Waziristan–The Battle Begins
By Anwaar Hussain
Finally, the battle on the one-time protégés begins–the battle that was first promised in June and for which troops had been gathering on Waziristan’s horizons for the past four months. The critical delay not only enabled the militants to overcome the reverses they had suffered in the Malakand region earlier during the summer but to also hit back at the government with added venom. Though the beginning of the battle is indeed hastened by the bewildering tempo at which the godmen have struck at targets across the country during the last couple of weeks, it has begun.
This battle is a strange mix. That is a given. While it is unconventional in the sense that it is not a standard face-off between regular armies, yet is conventional in that it is the same old war with each side trying to impose its will upon the other. Conventional or not, there is no running away from this one. Now is the time to fight.
While everyone is hurrying to the battle stations, here are a few fundamental dos and don’ts that need to be stuck to like glue in the weeks and months ahead.
Hijack the godmen’s cause. History is replete with examples of insurgencies that have degenerated to out-and-out criminalities. This one is no different. The government should use all means at its disposal i.e. media, clerics, political leaders, etc., to highlight the fact that these are no godmen. These are common thugs involved in drug trade, kidnappings for ransom, and contract killings, to name a few activities, masquerading as godmen. Take their golden shoe away from them and beat them back with it. Not only will this infuriate the godmen into a blinding rage and the accompanied stumbles, discrediting the insurgents is also a much easier way to cut an insurgency off and let it die rather than having to kill every insurgent. Victory will be gained only when this isolation of the godmen is achieved and maintained permanently by and with the active support of the populace.
Tell the Americans to stay away at this time. While thinking Pakistanis do understand that the bombing of barber shops, blowing up of girls’ schools and lashing women has nothing to do with Pakistan being ‘the most allied of America’s allies’ and everything to do with the dark dogma of the godmen, for now the Americans need to watch silently from the sidelines. They have lost much face with their blundering jaunts in Iraq and Afghanistan and the wanton killings in those unfortunate countries. They need to stand back and refrain from adding further weight to the Taliban’s golden shoe. This does not mean of course that America stops propping up covertly Pakistan’s armed muscle, a muscle made much addicted to the steroids of American support in arms and funds. The Americans know of course that they have had a giant’s hand in the genesis of the problem and cannot simply wish themselves away now.
Maintain the momentum. Once gained, Pakistan Army must guard against losing the momentum. They allowed this in the past and the results eventually proved to be disastrous. The tempo and timing of operations is going to be vital to the success of this conflict. Insurgents have been allowed enough time to have planned properly and, whatever the official spin, may appear to control the situation when the war begins. But given their limited resources, the control of the pace of events and scope of activities will soon shift to Pakistan Army. Patience is the name of the game.
Don’t talk of winding it up in days/weeks. Be prepared for the long haul. By its very nature, insurgencies are protracted affairs. Even after several months, Malakand continues to remain on a low boil. Moreover, given South Waziristan’s terrain and the nature of the foe, a significant part of the militants’ strategy would be to encourage the military to penetrate deeper into the region i.e. farther up into the mountains, the favorite fighting ground of the militants, and then tie the soldiers down with hit-and-run tactics. That is likely to keep the soldiers engaged in a long-drawn-out operation in the unfriendly terrain over the winter. It is not prudent to give false hopes of a quick end to a populace whose support to the operation is as critical as the negative shift in their fickle opinion disastrous.
Be believable. It must be understood that numerous audiences are watching this war. The military must not allow truth to become the first casualty as usual. Either credible information must be given out or none at all when situation so demands. Killing 2000 insurgents in a village of 200 families is a hyperbole of the overkill kind. The military must make sure that their deeds match their words. Any perceived contradiction would destroy its credibility and undermine the counterinsurgency efforts. A little time into the conflict, one side is going to gain and the other lose credibility, much to the sorrow of the loser.
Learn and adjust. Militants’ tactics would evolve constantly. In response the military would have to observe, draw lessons, use them, assess results and quickly adjust. This learning cycle, requiring an efficient adaptation on the military’s part, must repeat continuously and faster than that of the enemy. Here, one can draw some solace from the fact the recent Malakand operation has kind of weathered our troops for this type of conflict.
