here for long-term change for the better is the civilian one. And yet, having vowed to learn from President Bush’s mistakes, the new American set-up is sending out devastating signals against the civilian government and drumming up the ‘safe’ option of the Pakistan Army.

Whatever the PPP-led federal government’s sins of omission and commission, it must not be forgotten that it has been in power for little over a year and, on the militancy issue, is working in a fractious political climate and with little real control over the country’s national security policy. American impatience will only aggravate its problems.”

http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/16-blow-to-the-government-hs-01

http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/columnists/16-ayesha-siddiqa-deadly-social-change-hs-05

http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/columnists/16-cyril-almeida-failed-policy-or-failed-state-hs-04

When I am composing this letter, a eminent new paper daily Jang is in my hands when I looked at page No.11 of this paper, I am exclaimed and lamented when I saw a advertisement for jobs for several posts of 67 deferential designations from B.PS-1 t0 14 in department namely Institute of Karachi, in the requirements it is clearly mentioned that the candidates bearing Karachi domicile can apply only! I would like to request also for attention to the fact of admissions in Dow Medical University ; where students belonging to the interior Sindh has been denied for their right to study in institutions of their mother land even the Administration of DOW Medical College rejected the orders of CM for admissions of Sindhis & Chief Minister could not dare to take any action against them & Sindhi student are not being allowed to study in DMC, Karachi University and NED University and others several educational institutions. The City government also notified and circulated that notice to all administrations of factories and industries in Karachi in which they directed and restricted to recruit the labors and other employees only with domicile of Karachi. Few days before, one advertisement for jobs in several subjects in the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF URDU UNIVERSITY was published in only Urdu news paper only to keep the people of interior Sindh un aware and far from their right of employment.

Now a days , an other trick & tactic has been taken the by the Minister of health who belong with Mutahida Qoumi Movement , to through all Sindhi Doctors from hospitals of Karachi and it is argued from him that interior Sindh has need of these specialists. Why Minister of health who belong with Mutahida Qoumi Movement does not know that there are so many other specialist doctors are already serving in other districts of Sindh and only few or some specialist doctors are serving in hospitals of Karachi but we know it is the part of their policy and Sindhi doctors, teachers and other officials are as needles in theirs eyes and now they like to through out them from Karachi even the families of all those doctors and other employees are settled in Karachi and their kids are also studying in schools of Karachi.

The Ministry of health in hands of MQM from last two eras and in last Government Thousands of Doctors and thousands others related with MQM were appointed unlawfully by former Government without any merit have not been terminated. The MQM unlawfully recruited more than 5000 (five thousands) workers in Water Board and those are all are still enjoying their un lawful jobs and no any quota was given to rural Sindh. The 18000 (Eighteen Thousands) workers of MQM are recruited in Community Police of Karachi and no any employment was given to Sindhis as per their ratio in Karachi. Thousands of MQM Doctors appointed by former Government without any merit have not been terminated. It is not sufficient to keep a Sindhi cap on head and to wear Ajrak but all have to prove their sincerity with Sindh and Sindhi people by their acts. It is quit good to remember Sindhis in bad times but it is so than former to act for their goodness in good to time.

Now, several questions raised in our minds just like:

1. Are the doors for jobs and educational institutions in Karachi closed for indigenous people of Sindh, who are masters and owner of this land?

2. Is the Karachi not a part of Sindh?

3. Is it not fact that constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan allows only distribution of Civil Services of Sindh only on Rural and Arban basis by ration of 60:40?

4. Is there any constitutional or administrative policy which allows discriminating people of Sindh in regard of recruitment and admissions in departments and in educational institutions?

5. Why representation of Sindh is silent in Assemblies and on other forums?

6. Why all NGOs and Political parties are silent on this fact?

7. Are hidden agreements in between Political parties, NGOs, Social organizations and Mutahida Qoumi Movement on this fact and due to those agreements they are silent or those all are under fear of MQM?

8. Is it not a national criminality to keep silence on these national issues?
9. Are Sindhi members in Assemblies are acting their role which is assigned to them by people Sindh? If not any assembly member asked in public meetings about these facts?

10. What are our duties and what we have to do in theses situations?

When I am going to end to compose this letter I received a valued SMS from my friend as “King Napoleon was busy in fighting in Poland, some Russian prisoners were brought before him. The attitude of those prisoners was humiliating towards the King as they said we Russians are far better than you, you fight for wealth and we fight for honor. Napoleon reply has been recorded in history as” every fight for what he doesn’t have””.
The answers to all these questions and any matters in this regard will be appreciated.

With Regards
Jehangir Rahujo, Advocate HC
President :
Sindh Dost Welfare Organization &
Sindh Dost Lawyers Organization.
Email: rahujo@gmail.com,
lawyer_rahujo@yahoo.com
Contact: +92 333 3731993
Karachi. Dated 26th April, 2009