tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post168852416224785475..comments2024-03-27T15:36:44.737-07:00Comments on Haq's Musings: Pessimist Pundits Gaining Strength in PakistanRiaz Haqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-65724919498846319282009-03-09T23:36:00.000-07:002009-03-09T23:36:00.000-07:00Good Point on aversion of US tactics in homeland b...Good Point on aversion of US tactics in homeland but again when population is not ready to listen-we need iron hand to deal with this issue.When America or India started of as nations-the population had its weakness but the core difference between those societies and Pakistan is level of tolerance and honestly the fact that they are not islamic -in the sense that we muslims tend to stick to religion rather strongly.I will leave to your judgement about those side effects which are quite evident.We do not have enough time for entire population to understand what these monsters will do.If US does not eliminate them like insects with predators-they will kill ordinary citizens. <BR/>But the end point always comes back to the fact we lack a disciplined political setup and also disciplined society that can put its self issues aside for nation sake.Today it is that lack of discipline in politicians and also army(I hate to say this) that we cannot eliminate these monsters.Look what Nawaz is doing.As a matter of fact we had not seen a class leader since 1950s that can reinstate the original principles.Look what our history books say for our children to read.Its either lies or islam and some more religion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-60479198355941823862009-03-09T08:58:00.000-07:002009-03-09T08:58:00.000-07:00Anon:You offer "The reason behind my anguish is th...Anon:<BR/><BR/>You offer "The reason behind my anguish is the pattern of behaviour shown by the so called moderates I see on TV and even includes -shockingly Imran Khan too.God-just it just pains to see these people will lead this country."<BR/><BR/>While I admire Imran Khan as a philanthropist, a patriot and a sports hero, I think he has a very low probability of winning any elections. So I wouldn't worry about his incoherent tirades on matters he doesn't fully understand but he wants to argue about very passionately. He is a very passionate defender of his positions.<BR/><BR/>I do think Imran has a point when he says US attacks in FATA and presence in Afghanistan are detrimental to the Pakistanis' fight against terror. There is so much mistrust of the US in Pakistan that anyone seen to be working with or on America's behalf automatically loses support. Removing US as direct participant from the equation will likely help the forces of moderation. US can still play a quiet role behind the scenes without launching predator attacks or issuing belligerent statements or making naked threats to invade Pakistan.Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-15358195302058127692009-03-09T06:03:00.000-07:002009-03-09T06:03:00.000-07:00Riaz,by saying that fire in your neighbours home w...Riaz,by saying that fire in your neighbours home will consume the surrounding homes-here India,you have rather agreed that religion and hypocrisy have destroyed your nation-which is true though you have every right to have false notions.IOne cannot expect post Zia Ul Haqs Pakistan to have secular mind but rather islamic mind!!!The truth is Pakistan is way too different for it to adjust with even indian muslims or Bangladeshis.Thats what years of mismanagement have done to the psyche of its population that its version of religion and nationhood is not trusted inspite of all good intentions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-79827888890339138202009-03-08T16:11:00.000-07:002009-03-08T16:11:00.000-07:00You might even be able to persuade me to your way ...<I>You might even be able to persuade me to your way of thinking.</I><BR/><BR/>I won't even try: you're more loyal than the king. You'' still be defending the indefensible long after the rogues that run it have left it for dead.<BR/><BR/><I>With friends and neighbors like you, who needs enemies.</I><BR/><BR/>With Pakistan's peerless record of against it's own citizens who needs "friends" and "neighbors". <BR/><BR/><I>Don't forget that the fire in your neighbor's house, if not contained, will eventually consume you as well.</I><BR/><BR/>Please find something new and different to say that I haven't heard before. Who knows. You might even be able to persuade me to your way of thinking.