But above all what needs to be remembered is that while there is no doubt that the Pakistan Army will eventually come out tops in this conflict, insurgencies are not defeated by simply killing all the insurgents. The root causes of this discontent, through reforms, education and reconstruction projects, will soon have to be addressed. General Chang Ting-chen of Mao Zedong’s Central Committee once stated that revolutionary war was 80 percent political action and only 20 percent military. The same applies to counterinsurgencies too. One is desperately hoping, therefore, that along with this much needed military operation, the other 80% action too is being contemplated.
Notice how the scribe has written one whole piece without using the word ‘religion’? And that is because, as Dave Barry once said, “The problem with writing about religion is that you run the risk of offending sincerely religious people, and then they come after you with machetes.”
A machete is a large heavy knife with a broad blade used as an implement for cutting ‘things’.
Anwaar Husaain Sahib,
I fully endorse your observations and your recommendations. On one point I would like to elicit your response. Although the Americans should primarily ‘keep out’ but help us in this campaign, on the whole it is important that they and their allies remain in Afghanistan to indicate that this campaign can be won only if everybody involved takes a firm stand not to let the godmen win this war.
Ishtiaq Ahmed
October 19th, 2009 at 3:12 pmVisiting Research Professor
Institute of South Asian Studies
National University of Singapore.
C’mon Anwaar, I hope you seriously don’t delieve that taliban do not have access to the internet and they will not be able to read your valuable tips to the planners of Waziristan operation….. On a more sober note, I personally think there is a bigger game going on with the timing of the Irani suicide bombing coinciding with the Pak Army’s operation. I wonder who is pulling the strings in this puppet theatre?
October 19th, 2009 at 3:51 pmWaziristan Operation
Agha Amin
With much bragging and swagger the Waziristan Operation also glorified as mother of all battles has been launched from 17 October 2009.
While it is important for military morale to spread the word that God or Allah is on side of the Pakistan Army , wars are not fought by propaganda or media alone.It all bottom down to superior strategy,superior operational strategy and superior tactics by a military machine which is well supplied,has the right firepower at the right time,good intelligence,high morale and finally the physical endurance to climb the highest and steepest rocky pinnacles and traverse mountain gorges under the deadliest threats of ambuscades and annihilation.
What are the key elements of the situation one may ask without fear of forfeiture of rank or military or worldly advancement.A journalist who does not have the motive to please anyone and who writes not for money can or may do it.
Here are my two cents or half cent :–
1. The Waziristan Talibans centre of gravity is no longer the Mehsud inhabited area of South Waziristan.They have spread into Orakzai Agency,into DI Khan,into Bannu District,into Khyber Agency ,Kurram Agency,South Punjab and most notably Karachi,which is a monster city of some 18 million souls some one third Pashtun or lets say one fourth Pashtun.Any tangible military operation in Waziristan will not destroy the Taliban.The Taliban require a broader strategy.
2. The Talibans are not an ethnic movement.They are an ideological movement and have some support,in all parts of Pakistan.Seen in this context the Mehsud tribe although the core leadership of Taliban is a diverse set up in which leadership may not be destroyed even if the Mehsuds are destroyed or suffer serious casualties.
3. Security and power they say is more psychological than physical.15,000 British soldiers held all India in the First World War ! Today 50,000 Pakistani troops cannot control FATA 1 % of size of British India ! Have things changed oe we changed ! The Pakistani security forces have fast lost this moral deterrence since 2004 with reverses in Waziristan,attack on corps commander and army chief and finally the GHQ attack.While apologist may brush them aside as of no consequence the intangible trends are dangerous.A state cannot go on with an army that is no longer respected or feared may it be China,USA or Pakistan.This is Pakistans most grave strategic imbalance or vulnerability.
4. The Taliban are supported by non state actors in Pakistan,have silent supporters in the state actors,have foreign state and non state supporters who support them for various agendas.By merely launching the army in South Waziristan they cannot be destroyed.
