Talibanization of Pakistan?

April 18th, 2007 by Kashif Aziz ( 1,406 Views )

As noticed earlier while discussing “it’s time for a regime change in Pakistan”, United States government is considering options to oust President Musharraf as it is not satisfied with Musharraf’s role in ‘war against terror’. Prime allegation against Musharraf is that on one hand he is receiving aid to curb the terrorists and on the other he is making peace deals with Taliban.

A report by Arnaud de Borchgrave in The Washington Times suggests:

Mr. Musharraf’s various agreements with tribal elders and chiefs in FATA territories since last September were trompe l’oeil, designed, not to hamper the Taliban guerrillas’ movement across the Afghan border as advertised, but to encourage the tribes to kick out “foreigners.” These were Tajiks and Uzbeks and some Arabs who had survived the battle of Tora Bora in December 2001. They had settled in FATA and married local tribal girls. Recent fighting in North and South Waziristan killed more than 200 Central Asians from former Soviet Muslim republics.

While Bush administration is dying for a full strike in the Northern Areas of Pakistan, it hasn’t got a free hand yet from its Pakistani counterparts. To gain absolute operational access to areas which it thinks are major nurseries of terrorists (or something else), Bush administration would be looking for an enlightened and friendlier government in Islamabad. However, as the General is in full control, a scenario has to be created to prove to the (western) world that President Musharraf is loosing his grip on affairs of the State and he should be replaced to keep the country stabilized and nuclear assets safe from the fundamentalists.

In the light of this hypothesis, recent surge in Taliban-style activities in Northern Areas, parts of Punjab and Islamabad are really alarming. The incidents of barbers threatened not to shave beards of their customers, explosions in music shops or cane-wielding students terrorizing the neighborhood, are highly projected on national and international media, creating opinions that Musharraf government is unable to curb Taliban-backed elements.

Students of Madarsa Hafsa, Islamabad

Referring to The Washington Times:

Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) is already a state within a state that annexed an adjoining building that is part of the Education Ministry. The high-ranking Pakistani informant said 6,000 female Taliban and 7,000 males are now members of the Lal Masjid brigade that is camped in the Red Mosque and its annexes — all under the control of MMA, the coalition of six politico-religious parties, with security ensured by what was described as the “religious ISI.”

Cane-wielding, burka-clad female enforcers have taken to the streets of Islamabad to hustle anyone wearing a Western skirt. They burst into one TV studio to voice their demands about public morality, including the closure of houses of “ill-repute;” i.e., anywhere Pakistanis meet Western friends. They have abducted women believed to engage in “criminal activities” and shut down video and music stores. Creeping Talibanization is now a reality across the length and breadth of one of the world’s eight nuclear-weapons powers. Two of Pakistan’s four provinces are already under anti-U.S., pro-Taliban governments.

The threat of ‘Talibanization of Pakistan’ can be used as one of the agenda points to dethrone Musharraf. Another item in the list could be the suspension of Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.

Image Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 18th, 2007 and is filed under Current Affairs .

Tagged with: Central Asia, FATA, Jamia Hafsa, Lal Masjid, Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, Taliban, Tora Bora, United States, Waziristan

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7 Responses to “Talibanization of Pakistan?”

1

Fahd Mirza
April 18th, 2007 18:29 GMT
I really suspect that Musharraf would be dethroned. A new deal is on the cards, in which Benazir would be installed as PM and Musharraf as a civilian president. Allah knows best. One can only pray.
2

Schazad
April 18th, 2007 23:22 GMT
I really feel Musharaf is a very smart man and with brain up on his shoulders. He is the smartest of all the presidents and prime ministers that we had in past except of ZA Bhutto. He hasn’t reached to that level as yet. He couldn’t avoid his hanging. I mean anything is possible in politics. So everyone has to think of the consequences before he/she does anything. I truely believe that talibnisation is a factor that might destroy Pakistan. Mullahs are the hindrance in making Pakistan a developed country so far. They exploit Islam every now and then and this is the pressure group even though they have never been in power but they can mobilise people against any Govt and destroy public properties and cause unrest anywhere. They don’t care and they have no brain anyways. Any progressive in favour of country will be opposed by Mullahs and this way people’s minds are all corrupted and they have lost their patience. Pakistanis have no long term thinking as such. Everyone wants quick results. There are no quick results. Pakistanis don’t want Mullahism but they don’t want western culture either. Mullahs are all stupid and bad character involved in henious crimes of molesting small kids in the name of God. If islam is how they teach it is, I don’t think anyone wants to be muslim. If islam is spread through “danda” then I don’t wanna be part of this islam. As long as I know, Islam was spread through good deeds of Mohammad (SAW)’s displaying good deeds. People used to get inspired through his actions. We have fallen to mullahs and lost our characters and dignity of being muslims.