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-132119738408872232009-03-08T10:34:00.000-07:002009-03-08T10:34:00.000-07:00Anon & Anon,With friends and neighbors like yo...Anon & Anon,<BR/><BR/>With friends and neighbors like you, who needs enemies. Don't forget that the fire in your neighbor's house, if not contained, will eventually consume you as well. All of your dreams of Slumdog-style rags-to-riches will turn to ashes.Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-64179218653250941532009-03-08T10:06:00.000-07:002009-03-08T10:06:00.000-07:00Hi,I am happy to see such a fanatically patriotic ...Hi,<BR/><BR/>I am happy to see such a fanatically patriotic pakistani. However the sadness is the dream is not to the reality at home where as you must sitting peacefully in USA without the ground realities of pakistan. <BR/><BR/>Any how best of luck for all your endevor to show the world that pakistan is not that bad as other perceive.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-79503963251685215372009-03-08T09:53:00.000-07:002009-03-08T09:53:00.000-07:00RiazPlease do not listen till the taliban knock th...Riaz<BR/><BR/>Please do not listen till the taliban knock the doors of the karachi and pakistan to bump out those islamic follower who are not in the straight line of 7th century medival practices. Probably like the moderate muslims running out of swat the existing inhabitants have to run or move backward to the 7th century<BR/><BR/>Best of luck. India will see its own destiny and pakistan can see it own. No hassles till reaches the border. Anyhow india is used to pakistan concerns in the border always.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-19994097288875966542009-03-08T00:48:00.000-08:002009-03-08T00:48:00.000-08:00Anon:You say, "Then again this is just wishful thi...Anon:<BR/><BR/>You say, "Then again this is just wishful thinking by a rabid Hindu (wrong!) Indian who has no grip on reality. So not to worry."<BR/><BR/>Everything you say is the conventional wisdom in India. Please find something new and different to say that I haven't heard before. Who knows. You might even be able to persuade me to your way of thinking.Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-75613182005751873532009-03-07T22:31:00.000-08:002009-03-07T22:31:00.000-08:00Particularly striking were the results in NWFP, su...<I>Particularly striking were the results in NWFP, supposedly the stronghold of fundamentalists, where the secular nationalists emerged as the unquestioned victors.</I><BR/><BR/>Mirthful. The governor was so scared of the Taliban he had Zardari send him a helicopter to get out, and then headed to London. He had to be "persuaded" to return. Today the "administration" - if it can be called that - released 12 Swati Taliban. There is not going to be another election there - the folks in charge having no need for such niceties.<BR/><BR/><I>What we have in Pakistan today is a culture war being fought between the extremists minority represented by the Taliban and their sympathizers and the moderate Muslims who abhor the Taliban.</I><BR/><BR/>Yeah - "culture war". Another vacuous phrase like "non-state actors". Put a little more lipstick on this existential crisis will you? Miliband - turncoat that he is - now talks of "mortal threats". <BR/><BR/>Riaz, suggest you enjoy the next few years owing allegiance to two countries with nuclear weapons. Who knows when you might - without your consent - have to settle for being a Sindhudeshi-American (or is it Jinnahpuri-American)? The very same nuclear weapons that you're so in awe of will then be your worst nightmare. Then again this is just wishful thinking by a rabid Hindu (wrong!) Indian who has no grip on reality. So not to worry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-41155687019274308432009-03-07T19:05:00.000-08:002009-03-07T19:05:00.000-08:00Riaz - I must admire you for your patience in deal...Riaz - I must admire you for your patience in dealing with these people who have got a picture so tainted, a vision so blurred, and mind so blocked, that makes it impossible to expect anything positive or favorable. Under the guise of democracy and military uniform, all these so called super powers are a lot worst than the Talibans.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-10655674186804736472009-03-07T16:21:00.000-08:002009-03-07T16:21:00.000-08:00I think your thought process is right.The reason b...I think your thought process is right.The reason behind my anguish is the pattern of behaviour shown by the so called moderates I see on TV and even includes -shockingly Imran Khan too.God-just it just pains to see these people will lead this country.When you say moderates-how can we unite when you have insane (sorry if the word is strong) people among moderates having such inconsistency in views about rooting out taliban??