5. The Taliban inflicting major damage on USA are in Kandahar or Helmand but these are being rewarded with rich construction and logistic sub contracts by US aid agencies since 2001.They carry on drug and weapons trade day and night and are not interdicted by any US forces as I have repeatedly seen as a contractor based in South Afghanistan since 2004.Are they being prepared for Iran or at some stage China.Its a question that only history will answer.These Talban have their centre in Pakistani Balochistan but have never been attacked by the US.
6. So much propaganda and rhetoric has preceeded the Waziristan Operation that the Waziristan Taliban have had ample time to relocate to Birmal in Afghanistan and to other tribal agencies adjoining South Waziristan and even to Punjab,settled NWFP area and to Karachi which is the largest Mehsud city in the world !
The key to the issue may be in the following :–
1. Economically empowering Pakistans tribal areas with export duty exempt industrial zones to USA and EU.The naieve US senate and congress have not addressed this core issue.What a waste of time this Kerry Lugar Bill.
2. Serious reorganization of Pakistan Army with heavy reliance on technology and on non human military assets like dogs so well used by many armies fighting counterinsurgency.So far the Al Qaeda hs failed to infiltrate in dogs.A dog of a good breed will be a better anti terrorist asset than any human asset in soldiers attire.
3. Serious economic re-structuring of Pakistan with emphasis on power projects and incentives for small business.
4. A rapproachment with India so that the primacy of Pakistani military in politics is reduced.
5. A gradual dis-engagement with USA other than export free zones so that the demeaning impression of the Pakistani state and armed forces as petty vassals and mercenaries of USA is reduced in the eyes of the Pakistani populace.
If military operation could pacify any country there would have been no Vietnam or Afghanistan or even 50 plus expeditions into Waziristan since 1890s till to date.The issue is nor military alone but much larger.Seen in this context the abject surrender of Pakistans political leadership to the Pakistani military to find a Waziristan solution is pathetic at best and shameful at the worst.As they say war is too serious a business to be left to the generals.
October 19th, 2009 at 6:04 pmRe-Najmi:
Sir,
Continuing with your ‘more sober’ note in the same ‘light vein’, do you think the orchestrators of your ‘bigger game’ do not have access to the internet? They probably invented it. Lol. The ’string pullers’ in the ‘puppet theater’ should now call off the game, you having discovered it.
But seriously, no sir, neither the great game gets altered nor the minor jockeys change their game plan because of access/no access to the internet.
The ‘game’ goes on.
October 19th, 2009 at 6:18 pmSir
Very pertinent points & observations.
Was it just a lull from June till October between the two fronts or some thing more to it, or was it because the Army found out their success or failure in Swat campaign and was having second thoughts of going into SWA.
And now because of increasing Taliban strikes they have been shoved in to SWA
No army has ever won in this region and in this type of warfare.
The game goes on
October 19th, 2009 at 7:40 pmWell whatever others may say these barbarian “godmen” need to be put down for ever.
But once this is done the Government must ensure that there is an uplift in all tribal areas with Education, Justice system and welfare of the Tribals without the corruption of the feudals. Only this will ensure that these Barbarians are kept out.
October 19th, 2009 at 9:20 pmSir,
We need a revolution like Iran for masses and Turkey for mullahs.
We also need to use our nuclear arsenal on our own self to cleanse the taliban…. they are all around. There will be collateral damage but I don’t think of any other way.
We should also thank Big Bro USA for using drones to do our job. In fact we should give them a monthly sortie target to achieve.
October 19th, 2009 at 11:17 pmIf only poverty, injustice etc were to be blamed for terrorism then India and Africa should have millions of terrorists.
Thinking long and hard, I view this whole thing as a war within Islam and the great game proponents are over- romanticizing the reality. Perhaps they are reading too much Peter Hopkirk.
Let us face it.
The Iranians (Oil Money) and the Saudis (Oil Money) have been fighting a proxy war on Pakistani soil ever since the Iranian revolution. After the exit of the Soviet Union from Afghanistan, the Talibans were propped by the Saudis and the Northern Alliance by the Iranians.
It must be quirk in the entire 1400 years of Islamic history Mullahs have become rulers? The rise of Taliban as rulers is an extraordinary phenomenon perhaps as extraordinary as the Iranian revolution.