Think over it.
3

Muhammad Dawood
April 19th, 2007 10:42 GMT
Kashif: I don’t think Americans want to get rid of President Musharraf. Americans would love to see him on throne as long as he is wearing the uniform however, they must be looking for friends in cvs to strengthen him after the emergence of weaknesses in present civilian setup(magnified after CJ issue).

Since Nawaz Sharif has refused to compromise with Pres. Musharraf, their likely choice would be long time trusted old friend Ms. Benazir Bhutto who would like to join hands with Americans and Gen. Musharraf but it would be interestig to see, how she could convince her voters, if she choose to compromise on uniform issue.

Schazad: Majority of Pakistanis are not with the Mullahs of Lal Masjid, in the same way majority of Pakistanies also do not want western culture, as you have said. Its government’s responsibility to controll all illegal activities including pornography, sale of liquor etc but failure of the government/system/Law is giving opportunity to people like The Lal Masjid brigade to step in.
4

Kashif Aziz
April 20th, 2007 02:25 GMT
Dawood: Only Allah knows the future but my guess is that interaction of Benazir and Musharraf is next to impossible. Army may allow Nawaz Sharif back but the ‘daughter of east’ won’t be happily embraced them. Although it is true that the Armed Forces strictly follow the chain of command and hierarchy but I still believe formation commander(s) can play a vital role. My point basically is that to install BB, Musharraf has to go, you bet?

Schazad: Prophet (saw)’s life has two distinct parts; the time spent in Mecca and in Madina. While first part of Prophethood was spent in building the foundation, working on morals and giving dawah to people etc, there were wars and armed expeditions in the later part. So, it is not right to say that Islam is only about talking and no action. Also, it is vital to understand the difference between ulema and their imitators. These jokers who are self-representing Islam are no way near the ulema and they are using the religion to fulfill their desires.

Fahad: We still do not know whether it’s a deal or dheel. Lets wait and see.
5

Schazad
April 20th, 2007 06:28 GMT
Well the point being is that a person should have freedom of expression and freedom of everything with some regulations and lines drawn but those lines drawn shouldn’t restrict one’s freedom. I am sure thats not what Islam teaches us, or is it?? You can’t limit one’s thinking. You can’t tell people not to shave. You can’t make people wear “hijabs”. I mean this is just so unjust. I personally think that what ever is done peacefully has long lasting effects than done with force. I mean this is just ridiculous what ever is happening in Pakistan. The whole NWFP province is falling to these clowns. There are so many other things that they can look into first before they can come to so called “fahashi” (which by the way is in their minds/brains since they see every woman naked), they should work on character building of the nation. People just lie like anything. We have double standards and we are the worst hypocrites (sorry for offending someone) in the world. Our justice system is ruined. Police is just crazy. All they can see wrong with the society is this stupid “fahashi”.

About the deal and Musharaf:

What ever the case is, I think we have to agree that Pakistan has progressed a little bit in every aspect of life during this Govt. Mush. can’t do everything by himself. He needs people and he is tied with so many social and cultural threads that he can’t be as transparent as anyone wants him to be. With limited choices of leaders to choose from and that too many are just corrupt and international pressures, there is very little he can do. I think BB should do deal with Musharaf, that will be in the best interest of the country.
6

Muhammad Dawood
April 20th, 2007 11:39 GMT
Kashif: My point is that Americans would like to have Benazir in PM House with General Musharraf as President to take their so called war on terror further. They may like to find some other General if Gen. Musharraf refuses as they know Pak Army would never take action against their own people on the orders of a civilian President or Prime Minister.

What formation commanders and Army as institution decides is yet to be seen. Till now they have strictly followed the tradition of not going against their Chief.
7

Hassan Hussain
April 23rd, 2007 13:01 GMT
Brother Muhammad Dawood

At least we can use some good words in our sentences to show our good intentions towards the said words like you use sentence and words as follows :-

{Majority of Pakistanis are not with the Mullahs of Lal Masjid}

We all know we use the word Mulla instead of Molana sahab etc, just for The sake of bad arguments b/c a lot difference can be noticed writing Mulla or Molana
And No doubt Molana shows some respect so you should be careful while writing Such words may be some day from another school of thought or a person Having different opinion start cursing/pointing your beloved personalities they could Be from spiritual school of thoughts or may be from other sects .!

If you are Feed up of mullas go and educate them but before educating them make sure You should have some guts, knowledge of refuting them not like building castle In the airs like you have been posting in past several things without authentic narrations
And be careful we just have Quran , Sunnah , Hadieth and the Companions and Tab-ee-n

Your Brother In Islam

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