<BR/>Let me ask who moderates are Riaz-recently I saw a blog which enlightened the fact that Miandads son has married the daughter of south asias worst terrorist Dawood Ibrahim.After googling this-I confirmed the fact was true.Now I need not mention to you who Dawood Ibrahim is-but my question is -What is Miandad doing with this man?Is Miandad not director of pakistan cricket until recently?How shameful that such people are so close to Dawood.More Importantly what is this Dawood doing in pakistan? I hope you understand how hard it to root out this evil and how much these terrorists have penetrated our society and that moderates-if Miandad is a moderate-I defer this issue to all respectable people of my nation.Now can Miandad have anyright to ask for more security or complain to ICC about current mess??? Who is a moderate, Riaz?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-45326428954594705562009-03-07T15:14:00.000-08:002009-03-07T15:14:00.000-08:00Anon:You assert that "religious nuisance and islam...Anon:<BR/><BR/>You assert that "religious nuisance and islamic hypocrisy of its citizens has led to our trouble."<BR/><BR/>While I agree that Pakistan has a small but vocal and violent extreme that wants to impose its dark vision on the rest of its citizens, I also find that your assessment is based on the kind of false stereotyping of Pakistan that characterizes Western and Indian media coverage of Pakistan. To see how wrong you are, you just have to look at the last election results which saw the massive defeat of the right-wing religious forces in Pakistan. Particularly striking were the results in NWFP, supposedly the stronghold of fundamentalists, where the secular nationalists emerged as the unquestioned victors. <BR/><BR/>What we have in Pakistan today is a culture war being fought between the extremists minority represented by the Taliban and their sympathizers and the moderate Muslims who abhor the Taliban. What sometimes tips the balance in favor of the Taliban minority is the presence of the US which is seen by many as the cruel villain when its drones strike and kill a large number of innocent civilians, including women and children, on a regular basis. It's the backlash against the US that hurts the forces of moderation in Pakistan. <BR/><BR/>I think it's wrong to define the country by focusing on a few of its citizens that give it a bad name by their horrible acts that mainly hurt Pakistanis themselves and rarely affect others. Left to their own devices, I believe Pakistani moderate majority can fight and win the battle. America needs let Pakistanis see it as their fight by stopping its interventionist policy which is counterproductive for both Pakistan and America.Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-88171996753773368592009-03-07T13:11:00.000-08:002009-03-07T13:11:00.000-08:00Riaz, first I see you have lot of optimism for pak...Riaz, first I see you have lot of optimism for pakistan but I am surprised about your judgement abilities.<BR/>There are lots of nations that are poorer than Pakistan but none of them are like Pakistan when you see the level of religious intolerance even in educated mass.I hope you will try to be really open in your mind to understand this.While I agree that pakistan has good people their percentage is no matter in the direction our nation is headed.<BR/>Religious nuisance and islamic hypocrisy of its citizens has led to our trouble.We just do not know where to hold our religious views.One of the writers above said that the comparisions between India and Pakistan wil only grow-well I think he is right and it is true as after 60 years there is no similarity at any level in way I think and how Indian thinks.Thats because we choose religion over secularism.<BR/>While you are saying India is no different from Pakistan-I think your are absolutely wrong-with all due respects to your otherwise sane thoughts.Its your inability to see the things as they are that is more worrying for our nation than what mullahs are saying.Indian nation has its own agenda, its future is pretty different and comparing religious troubles of India and Pakistan on same level is insane even for a lay man.What we are seeing in our nation is bombing and elimination of girls schools,beheading women,killing foreigners,killing our policemen,attempting to kill srilankan players.This kind of religious violence is just unseen anywhere.Now you may want to say it happens every where-that THOUGHT is what pakistan needs to stay away from-IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ANYWHERE!!!We