However Irani mullahs can support themselves because Iran floats on Oil and Gas but it beats me how the Talibans can ever support whatever their philosophy without resources. They have tasted absolute power and now they want it back. They will use their entire destructive and coercive machination to get it back. Now the Pak army has to atone for its sins.
Today it is Pak Army vs Taliban. Whoever wins, wins Pakistan and Afghanistan. Rest are details.
The Americans would like to get out if they could without losing face. It is as simple as that no matter what Obama says. There are so many and easier energy options available than our armchair strategist have imagined.
The only antidote to the Taliban and their likeminded friends in Pakistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia is democracy…more democracy. As far as Pashtuns are concerned they will remain secular in spirit no matter what the Wahabis / Deobandis preach.
One is not a Pashtun, if not secular.
October 20th, 2009 at 12:49 amBecause the battlespace is asymmetrical:
*Move in expeditionary manner and with a disappearing footprint.
*Configure field bivouacs for maximum nighttime protection.
*Recognize the surveillance capabilities of the enemy due to information and communications technology.
*Although requesting all other foreign military units step aside while taking care of this threat, do consider any and all flanking assets and capabilities on a contingency basis.
*As stated by the author, provide daily briefings on a need-to-know basis for the public.
*Threat reduction and a cordon of stability are the primary goals prior to the winter months.
*Cut off supply lines so a weakened enemy is encountered in the spring.
**Sounds easy on paper. smile
Tammy
October 20th, 2009 at 6:33 amWhat is lost by all here is that terrorism is a crime, and needs to be handled like a crime, but with the gloves off. If I could use one example of how this should be handled militarily it is Israels handling of the Munich Olympic Terrorists, identify, hunt down one by one and eliminate.
Politically I would look at the Ancient Persian Example, take ground, but then support autonomous governance to the greatest extent possible, within the laws of the greater populations of each nation state involved.
October 20th, 2009 at 6:50 amNow saying what I did, I realize how simplified it is, but I believe complexity is often half of the problem. The people in these tribal areas, and Afghanistan have been marginalized for so long, and brutalized almost as long, that they know nothing else but fighting and fundamentalism. The problem of these nations with-in nations will only be addressed by development and education, lots of carrots after the sticks have finished their job!
Re:Ishtiaq Ahmed
Sir,
Like I highlighted in the piece above, the Americans have a hand in the making of the problem, and a large hand at that, and cannot simply walk away from the problem. Not only that, ’simply walking away’ is not even an option for them. They are stuck in Afghanistan and sinking deeper into the quick sand with each passing day.
But for them and their allies to openly assist Pakistan, like a pincer attack from the west of Waziristan, will have terribly negative consequences. Their help should more be in continuous, though covert, supply of required arms, funds, and intelligence. They need to increase the on-station time of their imagery platforms to continue supplying real time imagery of the area. They could also help in choking off international routes of men and funds to the godmen leading up to the region. And if they really want to help then they should get out of their encampments in Afghanistan and fight like fighting is done–not the 9 to 5 war that they are fighting at present. For example, I just came upon this. Check it out;
NATO forces vacating checkposts in Afghanistan allow Afghan Taliban to cross the Pak-Afghan border and join the Pakistani Taliban in South Waziristan, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Kayani said on Monday.
Their containment of the problem in Afghanistan is half a solution for us. Any thing more symbolic than that and it will be a dream come true for the mad men and a nightmare for the rest of us.
Thank you for commenting.
October 20th, 2009 at 7:52 amHere’s to hoping that General Kayani and the field commanders of the Pakistan Army read this too.
To have announced this offensive months in advance was rather silly, as that gave time for the taliban leadership to move out of the line of fire. This particular operation will be long drawn out, but the war on the taliban philosophy will drag on for years.
There is a new generation of talibs around. Most of the attackers who raided the GHQ recently were teenagers. Rooting out these and routing them will not be easy as they think they are following Quranic teachings, and that Allah will be welcoming them in heaven with 72 hoories if they become `shaheeds’.
