Where do we go?
Some friends are comparing the Palestinian situation with the situation in the Khyber Pakhtunkhawa and FATA. In my humble opinion, it is not the right comparison because both are different cases.
Palestine is occupied by the illegitimate state of Israel. The Palestinian people are victims in their own homeland at the hands of Israel and its Western supporters. Britain had created Israel at gun point in the Palestinian lands. Jews were victimized by Europeans (Germans) not Arabs. A Jewish state should have been created in Europe; instead the British helped Zionists to occupy the Palestinian lands and forced the Palestinian people out of their homes. Later, the United States patronized Israel and provided it full support. Even today, Israel can’t survive without the US economic, political and military aid.
Two-State Policy/solution is not a fair or just solution but despite the unfairness enshrined in the Two-State Policy, most Palestinians have accepted it. They are willing to co-exist alongside Israel. But everyday Israelis humiliate & discriminate Palestinians, Israel is building new settlements and grabbing more and more Palestinian land. Still ordinary Palestinians do not resist. They go to Israel and work as slaves; they live in Gaza as prisoners but Israel’s greed and discrimination seem unending. Zionists extremists like prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his masters in the US and UK want to totally enslave and subjugate the Palestinian people. They are exterminating the Palestinians. Systematically Arabs are forced out of their lands and homes. This is absolutely unacceptable to any people.
Would Western people accept such treatment? The answer is NO. The British state and people are extremely sensitive even about their colonies. In 1981, Britain had sent troops to Falklands (A British colony in the South Atlantic Ocean) near Argentina. The British had occupied Falkland which was part of Argentina but when Argentina tried to take it back Britain had attacked Argentina. The point is that the Western countries follow double standards and they do not believe in any morality when it comes to foreign policy. They support Israel due to Western strategic interests in the Middle East and also because of the influence of powerful Jewish lobby on Western governments and politicians.
Through Israel, Saudi Arabia and the Arab Gulf states, the United States and its allies control the Middle Eastern oil and strategic energy and trade routes at the cost of the Palestinian people. That is why all democratic and peace loving people, including many Jewish organizations and groups, support the Palestinian cause.
As compare to Palestine our situation is different. We the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Afghanistan and Pakistan are divided and have been fighting among ourselves. Foreign troops (USA and NATO) are occupying Afghanistan but some of us consider the Americans and NATO forces as saviors. Some liberal friends support the U.S presence in Afghanistan. Perhaps such friends are frustrated with Mullahs, the Talibans etc. By supporting the U.S and the West they believe that they are strengthening anti-mullah forces/elements. But in reality their stand is based on reaction, not just and rational principles.
On the other hand there is a large majority of Pashtuns who see the world in black in white. They believe in an over simplified interpretation of Islam and politics. To them everyone who disagrees with their interpretation of religion or way of life is an enemy of Islam and Pakistan. So they hate ‘liberals or pro-western Pashtuns and Pakistanis’.
The Pakistani military is not clear either. Military commanders consider themselves philosophers, political thinkers, religious scholars, strategic planners and diplomatic experts---all at the same time. Under this thinking Pakistani generals want to control the will and fate of 200 million people by determining Pakistan’s internal and external policies. We are facing consequences of wrong polices and misadventures of our former military generals.
Indeed we are victims of our own believes, interpretations and understanding of world and life as a whole. Foreign forces don’t have to come to Pakistan to destroy us. Apart from few African and Asian countries, I have never seen such polarization and hatred for each other in other societies as we have in Pakistan.
People and nations survive when they agree on a minimum agenda and take the middle ground, not extreme positions. In mature societies decisions are reached after public consultations at appropriate forums through objective and rational reasoning and analysis. Evidence based arguments/realities dictate policies, not illusions and few persons’ dreams. If we are driven by emotions, ethnic and religious biases we will not make right choices and may not find peace and harmony. Pakistan needs soul searching and many dimensional national dialogue. Most of all we should trust and appreciate each other as individuals and also have faith in our institutions despite their mistakes.