are for the worse turn of religious intolerance that islam itself will be in trouble if this continues unabated.Let the Indians talk but I think we need to do is to sincerely analyse and accept mistakes.You are not going to win your verbal war on how India differs from us-the fact is India is very different nation from pakistan.After teaching students from Asia over 15 years-I can see vast difference in the outlook on modern generation Indians and Pakistanis which I believe is fundamentally due foundations of democracy and secularism in India versus religious base in Pakistan. That does not mean there are onley secular people in India or India is great.India has serious issues but there were more serious issues India faced 20 years ago but that did not stop its growth as nation.I need not remind you that growth of nation means its maturity to accept differences and not just poverty indices as you keep mentioning.Look at the positive thing-three indians who won the oscar are all muslims.As you say-now where are our heroes-supposed to have more since we are a "muslim" nation-right? .Facts are more important and those facts will tell you the true story of why the world puts us at par with Afghanistan not India. That said I will not try to pity or put down the pakistan nation where I was born as that is not the solution.The path we have taken is wrong-just not acceptable.We have right to follow a religion but no right to destroy our neighbours peace with the evil that arose from our mistakes.May god show some sense to our leaders.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-62959654379885622922009-03-07T08:27:00.000-08:002009-03-07T08:27:00.000-08:00Ray:You assert, "It is the willingness to speak an...Ray:<BR/><BR/>You assert, "It is the willingness to speak and listen to people you do not necessarily agree with, that is the essence of democracy. We Indians practice it proudly."<BR/><BR/>Please see this <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y03UbdIhPnQ" REL="nofollow">video</A> of democracy in action.Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-82853290671352283042009-03-07T00:23:00.000-08:002009-03-07T00:23:00.000-08:00Anonymous,It is the willingness to speak and liste...Anonymous,<BR/><BR/>It is the willingness to speak and listen to people you do not necessarily agree with, that is the essence of democracy. We Indians practice it proudly. <BR/><BR/>(Also try to refrain from insults because you know that it will not hurt the other person anyways).Ray Lightninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08882462553270746059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-17093183452754973732009-03-07T00:19:00.000-08:002009-03-07T00:19:00.000-08:00Pakistan enjoyed a higher economic growth rate tha...Pakistan enjoyed a higher economic growth rate than India for decades. This is the reason for lower relative poverty in India. After the Indian economy is liberalized, India's growth rates have increased enormously. The percentage levels of poverty have also started falling down. <BR/><BR/>In 2008, India had a growth rate of 7.3 as compared to a 4.7 growth rate in Pakistan. When you also consider that Indian economy is 7 times the size of Pakistan, this relative disparity in the growth of income becomes more prominent. <BR/><BR/>Veterans like Riaz have been trained on mocking India's poverty. That argument made sense for their time, but it has become archaic and makes sense no longer. <BR/><BR/>The most important human right is the right to live. Pakistan should start from the basics and improve its track record in human rights. It is at the 11th position on the worst offenders list of Guardian. <BR/><BR/>The Human Development Index (developed by Pakistani economist Mahbub ul Haq) ranks India at 132 and Pakistan at 139. It should be remembered that Pakistan was ahead of India a few decades ago.Ray Lightninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08882462553270746059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-18907966706365481202009-03-06T20:24:00.000-08:002009-03-06T20:24:00.000-08:00Dear Anon, Ray, Ron, Ree, and RAW - How eloquently...Dear Anon, Ray, Ron, Ree, and RAW - How eloquently... i mean how dumb could you be to speak out your mind the way you are doing on this forum. Is there a doubt left that with 'neighbors' like you who needs enemies? Go wash your tongue in ganga and then with dittol. Its you who need to feel sorry and hopeless as you are showing no signs of improvement as human beings.