October 20th, 2009 at 8:11 amMy prior post was possibly a reflection of over three hours spent tromping around the Civil War battlefield of Antietam for over three hours yesterday with a fellow analyst. Antietam was a bloody battle and the casualty numbers were horrendous.
We walked the majority of the sites, paths carved along farm houses from the era, monuments and displays to Commanders and Brigades, the things a nation does to honor her slain.
Climbing to the top of an observation tower it was hard to imagine what had happened on that day. Corn and soybean fields dotted the landscape, mountains in the distance, a clear blue sky. It was a scene which denoted peace yet years ago, soldiers clashed on Bloody Lane. My friend and I merely walked along this corridor, he toting along photographic equipment, and for myself, adding to a memory bank.
Peace…. at a terrible cost.
Tammy Swofford
October 20th, 2009 at 4:53 pmi am based in afghanistan since 2004.The USA has hardly troops to seal any border.They have no troops sealing the border of Helmand and Kandahar from where maximum Talib infiltration is taking place.Pakistan Army has no troops sealing Afghan border to support USA on Kandahar and Helmand border either other than the FC who cheer Taliban crossing into Afghanistan.
having said that fghan taliban depend on pakistani balochistan for logistics, traffic drugs through pakistani balochistan , and heavily dependent on pakistan hence their cooperation with TTP , or the very thought of it is absurd.Interestingly they are being groomed both by USA and Pakistan and are getting lucrative logistic and construction contracts from US Army.It appears that Pakistan and USA sees them as good future auxillaries for China (USA) Iran (USA) and India (Pakistan).Their existence and activities in Pakistani Balochistan are well known but not a single drone attack there.
taliban have various categories (1) Drug Mafia Taliban (2) Tribal Taliban sponsored by a particular tribe in an area (3) Criminal Taliban (by profession mixing religion with business (4)Pk sponsored Taliban (5) US sponsored Taliban (6) Iran sponsored Taliban (7)Indian sponsored (through third or fourth party) Taliban (7)Al Qaeda sponsored Taliban and so many.The USA has nothing against Pk sponsored Taliban.The operation in Waziristan is against Taliban who may fall in category other than category (5) and category (4).The Taliban are not a single group but a mosaic.This suits them operationally because if one piece is destroyed another continues.
At one fine moment of history or a horrible moment as one may view it all these particles may unite and become a mountain and a storm which will destroy all that comes in its path.This is my interpretation of history.
The taliban signify an ideolgy which has the potential at some stage to overwhelm Pakistan,if not fought with immense skill and determination..What the USA is doing is busying time and adjusting its position to destroy Pakistans nuclear assets at the right time.The Pakistan Army and the Pakistani establishment are USA’s tactical and operational tools to do that.There will be a moment in history when the USA will be forced to go for the kill.The nuclear assets.We live in turbulent times.Already if you study the Taliban grand propaganda orchrestrated and masterminded by Al Qaeda portrays Pakistan Armys generals as Dr Najib and others , i.e tools of non Muslim powers.Its a subtle battle and by using Islam the Al Qaeda and Taliban have divided all pillars of Pakistani society
there is nothing inevitable in history.The Waziristan Taliban are the odd man in the game.They attack Pakistan Army and targets in Afghanistan ( debatable).Hence the Pakistani operation.The USA has no problem with other Taliban.They do business while allowing USA to stay in Afghanistan.I would say that the USA has nothing against anti Indian Taliban sponsored by Pakistan also.USA is happy with Pakistan Army as a useful subsidiary vassal doing the tactical garbage collecting.At some stage however the USA may attempt denuclearisation of Pakistan.Once that is done the irregularities in the sculpture would be removed and USA would be happy.At the pentagon level USA and Pakistani generals are one.Only the congress and the senate has to be fooled.
About Taliban fighting in the south I would say having seen them as sub contractors that some one who depends on pakistani largesse will not bite the hand that feeds it.in baluchistan main US auxillaries are the baloch militants.if trouble starts in balochistan it would be from baloch side.traditionally the pashtuns in balochistan and kandahar/helmand have been strategic vassals of pakistani establishment.only a man who has lived in quetta can understand this.
the US troop induction in helmand and kandahar is in order to have a strong upper hand in case pakistani or irani balochistan is destabilised.it appears that the USA has realised the usefulness of Iranian and Pakistani Balochistan.