Shiraz Paracha
(Recent Facebook Post)
Some friends are comparing the Palestinian situation with the situation in the Khyber Pakhtunkhawa and FATA. In my humble opinion, it is not the right comparison because both are different cases.
Palestine is occupied by the illegitimate state of Israel. The Palestinian people are victims in their own homeland at the hands of Israel and its Western supporters. Britain had created Israel at gun point in the Palestinian lands. Jews were victimized by Europeans (Germans) not Arabs. A Jewish state should have been created in Europe; instead the British helped Zionists to occupy the Palestinian lands and forced the Palestinian people out of their homes. Later, the United States patronized Israel and provided it full support. Even today, Israel can’t survive without the US economic, political and military aid.
Two-State Policy/solution is not a fair or just solution but despite the unfairness enshrined in the Two-State Policy, most Palestinians have accepted it. They are willing to co-exist alongside Israel. But everyday Israelis humiliate & discriminate Palestinians, Israel is building new settlements and grabbing more and more Palestinian land. Still ordinary Palestinians do not resist. They go to Israel and work as slaves; they live in Gaza as prisoners but Israel’s greed and discrimination seem unending. Zionists extremists like prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his masters in the US and UK want to totally enslave and subjugate the Palestinian people. They are exterminating the Palestinians. Systematically Arabs are forced out of their lands and homes. This is absolutely unacceptable to any people.
Would Western people accept such treatment? The answer is NO. The British state and people are extremely sensitive even about their colonies. In 1981, Britain had sent troops to Falklands (A British colony in the South Atlantic Ocean) near Argentina. The British had occupied Falkland which was part of Argentina but when Argentina tried to take it back Britain had attacked Argentina. The point is that the Western countries follow double standards and they do not believe in any morality when it comes to foreign policy. They support Israel due to Western strategic interests in the Middle East and also because of the influence of powerful Jewish lobby on Western governments and politicians.
Through Israel, Saudi Arabia and the Arab Gulf states, the United States and its allies control the Middle Eastern oil and strategic energy and trade routes at the cost of the Palestinian people. That is why all democratic and peace loving people, including many Jewish organizations and groups, support the Palestinian cause.
As compare to Palestine our situation is different. We the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Afghanistan and Pakistan are divided and have been fighting among ourselves. Foreign troops (USA and NATO) are occupying Afghanistan but some of us consider the Americans and NATO forces as saviors. Some liberal friends support the U.S presence in Afghanistan. Perhaps such friends are frustrated with Mullahs, the Talibans etc. By supporting the U.S and the West they believe that they are strengthening anti-mullah forces/elements. But in reality their stand is based on reaction, not just and rational principles.
On the other hand there is a large majority of Pashtuns who see the world in black in white. They believe in an over simplified interpretation of Islam and politics. To them everyone who disagrees with their interpretation of religion or way of life is an enemy of Islam and Pakistan. So they hate ‘liberals or pro-western Pashtuns and Pakistanis’.
The Pakistani military is not clear either. Military commanders consider themselves philosophers, political thinkers, religious scholars, strategic planners and diplomatic experts---all at the same time. Under this thinking Pakistani generals want to control the will and fate of 200 million people by determining Pakistan’s internal and external policies. We are facing consequences of wrong polices and misadventures of our former military generals.
Indeed we are victims of our own believes, interpretations and understanding of world and life as a whole. Foreign forces don’t have to come to Pakistan to destroy us. Apart from few African and Asian countries, I have never seen such polarization and hatred for each other in other societies as we have in Pakistan.
People and nations survive when they agree on a minimum agenda and take the middle ground, not extreme positions. In mature societies decisions are reached after public consultations at appropriate forums through objective and rational reasoning and analysis. Evidence based arguments/realities dictate policies, not illusions and few persons’ dreams. If we are driven by emotions, ethnic and religious biases we will not make right choices and may not find peace and harmony. Pakistan needs soul searching and many dimensional national dialogue. Most of all we should trust and appreciate each other as individuals and also have faith in our institutions despite their mistakes.
Shiraz Paracha
(Recent Facebook Post)
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