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-62690827301483502602009-03-06T17:28:00.000-08:002009-03-06T17:28:00.000-08:00Ray,You wish, "Comparisons with India are bound to...Ray,<BR/><BR/>You wish, "Comparisons with India are bound to turn more and more depressing in the future."<BR/><BR/>So far, Pakistan has been able to defy wishful thinking and anti-Pak efforts by India. I believe it can continue to defy Indian expectations in the future. It can emerge stronger and more prosperous from the current turmoil.Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-24473240103386132372009-03-06T17:21:00.000-08:002009-03-06T17:21:00.000-08:00Anon:You say, "If that's so, why do many Pakistani...Anon:<BR/><BR/>You say, "If that's so, why do many Pakistanis insist on saying "Allah-Hafiz" and "Ramadan" - and attempt (often) revisionist tracing of roots to some Central Asian warrior (AQ Khan, from Bhopal, is apparently related to Muhammad bin Qasim!)?"<BR/><BR/>I think you are confusing several different things here. People of South Asia have come from parts of the world over the centuries, settled in India and made it their home. This has created a blend of many different cultures and religion that characterizes people of South Asia. Some may be related to the Caucasian Aryans, others to Persians and Arabs. The true natives of India are probably the Dravidians who have been in South India for several thousand years, longer than anyone else other than maybe the tribal people of central and northeastern India. <BR/><BR/>Religious practice can never be divorced from culture. The practice of Islam and Christianity are different in different regions and cultures around the world. Even within Pakistan, Islam practiced in Sind and Punjab is markedly different from the practice in NWFP.<BR/><BR/>As to India being a melting pot, I respectfully disagree. The radicalization of Hindus in India is similar to that of Muslims in Pakistan, though it manifests itself differently. While the radicals in Pakistani mainly target the West and those seen as allied with the West, the radical Hindus in India target their own Muslim and Christian populations. You can see ample proof of that in thousands of Muslims and Christians killed by the RSS and VHP in recent years and the plight of minorities. In fact, all the data suggests that Muslims are are the new Untouchables in India. Just look at the Sachar Commission report that explains it. Nothing justifies Pakistan more than this report.Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-37937615715597790152009-03-06T17:08:00.000-08:002009-03-06T17:08:00.000-08:00Anon;You say, "What democracy has given India, mor...Anon;<BR/><BR/>You say, "What democracy has given India, more than anything else, is a smooth transition of power between governments"<BR/><BR/>I agree, but democracy is not the only system that allows that to happen. <BR/><BR/>You add, "The world around you has changed and both India and Pakistan are not what they used to be when you were a student."<BR/><BR/>Yes, it's a tale of two Indias, but not the old vs new India. It's a tale of a shining, thriving India and a barely surviving India. You and the Western press focus on the former and ignore the latter. By all objective measures, the barely surviving India is much larger and behind sub-Saharan Africa. <BR/><BR/>About one-third of the world's poor live in India. More than 450 million Indians exist on less than $1.25 a day, according to the World Bank. It also has a higher proportion of its population living on less than $2 per day than even sub-Saharan Africa. India has about 42% of the population living below the new international poverty line of $1.25 per day. The number of Indian poor also constitute 33% of the global poor, which is pegged at 1.4 billion people, according to a Times of India news report. More than 6 million of those desperately poor Indians live in Mumbai alone, representing about half the residents of the nation's financial capital. They live in super-sized slums and improvised housing juxtaposed with the shining new skyscrapers that symbolize India's resurgence. According to the World Bank and the UN Development Program (UNDP), 22% of Pakistan's population is classified as poor.Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-46928233009824642102009-03-06T15:54:00.000-08:002009-03-06T15:54:00.000-08:00Riaz..Good luck on your quest to finding benevolen...Riaz..Good luck on your quest to finding benevolent dictators for Pak or whatever helps to find peace and prosperity for your country.. Also spend less time comparing with India and more time on motivating Pakistan. <BR/><BR/>Comparisons with India are bound to turn more and more depressing in the future.Ray Lightninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08882462553270746059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-74167492151378886042009-03-06T13:15:00.000-08:002009-03-06T13:15:00.000-08:00In terms of heritage, culture and nuclear arms, Pa...