October 20th, 2009 at 5:37 pma word on NATO forces abandoning posts.Its fiction well crafted to make a story that sells.Main US base is in Khost but that is opposite North Waziristan.US troops here do not have the capacity to seal even the border opposite Khost.In Paktika opposite South Waziristan there is hardly any US presence other than a forward airfield at Sharan.Hence this is a popular Pakistani story with no factual basis.Also note that Pakistan Army has kept no forces to seal the 900 km plus border from Zhob to Mashki Chah from where major Taliban infiltration takes place and maximum casualties are inflicted on NATO forces in Helmand Kandahar and Farah/Herat.
October 20th, 2009 at 5:43 pmKeep educating us Anwaar. Thank you for a very lucid piece with solid grip on the topic.
Post number 9 by Tammy Swofford was impressive. Agha Amin’s posts were also enlightening.
Could you request Tayyab to give us the recipe of Iranian & Turkish Revolution synthesis? – Post 7.
October 20th, 2009 at 6:31 pmdear sir as usual i have read through this another article of yours, perhaps i see the situation in a a different way, because the history of this region speaks something which has never gone in favor of intruders,the fact that army has already started the business by false reporting and figurative projections of terrorist casualties, which is coming out strongly against the military since a huge number of innocent people have already lost their lives in the three day action, which is likely to bring unwanted support for these terrorists.i hope and pray that the things shape up the way you have advised or tried to optimistically sketch, but again it all depends on decision makers at the helm of affairs. lets hope for the sunny morning.
its always a treat to read articles by you.
good luck sir.
October 20th, 2009 at 6:45 pmRE: Post no 16
Sir Masroor,
Iran had a bloody revolution and Turks killed most of the mullah crowd.
I was referring to that only.
October 20th, 2009 at 8:23 pmDear Mr Hussain,
Thank you for building an important case in a very simple and lucid manner. Your suggestions are easier said than done, yet these steps need to be taken. Your reference to the onset of winters is important too, which has traditionally been a limiting factor during the ISAF operations in Afghanistan as well. The need for the use of force is undeniable, which hopefully shall pave the way for the political solutions of development, education and other reforms. In this media savvy age, the military seems poised for a continual review of its learning curve- that may be the key to eventual success.
Best
SR
October 20th, 2009 at 9:35 pmRe : Asad
Look at it this way Asad.
All the Mehsud uprisings were in the British colonial times. They never rebelled against Pakistan.
People often cite the case of the Faqir of Ipi. But they forget that even he was neither a Mehsud nor born in South Waziristan. He was born Mirza Ali Khan in 1897 in Shankai Kairta, which is located near Khajuri Post in North Waziristan Agency. His family was from the Bangal Khel clan of the Haibati Madda Khel section of the Tori Khel Wazirs, which belongs to the greater Utmanzai branch concentrated in North Waziristan.
The interesting thing is that the creation of Muslim led Pakistan in 1947 significantly dulled the Faqir’s insurgency. As the Government was Muslim led, the religious grounds for Faqir’s insurgency had been lost (notice the taking away of the golden shoe). Admittedly though, this did not stop the Faqir from continuing to cause problems for the Pakistani government until his death. On 4 November 1954, however, his Commander in Chief, Mehar Dil, surrendered himself personally to the Deputy Commissioner Bannu, and this, in effect, brought the Waziristan insurrection to an end. Since then there has been nothing noteworthy…until now that is.
One more pertinent fact.