<I>In terms of heritage, culture and nuclear arms, Pakistan is more like India than Afghanistan.</I><BR/><BR/>If that's so, why do many Pakistanis insist on saying <I>"Allah-Hafiz"</I> and <I>"Ramadan"</I> - and attempt (often) revisionist tracing of roots to some Central Asian warrior (AQ Khan, from Bhopal, is apparently related to Muhammad bin Qasim!)? Why does Pakistan attempt to snuff out or mask it's Hindu/Buddhist/Sufi/Shia heritage (Basant, Swat Buddhas, Jehanabad, Sufi saints, attacking Muharram marches)? Why do kids in Pakistan learn about bin Qasim, maybe Aurangzeb, and then fast-forward to Jinnah? Why nor Akbar - is it because of Deen-e-Illahi? Why do Pakistanis look for inspiration to the West to that backwater called Saudi Arabia instead of East? The truth is all major schools of Islamic thought have ideological representation and often, underpinnings, in India. Whether it's the wacky Deobandis, or the Barelvis or the Sufis - heck even the Ahmadis - have their roots in modern India. <BR/><BR/>I'm sorry - Pakistan and Pakistanis can't have it both ways. Carving out a distinct Pakistani identity does not mean throwing the baby out with the bath-water. That instinct implies either a severe identity crisis, or a severe inferiority complex.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-88388624133526387032009-03-06T12:00:00.000-08:002009-03-06T12:00:00.000-08:00Riaz, if you really believe what you wrote on Indi...Riaz, if you really believe what you wrote on Indian democracy, you are deluded. What democracy has given India, more than anything else, is a smooth transition of power between governments, a stable environment for business and progress and a power to the poorest people in the country (who often vote in larger numbers than the middle class).<BR/><BR/>I want to be angry at you, but I can only feel sorry for you. The world around you has changed and both India and Pakistan are not what they used to be when you were a student.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-75132537038114434202009-03-06T10:42:00.000-08:002009-03-06T10:42:00.000-08:00Anon:You say, "I disagree violently with your half...Anon:<BR/><BR/>You say, "I disagree violently with your half-baked attempts at pulling India down to hypenate Indo-Pak, rather than Af-Pak."<BR/><BR/>In terms of heritage, culture and nuclear arms, Pakistan is more like India than Afghanistan. So Indo-Pak hyphenation makes sense. What Pakistan shares with Afghanistan are the Pashtoon ethnic roots of about 15% of its people. So Af-Pak makes sense as well, but not as much sense as Indo-Pak. <BR/><BR/>In terms of democracy serving the people, India is no better than Pakistan. Based on all of the published data by international organizations, the vast majority of Indians suffer great deprivation of basic necessities of life such as food, shelter and clothing, making India look more like Sub-Shararan Africa than Pakistan.Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-2421185857604087802009-03-06T10:29:00.000-08:002009-03-06T10:29:00.000-08:00What Pakistan needs more than anything else is pea...<I>What Pakistan needs more than anything else is peace and stability for another ten years under a strong but benevolent dictator like Lee Kuan Yu or Mahathir Mohammed or Suharto to ensure Pakistan's transformation from a feudal/tribal society to an industrial society with a very large middle class that can sustain a real democracy that serves the people, and not just the political elite that rules Pakistan today in the name of democracy.</I><BR/><BR/>Riaz, for once, I whole-heartedly agree. The current "democracy" is the same feudal order using democratic institutions as cover for their continued looting. I miss the steady hand of Musharraf. I made much fun of him, not knowing just how pathetic the alternative was. <BR/><BR/>Dalrymple souring is symptomatic of the mental fatigue well-wishers experience when trying to support a deeply confused and conflicted entity as Pakistan. Not long ago - and after watching Pakistan for years - I went through the same process of throwing in the towel. <BR/><BR/>I admire your attempt to see the glass half-full - even though I disagree violently with your half-baked attempts at pulling India down to hypenate Indo-Pak, rather than Af-Pak. You're trying to hold back the tide though, and I do wish you the best of luck.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com