After the end of the First World War, the British returned to Waziristan. This time, they built roads and forts throughout the land. The sophistication and constant patrols of the British air force helped create a secure atmosphere for their ground troops. With this sense of security, the British Army then constructed a road from Jandola to Ladha. At Razmak, they constructed a cantonment for their army officers and soldiers. The Mehsuds were then prudent enough to agree to a ceasefire because this new British tactic from the air and ground was inflicting wide-scale losses on their side. In 1925, the Royal Air Force successfully put down a Mehsud rebellion. The action, which came to be known as Pink’s War led to the tribal leaders seeking peace terms. (Notice the reliance on air power then…this is likely to be the case even this time)
Then come the major dissimilarities between then and now. The madmen out of the Mehsuds make up a very small portion of this brave tribe. Since independence, many social, economic and demographic changes have occurred in Waziristan. A large number of Mehsuds have joined mainstream Pakistani society. Now Mehsuds are employed in the militia and regular army, state bureaucracy, and involved in businesses all around the country. These upward mobile clansmen are likely not to allow the small band of the mad men to continue to destabilize the region and their gravy train that plies this region. That plus the fact that they never fought against the Pakistani armed forces that have Pashtun generals and soldiers as fierce and as brave as the Mehsuds, no less, makes me optimistic of the outcome of the turmoil.(Optimistic with the caveat that the leadership doesn’t develop feet of clay any time soon)
Well that’s my take of the situation.
Thanks
October 21st, 2009 at 7:47 amRe : Saber Rattler
Sir,
I agree that what I have suggested is easier said than done. But you must agree that what needs doing needs saying first.
What say?
Thanks for visiting.
October 21st, 2009 at 7:52 amMy comments on various comments.
A.H Amin said:
A gradual dis-engagement with USA other than export free zones so that the demeaning impression of the Pakistani state and armed forces as petty vassals and mercenaries of USA is reduced in the eyes of the Pakistani populace.
Amin, just assume it was the time when Pakistan had no Nukes. If India had attacked Pakistan and USA was willing to support Pakistan with military help, would you be so foolish to refuse USA help.
The fact is, as far as I know but I could be wrong, even the founder of Pakistan supported South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) and Bagdad Pact with USA as the main player to safeguard Pakistan against any attacks.
Today Pakistan is under worst attack from enemies within Pakistan and people like you rather want to see Pakistan destroyed but not seek any help from USA to fight the enemies to save it. I am sure the militants and terrorists are not happy with PAK/USA coordination the same way as many of you are not happy.
Iqbal said:
Well whatever others may say these barbarian “godmen” need to be put down for ever.
Iqbal, you said the right thing.
Ateeq Tayyib said:
We need a revolution like Iran for masses and Turkey for mullahs.
Well said Ateeq.
I read the article by Anwaar Hussain and this is an eye opener. I have passed on this to many of my friends and relatives. I now believe that 99% of Mullahs, not only in Pakistan but all over the Islamic world are “Neem Mullahs” and as the saying in Farsi:
Neem Hakeem Khatra-e jaan, Neem Mullah Khatra-e Eemaan.
A half learned doctor is a threat to life and a half learned Mullah is a threat to religion.
Read the following article:
The Origin and Fate of the Pakistani Mullahs
By Anwaar Hussain
I wish Pakistan should do the same what was done in Turkey to get rid of the Mullahs who tell young Muslims “If you blow up yourself killing men, women and children, even if they are innocent, you will go straight to heaven”.
Visit
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:58 amhttp://www.satribune.com/archives/nov30_dec6_03/opinion_anwaar.htm
My favorite columnist Ayaz Amir agrees with me. Check it out in today’s The News;
This is not a war the Pakistan army has chosen to fight. This is a war forced upon us and there is no running away from it.
October 23rd, 2009 at 7:56 amAn article appearing in the Dawn of today Friday Oct 23, 2009 reinforces the ideas presented by Anwaar Hussain in the article “The Origin and Fate of the Pakistani Mullahs” many years ago. The article written by Anwaar Hussain and the recent article written by Asghar Ali Engineer should be read over and over again and again and passed on to all Muslims. Both articles expose the root of problems for Muslims in Pakistan as well as in other Muslim countries.
As a matter of fact I am thinking of printing both articles, make photo-copies and distribute it at my local mosque after Jumah Salaat with prior approval from mosque management.
Islam & social reform
By Asghar Ali Engineer
Friday, 23 Oct, 2009
It is very unfortunate that many ulema should still vehemently oppose everything new, only to accept it later, reluctantly, for their own survival. We often refuse to move with the times and then time forces us to move with it after extracting a price for our refusal to change.
Traditional ulema have nearly always opposed social reform calling it un-Islamic. Many are able to mobilise support from static Muslim societies by quoting either certain selected Quranic verses or the hadith. Historically, ulema have also declared reformers as kafir or mulhid, i.e. believers in naturism rather than God.
Once such fatwas are issued against a reformer, he/she faces total isolation in society and finds it extremely difficult to carry on reform. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, whose birthday was on Oct 17, was one such great social reformer.
He never laboured over religious doctrines. He just wanted Muslims to go for modern, secular education so that modern knowledge, which was mostly available in English, could be made accessible to the Muslims. The ulema opposed his movement for modern education, the founding of an institution of modern learning, and issued fatwas against him, dubbing him variously as kafir, Christian and Jewish. One of the ulema even travelled to Makkah and obtained a fatwa for killing Sir Syed.
The question arises: why this show of fierce opposition to social reform which was, after all, for the betterment of the Muslim community of India? It was certainly not religious belief alone because opposition to social reform emanates from a host of complex factors.
Firstly, change is always feared as it brings uncertainty and unknown consequences, especially on the part of those who do not benefit from change. Apart from theologians and community leaders, it is feared by the masses who have not experienced change and have lived amid ignorance and superstitious beliefs.
Secondly, it is feared by the priesthood, by theologians as well as some social and cultural leaders because it challenges their leadership. Priests and theologians have had a grip on the minds of the people for too long, and many feel any change will throw up new social or theological leaders in which case they will lose out. Thus they oppose reform to secure their own positions. To legitimise their opposition they find what they call religious reasons and try quoting out of context from scriptures to impress the public.
The ulema in the 19th century were highly apprehensive of English education as it would mean challenging the madressah education, coupled with the fear that Muslims would be moving a step nearer to Christianity. As Arabic education was considered a step towards Islam, English education was considered a step towards Christianity. There was little more reason for the ulema to oppose modern education.
The ulema had held high positions in Mughal courts and functioned as qazis or religious judges. They were being replaced by British judges and highly qualified Indians who had studied the law. This created strong resentment among the ulema; they denounced the English education system which was taking away everything from them. Thus they had everything to fear and nothing to celebrate.
Muslim masses also supported them, because they recognised the ulema as their religious leaders and men of great Islamic learning. Secondly, Muslim society at the time was either static or decadent. Any change made the people fearful and they rightly believed the British to be their enemy, one who threatened their religious belief and political hegemony. The future was unknown and in the hands of foreign rulers.
Also, as pointed out before, change is feared by those who lose out and celebrated by those who gain from it. Only very few side with reformers who have some idea of what the future may hold. Among Muslims in India Sir Syed began the vigorous movement for modern education even before a new class of Muslims who could be the beneficiary of English education emerged.
Eventually, of course, that class came to the fore, albeit slowly, and subsequently became the harbinger of change. Among these people a galaxy of intellectuals arose who are respected to date. They included people like Nawab Mohsinul Mulk, Maulavi Chiragh Ali, Justice Amir Ali and Maulvi Mumtaz Ali Khan among several others. They developed a new vision of life and laid the foundation for a better life for the Muslims in India. Many from this new class of Muslims joined the civil, police and other services and left a mark on society.
Today many ulema are not only learning English they are also trying to project Islam to non-Muslims in the English language. What was thought to be the language of kafirs in the 19th century has now come to stay in the Muslim world. Thus, those who oppose change subsequently not only accept it, but also find that it becomes the very means of survival.
It is very unfortunate that many ulema should still vehemently oppose everything new, only to accept it later, reluctantly, for their own survival. We often refuse to move with the times and then time forces us to move with it after extracting a price for our refusal to change.
The writer is an Islamic scholar who heads the Centre for Study of Society & Secularism, Mumbai
Adapted from
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/18-islam-and-social-reform-am-03
The Origin and Fate of the Pakistani Mullahs
October 24th, 2009 at 4:19 amThat’s the way to go about it. Check it out;
“Asked about collaboration with the US in executing the operation, the army spokesman said, “We have asked them (the US) to let us finish the job on our own and get the support of local population (against terrorists).”
On track so far.
October 25th, 2009 at 8:26 am